Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

21/11/2025

A huge congratulations to our cytometry superstar Sam Small who has been selected as an Emerging Leader by the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

Flow cytometry is a key analytical technology that underpins much of the research at the Malaghan, enabling our researchers to study the properties and functions of immune cells. It requires specialised, highly trained technicians to get the most out of our cytometers.

The ISAC Emerging Leader Program is a highly competitive four-year initiative that supports and develops the next generation of leaders in this field.

Congratulations Sam - well deserved! 🌟

19/11/2025

This week marks World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week. Antimicrobial resistance remains a significant global health threat, contributing to longer illness, reduced treatment effectiveness and mortality.

At the Malaghan Institute, Research Officer Georgina Wheller is part of an important project aiming to better understand the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant H.pylori in New Zealand. Her research aims to inform more effective treatment approaches and ultimately help reduce the burden of stomach cancer.

https://www.malaghan.org.nz/news-and-resources/news/tracking-the-journey-of-the-shapeshifting-bacteria-behind-stomach-cancer

12/11/2025

As we mark a milestone with the delivery of our 50th CAR T-cell dose this month, we celebrate a significant anniversary that helped set it all in motion – enabling the manufacturing of cutting-edge cell therapies and laying the groundwork for pioneering clinical trials.

Twenty years ago, in 2005, the Malaghan Institute achieved its first GMP – Good Manufacturing Practice – licence, the green light from Medsafe that our laboratories had met the exacting standards required to prepare, process and culture human tissues for advanced cell therapies.

Five years later, in 2010, Health Minister Hon Tony Ryall opened our state-of-the-art Keith and Faith Taylor Cancer Research Laboratories. At the time, director Professor Graham Le Gros spoke to the shared vision for the labs and the years invested in developing the necessary knowledge, techniques and protocols to translate cancer immunotherapies into a clinical setting.

He also highlighted the critical role of philanthropy in ensuring ground-breaking research translates into improved health outcomes for New Zealanders – something that has remained a constant.

https://www.malaghan.org.nz/news-and-resources/news/celebrating-milestones-in-bringing-life-saving-cell-therapies-to-new-zealand

11/11/2025

It was fantastic to have Dr Danika Hill visit the Malaghan last week. Dr Hill, who is a Laboratory Head in the Department of Immunology at Monash University, gave a talk on how different antigen types affect how B-cells respond to bacterial infections.

08/11/2025

A big shout-out to Pauline Scahill, who is hiking the Routeburn Track this month to raise funds for the Malaghan!

Pauline, who is living with lymphoma, is combining her love of the outdoors with her drive to support life-changing research.

“I’m walking the Routeburn Track as a fundraiser to support the Malaghan Institute and the ground-breaking work being researched here in Wellington. Amazing people doing much-needed research. Thanks for your support – by cheering me on, passing on my link or a donation. All helps to make our world a world with hope.”

We’re so grateful to Pauline for her generosity and determination – and for her supporters walking alongside her for a future where cancer can be prevented, treated and cured through harnessing the power of the immune system.

Support her here 👉 https://donate.malaghan.org.nz/fundraisers/paulinescahill/a-great-walk-for-the-malagan

06/11/2025

It’s Measles Immunisation Week, and our scientists are standing with others across Aotearoa New Zealand to share an important message: vaccines save lives.

The measles virus can cause severe and deadly infections. It is one of the most infectious human diseases on the planet, but it is also one of the most preventable – the MMR vaccine generates a strong, long-lasting immune response, providing near-complete protection against measles after two doses.

It takes all of us to protect our loved ones and vulnerable people in our communities. Strong community immunity is built through widespread vaccination.

Find out more or book your vaccination:
• Book online: bookmyvaccine.health.nz
• Call the Vaccination Helpline: 0800 28 29 26
• Find a clinic or check your immunisation status: info.health.nz/measles

05/11/2025

It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Hon Dr Shane Reti MP to the Malaghan Institute yesterday to celebrate our scientists' recent Marsden Fund successes and share the science the funding is supporting – from fine-tuning cancer-killing CAR T-cells and protecting the lung from respiratory diseases, to improving liver cancer treatment with an mRNA vaccine and targeting metabolic pathways to treat allergies.

Minister Reti toured the institute to meet our scientists leading the research and discussed with director Professor Kjesten Wiig and general manager Mike Zablocki the importance of visionary, sustained government investment in health research if we are to see real health and economic benefits for Aotearoa New Zealand.

05/11/2025

The Malaghan Institute has been awarded four grants from the prestigious Marsden Fund to explore bold new ideas in cancer, allergy and infectious disease research.

The contestable grants, worth more than $2.6 million over three years, will support projects ranging from enhancing CAR T-cell therapies and reprogramming allergic responses to exploring protective microbes and developing a therapeutic liver cancer mRNA vaccine.

Director Professor Kjesten Wiig says being awarded four highly-competitive Marsden grants speaks to the exceptional calibre of the Malaghan Institute’s scientists and the breadth of research driving new insights to prevent, treat and cure disease.

“Blue-sky research is vital for an independent biomedical institute like ours – it fuels the discoveries that will eventually become real-world treatments with sustained investment.”

Read more 👉 https://www.malaghan.org.nz/news-and-resources/news/marsden-funding-to-drive-discovery-and-innovation-in-cancer-allergy-and-infectious-disease-research

04/11/2025

Our latest Scope is out now! Read how we're building momentum across a range of cancer research programmes – harnessing the power of the immune system to tackle blood, lung, liver and stomach cancers.

Want Scope straight to your inbox? Subscribe now so you can get it first! You can also find this, and previous issues, on our website at www.malaghan.org.nz/news-and-resources/scope-newsletters/

03/11/2025

We’re only beginning to unlock the potential of CAR T-cell therapy. Early trials show promise for autoimmune conditions like lupus and multiple sclerosis, and new technologies could expand its reach even further.

By establishing CAR T-cell manufacturing and delivery here in New Zealand through our lymphoma trials, the Malaghan is paving the way for future breakthroughs.

A multiple sclerosis (MS) patient in the UK was the first to receive CAR T cell therapy, invented by UCL researchers, in a clinical trial testing whether this personalised treatment can slow or even halt the progression of the disease.

31/10/2025

It was a pleasure to host Associate Professor Rodger Tiedmannm at the Malaghan Institute today to share his research working towards a cure for multiple myeloma – a subject very dear to our hearts!

AProf Tiedmannm is the Morris Fellow in Cancer Research at the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau and a consultant haematologist at Auckland City Hospital. He worked in cancer research in North America for nearly two decades including at the Mayo Clinic and the Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto, where he continues to run a research lab.

Since returning to New Zealand, he has become an active advocate for medicines access and is a board member of Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

29/10/2025