Malaghan News and Events

Vote for Malaghan as 4good’s June Charity

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:07:08 +1200

Voting is now open for 4good’s June 2013 Charity and with your help the Malaghan Institute could be the chosen charity!

4good has over 300 supporters who each donate $4 a month, with the pooled funds for each month going to a different worthy cause. Last month over $1,200 was donated to the Hawkes Bay SPCA.

Please take a second to vote for the Malaghan Institute on the 4good Facebook page, or if you don’t have a Facebook account you can place a comment on their blog article here and they will treat it as your vote (they’ll add it to the tally at the end of the month).

All it takes is a click of a button and you can help us be the recipient charity for June. You can also help us spread the word by asking your friends and family to join you in voting Malaghan!

About 4good:

In June 2010 a Tauranga kid named Max was diagnosed with Cancer.

Fast forward 6 months and Max’s Dad and a group of mates decided that they wanted to do something awesome to ‘pay forward’ the terrific support that Max received during his initial treatment at Starship Hospital.

In January 2011 the 4good charitable trust was formed and the scene was set. As a group, we were sick and tired of traditional fundraising methods where people gave based on guilt (picture malnourished African child) or because they couldn’t cross the street to get away from the collector in time (we love the environment too but leave us alone!)

The concept was pretty simple. We wanted people to feel good about giving and we didn’t want the dollar amount or having to choose a charity to get in the way.

To find out more visit: http://www.4good.org.nz/about-4good/.

Prof Mike Berridge awarded HRC funding to develop novel technology

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:12:54 +1200

Senior Malaghan Institute cancer researcher Professor Mike Berridge has been awarded $150,000 from the Health Research Council of New Zealand to develop technology that will allow scientists to manipulate the genomes of mitochondria. If successful, this research will significantly advance our understanding of the involvement of mitochondria in disease.

We all need energy to survive. Most of this energy is generated from the food we eat in specialised compartments of our cells called mitochondria.

Mitochondria contain their own genomes, consisting of 37 genes. Not surprisingly, any disruption to these cellular powerhouses as a result of mutations to their DNA can have serious consequences.

“Defective energy production for growth, brain function and movement contributes to numerous health problems,” says Prof Berridge. “At least 200 human diseases are reported to be due to mitochondrial gene mutations.”

Understanding the involvement of mitochondrial gene mutations in disease is difficult because there are currently no tools available to manipulate mitochondrial DNA in cells.

“Current genetic tools cannot be applied to mitochondrial genes,” says Prof Berridge. “Developing tools to genetically manipulate mitochondrial genes will open new doors that will enable us to investigate their role in human disease.”

Prof Berridge and Malaghan Institute Research Fellow Dr James Baty will use the two-year HRC Explorer Grant to develop new techniques to explore mitochondrial genome involvement in complex diseases like cancer and neuromuscular disorders.

“Our aim is to develop technology that will enable the replacement of mitochondrial genomes in cells with custom-designed synthetic genomes,” says Prof Berridge.

“We will collaborate with scientists at the Venter Institute in the USA to build novel mitochondrial genomes that contain traceable markers so we can track their movement and function.”

“If successful, this new technology will enable us to introduce any sequence change into the mitochondrial genome in cells. This will transform mitochondrial genetics and significantly advance our understanding of the role of mitochondrial mutations in disease.”

Generation A, the allergy generation has been born

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:12:13 +1200

Today marks the start of Allergy Awareness Week.

New Zealand’s allergy rates are amongst the highest in the world, with one in ten babies born in this country likely to develop an allergy.

Last week results of the CensusAtSchool research, which questioned Kiwi students aged 10 to 18, revealed that approximately 8.5% of the first 2800 respondents had some form of food allergy – the most common being dairy.

“Generation A, the allergy generation has been born,” says Professor Graham Le Gros, Director of the Malaghan Institute.

“The evidence lies all around us. Local supermarkets now regularly stock a wide variety of dairy-free or gluten-free foods, something that would have been a rare find a generation ago. Most early childhood centres are peanut-free and dinner invitations routinely request notification of any special dietary requirements.”

“So what has happened - why now in the 21st century, is allergic disease such a global health issue? The sad truth is that we just don’t know,” he says.

“Compared to our grandparents, our lifestyles are different. Our children spend more time indoors and there is a growing obsession with antibacterial products; but whether these alone account for the explosion of allergic disease in recent years remains unknown.”

Prof Le Gros says that before we can start developing therapies that more effectively treat asthma and allergy, we first need to understand the basic biology of the allergic disease process.

In recent years Prof Le Gros’ team has made significant progress into unravelling the very early stages of the allergic immune response, which he believes holds the key to treating allergic disease.

“We believe that prevention of allergy early in life is critical,” says Professor Le Gros. “Since allergies are driven by the immune system, the most obvious targets for new therapies are the earliest stages of the allergic immune response.”

Last month Prof Le Gros' collaborative discovery of a unique type of immune cell in the skin that appears linked to allergic skin diseases was published in Nature Immunology.

“Critically we have been able to show that these cells can cause skin allergy in experimental models. This is a huge step forward for us as allergy researchers because now we have a specific target for the development of new therapies that stop the onset of allergic disease.”

For more information on allergy, or how you can get involved with Allergy Awareness Week, visit the Allergy New Zealand website www.allergy.org.nz

Congratulations to Willie and Greig on conquering the Marathon des Sables!

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:41:21 +1200

Considered one of the toughest footraces on Earth, the Marathon des Sables is not for the faint hearted. Covering a gruelling 254 km - the equivalent of five and a half marathons - competitors battle extreme temperatures of up to 50°C, hostile sandstorms, and the ever present danger of the desert wildlife.

As if this wasn't hard enough, the runners are required to carry all their own food, sleeping gear and anti-venom treatments.

In the 28 year history of the event, three runners have actually died during the race.

Did this put Wellington runners Greig Rightford and Willie Tokona off? Not a chance!

Seeing the race as an opportunity to challenge themselves both physically and mentally, Greig and Willie spent over two years training for the event. Their efforts paid off with both runners not only completing the marathon, but doing so in the top 100. Greig finished 62nd overall, and Willie 75th.

In the process Greig and Willie raised $28,000 in support of the Malaghan Institute's research.

On behalf of everyone at the Malaghan Institute we offer our heartfelt congratulations to you both on your inspiring journey and thank you sincerely for the money you raised in support of our research.

HEAR WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE IN WILLIE'S OWN WORDS

Listen to Willie speak about his experiences running across the Sahara in a recent interview with Jason Pine for NewstalkZB.

Today is World Day of Immunology 2013!

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:55:34 +1200

Today, Monday 29 April 2013, is World Day of Immunology – a time for us to acknowledge the extraordinary potential of the immunology research being undertaken right here at the Malaghan Institute and across the globe.

Immunology is a vibrant and ever-changing branch of biomedical science that deals with the study of the immune system; a complex network of tissues, cells and proteins that scientists at the Malaghan Institute believe hold the key to treating disease.

Every day we are exposed to a wide variety of infectious organisms such as viruses, bacteria and parasites. Our immune system is like our own personal defence force that is ready and waiting to fight the infections that they cause. When we are vaccinated or immunised, what we are effectively doing is providing our immune system with a detailed description of particular ‘nasties’ that could be lurking around the corner.

What is less well known, is that our immune system can also protect us from developing non-infectious diseases such as cancer. Here the challenge is getting the immune system to really take notice of a developing cancer – something scientists at the Malaghan Institute and around the world also hope to achieve with vaccines. Unlike preventative vaccines such as the flu shot however, a cancer vaccine is given to an individual after they have already shown signs of disease.

By developing immunotherapies and vaccines that supercharge the immune systems of cancer patients, or downregulate the overactive immune responses that give rise to asthma and allergy in certain individuals, our scientists are striving to make a genuine difference to the way we treat disease in this country.

So, on World Day of Immunology, take a moment to stop and reflect on the incredible work your immune system is doing right now, beneath your skin, to keep you well. And if you decide to help it along this winter by getting a flu shot and your arm aches a bit afterwards, don’t worry, it is just your immune systems way of saying thanks for the head’s up.

Latest news under the microscope - Scope 50

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:08:34 +1200

SCOPE 50

A painting a day for cancer research

Nelson Lakes based cancer survivor Jan Thomson wanted to do something to support cancer research. Being a full-time artist, Jan decided to paint a watercolour a day for a month with the proceeds going to the Malaghan Institute. “Cancer is something that affects all of us, and research into preventing it could save the life of someone close to you,” says Jan. “It has already saved mine!” Jan painted a magnificent selection of watercolours and over $2,800 was raised. Thank you Jan (pictured left) for such a wonderful gesture.

Central Districts Field Days

March 7 – 9 saw the Malaghan Institute take part in the 2013 Central District Field Days held at the Manfeild Car Racecourse, Feilding. Several supporters, budding scientists and new friends popped in to say hello. 30,000 plus visitors enjoyed the huge variety of exhibits and we were proud to be involved. Masterton visitor, Mike Coffey, was the lucky recipient of the James Cook Grand Chancellor Wellington and Hurricanes Super 15 gift package. (Kylie Price pictured with a visitor to the Malaghan Institute exhibit).

How cannibalistic immune cells could help treat gout

With the onset of cooler weather, one of arthritis’ most painful forms is more likely to rear its ugly head. Latest research from the Malaghan Institute reveals how a form of cellular ‘cannibalism’ could ease the symptoms of gouty arthritis. PhD student Stefanie Steiger and Head of the Malaghan Institute’s Arthritis & Inflammation research programme, Dr Jacquie Harper (pictured) have revealed that white blood cells called neutrophils could be part of a cure – once they start ‘eating’ each other that is. Read more about this work in our next issue of Scope or visit www.malaghan.org.nz.

BeSmart Sahara Charity Challenge Auction

The BeSmart Sahara Charity Challenge has really cranked up. Wellington personal trainers Greig Rightford and Willie Tokona completed 5 marathons in 5 days in preparation for their April assault on the 254 km Marathon des Sables. Whilst challenging themselves with the “ultimate test” Greig and Wille are raising awareness and funds for the Malaghan Institute. Supporters also gathered at the Queens Wharf Ballroom, Foxglove at the Wellington Waterfront for a Sports Auction. Legendary sports broadcaster John McBeth MC’d what was a fun evening that raised $26,000. Bring on the Sahara!! You can follow every kilometre on www.malaghan.org.nz.

Recent Grants (Nov 2012 - Mar 2013)

Our sincere thanks to the following Trusts and Foundations for their recent support:

• Infinity Foundation

• Margaret Neave Charitable Trust

• Cuesports

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Running for Fun, Running for Good... Running for Research!

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:04:00 +1200

SCOPE 50

Sunday 17 February marked our second year as the Official Charity Partner of the iconic Wellington event AMI Round the Bays, and our third and most successful Run for Research to date.

Despite some drizzle for those who started early for the half marathon, spirits were high at the sell-out event and the atmosphere was one of excitement, anticipation and community spirit. The Malaghan Institute Run for Research brought together people of all ages, from all walks of life and fitness levels, however a uniting feature was their motivation to get behind a great cause and support our research. Thanks to everyone who got behind the Run for Research, over an incredible $40,000 was raised!

Half Marathon winner Hamish Carson (R)

More than 250 people took part as Run for Research fundraisers with another 166 people supporting via our Limited Run for Research Entries which enabled those who missed out on registering before the event sold out to take part and support the Malaghan Institute at the same time. One such person was the event’s Half Marathon winner, Hamish Carson who finished the race in 1:08:51! Having been a short-mid distance competitive runner until AMI Round the Bays 2013, Hamish’s debut half marathon ended up being one incredible achievement. Read more about Hamish here.

Sarah Christie (L)

Another inspiring person who took part in the Run for Research was Island Bay mother of five, Sarah Christie, who eight weeks after a scary run in with a 1.2 kilogram malignant ovarian tumour, used this as a chance to get back into running and support research into diseases including cancer. Read the Dominion Post article on Sarah here.

One of the many teams who supported the Run for Research was a large family of 28, ‘Team Politi’, who raised over $2,000 through their online fundraising page. It was a family affair for a very good reason; “We have all heard of friends, distant family members, people you know or went to school with being hit by cancer, some with good outcomes and others losing the battle. But when it hits closer to home, like our beloved family member who has recently been diagnosed with a highly aggressive brain tumour (GBM) we want to find a cure.”

Some of the 28 strong Team Politi Running for Research

Congratulations to our Top Fundraisers:

Top Individuals: Jason Pine - $1,865, Victoria Hale - $1,570, Darci Thompson - $1,180
Top Teams: Malaghan Staff - $8,303, The Woodsides - $2,970, Gilling Me Softly - $2,195

Malaghan Ambassadors Jason Pine and Melissa Moon

The Run for Research received some great promotion through a fantastic looking Run for Research branded Lexus RX SUV that was out on the streets of Wellington, thanks to Lexus of Wellington and Z Energy. It also received great backing by Malaghan Ambassadors, world-renowned runner Melissa Moon, Newstalk ZB radio DJ Jason Pine and sports reporter and athlete Meghan Mutrie. Jason even made a bet on air that he could beat the 22 minutes Melissa could do 7km in by knocking off one minute for every $100 he raised. After receiving training advice from Melissa, not only was Jason was the top fundraiser, raising over $1,300, he completed the fun run in a personal best of 30:28 – beating Melissa by over five minutes!

It is thanks to our ongoing partnership with AMI Insurance and Sport Wellington that we have this valuable opportunity to connect with the community and to raise awareness of the Malaghan Institute, while providing a way for people to make a difference by fundraising in support of our research. We are humbled by the enthusiasm and dedication of the individuals and teams who took part in the Run for Research and the support of those in the community who donated. Thank you to everyone involved in making the 2013 Run for Research such a great success!

If you would like to find out more about the Run for Research or are keen to take part in 2014 please email runforresearch@malaghan.org.nz or contact Victoria Hale on 04 4996914 ext. 821.

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Our 50th Scope!

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:56:48 +1200

SCOPE 50

For over 20 years now we have shared stories from the Malaghan Institute through our Scope newsletters. With this issue we hit the mid-century mark. While the faces might look different and the technology more advanced, the original goal as stipulated in one of the first issues of Scope has not changed:

“To seek to discover, by scientific research, the nature, origins and causes of disease. To make the best use of knowledge thus gained by improving the prevention and treatment of disease, and by disseminating and teaching that knowledge.”

We hope you enjoy reading our Scope newsletters as much as we enjoy bringing them to you. Next stop, Scope 100, imagine where we will be then.

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Going down to the lab to eat worms

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:52:23 +1200

SCOPE 50

Parasitic worms have a reputation for causing disease. So the idea of being deliberately infected with them to improve your health might seem, literally, hard to swallow.

A few decades ago the same could probably be said of bacteria. Yet probiotic capsules containing billions of live bacteria are now taken routinely to stimulate digestion and boost immunity, particularly after prolonged antibiotic use. So why not worms?

The idea of taking a dose of worms to improve health is actually not as farfetched as it might sound. In the past decade there have been several clinical trials overseas investigating the potential of using live helminth worms (specifically pig worm and whipworm eggs – not the kind you find in your garden) to calm the gut inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis, IBD and Crohn’s disease. In recent years there has also been considerable interest in helminth therapy for autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Although the treatment isn’t for everyone, patients involved in the studies reported an easing of their symptoms, with minimal adverse effects.

The reason helminth therapy is thought to have such promise is simply because parasitic worms are so successful at controlling the gut environment they live in. They release factors that dampen down the immune system and have been shown to restore the balance of good gut microbiota.

Malaghan researchers Mali Camberis and Dr Tiffany Bouchery- Smith (pictured on front cover) are in no doubt that helminth worms have the ability to influence the development of immune responses. Working alongside Professor Graham Le Gros, they have been studying the rodent nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, to gain a better insight into how these worms are able to modulate host gut immune responses. The knowledge from which will feed into the development of therapies for diseases where the immune response is overactive, such as IBD, colitis, asthma and allergy. It also has implications for diseases requiring a boost in immunity such as cancers of the gut.

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A key regulator of gut health - IL-25

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:10:42 +1200

SCOPE 50

Does the cytokine IL-25 hold the key to preventing gut dysfunction?

Scientists at the Malaghan Institute have identified the cell signaling protein interleukin-25 (IL-25) as an important regulator of gut immunity. It has profound effects on gut associated disease models, however the immunological mechanisms by which IL-25 regulates gut health remains unclear.

PhD student Catherine Plunkett has been using a combination of experimental mouse models of gut dysfunction and human clinical samples to further investigate the role of IL-25 in the regulation of gut inflammation. Contrary to expectations, Catherine’s experiments revealed that IL-25 expression actually inhibits intestinal inflammation. Mice deficient in IL-25 have an earlier onset and exhibit greater severity of experimental colitis compared to normal controls. This finding is supported by clinical studies that demonstrate the production of IL-25 is defective in IBD patients.

Intriguingly, IL-25 deficient mice have a greater propensity to be obese, a phenomenon that is currently being investigated. These approaches offer the potential to significantly advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of multiple chronic inflammatory diseases.

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Identifying the critical gut immune cells

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:05:56 +1200

SCOPE 50

The gut immune system faces unique challenges, not least of which is the sheer size of the organ it has to protect.

The surface area of the adult digestive tract is estimated to be equivalent to that of a tennis court. With such a large area to cover, the gut immune system must work extra hard to prevent pathogens from entering into circulation. It also has to continuously confront an enormous microbial load.

It is no wonder therefore that the gut immune system sometimes gets it wrong, and sets off unwanted immune responses against harmless compounds (allergens), resulting in allergic diseases such as food allergy.

Allergens or bacteria that penetrate the gut barrier are engulfed by a specialised class of immune cells called dendritic cells. Dendritic cells, of which there are several different types, are rare immune cells that are central to the initiation of all immune responses.

Through careful investigation of the gut immune system, Research Fellow Dr Lisa Connor and Masters Student Kerry Hilligan identified a novel population of gut dendritic cells that have the capacity to drive the allergic Th2 immune response.

Understanding more about this particular class of gut dendritic cells will provide important insights into the signals that direct immune responses towards an allergic phenotype.

This knowledge could aid in the development of therapies for allergic diseases such as food allergy.

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Immune regulation in the gut

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:51:34 +1200

SCOPE 50

Our gut is our most important immunological organ.

The gut mucosa contains more immune cells than all other organs of the immune system combined. It is capable of driving powerful immune responses against invading viruses and bacteria, while protecting the harmless gut microbiota that we need for good digestion.

When the gut barrier becomes permeable, by way of lifestyle or for genetic reasons, the internal contents of the gut can start to leak into the bloodstream. Since these components do not belong outside of the gut, the immune system views them as a threat and attacks them. It is these misdirected immune responses against gut bacteria and food proteins that are thought to contribute to the development of several inflammatory diseases including inflammatory bowel disease and food allergy.

Malaghan Institute gastrointestinal allergy and inflammation specialist Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom believes that management of the gut immune response is key to a healthy gut. She is using experimental models of gut inflammation to address the emerging hypothesis that immune dysfunction in the gut leads to altered microbiota, inflammatory bowel disease, food allergy and metabolic syndrome.

Taken together these findings will provide therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of gut allergy and inflammation.

What is the link with jawed fish?

Scientists now believe the evolution of our highly specialised ‘adaptive’ arm of the immune system (this is the form of immunity that develops throughout life) is linked intrinsically with the gut.

Approximately 450 million years ago primitive jawed fish evolved by forming gill supports into the hinged jaw. This enabled the fish to capture and eat larger prey. The ‘jaw hypothesis’ suggests that the adaptive immune system evolved in the gut regions of these primitive fish to help fight infections resulting from injuries caused by their newfound ability to chew bones and scales.

Described as the biological equivalent of the ’Big Bang’, the evolution of adaptive immunity appears to have been made possible by the invasion of a putative immunoglobulin-like gene in the fish, by a gene from bacteria. This conferred on the ancestral gene the ability to rearrange itself and generate different immunoglobulin-like molecules – thus increasing the ‘weaponry’ available to the fish to fight infection.

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From the Director - Gut health

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:43:51 +1200

SCOPE 50

“You are what you eat.” We have all heard the expression, but what does it really mean?

The importance of eating a diet high in fruit and vegetables for good health is nothing new; we have had it drummed into us since childhood. However, only recently have we come to realise just how much our lifestyles and the food we eat can affect the health of our gut, and as a consequence, our overall health and wellbeing.

The link between gut health and diet has received renewed interest in recent years. Studies by Australian Immunologist Professor Charles Mackay have shown that the level of fibre in a diet can have a considerable effect on the composition of the gut microbiota. This in turn can affect immune responses, and predispose an individual to inflammatory diseases such as food allergy, inflammatory bowel disease and obesity.

Understanding more about the gut immune response and how it can influence gut health is an exciting new area of immunology that we believe presents new opportunities for treating inflammatory diseases.

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Gut health

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:29:45 +1200

SCOPE 50

More than two millennia ago, Hippocrates said, “all disease begins in the gut.” Only now are we beginning to realise just how right he was.

An understanding of the importance of a healthy gut to overall health and wellbeing is gaining momentum. In recent years there has been an explosion of scientific research showing an association between poor gut health and diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease. No longer is the gut considered simply a digestive tube that connects one end of the body to the other. Yet this is still its primary role.

Everything we eat and drink passes through the gut along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is home to 100 trillion bacteria. To put this number in perspective, this equates to 10 times as many bacteria in the human gut than human cells in the entire body! These bugs – gut microbiota as they are known – play crucial roles in regulating nutrient absorption by our intestinal cells, in metabolism and in immunity.

Recent research has shown that the particular makeup of the different species of bacteria living in the gut is influenced by diet and lifestyle. Frequent use of antibiotics, stress and diets low in fibre can deplete the levels of beneficial gut bacteria, leading to poor gut health.

In addition to the gut microbiota, the second closely related variable that contributes to gut health is the gut barrier. The gut barrier functions to keep all the good gut microbiota in, and all the bad bugs, viruses or toxins in our food out. It is the integrity of this barrier that is thought to determine whether we tolerate or react to the foods we eat.

Gut health is now recognised as a new objective in medicine and our scientists believe that the key to a healthy gut is the gut immune system.

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PhD student Ryan Kyle's research published in Nature Immunology

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:32:13 +1200

Itchy skin rashes and parasitic worm infections are all part of an average day for Malaghan Institute PhD student Ryan Kyle. Under the supervision of Professor Graham Le Gros, he is undertaking world-class research into the allergic immune response – having come a long way from childhood experiments with baking soda and vinegar volcanoes.

“Coming into work each day and doing an experiment that no person in the world has ever done before, or maybe even thought of, is exciting in itself,” says Ryan. “Then seeing the data and outcomes of that hard work being published, well nothing can beat that feeling.”

Ryan is referring to his collaborative research with scientists from Sydney’s Centenary Institute, published online today in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Immunology. This is a lifetime goal of any scientist, and an astounding achievement for a young PhD student.

Ryan’s PhD research is focused on understanding the mechanisms that underlie allergic disease and how the body protects itself from parasites such as hookworm.

“The way your immune systems works to protect against recurrent worm infections is very similar to how it is working when it responds to innocuous things, like peanuts and dust mites, causing allergies. My research is focused on the very early events that take place during these immune responses - which cell types are responding and how they communicate with other cells around them.”

It was the characterisation of a unique type of immune cell in the skin and the demonstration that these cells can drive the development of allergic skin disease that led to the Nature Immunology paper.

“Working alongside Dr Ben Roediger and Professor Wolfgang Weninger from the Centenary Institute, and learning their techniques for studying cells in the skin, was an amazing experience. Having my work contribute to second authorship on such an important paper still feels a little unreal.”

Ryan hasn’t let the glory go to his head though. “Like most other students, I’m always on the look out for a cheap beer and free food.”

It was an immunology paper during his undergrad at Victoria University of Wellington that really sold Ryan on immunology. “Learning about how all the different parts of the immune system work together to fight disease really fascinated me. When I finished my Honours project I looked for a PhD position in immunology and the Malaghan was a natural choice.”

In the long term, Ryan hopes his research will contribute to work that could prevent the development of allergic diseases in children. It also has the potential to help with the design of vaccines to eliminate parasitic diseases, especially in third world countries.

For those interested in pursuing a career in science, Ryan recommends talking to as many people as possible, at various stages of their careers. “Science is not for everyone. It involves some long hours and a lot of commitment, and jobs at the top are very few.”

Ryan’s frustrating moments will sound familiar to anyone involved in research – when a particular task or experiment just doesn’t work, your lab mate gets it to work perfectly every time, and you can’t figure out what you’re doing differently. But as Ryan says, “All scientists need to be good problem solvers and the challenge of figuring out why things aren’t working, or if there’s a different way of doing it, can be motivating as well.”

For Ryan, these challenges are more than outweighed by a passion for learning and problem solving. Through science, Ryan is meeting and working with people across the globe, and doing things that no one else in the world has done before.

Publication details

Roediger B, Kyle R, Ho Yip K, Sumaria N, Guy TV, Kim BS, Mitchell AJ, Tay SS, Jain R, Forbes-Blom E, Chen X, Tong PL, Bolton HA, Artis D, Paul WE, Fazekas de St Groth B, Grimbaldeston MA, Le Gros G, Weninger W (2013) Cutaneous immunosurveillance and regulation of inflammation by group 2 innate lymphoid cells. Nature Immunology (in press).

Immune cell discovery could explain cause of skin allergy

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:51:15 +1200

MEDIA RELEASE

A trans-Tasman collaboration between researchers at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in Wellington and the Centenary Institute in Sydney has resulted in the discovery of a unique type of immune cell in the skin. The significance of which is the compelling evidence that these cells can drive the development of allergic skin disease.

Published online today in one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals, Nature Immunology, this research forces a revision in our thinking of how allergic diseases arise.

“We have used the most cutting-edge cell analysis and transgenic reporter gene technologies currently available to identify these cells in the skin,” says Professor Graham Le Gros, Director of the Malaghan Institute and one of the lead investigators of the research.

“It is through the expertise of Professor Wolfgang Weninger and colleagues at the Centenary Institute, Australia’s leading dermatology researchers, that we were able to see how these immune cells move through the skin, what they interact with and for how long,” he says. “This has been crucial in allowing us to build up a picture of what these cells are actually doing.”

“Critically, we have been able to show that these cells have the potential to cause skin allergy in experimental models. By being able to link this new cell type to skin allergy there is a greater possibility we can now find ways to stop the onset of allergic disease.”

Prof Le Gros isn’t just talking about skin allergies. Numerous studies have shown that allergic diseases can progress from one form to another throughout a child’s life – a phenomenon termed the ‘allergic march’, which now affects 15-30% of children in Western countries.

Skin allergy or eczema is usually the first sign of allergic disease in young infants and is often associated with an underlying food allergy. These children are then more likely to go on to develop respiratory allergies, such as asthma and hay fever.

“We believe that prevention of allergic disease early in life is critical, to halt progression along the allergic march,” says Prof Le Gros. “Since allergic disease is immune-mediated, the most obvious target for new therapies is the earliest stages of the allergic immune response.”

“These newly discovered skin immune cells might just be the ‘Holy Grail’ we have been searching for. This has been a huge effort, involving scientists from New Zealand, Australia and the USA. It is really motivating to be involved with something so exciting and potentially important.”

Future research will now focus on learning more about these cells and how they could be exploited to stop allergic disease.

This work was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, The Dr Marjorie Barclay Trust, the Division of Intramural Research of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (US National Institutes of Health), and the Cancer Institute New South Wales.

For all enquiries please contact:

Prof Graham Le Gros on 04 499 6914 ext 822, or by email glegros@malaghan.org.nz

Publication details

About the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is New Zealand’s leading vaccine and immunology research institute and is based at Victoria University of Wellington’s Kelburn campus. The Institute operates independently and is a charitable trust. Researchers at the Malaghan Institute are focused on developing innovative ways to harness the strength and potency of the immune system, the body’s own natural defence against disease, to treat cancer, asthma and allergy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious disease.

Order your 2013/2014 Entertainment Book now!

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:42:11 +1300

The new Wellington 2013/2014 Entertainment™ Books are now available! You can support the Malaghan Institute's fundraising efforts by ordering your book online - simply click here

The Entertainment™ Book is filled with hundreds of valuable 2-for-1 and up to 50% offers from many of the best restaurants, arts, attractions, hotel accommodation, travel and much more! Plus 20% of every book purchased will support the Malaghan Institute's research into cancer, asthma and allergies, arthritis, MS and infectious diseases!

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Sahara Charity Challenge 2013

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:32:46 +1300

With only days remaining to the start of the gruelling Marathon des Sables, the countdown is definitely on for Wellington-based runners Greig Rightford and Willie Tokona.

Described by the Discovery Channel as the "toughest footrace on earth," next month Greig and Willie will spend six days running 254 km across a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates - the Sahara desert. And they are doing it to raise money in support of the Malaghan Institute.

“It’s just so insane… isn’t it? To not only run in the searing heat and sand swept terrain of the Sahara, but also ensure one’s safety against the perils of sandstorms, quicksand, cobras and scorpions that occur and inhabit the desert,” says Greig.

“It’s what makes it so appealing,” says Willie. “It’s the possible danger to one’s own safety and well-being that attracts me to this event. It allows you to examine your physical and mental capabilities, in a way that very few people will encounter in their lifetime.”

How they handle the physical and mental challenge of competing in such an event is a main driver in the pair entering this desert race. A no less important motivation to them is providing inspiration to clients, friends and family - that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things - with the right attitude, planning and preparation.

“I want to do this event because I feel like this race is the answer to the question I've had since I was little,” says Greig. “Can I run a little further, can I extend myself a bit further - I need to do this event to find out the answer.”

Greig and Willie also wanted to use the opportunity to make a difference. “We thought that it would be great to represent an organisation that has a positive impact in the Wellington community and after reviewing several charities, we agreed on the Malaghan Institute. It had the appeal of being a local organisation with global implications,” says Greig.

Their journey thus far has not been without its dramas. A mountain biking accident late last year resulted in a broken neck for Greig, while Willie is still recovering from a serious hamstring injury. Fortunately both are "tough as teak" and soldiered on to complete five marathons in five days a little over a month ago.

Supporters also gathered at Foxglove on the Wellington Waterfront on 28 Feb 2013 for a Sports Auction. Legendary sports broadcaster John McBeth MC’d what was a fun evening that raised $22,000.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Greig and Willie encourage you to support their fundraising efforts for the Malaghan Institute. They have set a significant goal of raising $50,000 and every donation counts.

View their fundraising page and sponsor them online. You can also visit their Facebook page by clicking here or searching Sahara Charity Challenge.

Conquering cancer begins within

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:59:33 +1300

Ask Malaghan Institute PhD student Taryn Osmond about how best to treat cancer and she will tell you to look within – within your immune system that is.

For decades, patients have been given bone marrow transplants to drive immune responses against cancers such as leukaemia. However, this can be a blunt tool that is often associated with toxicity to healthy tissues. What is needed is a better way of programming the immune system to target cancer cells more precisely, and this is where Taryn’s research comes in.

For the past three years Taryn has been working with Associate Professor Ian Hermans’ Vaccine Research Group on the development of a vaccine therapy for the treatment of cancer. As a result of Taryn’s research, we now have a clearer idea about which immune cells need to be targeted by the vaccine for optimal anti-tumour immune responses.

Taryn in Ottawa, Canada, attending a Keystone Symposium.

In December last year, Taryn presented her findings at the Rockefeller University in New York and at a Keystone Symposium in Ottawa, Canada entitled “Immunological Mechanisms of Vaccination”.

Being invited to speak at such a prestigious conference is testament to the quality of Taryn’s research.

Taryn says she is very grateful to the Wellington Division of the Cancer Society, The Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, the Genesis Oncology Trust and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (awarded by the Keystone Symposium panel) for helping make this trip possible.

“There were several hundred of my peers from around the world attending the conference, so it was very rewarding to be able to converse with so many other scientists in my research field,” she says. “My presentation went well and I had a lot of great questions afterwards.”

“I also gave a poster presentation that generated a lot of interest from scientists who were not in my specific field, as they wanted to understand my research better so they could relate it to their own individual areas of expertise.”

“Overall, it was a very successful conference and I received a lot of interesting information that will benefit the cancer vaccine research carried out at the Malaghan Institute.”

Taryn’s current focus is getting her research published. Particularly since she has now seen firsthand just how competitive and fast moving this area of cancer research is.

Looking to the future Taryn says she plans to continue her career in cancer immunotherapy, building on some of the connections she made while overseas.

The immune system has always fascinated Taryn and she feels passionately that with the right tools, it can be used to successfully treat cancer.

Running for Fun, Running for Good... Running for Research!

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:44:49 +1300

Sunday 17 February marked our second year as the Official Charity Partner of the iconic Wellington event AMI Round the Bays, and our third and most successful Run for Research to date.

Half Marathon winner Hamish Carson (R)

Sarah Christie (L)

Some of the 28 strong Team Politi Running for Research

Congratulations to our Top Fundraisers:

Top Individuals: Jason Pine - $1,865, Victoria Hale - $1,570, Darci Thompson - $1,180
Top Teams: Malaghan Staff - $8,303, The Woodsides - $2,970, Gilling Me Softly - $2,195

Malaghan Ambassadors Jason Pine and Melissa Moon

If you would like to find out more about the Run for Research or are keen to take part in 2014 please email runforresearch@malaghan.org.nz or contact Victoria Hale on 04 4996914 ext. 821

Cellular 'cannibalism' - a new target in the fight against gout?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:45:10 +1300

Latest research from the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research reveals how a form of neutrophil ‘cannibalism’ could help ease the symptoms of gouty arthritis.

Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis and is caused by the build-up of crystals of uric acid in and around the joints. The immune system reacts to the crystals as if they were viruses or bacteria, and it is the resulting inflammation that causes swelling, reddening of the skin and debilitating pain.

The prevalence of gout in New Zealand is twice that observed internationally, and it is three times more common in Māori and Pacific populations.

For some individuals experiencing an acute attack of gout, their symptoms will improve over time, without the need for treatment.

“We believe that understanding how and why gout inflammation spontaneously resolves in some situations will enable us to more quickly and effectively treat the disease,” says Dr Jacquie Harper, Head of the Malaghan Institute’s Arthritis & Inflammation research programme.

Her research, published this month in the international, peer-reviewed journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, has revealed that white blood cells called neutrophils could hold the key.

Neutrophils are one of the first inflammatory cells to respond to gout crystals. Part of the reason gout is so painful is because activated neutrophils release reactive oxygen species and bleach, which cause significant cell and tissue damage in the joints.

Previously thought to be primarily responsible for driving gout attacks, Dr Harper and PhD student Stefanie Steiger have now shown that neutrophils could also be part of a cure – once they start ‘eating’ each other that is!

“We have known for some time that the spontaneous resolution of gout inflammation is associated with elevated levels of a protein called TGF-β1 in the synovial fluid of the affected joint,” says Dr Harper. “This protein is produced by many different cells, we were surprised to discover that neutrophils can produce it too.”

Using a laboratory model of gout, Ms Steiger and Dr Harper showed that on contact with gout crystals, neutrophils release reactive oxygen species, and then die off. The dead neutrophils are then cleared by other neutrophils. This triggers the cells to produce TGF-β1, which minimises any further damage and shuts down inflammation.

“Our research has revealed a novel mechanism that contributes to the controlled resolution of gout,” says Dr Harper. “We are now exploring different ways to target neutrophil cannibalism in the joints, so we can switch off inflammation at the very early stages of a gout attack, thus minimising the pain it causes.”

This research was funded in part by the Wellington Medical Research Foundation.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

Steiger S, Harper JL (2013) Neutrophil cannibalism triggers transforming growth factor β1 production and self regulation of neutrophil inflammatory function in monosodium urate monohydrate crystal-induced inflammation in mice. Arthritis Rheum, 65:815-23.

Link to PubMed abstract.

IMAGE CAPTION

Malaghan Institute Gout Researchers Stefanie Steiger and Dr Jacquie Harper.

Dr Stocker to speak about cancer in Nelson next week

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:32:25 +1300

Dr Bridget Stocker will give a free public lecture at the Rutherford Hotel in Nelson next Wednesday, 13 March 2013.

Entitled 'Cancer Therapy - An Historic Perspective', Dr Stocker will overview what we know about cancer and the ways it which it can be treated, as well as provide more detailed insight into some of the modern approaches being investigated at the Malaghan Institute to treat the disease.

This event has been organised by Victoria University of Wellington and will also feature a talk by Dr Catherine Trundle from Victoria's School of Social and Cultural Studies on 'Social and Cultural Perspectives on Health'.

View the Media Advisory "Researchers to share insights on cancer and health" from Victoria University of Wellington about the event.

MORE About Dr Stocker's lecture

Human beings have experienced cancer throughout history, with the oldest recorded description of the disease dating back to 3000 BC. Since then, there has been much progress in mankind’s definition and understanding of cancer. The terminology ‘cancer’ (carcinos or carcinoma) was first used by Hippocrates (460-370 BC) to reflect the finger-like lesions that protrude from cancerous tissue and which call to mind the image of a crab. The cause of cancer, however, was not really understood until the 20th Century, when many different theories arose. Similarly, cancer treatments have undergone many evolutionary stages, with therapies such as surgery, radiation treatment and chemotherapy, being joined by more modern approaches such as immunotherapy and targeted drug treatments.

The lecture details:

Where: Rutherford Hotel, Trafalgar Square, Nelson
When: Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Time: 5.30 to 8 pm

IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND

People wishing to attend the lecture should email rsvp@vuw.ac.nz with 'Health' in the subject line or phone 04 472 1000 by Monday 11 March 2013.

Taking on the challenge of cancer immunotherapy

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:35:03 +1300

Talented young immunologist John Gibbins says it is his love of a good challenge that first drew him into science.

Currently in the final year of his PhD studies at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, John has been applying his problem solving skills to a promising new area of cancer treatment called adoptive cell therapy (ACT).

ACT targets the activation of the immune system to control the growth and spread of tumours. The process involves isolating a class of cancer-specific immune cells called CD8 T cells from a patient’s blood, activating them in the laboratory and then re-infusing the activated cells back into the patient. The end goal is to alert the patient’s immune system to the presence of their cancer, and provide it with the tools it needs to destroy it.

Adoptive cell transfer is currently limited by the ability of the activated T cells to survive in high numbers for an extended period of time. This is where John’s research has been focused.

Under the supervision of Assoc Prof Ian Hermans and Dr Troels Petersen, John has identified a specific subset of immune cells that help the CD8 T cells survive for longer and in greater numbers, in response to particular cancers of the blood. They are now investigating how best to use this new knowledge to boost the effectiveness of this form of anti-cancer treatment.

In December 2012, John presented his research findings at an international conference entitled Tumor Immunology: Multidisciplinary Science Driving Basic and Clinical Advances in Miami, Florida. John says he is very grateful to the Wellington Division of the Cancer Society, Leukemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand and the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, for helping making this trip possible, because it gave him the opportunity to speak with many of the world’s leading scientists within this field of research.

“Several of the talks at the conference were highly relevant to my own work, the highlight of which was a presentation by the world-renowned tumour immunotherapist, Dr Phillip Greenberg,” says John. “I learnt a great deal about the advances being made and problems encountered in current cancer immunotherapy.”

“Through this experience I have been able to develop networks for future research opportunities and collaborations, and came back home with lots of new ideas for my own research.”

Since his return to Wellington John has been busy in the lab putting some of these ideas into practice and has started writing up his thesis. As for the future, John says he is keen to pursue a career in adoptive cell therapy and to expand on his current knowledge of this rapidly evolving area of cancer research.

A painting a day for cancer research

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:31:36 +1300

Jan Thomson is an incredibly talented artist, with an inspirational story to share.

Nine years ago, she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. Despite a poor prognosis, Jan survived.

Throughout her treatment, Jan painted, an interest she had developed just two years prior to her cancer diagnosis.

“I learnt to paint by going out to Wellington's (sometimes wild) south coast, wrestling with the elements and trying to put down on paper what was in front of me,” says Jan. “This was an often frustrating, sometimes thrilling journey to embark on. At times I've been bitterly disappointed with my efforts, at other times awed by what I've managed to capture - and I guess that's what keeps a painter painting, you never know if the next one will have the wow factor!”

Now a full-time artist based in the Nelson Lakes, Jan recently raised $2850 in support of the Malaghan Institute's cancer research by auctioning a watercolour painting a day for a whole month.

“Cancer is something that affects all of us, and research into preventing it could save the life of someone close to you,” says Jan. "It has already saved mine!”.

Jan’s watercolour paintings measured approximately 180x140 mm, and sold on TradeMe for between $40 to $170.

On behalf of everyone at the Malaghan Institute, we extend Jan our utmost gratitude for doing such an amazing thing to support our cancer research. Your paintings are beautiful.

Half Marathon Winner Hamish Carson's Run for Research

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:42:28 +1300

Having been a short-mid distance competitive runner until AMI Round the Bays 2013, Run for Research entrant Hamish Carson’s debut half marathon ended up being one incredible achievement! Not only did his time of 1:08:51 secure him first place in AMI Round the Bays Half Marathon, but also first place in the Athletics New Zealand National Half Marathon Championships.

We caught up with Hamish post event to find out more about his ‘running’ life and why he believes in supporting medical research:

I started athletics when I was six but only got into it seriously when I started college - before then I'd been much more interested in skiing! When I was 12 I lived down in Wanaka and did a season of cross-country skiing and got really fit, so to start with running was just a way to keep fit when there was no snow around.

These days I run both because I love the competitive aspect and because it's so enjoyable being fit and able to run through the wilderness on long training runs. Thus far my main achievements have been winning two NZ senior 1500m titles and one 3000m title so to add the half marathon title to that was a bit of a surprise.

I've represented New Zealand once before in 2011 in the 1500m at the World University Games in China where I finished 10th. I was hoping to qualify for the Olympics last year but missed out on the selection standard of 3.35.5 by 2.5 seconds. Hopefully I can make it to Rio and the Commonwealth Games in Scotland next year.

I entered AMI Round the Bays through the Malaghan Institute’s limited Run for Research entries and was really happy to support medical research by entering the event. I became familiar with the Malaghan Institute when I started studying at Victoria University in 2007 and in my opinion scientific research in general deserves more support because it leads to knowledge that benefits people in their everyday lives.

It was great to see so many people taking part in AMI Round the Bays this year. Keeping active is so important to leading a healthy life and everyone I saw out there seemed to be having a great time. The cheers from the other runners and walkers coming around the peninsular really spurred us leading guys on running into the head wind on the way to the finish.

Having never raced a half marathon before I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I soon settled in to the pace and was able to hang in there despite numerous surges from Dr Dougal Thorburn and out sprint him in the last couple of kilometres. I felt pretty good at the end but it was a long way and don't think I'll be running a full marathon any time soon!

Thanks Hamish for supporting the Run for Research and congratulations on a fantastic achievement!

For those of you interested in seeing Hamish’s personal bests – have a look at these speedy times:

800m 1:50
1500m 3:38
1 mile 3:59
3000m 7:49
5000m 14:00

Results from AMI Round the Bays 2013:

Wellington's Fastest Suburb is.... PLIMMERTON

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:38:40 +1300

Thanks to everyone who came along to our tent on race day and took part in our little bit of inter-suburb fun at AMI Round the Bays 2013.

Normally at the Malaghan Institute we do serious research into things like cancer, infectious diseases and allergies, but for a bit of fun at AMI Round the Bays 2013 – and to help awareness for our cause – we decided to find out which Wellington suburb was the fastest.

The results are in, and we can tell you that Plimmerton came away with top honours. Those from Plimmerton who entered the Fastest Suburb competition clocked an average time of 4 mins and 34 seconds per kilometre (when both the 7km and half-marathon courses were combined). This made them a pretty swift suburb indeed.

So congratulations to everyone from Plimmerton who took part in the draw – you'll all be receiving an email soon about how to claim your special edition Plimmerton tee.

Dylan Guitry is Running for Research

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:56:22 +1300

Meet some of the awesome people who have joined the Run for Research as part of the 2013 AMI Round the Bays!

The Malaghan Institute is the Official Charity Partner of this iconic Wellington event coming up on Sunday 17 February and participants can choose to 'Run for Research' and fundraise to support what we do. Here we meet Dylan Guitry.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Already registered for the 2013 AMI Round the Bays?

If you have already registered for AMI Round the Bays you can raise money to support our research by choosing to ‘Run for Research’ and setting up an online fundraising page at www.runforresearch.co.nz where friends, family and colleagues can sponsor you. It's really easy to do and every dollar counts!

UNABLE TO TAKE PART ON THE DAY?

If you are unable to take part in the actual run, why not sponsor someone instead by clicking here.

Petrina Brenchley is Running for Research

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:57:50 +1300

Meet some of the awesome people who have joined the Run for Research as part of the 2013 AMI Round the Bays!

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Already registered for the 2013 AMI Round the Bays?

UNABLE TO TAKE PART ON THE DAY?

If you are unable to take part in the actual run, why not sponsor someone instead by clicking here.

Meghan Mutrie blogs about Malaghan

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:06:51 +1300

We are excited to announce that Meghan Mutrie, athlete, television presenter and sports reporter has come on board as a Malaghan Ambassador for the Run for Research! Meghan will be at AMI Round the Bays on Sunday to cheer on those doing the half marathon and will also be at the Malaghan tent at the end of the race – so be sure to come by and say hello. Last week after finding out she had been awarded Canada’s Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work with a global sports charity, Meghan visited the Institute for the first time and was inspired to write a blog which you can read below:

3.2 million people can't be wrong.

There's a Facebook page with 3.2 million 'likes' called 'ScienceIsSeriouslyAwesome’. The page posts crazy facts, incredible findings and amazing photos from the science world, all things that would've made you excitedly squirm in your seat in your high school science class but were too 'cool' to admit.

I am one of those closeted geeks - and I know there are more of us out there - but I only have pedestrian knowledge when it comes down to the subject of science; I love it, but I don't always understand it (insert joke about the opposite sex here). When I heard I'd be getting a tour of New Zealand's leading independent medical research institute, well, I got excited and showed up half an hour early.

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is the 2013 AMI Round the Bays Official Charity Partner. I'm an Ambassador for this year's event and as such, was privy to get my geek on for a guided tour of the institute. The purpose of my visit was to educate myself about what exactly the Malaghan does so that in turn, I can educate the public - but in conversational English.

It quickly became clear to me that there is a reason why the scientists get paid to find answers and I get paid to ask questions.

Vicky Hale showed me around the secure, sterile and almost intimidatingly pristine laboratories but her demeanor, coupled with the big personalities of the scientists I met, humanized the sleek institute. I sat down with Kylie Price, a Flow Cytometry Fellow (pardon me?) and was prepared to sink into my chair to let the majority of information sail over my head but Kylie was fluent in both scientist AND civilian speak.

Kylie talked to me (not at or over) using metaphors, personified the little macrophages and dendritic cells and was so genuinely passionate about flow cytometry that I ended up with an honest comprehension of what the Malaghan does.

The Institute is focused on finding the path to a cure for cancer, asthma and allergic diseases, multiple sclerosis, arthritis and infectious diseases. The scientists at the Malaghan believe the cures for all of these diseases lie in our own immune system and they tailor their research accordingly.

We walked around the rest of the building, peered into various laboratories, met more really cool scientists (no one had crazy hair and thick glasses like how I classically pictured them in my head) and 'played with' a million dollar cell sorter (I actually squealed with delight at one point). As into it as I was, I was mentally calculating the costs of running such a high-end medical research institute as this; it's hard to believe that it is independently funded.

Treating the Cause, Not the Symptom

Kiriana Ronaki is a 2-year-old New Zealander with a brain tumour. Her chances of survival are bleak even after they removed 80% of the tumour (about the size of an orange) but her amazing family and friends are courageously rallying around her during chemo and doing all they can.

Everyone will sadly have an anecdote of someone they know exactly like brave little Kiriana, and this will continue to be the case until we start treating the cause AS WELL AS the symptom. Kiriana and her family have nothing to do with the Malaghan, I just used her as one very real example of the thousands battling cancer within New Zealand, and the Malaghan just completed a brain tumour trial and is awaiting the results that could potentially help people like Kiriana.

Most Kiwis will encounter at least one of the diseases that the Malaghan is working to find a cure for; maybe not directly, but the statistical chances say you will and especially as NZ is such a small, tightly knit country. By supporting the Malaghan Institute, you are altruistically helping treat the cause, which hopefully in turn, reduces the number of symptoms, or people struck down by disease.

Of course I’m not saying to stop supporting your loved ones, and their loved ones, etc.! I'm just saying that maybe it's time we start thinking about our health differently; proactively versus reactively, long-term versus short-term, and as a whole instead of case-by-case scenarios, that sort of thing.

I used to babysit when I was 13 and at the end of the night when the parents would ask, 'what do you think you should be paid?' I would awkwardly stutter and scuff the ground then sulk off with a measly five-dollar bill. Moral of the story is that I’ve always terrible at asking for money so in this case, I’ll direct you to another Malaghan Ambassador, the lovely Jason Pine of Newstalk ZB. He has taken it upon himself to raise money for the Malaghan Institute by participating in the Run for Research as part of AMI Round the Bays and challenging another Ambassador (and World Champion runner, no big deal), Melissa Moon to train him.

Check out Jason and Melissa’s video below:

&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;To sponsor Jason visit: &amp;lt;a href="http://www.everydayhero.co.nz/jasonpine" mce_href="http://www.everydayhero.co.nz/jasonpine" target="_blank"&amp;gt;www.everydayhero.co.nz/jasonpine&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;To follow Jason's progress 'Like' the &amp;lt;a href="http://www.facebook.com/MalaghanInstitute" mce_href="http://www.facebook.com/MalaghanInstitute" target="_blank"&amp;gt;Malaghan Institute Facebook page&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you are registered for AMI Round the Bays and want to join those fundraising for the Malaghan Institute why not consider joining the Run for Research – there’s still time and every dollar you raise counts! Just visit &amp;lt;a href="http://www.runforresearch.co.nz/" mce_href="http://www.runforresearch.co.nz/"&amp;gt;www.runforresearch.co.nz&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and click ‘Fundraise now’.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;As far as the run itself, whatever your reason for getting involved with the AMI Round the Bays, good for you. Seriously. That wasn't a patronising comment. Whether you’re running it for yourself, a friend, to fundraise, beat a personal best or even just because, you’ll be another face in the biggest and strongest Round the Bays turnout in its history! I’m so impressed with the Wellington community and proud to be part of it.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;I'll be plodding my way through the half-marathon but am sticking around afterwards for the prize-giving. Please come say hello and I’d never turn down a hug. You’ll find me either at the finish line (I always get goose bumps watching everyday people at the end of their race) or in the Malaghan tent.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;See you in five days, Wellington!&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;x&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

To sponsor Jason visit: www.everydayhero.co.nz/jasonpine
To follow Jason's progress 'Like' the Malaghan Institute Facebook page

If you are registered for AMI Round the Bays and want to join those fundraising for the Malaghan Institute why not consider joining the Run for Research – there’s still time and every dollar you raise counts! Just visit www.runforresearch.co.nz and click ‘Fundraise now’.

As far as the run itself, whatever your reason for getting involved with the AMI Round the Bays, good for you. Seriously. That wasn't a patronising comment. Whether you’re running it for yourself, a friend, to fundraise, beat a personal best or even just because, you’ll be another face in the biggest and strongest Round the Bays turnout in its history! I’m so impressed with the Wellington community and proud to be part of it.

I'll be plodding my way through the half-marathon but am sticking around afterwards for the prize-giving. Please come say hello and I’d never turn down a hug. You’ll find me either at the finish line (I always get goose bumps watching everyday people at the end of their race) or in the Malaghan tent.

See you in five days, Wellington!

Team Woodside is Running for Research

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:37:00 +1300

Meet some of the awesome people who have joined the Run for Research as part of the 2013 AMI Round the Bays!

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Already registered for the 2013 AMI Round the Bays?

UNABLE TO TAKE PART ON THE DAY?

If you are unable to take part in the actual run, why not sponsor someone instead by clicking here.

Luke Pirie is Running for Research

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:45:49 +1300

Meet some of the awesome people who have joined the Run for Research as part of the 2013 AMI Round the Bays!

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Already registered for the 2013 AMI Round the Bays?

UNABLE TO TAKE PART ON THE DAY?

If you are unable to take part in the actual run, why not sponsor someone instead by clicking here.

Limited AMI Round the Bays Run for Research Entries - NOW CLOSED

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:17:16 +1300

Please note that expressions of interest for the limited Malaghan Institute Run for Research entries to AMI Round the Bays have now closed.

Thank you to everyone who has registered for AMI Round the Bays through these entries.

Daryl French is Running for Research

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:24:54 +1300

Meet some of the awesome people who have joined the Run for Research as part of the 2013 AMI Round the Bays!

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Already registered for the 2013 AMI Round the Bays?

UNABLE TO TAKE PART ON THE DAY?

If you are unable to take part in the actual run, why not sponsor someone instead by clicking here.

Te Makao Bowkett is Running for Research

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:08:40 +1300

Meet some of the awesome people who have joined the Run for Research as part of the 2013 AMI Round the Bays!

Full profile

I am the Apiha Maori at the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) and am responsible for working with Maori secondary school teachers who are members of the PPTA. Our national Maori executive members represent teachers from throughout New Zealand. Our main role is to promote Maori education in secondary schools and to support Maori teachers in professional, political and pastoral matters. We focus on the needs of our students and communities, and actively seek to be good credible role models for our people. Last year we entered a team in the ¼ Iron Maori event in Napier, that participated in running, cycling and swimming. The kaupapa was about health and wellbeing of all our whanau, and inclusive of all ages, gender and athletic ability, ranging from beginner to competitive levels. Post Iron Maori, we picked up the information on the Run for Research, hence my personal involvement in this year’s event. As educators we are in a strong position to influence life changing decisions and outcomes for our students and communities, this is part of the driving force for participating this year and in particular supporting the fund raising aspect in order to advance research that will impact positively on Maori health outcomes and improved quality of life.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Already registered for the 2013 AMI Round the Bays?

UNABLE TO TAKE PART ON THE DAY?

If you are unable to take part in the actual run, why not sponsor someone instead by clicking here.

Karori Fire Fighters Run for Research

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:03:28 +1300

Meet some of the awesome people who have joined the Run for Research as part of the 2013 AMI Round the Bays!

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Already registered for the 2013 AMI Round the Bays?

Haven't registered yet, but want to do the 7 km fun run:

The 7 km fun run for AMI Round the Bays 2013 has now sold out but there are still a limited number of Run for Research entries available through the Malaghan Institute. The entries cost $50 per person, $25 of which is donated to the Malaghan Institute in support of our research into cancer, asthma and allergy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious diseases.

Click here to register your interest today!

UNABLE TO TAKE PART ON THE DAY?

If you are unable to take part in the actual run, why not sponsor someone instead by clicking here.

Loren Barendregt Runs for Research

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:49:04 +1300

Meet some of the awesome people who have joined the Run for Research as part of the 2013 AMI Round the Bays!

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Already registered for the 2013 AMI Round the Bays?

UNABLE TO TAKE PART ON THE DAY?

If you are unable to take part in the actual run, why not sponsor someone instead by clicking here.

Greig and Willie come home for their final marathon

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:55:19 +1300

Wellington turned on its finest for the last leg of Greig Rightford and Willie Tokona's marathon effort - or perhaps that should be FIVE marathon efforts!

At 8.30 am this morning they set off from outside of Foxglove, supported by runners from the Malaghan Institute, Sport Wellington and the greater Wellington community. Their ~40 km run around Wellington's waterfront will mark the last of their five marathons in five days, which saw them in Dunedin, Christchurch, Rotorua and Auckland earlier this week.

Greig Rightford & Willie Tokona

Greig and Willie are in training and set to take part in the gruelling Marathon De Sables in early 2013. The legendary six day, 243km endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara is described by event organisers as “quite simply the toughest footrace on earth.”

“It’s just so insane… isn’t it? To not only run in the searing heat and sand swept terrain of the Sahara, but also ensure one’s safety against the perils of sandstorms, quicksand, cobras and scorpions that occur and inhabit the desert,” says Greig.

“It’s what makes it so appealing,” says Willie. “It’s the possible danger to one’s own safety and well-being that attracts me to this event. It allows you to examine your physical and mental capabilities, in a way that very few people will encounter in their lifetime.”

How they handle the physical and mental challenge of competing in such an event is a main driver in the pair entering this desert race. A no less important motivation to them is providing inspiration to clients, friends and family - that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things - with the right attitude, planning and preparation.

“I want to do this event because I feel like this race is the answer to the question I've had since I was little,” says Greig. “Can I run a little further, can I extend myself a bit further - I need to do this event to find out the answer.”

Greig & Willie's support crew!

Thanks Greig and Willie - you are an inspiration to us all!

Show your support for Greig and Willie here.

Radio DJ Jason Pine gets ready for the Run for Research with help from Melissa Moon!

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:53:47 +1300

Great news! Radio DJ Jason Pine, has agreed to Run for Research and support the Malaghan Institute in AMI Round the Bays 2013. Even better news – 2001 New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year, seven time national cross-country champion and two time world mountain running champion Melissa Moon will be training him! He's a bit unfit and so will need all the help he can get. But who better to think of ways to get him fit than an ex-world champ runner?

To sponsor Jason visit: www.everydayhero.co.nz/jasonpine
To follow Jason's progress 'Like' the Malaghan Institute Facebook page

&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

An evening for cancer research

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:31:13 +1200

Join us at Foxglove for the Sahara Charity Challenge Canapes & Auction, and hear why we’re tackling one of the world’s ultimate physical challenges.

Thursday, 28th February 2013, we'll be sending the boys off in style with a sumptuous event on the Wellington Waterfront. During the night we'll be running an auction of sought-after items including high profile sports memorabilia, sports and entertainment products, and many others.

All proceeds will be going to the Malaghan Institute.

Why are we doing this?

We're looking to test our limits in places we’ve never been by racing the Marathon of the Sands in April next year - 243 km run across the Sahara Desert over six days - it's described as "the toughest foot race in the world”.

Our entire campaign is dedicated to the Malaghan Institute - NZ's leading medical research facility, focused on finding cures for cancer, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious disease.

Along the way we hope to inspire others to take on extreme physical challenges, or just take the next step.

Order your tickets now!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Please join us on Facebook at Sahara Charity Challenge 2013 to follow our progress and tap into the training tips we'll post along the way.

Support the Run for Research

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 20:28:17 +1300

The Malaghan Institute is the Official Charity Partner of the 2013 AMI Round the Bays event in Wellington on Sunday 17 February!

As the Official Charity Partner we will be promoted during the lead up to the event and on the day. Anyone who registers to take part can choose to ‘Run for Research’ and fundraise to support the Malaghan Institute.

Run for Research individuals and teams helped raise an incredible $35,000 in the 2012 event, and with your help we are confident that we can reach our $50,000 target for 2013.

Limited AMI Round the Bays Run for Research Entries

The Malaghan Institute had a limited number of 'Run for Research' entries to the 7km event which allow you to take part and support our research. Please note expressions of interest for these entries have now closed.

Join the Run for Research!

If you have already registered for AMI Round the Bays you can raise money to support our research by choosing to ‘Run for Research’ and setting up an online fundraising page at www.runforresearch.co.nz where friends, family and colleagues can sponsor you. It's really easy to do and every dollar counts!

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Sponsor someone taking part&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;If you are unable to take part in this event, you can still show your support by sponsoring someone you know who is ‘Running for Research’, or by sponsoring a Malaghan scientist or staff member who is taking part. Just visit &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.runforresearch.co.nz/" mce_href="http://www.runforresearch.co.nz/" target="_blank"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;www.runforresearch.co.nz&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; and click on ‘sponsor a friend’ in the top navigation bar.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Volunteer&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;If you are available on the day (Sunday 17 February 2013), why not join the volunteer group helping make the event possible? To register your interest please email &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="mailto:runforresearch@malaghan.org.nz" mce_href="mailto:runforresearch@malaghan.org.nz"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;runforresearch@malaghan.org.nz&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; with your contact details.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Help spread the word by forwarding this on to your friends, family and colleagues&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Please spread the word and help make the Run for Research fundraiser a great success. With your help we can increase awareness of the research being conducted by the Malaghan Institute right here in New Zealand.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;S&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;upport the Run for Research as "Every Step Brings Us Closer to a Cure"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Sponsor someone taking part

If you are unable to take part in this event, you can still show your support by sponsoring someone you know who is ‘Running for Research’, or by sponsoring a Malaghan scientist or staff member who is taking part. Just visit www.runforresearch.co.nz and click on ‘sponsor a friend’ in the top navigation bar.

Volunteer

If you are available on the day (Sunday 17 February 2013), why not join the volunteer group helping make the event possible? To register your interest please email runforresearch@malaghan.org.nz with your contact details.

Help spread the word by forwarding this on to your friends, family and colleagues

Please spread the word and help make the Run for Research fundraiser a great success. With your help we can increase awareness of the research being conducted by the Malaghan Institute right here in New Zealand.

Support the Run for Research as "Every Step Brings Us Closer to a Cure"

Vicki Watson's Cycle Challenge

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:42:31 +1300

Vicki Watson, Director of Diversified Investment Strategies in Auckland, decided that participating in the recent nine day 551km Queensland Cycle Challenge would be a great way to fundraise for the Malaghan Institute. A big thank you to Vicki who completed the event and raised over $1200!

Vicki's personal account of the cycling journey:

I woke up numerous times frozen and disorientated trying to shrink into a fetal position to warm my feet from hanging over the edge of my ¾ inflatable mattress. The first night of my adventure proved to be not as balmy as I expected. Camping in Gayndah in central Queensland can be very cold at night. Gayndah was our starting point of the Queensland Cycle Challenge. We arrived there after a very early flight from Auckland and then a 5 hour bus trip.

1. One of the many campsites

After shivering through the night, finally it was Saturday morning. The excitement was certainly mounting along with the nerves – would, could I make it through the week? The first anxious moment - had the bikes survived the journey? After locating my bike from one-of-a- thousand and extracting it from its bag, I was relieved to see the myriad of bubble wrap and the milk container over the derailleur had served its purpose. The first day didn’t start until 12 noon and if Gayndah was cold overnight it was now 27 degrees – a bit of a shock after cycling in Auckland in August.

2. One of the many Tents - yes it is a Tent

We were off. I am sure the first day was set to test the “stayers” from the “players”. Who thinks Australia is flat? The first day tested our endurance through heat and a 4km, 9% climb. This climb proved to be the only time there was an accident involving a vehicle when a car and caravan driven by a “Grey Nomad” (as they are affectionately known in Australia) passed on a double line and then pulled in on top of cyclists as an oncoming truck and trailer appeared around the corner. Caroll and I proved to be “stayers” with first day completed successfully. This was the only day that all cyclists started off together – quite a spectacular sight.

Another freezing night and then a very early start – too cold to sleep. Each day began with a hearty breakfast, fabulous latte from the coffee van and packing up a wet tent (heavy dew) and camping gear. We would throw our bags onto the truck (at least it was supported) and we‘d be off, most days leaving camp between 7-8am.

Day two we were on the move as the first day was a loop ride so we didn’t have to pack up. They were kind to us on this day as only 65 km and mostly flat – mind you their idea of flat is different than mine even though I am used to cycling in Auckland.

The 3rd day. I woke up this morning and managed to extricate myself out of the tent with the quad muscle kicking and screaming into life. 84km was the ride distance today. I was lulled into a gentle pedal up until morning tea, coasting along a mostly downhill tree lined shaded road - beautiful. Actually, the rest of the ride was rather good too as I managed to get with a peloton cycling at a slightly faster pace than I would normally ride but got dragged along with them until lunch time. This really helped conserve my energy.

Magpie Helmets

Magpies on various days were a problem with one chap having a nasty spill trying to avoid the Maggies (even Magpies have a knick name in Oz). Many cyclists tied various bits and pieces to their helmets and bikes to deter the pesky birds. These folk were the most decorative:

4. Rest Stop at Hervey Bay

Day 4 – one more day before rest day. This was a ride on quite a busy highway into Hervery Bay. Not too taxing being only 57 km. Finally we were at the coast at morning tea and the first opportunity to rest beside the seashore. Our campsite was right down by the beach, but wasn’t warm enough for me to brave a swim.

On our rest day you can only guess at what Caroll and I decided to do. That’s right, cycle into the town. Mind you it was only 10km there and back. Coffee, fish & chips, and ice creams were deliciously consumed without guilt after all of our cycling.

Bridge

After our rest day we had two rather challenging days ahead - one of 81 km and then the biggy 102 km. They really pulled out all the stops with the last 25 km all hills. Actually, I found the hilly last 25 km the easiest section of the 102 km ride, compared to the morning session which was flat and with a strong head wind. At least with hills you get a bit of a rest as you go whizzing down the other side. We slept well that night.

You didn’t want to suffer from vertigo on this one:

Each night when you arrived in camp one of the most time consuming tasks was finding your bag.

We were rewarded each night with hot showers and hearty meals. The organisation was absolutely amazing to provide and feed nearly a 1000 riders and numerous volunteers and staff.

Country Life Hotel

Various morning and afternoon tea stops were along the route and one was just alongside this old hotel. As can be seen by the lineup of bikes under the verandah many gave the water and healthy snacks a miss in preference for a beer at the “Country Life Hotel”. I can vouch that Caroll and I were not among them – hard enough getting up the hills without a beer on board.

Day 8 was a ride from Gympie to Cooroy. Cooroy was a lovely little settlement. I probably had nice thoughts about it as this was our last night of camping. Then on the final day we only had a 30km ride through beautiful green lush forests down into Noosa Heads.

We made it - Caroll and I at the finish line

The whole ride was a fantastic experience – I loved every minute and didn’t want it to end.

Cheers, Vicki

Cycle Queensland 2012 - Gayndah to Noosa: "Citrus to Sea"

Day 1: Gayndah Loop 56km
Day 2: Gayndah to Biggenden 65km
Day 3: Biggenden to Maryborough 84km
Day 4: Maryborough to Hervey Bay 83km
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Hervey Bay to Tiaro 79km
Day 7: Tiaro to Gympie 95km
Day 8: Gympie to Cooroy 59km
Day 9: Cooroy to Noosa 30km

The Great New Zealand Trek

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:14:44 +1300

Registrations are now open for the 2013 Great New Zealand Trek organised by the GNZT Charitable Trust!

It’s not often a holiday combines walking, horse riding or mountain biking through some of New Zealand’s most beautiful countryside with raising funds for important medical research but that’s exactly what the week long Great New Zealand Trek offers to walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

Trek co-ordinator and Trustee of the GNZT Charitable Trust, Kitty Johnson, says next year’s trek from February 23 to March 3 is stage eight in the series which will, over the next eight years, traverse the length of New Zealand. Stage eight begins at Alfredton and ends at Lake Ferry in the Wairarapa.

“We have people of all ages taking part. The youngest has been seven and the oldest in their 80s,” says Kitty.

Each day’s trek covers around 30km but doing just half that distance is an option for walkers, thanks to the fleet of support vehicles which accompany the trek.

“We also have marshals on quad bikes who will give walkers a ride up steeper parts of the route and you often see horse riders dismounting to give tired walkers a ride along the way. Everyone helps each other.”

Stages one to seven have attracted an average of 240 participants and 80 volunteers and hopes are high that stage eight, the last leg in the North Island, will be just as popular.

“Some people, including a woman horse rider who has multiple sclerosis, have completed all seven treks so far,” says Kitty.

Trekkers need only take their tents and personal gear. Everything else is catered for and at the end of each day a mini town is set up with marquee, hot showers, flush toilets and caterers. There is a ‘fuel stop’ half way along the day’s trek and medics, a farrier and vet travel with the trekkers.

So far the treks have raised $174,000 for MS; over $100,000 of this has been donated to the Malaghan Institute for MS research and the Trust is committed to raising more money to help the Malaghan Institute find answers for the debilitating disease of the central nervous system.

Kitty says “It's a special week of camaraderie and an opportunity to meet new people while going to places very much off the beaten track, with a unique support team ensuring everyone gets the most from the experience - and supporting a great cause.”

For more information on The Great New Zealand Trek and to find out how you can get involved in the last North Island stage, please visit their website at www.greatnewzealandtrek.com or phone Kitty Johnson on 06 874 3262.

Just Paterson Malaghan Month

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:22:24 +1300

Since 2009, when Just Paterson lost their amazing company co-founder, wife and mother; Sally Paterson; to glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer - they've been raising funds for our research into a vaccine for the disease. Our ceremony in November was to honour the partnership, and in recognition of the $200,000 they'd raised for us over the three years; not realising that they had another cheque to present. We were thrilled to put Just Paterson on the honours board and we followed the ceremony by a tour for all of the Just Paterson team. It was a great afternoon and we're thankful for their enduring support.

As a valued member of the Malaghan community we'd love you to support them by logging on and liking them at www.facebook.com/justpaterson and stay up-to-date with us at www.facebook.com/MalaghanInstitute.

Honouring the memory of Sally Paterson

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:20:12 +1300

Yesterday we had Ian and Marcia Paterson, and their team from Just Paterson Real Estate, visit the Malaghan Institute to attach a plaque to our Honours Board in memory of Sally Paterson. Sally - a beloved wife of Ian, mother and co-founder of Just Paterson - tragically passed away from glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer, in 2009.

Director Prof Graham Le Gros says that he feels humbled by the incredible support we have received from Just Paterson Real Estate, who have raised over $240,000 towards our glioblastoma multiforme vaccine research. The money has been raised from a portion of fees on properties sold, fundraising events and community donations.

“Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly aggressive brain tumour," says Assoc Prof Ian Hermans, who heads the Malaghan Institute's cancer vaccine programme. "The standard treatments are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but the tumour rapidly becomes resistant, and ultimately fatal. Our current research, which the Just Paterson funding is contributing to, is examining whether vaccines can be used to stimulate an immune response to tumour cells in the brain, and whether this approach can be combined effectively with chemotherapy. Our laboratory data suggest that the relationship between the immune system and chemotherapy is very complex, but we are hopeful that opportunities exist to combine the two treatments to provide better outcomes.”

On behalf of everyone at the Malaghan Institute, we offer our utmost gratitude to Ian, his family, and the Just Paterson team, for their unwavering dedication in Sally's memory.

Read more about some of the recent research that Just Paterson Real Estate has helped support.

A new vaccine therapy for brain cancer

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:20:50 +1300

MEDIA RELEASE

What do you do when you are faced with terminally ill patients that want to trial a promising immunotherapy but are too sick to provide the immune cells necessary for it to work? If you are Wellington-based Neurosurgeon Mr Martin Hunn, you head back to the laboratory and find another way.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumour, with an extremely poor prognosis.

The standard treatments for GBM are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but the tumour rapidly becomes resistant to these therapies, making it ultimately fatal in almost all cases. There is an urgent need to develop novel therapies for this disease.

“We hypothesised that by acting through entirely different mechanisms, therapies that activate the immune system might succeed in attacking GBM tumours where standard treatments have failed,” says Mr Hunn.

Immunotherapy has been explored as a potential treatment option for brain cancers for some time. Here in New Zealand, Mr Hunn, along with colleagues at Wellington Hospital and the Malaghan Institute, recently completed a Phase I GBM vaccine trial at Wellington Hospital, the outcomes of which will be available next year.

The vaccines used in these trials are typically created from the patient’s tumour tissue – the target, and dendritic cells - the immune cells that direct the anti-tumour immune response.

“The problem however is that some GBM patients are so unwell it can be difficult to isolate enough dendritic cells from their blood to prepare a vaccine,” says Mr Hunn.

In parallel to his clinical work, Mr Hunn therefore undertook some laboratory-based research in collaboration with Associate Professor Ian Hermans and colleagues from the Malaghan Institute, to see if they could simplify their approach by removing the need for dendritic cells to be present in the vaccine.

Their research, published recently in the peer-reviewed international journal Clinical Cancer Research, shows that a vaccine consisting of only tumour cells and an immune-boosting adjuvant is an effective treatment for brain tumours (gliomas) in a mouse model.

“Our research has shown that we can evoke a tumour-specific, long-lasting immune response that is strong enough to kill glioma tumours by targeting the activation of dendritic cells already present inside the mouse,” says Mr Hunn. “In some instances we saw the complete disappearance of tumour lesions as detected by magnetic resonance imaging.”

One of the reasons Mr Hunn thinks this new immunotherapy approach has such great promise is because of the adjuvant included in the vaccine to boost the anti-tumour immune response – a compound derived from marine sponges called α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer).

While this new vaccine therapy has been developed in mice, early indications are that GBM cancer patients have the immune system ‘machinery’ required for the therapy to work equally well in humans.

”We believe our research has identified a simple vaccine that could be an effective treatment for a group of patients who currently face an extremely poor prognosis,” says Mr Hunn.

This research was supported by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, the Wellington Medical Research Foundation and Just Paterson Real Estate. Mr Hunn was supported by a New Zealand Health Research Council Clinical Fellowship, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Surgical Research Trust.

FOR ALL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:

Mr Martin Hunn on 04 499 6914 ext 841 or by email mhunn@malaghan.org.nz; or Associate Professor Ian Hermans on 04 499 6914 ext 823, or by email at ihermans@malaghan.org.nz.

Research Publication Details

Hunn MK, Farrand KJ, Broadley KW, Weinkove R, Ferguson P, Miller RJ, Field CS, Petersen T, McConnell MJ, Hermans IF Vaccination with irradiated tumor cells pulsed with an adjuvant that stimulates NKT cells is an effective treatment for glioma. Clin Cancer Res, 2012 Nov 12 [Epub ahead of print] Link to PubMed abstract.

About the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

Media release issued by Dr Debbie Scarlett, Science Communications Adviser, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. Contact: dscarlett@malaghan.org.nz or (04) 499 6914 ext 896.

See our Sahara Charity Challengers Greig and Willie on Choice TV today!

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:11:45 +1300

Josh Kronfeld, Greig Rightford, Willie Tokona and April Leremia.

Willie Tokona and Greig Rightford are preparing for the Marathon of the Sands (Sahara Charity Challenge 2013) and whilst doing so are raising money for the Malaghan Institute.

The boys have had a few recent challenges, none more so than Greig breaking his neck in an accident and Willie ripping his hamstring from the bone. But these lads are as tough as teak and are soldiering on. Why don’t you check out their facebook page and follow the trials and tribulations of two incredibly generous characters.

Choice TV are airing an interview with Willie and Greig today, Monday 26th November, at 10.00am and replayed at 11.30 pm (Freeview 12 / Sky Channel 78).

NB: Greig is the one in a neck brace!!

Boosting immune responses against leukaemia

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:54:15 +1300

MEDIA RELEASE

In the first of its kind, a translational study undertaken at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research has revealed that boosting the activity of a rare type of immune cell could be an effective way to vaccinate patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) against their own cancer.

CLL is the most common blood cancer in New Zealand. The prevalence of CLL increases with age, reaching 1 in 400 in individuals over 70 years old. Although many people with CLL never need treatment, a significant number of patients are diagnosed at a young age or have aggressive disease, exhausting conventional therapies.

Haematologist Dr Robert Weinkove says that bone marrow transplantation is the only curative treatment for CLL and involves replacing the immune system of patients with that of a matched donor.

“Part of the reason that bone marrow transplants work is that the new (donor) immune system recognises the leukaemia cells as foreign and destroys them,” says Dr Weinkove. “This is a good demonstration of how immune therapies can successfully cure established cancers in humans.”

Bone marrow transplants are not without their problems however. Not all patients find a donor; patients are prone to infections for months or even years afterwards; and the treatment itself can be so toxic that it is not suitable for many patients.

“To identify more targeted, low risk immune therapies, we focused on a rare type of immune cell called invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells,” says Dr Weinkove.

Previous research at the Malaghan Institute and overseas has shown that iNKT cells can be activated by a compound called α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), which was first found in a Japanese marine sponge. This leads to significantly enhanced tumour-specific immune responses.

While iNKT cells are promising targets for immunotherapies, in many cancer patients iNKT cell numbers are either reduced, or the cells do not work properly. Since iNKT cells had never been characterised in patients with CLL before, Dr Weinkove launched a collaborative study between the Wellington Hospital Blood and Cancer Centre and the Malaghan Institute, to determine the number, phenotype and function of iNKT cells in people with this form of leukaemia.

Between 2008 and 2011, Dr Weinkove collected blood samples from 40 patients with CLL and from 30 healthy volunteers of a similar age, from the greater Wellington region. He then undertook a series of laboratory tests to compare the number and function of the iNKT cells from these individuals.

This study, which has recently been published in the open-access, international scientific journal Haematologica, constitutes the first comprehensive investigation of iNKT cell numbers and function in patients with CLL.

“We found that we could detect and isolate iNKT cells from individuals with CLL, and that these cells were able to respond to α-GalCer,” says Dr Weinkove. “This is important because it suggests that iNKT cells remain functional in these patients, and that targeting them with treatments like α-GalCer might be a way of enhancing their ability to drive anti-cancer immune responses.”

Having shown such great promise in the laboratory, the next step will be to see if these results can be replicated in patients.

“Designing and running safe clinical trials is a major undertaking, but we are exploring a number of ideas, including the possibility of giving α-GalCer to patients with blood cancers to boost their immune responses,” says Dr Weinkove.

This work complements the dendritic cell cancer vaccination programme at the Malaghan Institute.

This research was supported by grants from the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation, Genesis Oncology Trust and NZ Lottery Grants Board. Dr Weinkove also received support from a Genzyme New Investigators Scholarship through the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Publication Details:

Weinkove R, Brooks CR, Carter JM, Hermans IF, Ronchese F (2012) Functional invariant natural killer T cell and CD1d axis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: implications for immunotherapy. Haematologica, doi: 10.3324/haematol.2012.072835

For all enquiries please contact:

Dr Robert Weinkove on (04) 499 6914 or by email rweinkove@malaghan.org.nz

About the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

Dr Bridget Stocker awarded Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:16:07 +1300

Congratulations to Dr Bridget Stocker on being awarded a Sir Charles Hercus Research Fellowship from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, to develop novel cancer therapies.

Head of the Immunoglycomics Research Group at the Malaghan Institute, Dr Stocker's research focus is in understanding the role of carbohydrates in immune responses, and applying this knowledge to the development of more effective therapies for diseases such as cancer, asthma and tuberculosis.

Dr Stocker's Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship is for $500,000 over four years and will be used to support the cancer project 'Switching off tumour-promoting immune cells to develop novel cancer therapies'.

From the Health Research Council of New Zealand's media release: "To date, much work in immunology has focused on making “good” immune cells work stronger and faster. However, not all immune cells are good. Dr Stocker, a specialist in chemistry and immunology at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, will use the funds from the fellowship to explore ways to remove “bad” immune cells or convert them back to a good type using two unique classes of “immunomodulators”. This research will help to develop new cancer therapies."

Read more about Dr Stocker and her research programmes at the Malaghan Institute.

Scope 49 - ‘Punching’ holes and fruit punch - our next asthma therapies?

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:13:25 +1300

As often happens in science, a stumbling block in one area of research can present a solution for another.

While working on the development of a dendritic cell cancer vaccine, Prof Franca Ronchese’s research team discovered that specialised cells called cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were killing off the dendritic cells before they could do their job. Although this presented somewhat of a problem to the long-term effectiveness of the cancer vaccine, it raised the possibility that CTL killing of dendritic cells could be used to turn off unwanted immune responses – such as those that cause asthma.

It is the influx of immune cells into the airways that causes the symptoms of asthma. If we can stop this from happening, then in theory, we can prevent the development of an asthma attack. Previous research had shown that activated CTLs can prevent airway inflammation, but we didn’t know how. Prof Ronchese’s research has now revealed that activated CTLs can kill allergen-presenting dendritic cells in the airways by effectively ‘punching’ holes in them, through release of a pore-forming protein called perforin. With fewer dendritic cells around to activate the disease-mediating Th2 cells in the airways, there is consequently less allergic airway inflammation. Identifying how best to target the activity of these cells with immunotherapy is the subject of ongoing investigation.

We all know fruit is good for us; it is loaded with fibre and vitamins and tastes great too. But did you know that some fruits might actually help reduce the lung inflammation associated with asthma? In collaboration with Plant & Food Research, Dr Jacquie Harper and her Arthritis and Inflammation team have shown that certain fruits can reduce the influx of damage-causing inflammatory cells into the lung in experimental models of asthma. This is an exciting area of research that could lead to the development of fruit-based foods for improving the management of inflammatory conditions such as asthma

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Scope 49 - Teaching our immune system the necessities of life

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:17:29 +1300

Why a good ‘immune’ education is so important.

It is now widely accepted that allergic diseases such as eczema, asthma, food allergy and hayfever, are mediated by the immune system. The role of the immune system is to defend us from external infections ranging from the tiniest viruses to large parasitic worms. Before it can do so however, like a young child, it needs to be taught right from wrong.

From birth, our body is in constant interaction with its environment, which either supports or attacks it. Newborn infants are protected during this vulnerable period by their mother’s antibodies through breast milk, but as they grow and develop, so too does their own immune system. The thymus is where the immune system receives its initial training before we are born. It is now hypothesised that the gut is where the immune system continues this education, and learns about normal safe environmental bugs and commensal microbes, and what are dangerous pathogens and toxins.

In allergic individuals however, the immune system seems to get this wrong. One theory is that the development of their immune system is suppressed from a lack of childhood exposure to infectious agents, symbiotic microorganisms and parasites, resulting in the increased incidence of allergy. Whether this is the consequence of the immune system not learning the necessities at the right time of life is unknown. Though it would make sense that by removing the good bugs that help train our immune cells, along with the bad pathogens that cause disease, we are inadvertently interfering with our immune system’s natural education.

Here at the Malaghan Institute, our scientists believe that the key to tackling the growing global epidemic of allergic disease is to re-educate the allergic immune response through the use of vaccines. In this issue of Scope, we update you on our progress.

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Scope 49 - Halting the ‘allergic march’

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:30:06 +1300

Numerous studies have shown that childhood allergic diseases can progress from one form to another throughout a child’s life – a phenomenon termed the ‘allergic march’.

Eczema is usually the first sign of allergic disease in young infants and is often associated with an underlying food allergy. As children outgrow their food allergies they are likely to go on to develop asthma. Then as their asthma improves, they can be affected by hay fever in their teenage years.

Scientists now believe that prevention of allergic disease early in life is critical, to halt progression along the allergic march. Since allergic disease is immune-mediated, the most obvious target for new therapies is the earliest stages of the allergic Th2 immune response.

The Th2 immune response normally functions to protect us from parasitic worm infections. Why it reacts to house dust mites or food proteins (referred to as allergens) in some children is unclear. What we do know however, is that a child doesn’t just suddenly become allergic – their immune system has to have seen the allergens beforehand and become sensitised to them.

Specialised immune cells called dendritic cells (DC) play a central role in this early sensitisation process (see diagram). They are present in tissues such as the skin, nose, lungs and gut, so are one of the first cell types to encounter potential allergens. The dendritic cells respond to the allergens by activating naïve T cells to Th2 cells, though surprisingly little is known about the mechanisms involved. This triggers a cascade of events - including IgE antibody production and release of histamine from mast cells – that cause the itching, swelling and wheezing we associate with allergy.

By unlocking the secrets of the allergic switch that signals the early development of allergy, our scientists are revealling key targets for therapies aimed at halting its progression.

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Scope 49 - From the Director

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:46:18 +1300

New Zealand has a problem and it’s not mollycoddled kids, or overzealous parents - generation A, the allergy generation has been born.

The evidence lies all around us. Local supermarkets now regularly stock a wide variety of dairy-free or gluten-free foods, something that would have been a rare find a generation ago. Most early childhood centres are peanut-free and dinner invitations routinely request notification of any special dietary requirements. So what has happened - why now in the 21st century, is allergic disease such a global health issue? The sad truth is that we just don’t know.

Compared to our grandparents, our lifestyles are different. Our children spend more time indoors and there is a growing obsession with antibacterial products; but whether these alone account for the explosion of allergic disease in recent years remains unknown.

Before we can start developing therapies that more effectively treat asthma and allergy, we first need to understand the allergic disease process. In recent years we have made significant progress into unravelling the very early stages of the allergic immune response, which we believe holds the key to treating allergic disease. In this issue of Scope, we highlight this important work.

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Scope 49 - Scratching the surface of the Th2 immune response

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:56:32 +1300

The skin is a unique organ in that it interfaces directly with both the immune system and the external environment.

On a daily basis our skin is exposed to bacteria, fungi and viruses, as well as a multitude of potential allergens – basically anything we touch has the potential to evoke an immune response. Fortunately for most of us, the protective barrier function of the skin stops this from happening.

Allergic reactions in the skin are normally associated with eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis – a dry and scaly rash that can be unbearably itchy. House dust mites, moulds and animal dander can all trigger eczema in sensitised children. Eczema symptoms can also indicate the presence of an underlying food allergy.

Recently, several candidate immune signaling proteins called cytokines have been proposed as the link between allergens, the skin epithelium and the development of the allergic immune response. One molecule in particular, called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), has been identified as playing a significant role in driving the development of allergic disease in humans.

Allergic & Parasitic Diseases PhD student Sotaro Ochiai is using novel disease models and flow cytometry techniques to investigate how TSLP instructs dendritic cells to activate naïve T cells and initiate the Th2 immune response.

This knowledge will help us determine if TSLP is a potential target for therapies aimed at treating and preventing eczema, and other allergic diseases.

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Scope 49 - Getting to the guts of food allergy

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:03:23 +1300

Through the development of novel experimental models our scientists have been able to reveal for the first time, the earliest cellular and molecular events involvedin allergic sensitisation in the gut.

In Scope 46 we reported how Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom and Prof Graham Le Gros had used these models to make the startling discovery that under some circumstances, exposure of the skin to peanuts can lead to the development of peanut specific allergic immune
responses. Their work also highlighted the importance of concomitant Staph infections in amplifying this process in individuals with eczema.

In related research, Prof Le Gros’ PhD student Marcus Robinson has been working with Dr Ali Hodgkinson from AgResearch to understand why milk is an allergen. Cow’s milk is one of the most common causes of food allergy in infants, affecting one in 50 children. The ultimate goal of Marcus’ work is to define the factors that contribute to milk allergy and apply this knowledge to the development of an allergy friendly infant formula.

When Marcus first started this project, very little was known about the complex interactions between the gut and the host immune system. By dissecting apart the various cytokines and cell types involved, Marcus has built up an extensive picture of the many factors that contribute to the allergic disease process in the gut. He has also made significant progress into understanding how the immune system in the gut responds to milk and what components of milk contribute to the development of allergy. This work is currently being prepared for publication.

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Scope 49 - Why New Zealand needs this research

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:52:25 +1300

New Zealand’s asthma and allergy rates are amongst the highest in the world, affecting up to 20% of our population.

“We thought we could stop the onslaught of allergic disease by removing the cause – if there was a family history of food allergy, parents were encouraged to delay the introduction of high risk foods,” says Prof Graham Le Gros. “However, since implementing these avoidance strategies, asthma and allergy rates have actually gone up.”

“What we need is a more rational approach, which can only be achieved through evidence-based knowledge about the allergic disease process.”

The collective goal of the Malaghan Institute’s asthma and allergy research is to develop an immunotherapy or vaccine that specifically shuts down the allergic Th2 immune response before it has the chance to cause any damage. The steroid inhalers currently used to treat allergic disease work in the same way, only they suppress all immune responses – both good and bad. This can leave users more susceptible to common infections.

Immunotherapy is a far better approach for treating allergic disease, because it targets the underlying cause of the allergic disorder, not just the symptoms.

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Scope 49 - Join us in the Run for Research!

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:57:49 +1300

With summer fast approaching, so too is another exciting event – the 2013 AMI Round the Bays on Sunday 17 February! Once again we’re the Official Charity Partner of this iconic event.

Our Run for Research fundraiser provides a fantastic opportunity to take part in AMI Round the Bays and show your support of our scientists.

Earlier this year individuals and teams helped raise an incredible $35,000 in the Run for Research – and with your help we are confident this record can be broken!

You don’t have to be the super fit, athletic kind to take part – the main event is an enjoyable and achievable 7km fun run/walk around the beautiful bays of Wellington.

How can you help? Join the Run for Research fundraiser and represent us at the start line! Participate with your family, friends, school, colleagues or any group you wish. If you are unable to take part but you still want to show your support – let us know. You will be able to make a donation in support of someone taking part, and there will be volunteer opportunities during the lead up to the event.

Why is it important to us? We love Wellington and this is a great way to get involved with our local community. It’s also an active way to raise awareness of the Malaghan Institute, the important research we do and help raise funds to keep it going.

For more information:
• please visit www.malaghan.org.nz/runforresearch
• contact Victoria Hale on 04 4996914 ext. 821
• email runforresearch@malaghan.org.nz

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Scope 49 - Melissa Moon wants you to join her

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:03:29 +1300

World renowned Wellington runner and Malaghan Run for Research Ambassador, Melissa Moon, is a firm believer in supporting charities that help our communities in a positive way, and she wants you to join her in supporting the 2013 Run for Research.

“Every one of the 12,000 participants will know of someone who is affected by one of the conditions the Institute researches from cancer to arthritic conditions. For me personally I suffer from allergies, both food and pollen based, which can be very debilitating as an athlete and in general daily life,” says Melissa.

“The Run for Research combines a passion of mine - running and exercise - with an important cause in our society. With over 12,000 people expected to participate in this wonderful Wellington event it is a fantastic opportunity to create valuable awareness of what the Malaghan Institute is all about - improving the health of people in our community.”

“Education and research not only provides me with hope and answers, but does the same for our wider community.”

“Please join me in supporting the Run for Research - together we can make a real difference.”

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Scope 49 - News under the microscope

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:07:15 +1300

Malaghan Month at Just Paterson

October was Malaghan Month at Just Paterson Real Estate. They celebrated three years of partnership with the Malaghan Institute and since 2009 - when they lost their much loved company co-founder, wife and mother Sally Paterson to brain cancer - they’ve been raising funds to help the Malaghan Institute find a vaccine for the disease. In the three years to date, they have raised over $190,000 and for Malaghan Month they upped the ante. During October, they donated $1,000 to the Malaghan Institute for every house sold and also celebrated the partnership with some fun activities, which saw the company holding many special events to raise funds for, and awareness of, the cancer vaccine work of the Malaghan Institute. This is going to be an annual undertaking, so be sure to ‘like’ the Just Paterson Facebook page (www.facebook.com/JustPaterson) and you can keep up-to-date with all the fun for next year!

Franca NEXT woman of the Year Finalist

We would like to congratulate our very own Prof Franca Ronchese on being named as a finalist for the 2012 NEXT Woman of the Year awards. Although she didn’t win, this recognition of Franca’s tireless dedication to the development of a more effective immune-based therapy for cancer is an inspiration to us all.

Every little bit counts

Recently we had a visit from two very special young ladies who generously donated their pocket money to the Just Paterson Malaghan account. Their mum Anna said it was the girls’, Ruba (8yrs) and Rose (6yrs), idea to give their pocket money with a vision to “help buy some new lab equipment to help the scientists.” They also thought “it would be pretty cool, in about twenty years, to tell their grandchildren that they had helped find a cure for cancer.” Thank you Ruba and Rose for such a wonderful gesture.

Rotary Club of Port Nicholson donate $17,000

Earlier this year the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson held their Annual Quiz and Charity Auction event to raise funds for several deserving charities. The Malaghan Institute would like to thank the Club for their amazing support and donation of $17,000 to be put towards our research. Overall the event raised a fantastic $34,500 with the remainder of the money to be donated to Outward Bound, YouthQuest and the Rotary Foundation.

Recent Grants (June - Oct 2012)

Our sincere thanks to the following Trusts and Foundations for their recent support:

James Russell Lewis Charitable Trust

Cuesports Foundation Ltd

Southern Trust

Congratulations

Congratulations and thank you to Vicki Watson of Auckland (pictured left) who recently completed the nine day, 551km, Cycle Queensland event and fundraised over $1,200 for the Malaghan Institute. Well done Vicki!

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Scientists are many things – boring isn’t one of them

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:56:27 +1300

If asked to describe a scientist, what would you say? For many our perception of scientists is clouded by the stereotypical images portrayed on TV - predominantly older males in white lab coats, wearing dark-rimmed glasses held together by pieces of tape, sporting either too little or too much hair. It is true that the ‘rustic’ look is quite popular amongst some of our male students, and our lab coats are white, but that is where the similarities end.

Malaghan Institute scientists draw from all walks of life and from all over the world. We have musicians, artists, sportsmen and writers to name but a few. The majority of our scientific staff is female, none wear pocket protectors and all are, well, normal.

If you have the chance to meet one of our scientists (yes they do venture out of the lab on occasion), simply ask them what they do. There might be a momentary pause as they process the multitude of thoughts currently circulating in their mind, but the wait will be worth it.

To hear a scientist speak about their research is to witness a display of unrivalled passion, frustration and joy. Underneath the animated arm gestures, rapid speech and occasional departures into an apparently alien language, is the real story about what it is like to be a scientist.

Few professions can boast the thrill that comes with getting a positive result in the laboratory. Or the feeling of satisfaction that comes with successfully crafting a new hypothesis - only to experience the pain of months of long nights and short weekends amounting to nothing. Though for scientists, nothing always means something!

Here at the Malaghan Institute we take great pride in the creativity and dedication of our scientists, it is part of being a Kiwi and is what makes us so successful at what we do. Sure you need to be intelligent and have a certain level of ‘thick skin’ to survive in the competitive world of research, but in many ways, there is a scientist in all of us. Anytime you taste food to see if it needs more seasoning or plant seeds in the garden – you are posing and testing hypotheses.

So if you are ever asked to describe a scientist, you can say, well - they are a lot like you and me.

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”

Leonardo da Vinci

Take a look at the Related News stories at the right of your screen, to learn more about some of our scientists and what they have been doing recently.

Vaccination – why it is so important

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 11:09:39 +1300

Did you know that vaccination prevents between 2-3 million deaths every year?

According to the World Health Organization, vaccination (or immunisation) “prevents between 2-3 million deaths every year in all age groups from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and measles.”¹ It is considered one of the most successful and cost-effective medical interventions to prevent disease.

Vaccination as we know it today has been around since the early 1800’s when Edward Jenner used cow pox to vaccinate against the much deadlier smallpox virus. The premise behind his work was to expose patients to a small dose of the less harmful virus, thereby spurring the body to mount an immune response, so that if exposed to smallpox, a much lesser infection occurred and was not fatal.

Today, vaccines have been developed to combat many diseases that would otherwise cause a dangerous level of illness and even death. These include measles, rubella, pertussis and influenza.

Vaccines take advantage of the immune system’s natural ability to learn how to eliminate almost any disease-causing germ that attacks it. Once vaccinated the immune system ‘remembers’ this information, so can more easily recognise and destroy the infectious organisms should it encounter them again. When this happens, a person is said to have immunity. Before vaccination, the only way to become immune to a disease was to actually get sick, and with luck, survive.

The most well known vaccines are the prophylactic vaccines, which are given before the onset of disease, to help prevent an individual from getting seriously sick. Examples include the flu shot and the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil. Here at the Malaghan Institute our scientists are also working on vaccines against the infectious organisms Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and human hookworm.

Other vaccines, such as the prostate cancer vaccine Provenge, are given to an individual after their disease has already developed. These latter vaccines are referred to as therapeutic vaccines. For the past 16 years, our scientists have been developing therapeutic dendritic cell cancer vaccines for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, melanoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Our scientists are also exploring the feasibility of applying their knowledge of the Th2 allergic immune response to the development of therapeutic vaccines against allergic diseases such as asthma. Like Provenge, these therapeutic vaccines are given to a patient after their disease has already been detected.

The controversy over the safe use of vaccines has been a modern development with concerns being raised about the correlation of the rise in autism and childhood cancers to the prolific use of vaccines today. To date, no credible research has been published that proves this causal link.

The Malaghan Institute conducts research based on the immune system and as such, we believe in using the power of our own body to fight disease. We also believe the immune system can be manipulated to provide a better defence against disease than if left to its own devices – a clear example of this is vaccination.

We wholeheartedly agree with the science behind vaccination and would encourage all people, parents in particular who are considering vaccination for their children, to carefully research whether or not the risks of side effects of vaccination outweigh the risks of the getting the full infection.

When carefully considered in this way, vaccination is the clear winner.

_______________________________________________________

^1. Taken from the World Health Organization Website, Oct 2012

Immunity - the battle within

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:31:39 +1300

Did you know that your body is constantly at war? At war with germs that is! Our scientists believe that unravelling the many battle secrets of the immune defence system – and its vulnerabilities – will enable us to more effectively treat diseases such as cancer, asthma and allergy, arthritis, MS and infectious disease.

Viruses and bacteria are everywhere around us – they are in the air we breathe, on the surfaces we touch and sometimes in the food we eat. Usually however, we stay well and are not even aware that there is a battle taking place beneath our skin. This is because our immune system acts as our own personal defence force, utilising its intricate network of organs, cells and proteins to protect us from the billions of germs that we are exposed to every day.

Here at the Malaghan Institute, we believe that by unlocking the secrets to controlling immune responses, we can develop more effective and natural therapies for treating disease. Before we can develop ways to best exploit our immune system to treat disease however, we first need to understand how the different cells and proteins work together to generate an immune response.

The Enemy

The parasitic worm Nippostrongylus brasiliensis crawling through the hairs on skin.

Think of your body as an isolated fortress that is constantly under attack from hostile foreign armies of viruses, bacteria and parasites. These germs want to invade your body to use its resources for their own purpose, potentially harming you in the process. The term ‘foreign’ is often used by scientists to describe invading germs or other substances not normally found in your body. In addition to the enemy being anything that is not us, such as germs, it can also be things that are no longer us, as happens in cancer.

Germs and cancer have substances on their outer surfaces that are not normally found in the human body. These foreign substances, called antigens, raise an alarm that causes the immune system to react. The true power of our immune system comes from its ability to ‘remember’ invading germs that it has fought in the past and is therefore able to strike more quickly if they attack again. When this happens, the body is said to have immunity.

The immune system is much better at recognising and attacking germs than cancer because cancer cells originate from within the body and are often not seen as foreign. This is thought to be why cancers are often able to grow, despite the presence of a healthy, working immune system. So instead of thinking as cancer cells as an invading army, they could be considered as more like traitors operating from within.

The Defence Force

The response to antigens is a highly coordinated process that uses the many types of cells of the immune system to defend, attack, control and provide long-term security against future invasion. Immune cells are white blood cells that are produced in large quantities in the bone marrow. There are a wide variety of immune cell types, the most important of which is the CD4+ T helper cells.

The General and the Assassins

Immune Compartments of the Spleen. B cells (green), CD4 T cells (red), DAPI counterstain (blue), scale bar 100 um. Image created by Sabine Kuhn.

The CD4+ T helper cell acts as a General, directing the other immune cells in the tasks they have to perform. The primary role of CD4+ T helper cells is to trigger the activation of B cells and killer T cells. The command centres for this information transfer are the lymph nodes and spleen.

In response to specific commands from CD4+ T cells, B cells release special proteins called antibodies that act like smart bombs, specifically targeting a particular intruder and marking it for destruction.

The assassins of the immune system are the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer T cells (NKT). Upon instruction from CD4+ T cells, these killer cells will seek out and attack cells of the body infected with viruses or cancer cells. When these killer cells come into contact with foreign or cancerous cells, they give off substances that destroy them.

Another important role of the General is to stimulate the activity of regulatory T cells. These cells act as ‘brakes’ to help keep the immune system in check. Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis can arise when these cells do not work correctly.

Sometimes the General can get it wrong and mistakenly direct immune responses against harmless substances such as pollen or certain foods, resulting in the diseases asthma and allergy. At the Malaghan Institute we have research programmes dedicated to understanding how and why this happens, so that we can apply this information to the development of effective therapies for the treatment of these diseases.

The Aides

T cells need help to recognise and respond to germs, so like a General in his war room, the CD4 T cell must rely on his aides to provide him with the who, what, and where of potential threats.

The most powerful aides are a rare group of immune cells called dendritic cells, which patrol the body like sentinels, alerting the immune system to germs and potential threats. If the dendritic cell comes into contact with a foreign invader or cancer cell, it captures it and travels to the nearest lymph node command centre to present its captive to the CD4 T cells. The CD4 T cell will then process this information and decide on the appropriate course of action.

Dendritic cells form the basis of cancer vaccines being developed at the Malaghan Institute to treat cancers such as glioblastoma multiforme (brain tumour) and melanoma. The dendritic cell vaccines are generated from a patient’s own dendritic cells and tumour tissue and are designed to stimulate the patient’s killer T cells to seek out and destroy their cancer. Cancer immunotherapy is emerging as one of the most promising alternative approaches to cancer treatment and has the advantage of minimal side effects to the individuals being treated.

The Enlisted Followers

The Twilight Zone. T cells (CD3, red) and Marginal Metallophilic Macrophages (CD169, purple), scale bar 200 um. Image created by Taryn Osmond.

Other key contributors to the immune response are neutrophils, macrophages, basophils, mast cells and eosinophils, which travel throughout the body in pursuit of invading germs and either devour any foreign invaders they come into contact with, or release substances that kill them.

This is just a glimpse of our immune system and the intricate ways in which its parts interact. Immunology is a fascinating area that still holds many secrets, which our scientists are working hard to discover.

The power to control the growth and spread of cancer lies within your immune system

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:23:43 +1300

Therapies that activate the immune system (immunotherapies) have the potential to eliminate cancer cells from the body.

For decades, patients have been given bone marrow transplants to drive immune responses against cancer tissue, but this can be a blunt tool that is often associated with toxicity to healthy tissues.

We now know that the immune system can be programmed to target cancer cells more precisely through the use of specific cancer vaccines.

Cells of the immune system that are triggered in this way have powerful cancer-killing capability and can move around the body to eliminate tumours that have spread to other tissues. What’s more, the immune cells retain a ‘memory’ for cancer; so can re-launch an attack should the cancer cells start to grow again.

Cancer vaccines can be created from a patient’s own tumour cells, or from synthetic components made to look like a tumour. The aim is to make the tumour appear dangerous to the body in the same way that an infectious bacterium or virus would, leading to a strong immune response.

Our research has shown that immunotherapy can be an effective therapy for cancer, with few side effects.

A good basic understanding of the immune system has meant that we can now exploit the key cellular and molecular interactions required to specifically induce cancer-killing cells.

The Malaghan Institute is at the forefront of this research with an established international track record going back more than 16 years. We are continually improving our own vaccine technology through basic research in the laboratory, and have conducted our own clinical trials of different forms of the vaccine in cancer patients – including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, melanoma and glioblastoma multiforme.

Supporting these studies are basic research projects investigating conditions under which immunotherapy can be combined with highly targeted cancer drugs to improve the outcomes of patients with melanoma or glioblastoma multiforme. Our scientists are also designing and synthesising novel glycolipid adjuvants to enhance vaccine-induced anti-tumour immune responses.

By bringing together New Zealand’s best clinical and scientific expertise, we believe this research has the potential to make a real difference to the lives of individuals and families affected by cancer.

Cancer affects one in three New Zealanders, either personally or through a family member or friend. It is the leading cause of death in this country.

Despite revolutionary advances in medicine over the past two centuries, cancer treatment has progressed slowly and many cancers still cannot be effectively treated. The toxicity of some current cancer treatments also represents a considerable part of the health burden of the disease itself. New targeted therapies with limited toxicity are needed to increase survival with a good quality of life.

Our research has shown that we can use vaccines to programme the immune system to launch an attack on growing tumours. In contrast to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, this form of cancer treatment is well tolerated with few side effects.

We have the expertise to make cancer vaccines here at the Malaghan Institute. Through our close working relationship with clinicians from Wellington Hospital and the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre, we are able to administer the vaccines to patients enrolled in our clinical trials. Importantly, we have the supporting infrastructure and research capability required to push the field forward.

By combining the disciplines of immunology, cell biology and drug discovery in translational research programmes designed to unleash the full cancer-fighting potential of the immune system, we believe this research has the potential to launch a new era in cancer treatment.

It’s Malaghan Month at Just Paterson!

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:50:47 +1300

This month Just Paterson is celebrating three years of working with us.

Since 2009, when Just Paterson lost their amazing company co-founder, wife and mother; Sally Paterson; to glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer – they’ve been raising funds for our research into a vaccine for the disease. So far, they’ve raised over $190,000 and they’re hoping to raise a whole lot more.

During October they’ll be donating $1000 to the Institute from every property sold. They’ll also be running a fun online auction every Tuesday on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/justpaterson, and throughout the month they’re putting the challenge out to other Wellington businesses to donate $100 to the Malaghan Institute and they’ll match it!

As part of their Malaghan Month activity they’re also supporting the Just Paterson Five Painters exhibition – on at the Academy of Fine Arts Academy Galleries on Queens Wharf from 25-29 October. In exchange these five amazing artists are supporting Just Paterson by each donating a painting to be auctioned for the Malaghan Institute.

As a valued Malaghan supporter we’d love you to join in their Malaghan Month activity by logging on and liking them at www.facebook.com/justpaterson and stay up to date with us at www.facebook.com/MalaghanInstitute.

Is Franca Ronchese the NEXT Woman of the Year 2012?

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:01:20 +1200

*** UPDATE: We couldn't be prouder of Franca. Although she didn't win at the 2012 NEXT Woman of the Year Awards, women like her, overall winner Julie Bartlett and winner of this year's Health & Science category Deborah Bush - are incredible examples of what can be achieved with a lot of hard work and passion. We are fortunate to have such inspiring role models. ***

ARTICLE

Our very own Prof Franca Ronchese has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2012 NEXT Woman of the Year awards.

We believe Franca’s tireless dedication to the development of a more effective immune-based therapy for cancer, makes her a very worthy candidate for the Health & Science category of this award.

Driven by her passion for immunology and her unwavering belief that the immune system holds the key to treating disease, Franca established New Zealand’s first cancer immunotherapy programme at the Malaghan Institute in Wellington in the early 1990s. Since then Franca has successfully secured the investment of millions of dollars of funding to progress her basic research and test the vaccine therapy in cancer patients in clinical trials. Franca is also applying her extensive knowledge of immunology to the development of more effective immune-based therapies for asthma and allergy.

The NEXT Woman of the Year award ceremony will take place on Thursday, 11 October 2012, and we will update you on the outcome.

Congratulations Franca, you will always be star to all of us fortunate enough to know, and work alongside you. Your sense of intelligence, humour, determination and warm spirit are an inspiration to us all.

Link to the full list of the NEXT Woman of the Year 2012 finalists.

Auckland Friends Champagne & Cocktails Evening

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:18:26 +1200

To welcome in the start of the warmer Spring weather, the Auckland Friends Committee arranged a champagne and canapes night this month. Around 100 people turned out to enjoy the drinks and canapes, from one of the best vantage points at Britomart. Thanks to Westpac for generously providing the stunning venue, their lovely level 9 function room and deck overlooking Britomart Square.

Associate Professor Ian Herman, educated the receptive crowd about the immune system (we all now know what a T-cell is!) and the latest research at the Institute using the immune system to fight cancer. We're reminded how lucky we are to have such high calibre scientists in NZ working for the Institute.

Events like these are great to help us build awareness about the great work the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is doing.

Thanks again to Westpac for all their support, and likewise Kelly Lawson the talented graphic designer from Painted Pixel, who generously whipped up the invites in record time.

Next we're all looking forward to the November Golf Day!

THE AUCKLAND FRIENDS COMMITTEE

A ‘pain-free’ vaccine for TB

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:16:28 +1200

Nobody likes needles. Especially when ‘the jab’ doesn’t come with an assurance that it will actually work. This is just one of the struggles faced by Tuberculosis health care officials around the world, but collaborative research from the Malaghan Institute and Otago’s Immune Solutions Ltd - published today in the scientific journal PLoS ONE - suggests a solution could be at hand.

Tuberculosis (TB) kills more people worldwide than any other bacterial disease, with one third of the world’s population currently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In New Zealand there are about 600 notifications of the disease each year, with 300 new cases diagnosed.

The bacteria that cause TB attack the lungs, leading to a persistent cough, night sweats, and weight loss. The disease is spread through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, and is more prevalent in conditions of household crowding and relative poverty.

“Bacille Camette-Guerin (BCG) is the only available vaccine for the prevention of TB and has been given to over three billion individuals, making it the most widely administered vaccine to date,” says Malaghan Institute TB researcher Lindsay Ancelet. “The problem is, it doesn’t work in everyone.”

BCG is a live bacterial vaccine that is typically given soon after birth. While it is effective at preventing TB during childhood, its effectiveness wanes over time. In fact the efficacy of BCG against adult TB disease can range anywhere from 0 to 80%.

Despite this, BCG’s proven safety record and its success in reducing childhood TB makes it a good starting point for developing more effective TB vaccines.

One strategy for improving the effectiveness of BCG is to change the way in which it is administered – something Lindsay has been investigating as part of her PhD research under the supervision of Dr Joanna Kirman.

“Oral delivery of BCG has many advantages over the standard ‘skin jab’ method of BCG vaccination, including reduced cost, ease of administration, avoidance of needles and the associated risk of disease transfer,” says Lindsay.

“More importantly, it has been shown that oral delivery more effectively targets the mucosal immune response. This is critical, given that the primary site of TB infection is the lungs.”

For the oral vaccine to work, the bacteria need to be alive. Dr Frank Aldwell and colleagues from Immune Solutions Ltd have developed a lipid formulation called Liporale^TM that coats the BCG bacteria, allowing them to survive the harsh environment of the stomach.

“In our PLoS ONE research we demonstrated that oral delivery of Liporale^TM-BCG stimulated an immune response in the lungs of mice that was superior to that achieved by injecting BCG,” says Lindsay. “What’s more, the immune response in the lung was long lived. This is important because it can be many years until re-encounter with the pathogen that causes TB.”

The lung is the site of TB infection, so any improvement to the immune response elicited here by the BCG vaccine is more likely to provide long-lived protection against TB disease.

Earlier this year, Lindsay and Dr Aldwell presented the team’s findings to AERAS – a US-based Bill and Melinda Gates-funded not-for-profit organisation that supports the development of novel, superior TB vaccines – who are interested in taking this new vaccine further.

Publication details:

Ancelet LR, Aldwell FE, Rich FJ, Kirman JR. (2012) Oral vaccination with lipid-formulated BCG induces a long-lived, multifunctional CD4+ T cell memory immune response. PLoS ONE (in press)

Enquiries

Please contact Lindsay Ancelet on +64 4 499 6914 or lancelet@malaghan.org.nz

Funding:

Dr Joanna Kirman was a Malaghan Haematology Fellow of the Wellington Medical Research Foundation.

Additional note:

This collaborative research was undertaken at the Malaghan Institute over the last couple of years by PhD student Lindsay Ancelet under the supervision of Dr Joanna Kirman. In May of this year, Dr Kirman relocated her research programme to the University of Otago, where this work will continue. Lindsay is still based at the Malaghan Institute, currently writing up her PhD thesis.

Image caption: Infectious Diseases PhD student Lindsay Ancelet

It is multiple sclerosis (MS) awareness week

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:21:32 +1200

The 2nd to 8th September 2012 marks Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week in New Zealand, a time for us to reflect on the research being undertaken in this country to improve the lives of individuals suffering from this debilitating disease.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that results in functional disability and can render a person unable to write, speak or walk. Women are almost three times more likely to develop MS than men. While some MS treatments are available to help manage the disease, they are not equally effective in all patients and often have side effects associated with medium to long-term use.

Research Associate Dr Anne La Flamme (pictured above), who is an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington, is responsible for overseeing the Malaghan Institute's MS research programme. Her research team is using a multipronged approach to develop more effective therapies for controlling the aberrant immune responses that occur in organ specific autoimmune disorders such as MS. The first approach is to understand the basic biology of MS in experimental laboratory models, in order to identify potential therapeutic targets or new markers of disease progression. In conjunction with this work is a research programme aimed at identifying and testing novel compounds that could be used to halt disease progression. One compound, MIS416, is produced by the New Zealand company Innate Immunotherapeutics and has just completed a Phase 2A clinical trial in secondary progressive MS patients.

Great NZ Trek Coordinator Kitty Johnson, presenting $30,000 cheque to Malaghan MS researchers earlier this year.

Since 2010, funds from the Great New Zealand Trek have supported four different research projects run through the Malaghan Institute's MS research programme. These projects have focused on identifying new treatments for MS as well as on understanding how immune responses are altered during the disease. We are very grateful to the support received from the Great New Zealand Trek, which has been vital in allowing us to investigate and test new ideas and support the development of emerging MS researchers.

Link to the MS Society of New Zealand website to learn more about multiple sclerosis.

NZ Govt invests in Malaghan research to help Generation A

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 09:51:45 +1200

New Zealand has a problem and it’s not mollycoddled kids, or over-zealous parents - generation A, the allergy generation has been born.

The prevalence of allergy and food allergies in particular, continues to increase unabated and we still do not really understand why. What’s more, this new generation appears less likely than its predecessors to outgrow their food allergies, making allergy a substantial public health issue worldwide.

Yesterday, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce announced that Malaghan Institute allergy researchers Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom and Prof Graham Le Gros would receive $869,282 over the next two years from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s 2012 science investment round, to develop immune technologies for anti-allergy ingredients.

Dr Forbes-Blom says that the major impediment to improving outcomes for allergy sufferers is the current lack of knowledge about what sets off the allergic immune response, and why it happens only in certain individuals.

Food allergies occur when the immune system, which normally serves to protect us against parasites, viruses and bacteria, mounts an attack against harmless food components such as proteins. The immune system has to first be ‘sensitised’ before it will react to the food proteins, and it is this early sensitisation phase of the allergic immune response that has been the focus of Dr Forbes-Blom and Prof Le Gros’ Health Research Council of NZ funded research over the past couple of years.

“We will use our MBIE funding to build upon our current scientific expertise in this area and apply it to the food innovation industry,” says Dr Forbes-Blom.

Central to this work is a novel food allergy sensitisation model developed by Dr Forbes-Blom, which she is using to reveal for the first time the earliest cellular and molecular events that take place during the development of the allergic immune response in the gut.

“This unique model doubles as a diagnostic tool that we can use to test future food concepts (such as improved infant formulas) to see if they activate the allergic immune response,” she says. “In doing so we can rapidly and effectively screen for food products that have low allergenicity, while at the same time gain a greater understanding about which food proteins are more likely to activate the allergic immune response in susceptible individuals.”

These investigations will address an important gap in food allergy research and will have clear application for developing improved hypoallergenic and anti-allergy functional foods from New Zealand’s biological resources.

Image caption: Malaghan Institute Allergy Researchers Marcus Robinson, Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom and Prof Graham Le Gros.

Why carbohydrates are cool!

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:34:46 +1200

For many of us carbohydrates are those enticing treats that we reach for during times of celebration, commiseration, or simply as a much needed pick-me-up at the end of a busy day. But did you know that it isn’t just our ‘mood’ that responds to carbohydrates - our immune system does too!

Understanding how we can use carbohydrates to influence immune responses for the treatment of diseases such as asthma, cancer and tuberculosis is the focus of Dr Bridget Stocker’s Immunoglycomics research group (pictured above) at the Malaghan Institute. The carbohydrates used by Dr Stocker’s team are not the kind you will find in the baking section of your local supermarket, but that doesn’t matter because her team of skilled chemists are able to synthesise any specific sugar they need. In fact, their novel strategies for improving the synthesis of particular carbohydrates have led to two new patents.

Dr Stocker has just returned to the Malaghan Institute following a month overseas presenting her carbohydrate-based research at several institutes and conferences in Europe. The highlight of which was being selected as 1 of 10 young scientists (within 10 years of their PhD) to present at the Young Investigator Symposium before the XXVIth International Carbohydrate Symposium (ICS), in Madrid, Spain.

Much of Dr Stocker’s research uses compounds called glycolipids, which are basically a carbohydrate linked to a lipid (fat molecule). The compound α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), which we use in our cancer vaccine research, is a classic example of a glycolipid that can modulate immune responses. In collaborative work recently published in the international journal ChemBioChem, Dr Stocker’s team demonstrated that the structure of the lipid tail of α-GalCer is important for eliciting a good anti-tumour immune response. Next they will look at what happens when they start changing the sugar end of α-GalCer - the collective knowledge from which will contribute to the development of even better cancer vaccine adjuvants in the future.

In other work, Dr Stocker’s team is examining the complex carbohydrates found in the cell walls of bacteria to understand how they are able to modulate the host immune response. This, in turn, will lead to the development of more effective therapeutics and vaccination strategies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.

This week Dr Stocker found out that one of her group’s recent scientific papers, published in the journal Carbohydrate Research, was the ‘most downloaded carbohydrate research article’ from SciVerse Science Direct in the last 90 days.

So it just goes to show that carbohydrates are cool and worthy of our attention.

If only the variety found in chocolate and cakes had just as many health benefits!

We welcome Flow Cytometry expert Dr William Telford

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:08:43 +1200

This month we have been extremely fortunate to secure the expertise of one of the world’s leading lights of flow cytometry, Dr William Telford.

Flow cytometry is a powerful analytical tool that is used to study immune cells. It is fundamental to the development of vaccines and immune-based therapies for the treatment of disease and therefore underpins all our research programmes. For the past decade the Malaghan Institute has devoted considerable energy into establishing a state-of-the-art flow cytometry facility, providing access to technology unavailable elsewhere in this country. With Dr Telford’s expertise at hand, we are about to witness even greater advancements in what we will be able to do with flow cytometry at the Malaghan Institute.

Dr Telford heads the Flow Cytometry Core Laboratory at the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch of the National Cancer Institute, at the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, USA. Over the last few weeks Dr Telford has been lending his considerable expertise to our researchers, and assisting them with new flow cytometry techniques. Dr Telford is also installing a new laser on our cell sorter, which will open up a whole new range of exciting applications for our scientists.

Lasers are Dr Telford’s specialty and earlier this month he gave a seminar at the Institute entitled “Novel laser sources for flow cytometry: covering the entire visible spectrum” where he discussed the latest developments in laser technology and how this impacts on our ability to use flow cytometry to address complex biological questions.

Dr Telford says “In the last ten years we have seen a dramatic jump in the data collection and analysis capabilities of flow cytometers and other biomedical technologies using fluorescence. Laser technology is now available that makes our excitation capabilities [and hence the flexibility to investigate multiple properties of cells] essentially limitless.”

At 1 pm on Friday 24 August, Dr Telford will give a second seminar at the Malaghan Institute “Fluorescent proteins for flow cytometry.”

We are very grateful to Dr Telford for making the time to visit New Zealand and work with our scientists, and to our Flow Cytomety Manager, Kylie Price, who is currently on a technology transfer sabbatical in Spain, for inviting Dr Telford.

We would like to acknowledge the Hugh Green Foundation, the Maurice Wilkins Centre, Lottery Health Research, The Thompson Family Foundation Inc and Frank Millar & Co Wellington Ltd for supporting our flow cytometry laboratories. Kylie Price’s sabbatical has been made possible by the generous support of the Roy & Joan Watson Trust.

An immune-based approach to treating asthma

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:17:04 +1200

Prof Graham Le Gros and Prof Franca Ronchese

There is no cure for asthma and the side-effects of current treatments can sometimes be as bad as the disease itself.

Allergic diseases such as asthma are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to harmless environmental triggers that we breathe in, touch or eat. In fact it is only one part of the immune system that is activated – the Th2 immune response, which normally functions to protect us from parasitic worm infections.

Why the immune systems of individuals with asthma respond to pollen as though they were parasites is unknown, however it is thought to be due in part to some form of ‘mis-programming’ of their immune systems early in life.

Whether this is because we are now ‘too clean’ in our home environments, innocently removing the good bugs that help educate our immune systems along with the bad germs that cause disease, is the subject of current debate.

Last night Malaghan Institute Asthma Researchers Profs Graham Le Gros and Franca Ronchese spoke to Amelia Nurse from Radio New Zealand National’s Our Changing World Programme about asthma, the immune system and how the two interrelate.

They also discuss why they think a vaccine or immunotherapy would be a better option for treating asthmatic disease.

You can listen to Graham and Franca’s interview by linking to the Radio New Zealand website here.

Extension of our multi-colour flow cytometry capability

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:49:31 +1200

Brigitta Mester puts our new LSR Fortessa through its paces.

With the support of Lottery Health Research and The Thompson Family Foundation Inc, we have been able to purchase a new flow cytometer for the Malaghan Institute - a Becton Dickinson LSR Fortessa.

This is our second multi-colour cytometer, capable of studying numerous cell characteristics at a single pass.

This investment reinforces our position as New Zealand’s leading flow cytometry facility and provides a significant boost to the efforts of our research teams.

With flow cytometry underpinning all of our immunological research, these tools are absolutely vital to our efforts to understand and capitalise on the ways in which the elements of our immune systems interact.

Auckland Friends Cocktail Party

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 15:24:26 +1200

Malaghan Institute Charity Golf Tournaments 2012

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:26:48 +1200

The Malaghan Institute Charity Golf Tournaments have frequently been described as the best Charity tournaments around and are not to be missed! Your participation will not only be a great day out for you and your staff/clients, but will also help ensure the future of our vital research programmes into cancer, asthma and allergy, arthritis, MS and infectious disease.

Three regional tournaments are held each year and the 2012 details are as follows:

Hawkes Bay Golf Tournament

Friday 26th October, 2012
Hastings Golf Club
$1350 per team entry

Auckland Golf Tournament - presented by the David Levene Foundation

Friday 2nd November, 2012
The Grange Golf Club
$1500 per Hole Sponsor entry including team of 4
$500 for team entry only

Wellington Golf Tournament - sponsored by Lexus of Wellington

Friday 2nd November, 2012
Manor Park Golf Club
$1200 per Hole Sponsor entry including team of 4
$600 for team entry only

For more information about entry into any of these events, please contact:

Jenny Sim
Fundraising Operations Manager
04 499 6914 x 811 or jsim@malaghan.org.nz

Scientists join forces at Parliament

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:49:49 +1200

Associate Professor Ian Hermans speaking at health presentation at Parliament

On Tuesday 31 July 2012, the Malaghan Institute was represented alongside The University of Otago and The University of Auckland in a joint presentation to Parliament. The purpose of which was to raise awareness amongst Government decision makers of the important cancer research being undertaken right here in New Zealand.

The evening was hosted by Health Minister Tony Ryall and comprised of short presentations from New Zealand cancer researchers, including our own Associate Professor Ian Hermans.

Assoc Prof Hermans spoke about the Malaghan Institute’s progress towards the development of a cancer vaccine, while Mr Martin Hunn, a Neurosurgeon and Malaghan Institute Clinical Research Fellow, presented a poster on how the cancer vaccine could be used to support the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain tumour.

The event highlighted the vital contribution New Zealand researchers are making to improving the lives of cancer patients - reinforcing the value of government investment in health research.

Scope 48 - News under the microscope

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:44:11 +1200

These guys might just be our craziest supporters!

Greig Rightford & William Tokona are both dedicated personal trainers that have set themselves the goal of completing the Marathon of the Sands in April 2013. The race is a 6-day 243km run across the Sahara Desert. It has been described as “the toughest foot race in the world”, due to the harsh terrain and the searing forty-degree heat. Their entire campaign is dedicated to raising funds for the Malaghan Institute, which is amazing – and we’d like you to support them in any way you can.

FIND OUT MORE

Great NZ Trek 2012

The Great New Zealand Trek began in 2006 from the top of NZ as an annual week long event trekking the length of the country in stages, by travelling on horseback, mountain bike or even walking. The Trek also raises funds to help to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis and as such, Kitty Johnson, Trek Coordinator, was proud to recently present a cheque for $30,000 to the Malaghan Institute for our MS research programme.

Recent Grants (Mar – Jun 2012)

Our sincere thanks to the following Trusts and Foundations for their recent support:

WJ Thomson Estate
Infinity Foundation Ltd
Lion Foundation
Cuesports Foundation Ltd

Golf Tournaments

The Friends of the Malaghan Institute Annual Charity Golf Tournaments are approaching fast with the following details confirmed:

Hawkes Bay – Friday 26th October at Hastings Golf Club
Auckland – Friday 2nd November at the Grange Golf Club
Wellington – Friday 2nd November at Manor Park Golf Club

For more information about becoming aHole Sponsor or entering a team, please contact Tanya Fulcher on 04 499 6914 ext. 811 or tfulcher@malaghan.org.nz

A popular publication

When a scientist makes a research discovery they publish it in an international scientific journal so that their new knowledge can be shared with the rest of the scientific community. The more other scientists refer to this work by citing it in their research publications, the more significance is placed on the original piece of work.

A 1993 publication by Prof Mike Berridge and research fellow An Tan describing how a dye used to screen for anti-cancer drugs works, hit the 500 citations milestone this month. This is no mean feat for New Zealand-based research and we congratulate Mike and An on their pivotal piece of work.

Download the full Scope 48 newsletter - 1 MB (PDF)

Scope 48 - From the Director

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 08:21:19 +1200

It is a privilege to work in research. To be in a position where we have the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives is a gift none of us here at the Malaghan Institute take for granted.

Having said this, it is getting tougher each year to fund research programmes, both here in New Zealand and overseas. There is less government money coming to research and that which is funded is being broken up into smaller and smaller amounts. The only way to survive in the current climate is to stand out from the masses, so as an Institute we have set our scientists and staff very high goals.

One of these goals is to progress our cancer vaccine to the point where it is available to all New Zealanders seeking a better way to treat their cancer. In this issue of Scope we overview our cancer vaccine programme, from its inception at the Malaghan Institute in 1994, through to where we think this technology is heading in the future. This work requires patience, coordinated effort and considerable resources, but it is my absolute belief that we will succeed.

Scope 48 - Is cancer contagious?

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:03:44 +1200

No, cancer is not contagious in humans. Yet, the strategies used by our immune system to eradicate germs have the potential to be just as effective in treating cancer.

Cancer is not a germ - you cannot ‘catch’ cancer like you would the common cold. Although certain viruses can cause cancer in humans, such as the human papillomavirus (cervical cancer), these diseases are spread via the viruses, not the cancer cells themselves.

Cancer cells from one person are generally unable to live in the body of another person because the healthy person’s immune system recognises and destroys them, just as it would a virus. Clearly however, the immune system’s normal ability to fight cancer is limited, because many people with healthy immune systems still develop cancer.

An early 20th century surgeon, Dr William Coley, is often credited with first recognising the potential of the immune system for treating cancer. He showed that he could control the growth of some tumours by injecting his patients with killed bacterial infusions (called Coley’s Toxins) to stimulate an immune response. Although this was a rather crude approach to cancer treatment, the basic premise of cancer immunotherapy remains the same – to help the immune system recognise cancer cells and strengthen its response so that it will destroy them.

Over half of the scientists at the Malaghan Institute are involved in research programmes devoted to unleashing the full cancer-fighting potential of the immune systems of cancer patients, some of which we spoke about in Scope 47. The primary focus of our cancer research is the development of a cancer vaccine and we have brought together the best expertise in New Zealand to achieve this goal. In this issue of Scope we share what we have achieved so far.

Download the full Scope 48 newsletter - 1 MB (PDF)

Scope 48 - How it all happens

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:53:00 +1200

Immunotherapy is emerging as one of the most promising alternative approaches to cancer treatment, with the potential to eradicate cancer with very few side-effects.

The immune system has all the properties that are required to complement existing treatments and eradicate cancer. White blood cells called T cells can discriminate between normal and cancer cells, they have powerful cancer killing capability and can move around the body to eliminate tumours that have spread to other tissues.

For the immune system to elicit an effective anti-tumour immune response, two things need to happen. The cancer-fighting T cells first need to ‘see’ the tumour. They also need to be supported so they can mount a big enough immune response to destroy it. This is where the cancer vaccine (or immunotherapy) comes into play.

The cancer vaccine is made from dendritic cells, which are isolated from the patient’s blood, and a biopsy or protein fragments of the patient’s tumour. The two are mixed together in the laboratory, where over a few days the dendritic cells will process up the tumour into a form (antigens) that can be recognised by the cancer fighting T cells.

The vaccine thus created is then injected back into the patient and the dendritic cells traffic to the sites in the body where T cells reside to present the tumour-specific antigens directly to them. Adjuvants, such as alpha-galactosylceramide are sometimes used to help the dendritic cells complete their task and ensure maximum T cell activation.

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Scope 48 - The story so far

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:57:25 +1200

By combining the disciplines of immunology, cell biology and drug discovery in a programme that involves immunologists, chemists, molecular biologists and clinicians, this research has the potential to launch a new era in cancer treatment.

It is clear that different cancer vaccination strategies or immunotherapies will benefit different people, in much the same way that some individual’s immune systems seem to work better than others. The only way of knowing if a cancer vaccine will work in patients, after having shown promising results in experimental models, is to carry out a clinical trial.

Over the past fourteen years the Malaghan Institute has made significant progress in translating our basic cancer research into real outcomes for patients – a ‘bench to bedside’ philosophy that has led to three clinical trials of dendritic cell based vaccines for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, melanoma and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

The GBM trial was completed earlier this year and supported the feasibility and safety of using the cancer vaccine in combination with chemotherapy to treat GBM patients. GBM is a highly aggressive brain tumour with an extremely poor prognosis, so the fact that the combination therapy reduced tumour size in some patients is a promising outcome. Different options for improving the vaccine further are currently being explored.

The cancer trials are supported by a close working relationship with clinicians from the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre and Wellington Hospital, and access to a laboratory that operates according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines at the Malaghan Institute.

Complementing our clinical trials is an extensive basic immunology research programme involving several of the Institute’s research groups, aimed at understanding anti-tumour immune responses and how they can be more effectively elicited with vaccines.

Download the full Scope 48 newsletter - 1 MB (PDF)

Scope 48 - Where to from here?

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:00:23 +1200

To address the growing burden melanoma imposes on our society, we have brought together the best expertise in New Zealand to design, manufacture and trial new anti-cancer vaccines.

Next year Associate Professor Ian Hermans’ research team will trial a new vaccine in melanoma patients. This is part of a five year Health Research Council of New Zealand funded programme being undertaken in collaboration with the Capital & Coast District Health Board, Industrial Research Limited, Cancer Trials New Zealand and The University of Auckland. One of the improvements made to the new cancer vaccine is the inclusion of the synthetic glycolipid alpha-GalCer, which A/Prof Ian Hermans’ basic research has shown induces significantly stronger anti-tumour responses than vaccines without it.

Another goal of our ongoing research is to simplify how the cancer vaccine is prepared. Some patients enrolled in the GBM trial were unable to be vaccinated simply because our scientists could not isolate enough immune cells from their blood to prepare the vaccine. It also takes weeks to grow dendritic cells for the vaccine, which is a long time to wait for patients with aggressive cancers such as GBM.

Research is currently underway therefore to determine if cancer vaccines that deliver the tumour antigens to the dendritic cells already present inside the cancer patient, rather than having the cells present in the vaccine could be the solution, and early laboratory studies have been very promising. With further work we believe this simplified cell-free vaccine will enable immunotherapy to be accessible to more patients, thus redefining how we treat cancer in the future.

Download the full Scope 48 newsletter - 1 MB (PDF)

Scope 48 - A patient's perspective

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:03:26 +1200

Two years ago, I attended the opening of the Keith & Faith Taylor Cancer Research Laboratories at the Malaghan Institute, in the capacity of a patient with Non-curative Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma and a recipient of the Institute’s Compassionate Use Cancer Vaccine Programme. Recently, I learnt of the proposed 2013 Melanoma Clinical Trial and am absolutely thrilled.

From a patient’s perspective, scientific and medical advances and breakthroughs are incredibly important; particularly as patients with metastatic melanoma currently face few treatment options. I still believe a vaccine is our best chance of supporting and ‘backing’ our immune system in the midst of a cancer challenge. Put simply, the vaccine makes sense.

I am incredibly excited to learn the recruiting of melanoma patients will commence early 2013. The opportunity for patients to participate in the trials is fantastic news and I wish the team and all involved all the best.

I continue to remain well and achieved my dream trip to Ireland earlier this year, a dream I didn’t think possible three years ago.

Download the full Scope 48 newsletter - 1 MB (PDF)

Scope 48 - From the Chairman

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:05:24 +1200

This issue of Scope has inspired me to contribute, as I feel the Institute stands on the cusp of a wave of potential discovery. Both the melanoma vaccine, and the recently funded asthma and allergy programme, are important steps forward for the Institute and as Chairman I feel excited by where these will take us.

David Mossman

There are two things I’m keen to mention; firstly the very humbling experiences of two board members, David Mossman and myself, receiving Queen’s Birthday Honours. Mine is a shared honour as it has come about from my direct involvement with the Malaghan Institute, and recognizes the amazing talent and energy that the team, Director, Trustees and wider Malaghan family brings to research. David’s was in recognition of Services to Veterinary Science, however they forgot to mention his 10 years of personal contribution to the Malaghan’s Hawkes Bay Friends and recently as a Trust Board member. All our Trustees give of their time, experience, knowledge and contacts for the satisfaction of seeing the Institute succeed.

Secondly, I thought I’d give you a small insight into the Capital Endowment Fund. This was formed in the early days by bequests and significant donations and gifts. It is managed by professional investment advisors and overseen by the Trust Board. The income from this fund is used to support the Institute’s research, by contributing to the infrastructure and services; last month the Trustees agreed to fund three senior research positions from the fund’s capital, and more recently will directly support individual researchers. Some other examples include the fit out costs when we moved to our new premises; and the establishment of specialist labs for our Cancer Vaccine programme, which were also generously supported, by the Keith and Faith Taylor Family and also the Wade and Angela Thompson family.

However we can only do what we do because of the unyielding support we receive. To all of you reading this, who are supporters through our Friends groups or just as an individual, could I challenge you to find one other person, family, trust or sponsor that could add to our journey. This would really empower us to continue to succeed in these uncertain and trying times.

Download the full Scope 48 newsletter - 1 MB (PDF)

My thanks to you and the very best of health.

Graham Malaghan

Scope 48 - Major milestones in our cancer vaccine

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:12:21 +1200

1994

The arrival of Prof Franca Ronchese sees

a new direction for the Malaghan Institute –

the dawn of cancer immunotherapy research.

1996

Techniques established for growing

dendritic cells in thelaboratory.

1997

First demonstration that a vaccine made from dendritic

cells and tumour peptides (protein fragments), delayed the

development of cancer in a mouse model.

1998

The safety and feasibility of making a cancer vaccine from

a patient’s own dendritic cells and tumour fragments tested

in individuals with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

1999-2003

Significant progress made in defining the critical cell types,

cytokines and vaccine conditions required for optimal

anti-tumour immune responses.

2004

New knowledge applied to Phase III

clinical trial in patients with melanoma.

2006

Killing of the dendritic cells in the vaccine by the same immune cells that

eradicate the cancer identified as a reason for the promising but limited

anti-tumour immune responses elicited by the cancer vaccine to date. New

research focus launched to identify solution for this problem.

2007

Clinical study initiated to explore the possibility of using

immunotherapy to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic

leukaemia (CLL), the most common blood cancer in New Zealand.

2008

A phase I vaccine clinical trial undertaken to explore the feasibility of

usingcancer immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy to treat

patients with the aggressive brain tumour glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

2009-2010

Further refinement of cancer vaccine and demonstration that a compound

from marine sponges called alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer)

improved the anti-tumour immune response in mouse models.

2013

Safety, feasibility and efficacy of using the á-GalCer adjuvant in

combination with refined cancer vaccine will be tested in a Phase I

clinical trial for melanoma.

FUTURE

Use of simplified cell-free cancer vaccines that target

the activation of dendritic cells already present in patients.

Download the full Scope 48 newsletter - 1 MB (PDF)

Honouring the memory of an inspirational individual

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:55:00 +1200

It is with sadness that we offer our sincere condolences to the Green family following the death of one of our wonderful supporters, Hugh Green, on Friday.

The Hugh Green Foundation (formerly the Hugh Green Charitable Trust) supports the Malaghan Institute Flow Cytometry Suite, enabling us to maintain the technological platforms and infrastructure required to support all our research programmes.

Hugh achieved wonderful things in his lifetime and we feel privileged to have been touched by his spirit and generosity.

You can read more about Hugh Green on Stuff.

Or visit the Hugh Green Foundation website.

Image caption: Hugh Green pictured with our Flow Cytometry Manager Kylie Price (Feb 2011)

Prof Graham Le Gros comments on why pets are good for young immune systems

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 08:21:20 +1200

On Tuesday 10 July, our Director Prof Graham Le Gros spoke with Andrew Patterson from RadioLIVE, about a recent study published in the US. The research showed that children who lived with dogs or cats in the first year of their lives got sick less frequently than kids from pet-free zones.

This study supports the current belief that overly clean environments may not be the best thing for our young children, and Prof Le Gros gives his thoughts on why this might be.

You can listen to Graham's interview here.

Link to the Los Angeles Times website to read more about how dogs and cats may help babies' health.

Sahara Charity Challenge - Movie Night Fundraiser

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 22:59:12 +1200

Local Wellingtonians Greig Rightford and William Tokona are competing in the legendary Marathon De Sables in early 2013 - a 243 km endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara. One of the reasons they are taking on this incredible challenge is to raise money for the Malaghan Institute! You can read more about their story here.

As part of their build-up Greig and Willie are hosting a Movie Night Fundraiser on Thu, 26 July 2012 at 8.30 pm and invite you to come along. All profits from the movie night will go to the Malaghan Institute.

Here is what Greig has to say:

What are the details? (check out our flyer)

"We invite all of you and your friends to a movie fundraiser at Empire Cinema at 8:30pm on 26 July to watch the final in the Batman Saga : The Dark Knight Rises!"

"We'll be able to show you why we're doing this, who it's for and what challenges we have ahead of us in the next few months! We only have a maximum of 120 seats available for the night so don't leave it to long!"

What do I have to do?

"All you have to do is register by depositing your money for your ticket/s by popping your name in the reference section of the online payment.

Name : Greig Rightford
Account # : 06-0529-0604576-23
Amount: $25.00 per person"

"If you see Willie or myself ask us for a ticket and pay cash!....beggars can't be choosers!!"

"This is a great cause and a Wellington initiative that deals with diseases that affect ALL of us, so find it in your heart to come along and show your support for this amazing Research Institute!"

"Hope to see you all soon!"

Greig Rightford & Willie Tokona

Download the movie flyer as a pdf

Darrell Smith receives bravery award on brothers behalf

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 10:43:19 +1200

Malaghan Institute Operations Manager Darrell Smith was presented with the Charles Upham Award for Bravery at Government House today, an award given posthumously to his brother Lance Corporal Leon Smith (pictured left) in recognition of his heroism during a rescue mission near Kabul in August last year. Leon was killed two months later during a separate SAS raid in Afghanistan.

This was an emotional experience for the Smith family, who said "they can take some comfort from knowing that he [Leon] was a valued member of the NZ Defence Force and that his outstanding bravery has subsequently been recognised."

Related News Articles

Read about the award on TVNZ ONE NEWS, where you can also view a video clip of Leon's mother and the Prime Minister John Key speaking about Leon.

Read the full details of the presentation ceremony on The Governor-General website.

Leon Smith to receive Charles Upham Award for Bravery

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:27:04 +1200

**UPDATE - Leon's brother Darrell accepted the Charles Upham Award for Bravery, awarded posthumously to Leon, at a ceremony at Government House on Tue, 3 July 2012. See related news for more information. ***

Darrell Smith and ‘Nana’ are household names at the Malaghan Institute. Darrell has successfully overseen the operations of the Malaghan Institute for nearly two decades. While his 90 year old Nana still volunteers one day a week to stuff tip boxes – she has been doing this for nine years now. Darrell’s younger brother Leon also joined the Malaghan Institute family in the early 2000’s, working in the animal facility and also as security at public events such as the official opening of our new Institute in 2004.

Following his work at the Malaghan Institute, Leon enlisted into the New Zealand Army in 2005 and by 2007 he had completed his NZSAS training, a goal he had been working towards all his life.

Tragically however, while on his second tour of duty for the NZSAS, Lance Corporal Leon Smith was killed in action on 28 September 2011. He was 33 years old.

In one particular NZSAS assignment, on the 19 August 2011, Leon’s Task Force responded to an insurgent attack on the British Council Office in Kabul, Afghanistan. During the response, with no concern for his personal safety, Leon exposed himself to insurgent fire in order to confirm the location of a fellow soldier who had been mortally wounded by enemy fire. Without hesitation, Leon then ran across exposed and open ground in order to reach the soldier’s location, and immediately started applying first aid until he could be evacuated. Leon then calmly returned to the fight and played a pivotal role in helping rescue five British Nationals that were hiding in the compound.

It has been reported that throughout the entire incident, Leon displayed “extreme calmness under pressure, tremendous personal bravery and the utmost professionalism whilst under continuous insurgent fire.” For those that were closest to Leon such as his family and friends, and for colleagues that worked alongside Leon, this doesn’t come as any surprise.

“Leon pushed himself to succeed in whatever he was doing,” says Darrell. “Whether it was lifesaving, tramping, or working in the navy and army, Leon was committed to helping others. The story of Leon’s heroism during the Kabul attack solidifies everything we already knew about him. He was brave in every facet of his life.”

In March of this year Darrell and his family were presented with the NZ Memorial Cross by the Prime Minister John Key, in memory of Leon. Next month Leon will be awarded the Charles Upham Award for Bravery – an award that is made to individuals who have risked their life to undertake an outstanding act of heroism. This is a particularly poignant recognition because it is a civilian award, and Leon is one of only four members of the NZ Defence Force to have received it.

While these awards cannot bring back Leon, the stories about the hero behind them will serve as a reminder of Leon’s sacrifice to save the lives of others.

On behalf of everyone at the Malaghan Institute, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the Smith family, and also our feelings of pride at having known such an extraordinary individual.

Image caption: The last photo taken of Leon, on a training exercise in Afghanistan.

How a relative of TB could help treat cancer

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:40:17 +1200

Being infected with a relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, would probably not be the preferred cancer treatment option of many. Yet it is a therapy that has been over a century in its development and remains in use today to reduce tumour recurrence and progression in individuals with bladder cancer. This is because studies have shown that treating bladder cancer patients with mycobacteria in conjunction with chemotherapy is simply more effective than chemotherapy alone.

In research published this week in the international journal Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, Dr Joanna Kirman, Prof Franca Ronchese and colleagues applied 21st century technology to tease out the scientific basis for the anti-tumour effects observed with this age-old cancer therapy. In doing so, they have uncovered a new class of inflammatory immune cells that are induced in response to infection with mycobacteria. If these same cells are also responsible for the associated anti-tumour effects, then finding ways to induce them using synthetic parts of the mycobacteria rather than the whole organism, might just see mycobacterial immunotherapy returning to favour.

The potential of using bacteria to treat cancer has long been recognised. In the late 1800s American surgeon Dr William Coley made the remarkable observation that erysipelas (Streptococcus pyogenes) infection in cancer patients coincided with a shrinking of their tumours. Coley then used a crude mixture of killed bacteria called ‘Coley’s toxins’, to activate the immune systems of his cancer patients. His theory being that the immune responses elicited by the bacteria were equally capable of destroying tumour tissue. Although Coley’s results were encouraging, there were serious problems with this approach, mostly concerned with how sick his patients got as a result of their treatment.

Following on from these early observations, tumour immunotherapy with mycobacteria and their cell wall components has been used with varying degrees of success to treat melanoma and leukaemia as well as bladder, colon and lung cancers.

“Although mycobacterial immunotherapy is clearly effective in eliciting local immune responses against solid tumours, its effectiveness in eliciting adaptive immune responses has been variable,” says Dr Kirman.

It is the adaptive immune response that is needed for long-term protection against subsequent tumour growth or for cancers that might have spread to other sites in the body. Being able to elicit a strong adaptive immune response would also remove the need to have to administer the mycobacteria directly at the site of tumour growth, which is only possible for some forms of cancer.

In Dr Kirman and Prof Ronchese’s study, which was undertaken in collaboration with Malaghan Institute Group Leader Dr Jacquie Harper, lead author Fenella Rich chose to work with Mycobacterium smegmatis, a fast-growing non-pathogenic relative of TB.

In support of previous findings, Fenella found that when M. smegmatis was given adjacent to a tumour (in this case a thymoma) the rate of growth of the tumour slowed dramatically.

“Although we found that M. smegmatis must be delivered adjacent to the tumour site to elicit a protective effect, the treatment did stimulate a CD8 T cell response that was systemic [spread throughout the body],” says Dr Kirman.

“Interestingly when we looked in the lymph nodes near to where M. smegmatis was given, we could detect a special type of antigen presenting cell that wasn’t present in the absence of mycobacterial treatment.”

“We think these cells might be important for driving the anti-tumour response,” she says.

This is the first time these inflammatory immune cells have been observed in context of mycobacterial immunotherapy, so Dr Kirman, Prof Ronchese and their teams hope to do further work to determine if, and how, these cells induce robust T cell mediated anti-tumour immune responses.

This knowledge will facilitate the identification of novel, safe and perhaps slightly more ‘user friendly’ ways of harnessing the impressive immune-stimulating properties of mycobacteria for the treatment of cancer.

This work was supported by a research grant from the Cancer Society of New Zealand.

Publication Details

Rich FJ, Kuhn S, Hyde EJ, Harper JL, Ronchese F, Kirman JR (2012) Induction of T cell responses and recruitment of an inflammatory dendritic cell subset following tumor immunotherapy with Mycobacterium smegmatis. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 2012 Jun 20 [Epub ahead of print] Link to PubMed abstract.

The New Zealand Art Show - The Art of Giving Charity Night

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:02:00 +1200

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT DUE TO LOW TICKET SALES, THIS EVENT IS NO LONGER GOING AHEAD. The organisers of the NZ Art Show apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.

updated: Thursday 28th June

*************************************************************************

The New Zealand Art Show 2012 presents:

The Art of Giving

Featuring the Beat Girls

and quality New Zealand art for sale

Saturday 4 August, 6.30pm - 9.30pm
TSB Bank Arena, Queens Wharf, Wellington

TICKETS: $50

www.artshow.co.nz
tickets@artshow.co.nz
04 387 4370

When purchasing your ticket online, nominate the MALAGHAN INSTITUTE and we will recieve $20 of your ticket sale as a donation

Rotary Club of Wellington Author Event with Jenny Pattrick

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:13:56 +1200

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT DUE TO A SCHEDULING CONFLICT, THIS EVENT IS NO LONGER GOING AHEAD. The Rotary Club of Wellington apologises for any inconvenience that may be caused.

updated: Thursday 28th June

*************************************************************************

A wonderfully entertaining evening hosted by the Rotary Club of Wellington.

MONDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER, 5.30pm, Downstage Theatre, Wellington

It will commence with a complimentary wine and cheese reception, followed by a dynamic performance by members of the Wellington Youth Circus, and then a lively panel discussion based around Jenny Pattrick's new novel Skylark, a vivid and entertaining picture of the exciting life of New Zealand's gold miners, colonial actors and circus performers.

The panel discussion will feature best-selling author Jenny Pattrick, Downstage Director/CEO Hilary Beaton, and Director of The Wellington Circus Trust Deborah Pope. There will be an opportunity for audience discussion and book signing.

Tickets are $35, available online at www.rcwevent.org or telephone Downstage 04 801 6946.

This event is supporting the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

More about the panel:

Jenny Pattrick
Jenny Pattrick's six published novels, including The Denniston Rose, its sequel Heart of Coal, the Whanganui novel Landings, and Inheritance, set in Samoa, have all been number one bestsellers in New Zealand. In 2009 she received the New Zealand Post Mansfield Fellowship. Jenny has long been active in the arts community and has served as President of the Crafts Council. She has chaired the Arts Council and has served on the boards of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, the New Zealand School of Dance and the New Zealand Festival of the Arts’ New Zealand Post Writers and Readers Committee.

Hilary Beaton
In the 1970’s, Hilary worked at Theatre Corporate. Her first play Sitting On a Fortune was followed by the highly successful, Outside In, which established her as a playwright, through productions in New Zealand, Australia, the US and UK. Returning to Queensland, Hilary became an active part of that state’s cultural renaissance, and a tireless champion of local artists, becoming Director of the Queensland Writer’s Centre. She established Writing Queensland magazine, and published Hot Iron, Corrugated Sky, a centennial retrospective of Queensland writing. In 2008 Hilary moved to Wellington, becoming Director/CEO of Downstage.

Deborah Pope
Deborah Pope has worked with Britain’s premier visual, circus, opera and theatre companies. She has choreographed for film, television, opera and theatre, including Faust for the RSC and directed large scale events for The Docklands International Festival, The Guildhall, and Covent Garden. She was Head Coach at The Millenium Dome, London and created installations for The Tramway, Glasgow and Three Mill Island. Deborah was Associate Director of Circus OZ (2001-2004). Her own company No Ordinary Angels’ has performed at several International Arts Festivals, selling out the London International Mime Festival 2000. Since her return to NZ in 2006, she has created her own company Awkward Productions and is a founder member and Director of The Wellington Circus Trust.

Rotary Club of Port Nicholson - Charity Quiz & Auction

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:06:55 +1200

Friday 22 June (6.30pm), 2012

Hotel InterContinental

$80.00 per ticket includes meal and wine.

Time to book your tickets and/or tables of 10 and enjoy a great night out!!

Contact Tanya Fulcher on 04) 4996914 x811 for more information

Join us for a great night out. Our annual Quiz and Charity Auction has proven to be a fun time for all so grab a table of 10 or come with your partner and enjoy yourself.

Recipients this year will be:

Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

Outward Bound

YouthQuest

Rotary Foundation

Greig and Willie update

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:59:35 +1200

The gruelling Marathon De Sables taking place in early 2013 is drawing closer. The legendary event is a six day, 243km endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara and local Wellington fitness gurus Greig Rightford and William Tokona are taking part.

The incredible duo has not only set the goal to complete what has been named “the toughest footrace on earth”, but have a second goal to raise $50,000 for us, the Malaghan Institute. We are extremely proud and grateful to be their chosen charity for the event.

Greig and Willie have been documenting each step (and injury) of their training for the event and you can watch their latest video update here. You can also keep up to date by following their facebook page and you can sponsor their amazing efforts by visiting their fundraising page.

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Queen’s Birthday Honours for Malaghan Trustees

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:40:43 +1200

It is with immense pride that we congratulate Malaghan Institute Trustees Graham Malaghan and David Mossman on their respective Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Malaghan Institute Trust Board Chairman Graham Malaghan was recognised for his services to medical research and philanthropy by being made an Officer of the Order of Merit. While David Mossman was awarded The Queen’s Service Medal for services to veterinary science.

Graham Malaghan with Victoria University Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof David Bibby

Graham Malaghan is the son of Len and Ann Malaghan, the namesakes of the Malaghan Institute, and has been Chairman of the Institute's Trust Board since 1990. In December 2009 Graham was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Victoria University of Wellington in recognition of his unfailing vision and commitment to the Institute. Graham played a pivotal role in overseeing the successful relocation of the Institute to Victoria University's Kelburn campus in 2004, where staff numbers and research programmes have flourished. Furthermore, by actively fostering relationships with other organisations and universities, Graham has championed the growth of the Institute's capital endowment fund, which will continue to support the Institute for years to come.

David Mossman with Malaghan Institute Director Graham Le Gros at a Malaghan Charity Golf Tournament

Appointed to the Trust Board in 2005 and Chairman/President of the Hawkes Bay Friends of the Malaghan Institute since 1999, David Mossman is another extraordinary individual who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to fundraise for, and raise awareness of, the Malaghan Institute. A retired rural veterinarian since 2001, David was awarded the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists college prize in 1978 and the Coopers NZ Farm Management Award for significant innovative farm management in New Zealand in 1984. He has also been a Keynote speaker at the World Angus and Hereford Conferences.

We feel very fortunate to have Graham and David as part of the Malaghan team and offer our heartfelt congratulations to them both on receiving such distinguished awards.

A 'flu shot' for asthma and allergy?

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:31:19 +1200

MEDIA RELEASE

Preventing asthma and allergy with a small jab in the arm is not as far-fetched as you might think, say scientists at Wellington’s Malaghan Institute.

Every winter we are encouraged to get our annual flu shot, to forearm our immune system with all the information it needs to ward off potential influenza infections. The same principle can be applied to the prevention of asthma and allergy.

“New Zealand’s asthma and allergy rates are amongst the highest in the world,” says Malaghan Institute Director Prof Graham Le Gros. “It is clear that there is something about the environment our young Kiwi kids are growing up in that is predisposing them to develop allergic reactions later on in life.”

“We thought we could stop the onslaught of allergic disease by removing the cause – if there was a family history of food allergy, then parents were encouraged to delay the introduction of potential allergy causing foods,” he says. “However, since implementing these avoidance strategies, asthma and allergy rates have actually gone up.”

“What we need is a more rational approach, which can only be achieved through evidence-based knowledge about the allergic disease process.”

Allergic diseases such as asthma, food allergy, eczema and hay fever are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to harmless environmental triggers that we breathe in, touch or eat. In fact it is only one part of the immune system that is activated – the so-called Th2 immune response, which normally functions to protect us from parasitic worm infections.

“We don’t know why the immune systems of individuals with asthma or food allergy respond to house dust mites and food proteins as though they were parasites,” says Prof Le Gros. “But what we do know from our research is that if we shut down the Th2 immune response before it gets going, we can prevent the development of asthma and allergy symptoms.”

The steroid inhalers currently used to treat allergic disease work in the same way, only they suppress all immune responses – both good and bad. This can leave users more susceptible to common infections.

“What we are attempting to do here at the Malaghan Institute is develop an immunotherapy or vaccine that specifically shuts down the Th2 immune response. This is a more natural approach to treating allergic disease, because we are effectively using the immune system to do all the work. All we are doing is pointing it in the right direction.”

While the availability of an over the counter vaccine or ‘allergy shot’ is still some time off, Prof Le Gros and Prof Franca Ronchese, and their team of asthma and allergy researchers at the Malaghan Institute, have made significant progress in the basic research required to make the vaccine. Some of which was published today in the international scientific journal PLoS ONE.

“Our PLoS ONE paper describes how our immune system generates responses that control each other,” says Prof Ronchese. “We think that the purpose of this is to ensure that the immune responses made are big enough to do their job, but not bigger than necessary.”

“We need to do more work to fully understand the implications of these results but they might help to explain why some people are more likely to become allergic than others,” says Prof Ronchese.

This latest research complements earlier work by Prof Ronchese and Prof Le Gros that was published in the Journal of Immunology in February, showing how a specific class of immune cells called cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were able to prevent the development of asthma in disease models. Identifying how best to target the activity of these cells with immunotherapy is the subject of ongoing investigation.

By undertaking carefully constructed investigations using well-defined disease models, Malaghan Institute scientists believe they are on the right track to producing a viable treatment option for reversing New Zealand’s asthma and allergy epidemic.

“Years from now I hope to see susceptible children being vaccinated against asthma and allergy, in much the same way they are currently protected against infectious diseases,” says Prof Le Gros.

“We also need the government to take notice of how severe our allergy problem is in this country, and invest more in allergy research and in resources for those working out in our communities with families affected by allergic disease,” he says.

“Until this happens, we are unlikely to see significant improvements in New Zealand’s asthma and allergy rates.”

The Malaghan Institute’s asthma and allergy research is supported by research grants from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, New Zealand Lottery Health Research, The Dr Marjorie Barclay Trust, The Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund and the Wellington Medical Research Foundation.

For further information

Contact Prof Graham Le Gros on glegros@malaghan.org.nz or 499 6914 ext 822.

About the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

View a pdf of this media release.

Rotary Club of Wellington show their support of young scientist

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:37:18 +1200

Up and coming asthma researcher, Naomi Baker, is currently undertaking her PhD at the Malaghan Institute with thanks to support from the Rotary Club of Wellington Inc.

The overall goal of Naomi’s research with Prof Franca Ronchese is the development of a targeted immunotherapy for the treatment of asthma. Her focus so far has been to progress Prof Ronchese’s research that has shown that specialised immune cells called cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can dampen down the runaway airway immune responses in an acute model of asthma.

Asthma affects 15% of adults and 15-25% of children in Australasia. Up to half of the affected individuals suffer from allergic asthma, which is caused by their immune systems inappropriately launching an attack against harmless compounds that they breathe in, such as house dust mites.

“It is an issue that families in our community have to deal with on a daily basis so it is wonderful to see the support of a local group helping to progress research in this area,” says Prof Ronchese.

The Rotary Club of Wellington, the largest Rotary Club in New Zealand, has committed to a scholarship which will assist Naomi through her three year PhD.

“I really enjoy being part of a research institute full of others who are also passionate about immunology and research science and I am grateful for the ongoing support from the Rotary Club of Wellington,” says Naomi.

PhD student Naomi Baker and Prof Franca Ronchese with Rotary Club of Wellington president James Austin and president-elect Hewitt Humphrey.

Flying Swans, The Bugs, Oompa Loompas and Pink Elephants!

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:10:58 +1200

Earlier this week the Malaghan Institute was visited by Swans, Bugs, Oompa Loompas and Elephants – of the Brownies sort that is!

22 keen seven to nine year olds from the local Kelburn Brownies ventured down the hill in their uniquely named groups to learn about their immune systems and meet some real life scientists at the Malaghan Institute.

After watching a fun video explaining how the immune system works, each group set off on a tour with their allocated scientist to find out more about red and white blood cells – even getting a chance to see what they look like in real life and through a microscope!

Kelburn Brownies Leader, Katrina Edgar, says “The girls were excited by their visit and left the Malaghan Institute with a real buzz”.

When asked who thought they might like to be a scientist when they grow up, a number of hands flew up in the air – so watch out science here they come!

Dr Joanna Kirman finds 'her place in the world'

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:18:51 +1200

It is with mixed feelings that Infectious Diseases Group Leader Dr Joanna Kirman takes down the photo and death certificate of her great-grandfather from the wall above her Malaghan desk.

For the past ten years it has served as a daily reminder of why she dedicated her career to fighting the deadly infectious disease tuberculosis (TB). Although Dr Kirman’s great-grandfather survived being a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery in World War I, he wasn’t so fortunate with his battle against the lethal bacteria that cause TB, and died from the disease at the early age of 29.

Next week the photo of Dr Kirman’s great-grandfather will find a new home in Dunedin, as Dr Kirman relocates to the University of Otago to take up a senior lectureship position at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

Dr Kirman says the major drawcard for her move to Dunedin is the Biohazard 3 facility that was craned onto the top of the Otago Microbiology building in a shipping container, last year. This will be the first time in her research career that she will have access to a biohazard facility that can accommodate TB in the same building that she works in.

Dr Kirman first came to the Malaghan Institute as Prof Graham Le Gros’ PhD student back in the mid-1990s, having just completed her undergraduate study at Otago. It was at the Malaghan Institute’s old facility in the Wellington School of Medicine, Newtown, that Dr Kirman first started her work into the development of an improved TB vaccine.

After a successful PhD Dr Kirman was awarded a Fogarty Fellowship to pursue her work in vaccine development at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in the USA, where she worked for three years. In 2002 Dr Kirman returned to the Malaghan Institute to establish her own Infectious Diseases research group. In the ten years since Dr Kirman and her team have worked tirelessly to develop an improved vaccine for TB.

“Although given to more than three billion people worldwide, the current vaccine used to protect against TB called BCG simply doesn’t work in adults,” says Dr Kirman. “Developing a new vaccine is more critical than ever due to the emergence of highly drug resistant strains of TB.”

Dr Kirman is one of those to have received the BCG vaccine. Up until the mid-1980’s it was common practice for all children attending high schools in Auckland to be immunised with BCG.

“Before getting the vaccine we all had to be tested first to see if we had already been exposed to TB. A positive reaction, as indicated by an inflamed area at the test site on the skin, meant that we would not be immunised. So before the skin-test was read we all stood in line slapping our arms hard until they turned red to try to fool the nurses into thinking we had reacted to it.”

The scar Dr Kirman bears on her upper arm from where she received the BCG vaccine suggests the nurses saw through their imaginative ruse!

Today in New Zealand only newborn children in ‘at risk’ families or areas where TB predominates are vaccinated with BCG. TB presents very differently in children, which is probably why the BCG vaccine works better in children than adults.

Dr Kirman’s approach to developing a vaccine against TB that actually works in adults is to understand the so-called memory cells of the immune system, which do the job of fighting disease. Life-long immunisation against diseases such as the measles, polio, and tetanus is possible because the immune system is very good at remembering infections with particular viruses or bacteria. Dr Kirman hopes to have the same success with TB.

“Our approach is unique because it is a rational design strategy. We are studying how the immune system works against TB and then applying this knowledge to the design of a vaccine,” says Dr Kirman.

Dr Kirman believes that this is the most effective way to make a good vaccine because they are getting back to basics and working their way up.

“There are multiple approaches to designing a vaccine, most of which are ‘shot-in-the-dark’ strategies whereby a vaccine is made, tested, then redeveloped and tested again until a winning formula is determined,” said Dr Kirman. “With TB this is hard to do and prohibitively expensive because unlike acute viral infections that happen very quickly, TB is a chronic infection – an individual might be infected with the bacteria but the disease might not manifest for many years.”

While Dr Kirman will move her core tuberculosis research programme to Dunedin, she plans to continue the many collaborative research projects she is working on with other group leaders at the Malaghan Institute, so regular trips to Wellington are definitely on the cards.

On behalf of everyone here we thank Dr Kirman for all that she has done for the Malaghan Institute and wish her every success for the future.

Discovery could lead to greener ways of making drugs

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:44:29 +1200

MEDIA RELEASE FROM VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON

Discoveries made during PhD studies by Victoria University graduate Emma Dangerfield could revolutionise the pharmaceutical industry, by allowing drugs to be made in a more environmentally friendly way.

Dr Dangerfield’s formula allows drug molecules to be made in five to eight steps, around half the usual number. Instead of petrol, her system uses water and ethanol, delivering environmental benefits and cutting the costs involved in generating and disposing of waste. It also uses renewable raw materials that come from plants, such as trees, corn and rice husks.

Traditional methods of drug manufacture use toxic organic solvents and petrochemicals, a process that results in around 240,000 tonnes of potentially harmful waste having to be disposed of each year.

The work, which has been patented, is one of two strands of research into carbohydrates - energy-giving sugars and starches – carried out by Dr Dangerfield as part of a joint project between Victoria University and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. Dr Dangerfield is being supervised by Malaghan’s Dr Bridget Stocker and Victoria’s Dr Mattie Timmer.

Dr Dangerfield discovered two new chemical reactions and, subsequently, developed a process that uses them to more quickly and efficiently make aza sugars, important molecules in the manufacture of drugs to treat diseases such as diabetes, cancer and viral infections like HIV.

“Rather than just using the technologies we’ve got, I’ve always believed we should be trying to find new, better ways of synthesising molecules,” says Dr Dangerfield.

After proving the viability of the system she developed, Dr Dangerfield went on to investigate how the technology performed in other drug development reactions, with promising results.

The green chemistry research Dr Dangerfield is involved with has been published in six international journals, including Organic Letters, and been cited in top-ranked publications such as Nature Chemistry.

A number of other students working on the joint Victoria/Malaghan research project are continuing to research green chemistry, an area in its infancy but one that Dr Dangerfield says is attracting a lot of international attention.

The other strand of her PhD research was carried out as part of a programme to develop new treatments that use the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.

Her focus was on a very powerful “super” immune cell in the human body, called the iNKT (Natural Killer T) cell, which can give the immune system a giant boost and help it attack and kill cancer cells.

Dr Dangerfield has been identifying compounds called glycolipids that can activate iNKT cells.

Internationally, a number of research groups are studying the activity of iNKT cells and Dr Dangerfield’s work, which is soon to be published in the international journal ChemBioChem, will feed into a growing body of knowledge about how to harness the power of this super cell.

Dr Dangerfield completed undergraduate and Honours degrees in Biomedical Science at Victoria before beginning her PhD in 2008.

“You do count the journey from the start of your university study so it feels great to have reached this particular milestone.”

Long term, Dr Dangerfield intends to continue researching the role carbohydrates play in the immune system.

For more information contact Emma Dangerfield on edangerfield@malaghan.org.nz

Media Release prepared by Shelley Cartwright, Communications Manager, Victoria University.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:27:04 +1200

To celebrate the establishment of an immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence core facility at the Malaghan Institute, thanks to the support of the Hugh Green Foundation, we held an inaugural IHC and immunofluorescence photo competition - the winning images from which are displayed below.

Access to this new technological platform, which includes a cryostat, will enable our researchers to better understand how their target cells function in context of their local environment.

1st place - SIRT1 and Mitochondria in Love. SIRT1 (red), mitochondrial marker (blue); scale bar 30 um. Image created by Susanna Brow

2nd place - Immune Compartments of the Spleen. B cells (green), CD4 T cells (red), DAPI counterstain (blue), scale bar 100 um. Image created by Sabine Kuhn.

3rd place - The Twilight Zone. T cells (CD3, red) and Marginal Metallophilic Macrophages (CD169, purple), scale bar 200 um. Image created by Taryn Osmond.

We would like to acknowledge BD and Olympus for sponsoring this competition.

Scope 47 - News under the microscope

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:11:27 +1200

Learning from the best

Pictured: Prof Manfred Kopf.

Earlier this year we were fortunate to have two highly respected international immunologists, Prof Manfred Kopf (from Switzerland) and Prof Dan Eilat (from Israel), visit the Malaghan Institute to work with our scientists. This was a great opportunity for both our staff and students to exchange information and ideas with world leaders in the fields of cellular immunology and autoimmunity. Both visiting scientists stated that they were impressed by the facilities at the Malaghan Institute and by the calibre of the research being undertaken here.

An evening at Pah Homestead

Pictured L-R:Prof Graham Le Gros, Sir David Levene and Chairmain Graham Malaghan.

The Trust Board and Director of the Malaghan Institute hosted an evening of conversation and music at Pah Homestead in Auckland, on Sunday 1 April. The Auckland Youth Orchestra entertained 70 guests as they took the opportunity to view the current exhibition in the Wallace Arts Centre. The formalities for the evening included speeches from Sir David Levene and Prof Graham Les Gros, who focused on Positive Philanthropy. It was an enjoyable evening surrounded by great art and good company.

Remembering Sir Paul Callaghan

The passing of renowned physicist and 2011 New Zealander of the Year, Professor Sir Paul Callaghan, on 24 March 2012, saw New Zealanders from all walks of life come together to jointly mourn the loss of an exceptional individual. Malaghan Institute Director, Prof Graham Le Gros says that it was a privilege to have known Sir Paul and that his contribution to science in this country will never be forgotten.

2012/2013 Entertainment Books

The new 2012/2013 Entertainment Books are now available! Did you know that you can purchase a book online and a portion of each book sold comes to the Malaghan Institute to support our research programmes? Books for all regions are available - visit www.malaghan.org.nz/entertainmentbooks to find out more.

Kapiti Bookfair

Thank you very much to the Parawai Lions Club, who nominated the Malaghan Institute as one of the recipients of the proceeds of the Combined Lions Clubs of Kapiti Monster Bookfair held in October 2011.

Recent Grants (Oct 2011 - Mar 2012)

Our sincere thanks to the following Trusts and Foundations for their recent support:
•   Margaret Neave Charitable Trust
•   Southern Trust
•   Springhill Charitable Trust & Frimley Foundation
•   The Trusts Community Foundation

Click here to view the full Scope 47 pdf

Scope 47 - Why cancer research?

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:27:26 +1200

With cancer being a leading cause of death worldwide[1], it seems obvious that it would be an important research focus for any medical research institute. However, this is only one part of the story of why the Malaghan Institute is involved with cancer research in particular.

The idea of a research institute was originally conceived in the early sixties by the Wellington Division of the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the Wellington Medical Research Foundation as it was realised that if research were to be fostered in the Wellington region, steps would have to be taken to provide physical facilities for the work. At that time, relatively little research was being conducted in the area due to a lack of facilities, nor was it customary for Hospital Boards to foster or support research in their hospitals.

When officially opened in 1979, the Institute was originally called The Wellington Cancer and Medical Research Institute (it was renamed the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in 1986 in recognition of the support of Len and Ann Malaghan), and the research aims were to be split equally between general medical research and cancer.

These days, while the Institute now focuses on a wide range of diseases, we are still committed to research into the causes and treatments of cancers with just over half of all our scientists working on some aspect of cancer research. Our core cancer programmes are focused on exploiting the immune system to treat cancer through the development of vaccines and immunotherapies. Our scientists are also exploring several novel cancer treatment strategies that have the potential to enhance this research, which we highlight in this issue of Scope.

We are very proud of this work and of the fact that we have been able to translate some of our ‘bench’ research into early stage clinical trials, which we will update you on in Scope 48. Cancer affects many people in our communities and any steps we can take toward finding better treatments and cures will be profoundly felt for generations to come.

Click here to view the full Scope 47 pdf

[1] accounting for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008 (reference: World Health Organization; Globocan 2008, IARC, 2010)

Scope 47 - From the Director

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:20:00 +1200

Cancer has been a plague on our society since the dawn of recorded history.

Since the first description of breast cancer and its treatment in ancient Egypt, scientists and clinicians have been working on a cure for this complex family of diseases – albeit with limited success.

Despite revolutionary advances in medicine and its practice over the past two centuries, cancer treatment has gone through a comparatively slow process of development. To some extent the belief that cancer cannot be cured persists even today.

Although the one-hit cancer cure remains elusive, over recent years several promising drugs have come to the market that extend the lives of cancer patients, such as Herceptin (breast cancer), Glivvec (chronic myeloid leukaemia), and the prostate cancer vaccine Provenge.

Every great success story starts with a single idea and in this issue of Scope we describe three different strategies being developed at the Malaghan Institute for treating cancer. Only time will tell if they make it through the years of rigorous testing to become mainstream therapies used in the clinic, but that is the nature of basic research, and it is a journey we are all committed to seeing through to the end.

Prof Graham Le Gros

Click here to view the full Scope 47 pdf

Scope 47 - Using Vitamin C to boost radiation therapy

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:22:23 +1200

Researchers have found evidence that high dose vitamin C could make brain tumours more susceptible to radiation therapy.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumour that is ultimately fatal, because it is very resistant to treatments such as radiation therapy.

In radiation therapy a lethal dose of radiation is delivered to a tumour whilst sparing the surrounding healthy tissues as much as possible. Radiation kills both normal and cancerous cells by generating free radicals that destroy their DNA, however healthy cells have repair mechanisms that enable them to recover from the treatment more quickly.

High dose vitamin C also generates free radicals in the acidic, metal-rich environment of a tumour, but not in normal tissues. Dr Patries Herst, a senior lecturer in Radiation Therapy at the University of Otago, Wellington, therefore hypothesised that high dose vitamin C may work synergistically with radiation treatment to increase free radical damage to GBM tumours.

In collaboration with Dr Melanie McConnell, Dr Herst investigated the effect of combining high dose vitamin C with radiation on the survival of cancer cells isolated from GBM tumours. She found that pre-treating GBM cells with vitamin C did indeed make it easier to kill them with radiation.

The use of high dose vitamin C as an anti-cancer treatment is very controversial. Early studies using oral and intravenous vitamin C showed a survival benefit for terminally ill patients but later studies using only oral vitamin C did not. Recent research has shown that vitamin C accumulates in the blood at concentrations high enough to kill cancer cells only when given intravenously.

If carefully designed clinical trials support Dr Herst’s basic research findings that combining high dose vitamin C with radiation therapy improves patient survival, there may be merit in combining both treatments for radiation-resistant cancers such as GBM.

Pictured above: Dr Patries Herst (sitting) and Dr Melanie McConnell

Click here to view the full Scope 47 pdf

Scope 47 - Pulling the plug on cancer

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:25:51 +1200

If you have ever experienced the frustration of a power outage you can appreciate how much we rely on energy to survive. The same is true for cancer cells - only in this case Prof Mike Berridge and his team are happy to be the ones pulling the plug.

It has long been known that cancer cells use nutrients differently than normal cells to produce energy. Elevated glucose uptake for example is a common property of metastatic tumours (cancers that spread). It is this increased need for glucose that makes cancer cells stand out from normal cells on positron emission tomography (PET) scans of tumours.

High glucose uptake is associated with glycolytic metabolism, a term used to describe cells that derive their energy from a pathway that does not involve burning oxygen via mitochondria - the more efficient aerobic energy powerhouses of the cell. Switching to a predominantly glycolytic metabolism has been suggested as a key survival strategy of cancer cells.

To investigate how energy metabolism affects the ability of cancer cells to form tumours and spread, Research Fellow An Tan developed glycolytic models of melanoma and breast cancer cells. The mitochondria in these cells are not able to produce energy, so the cells rely entirely on glycolysis for their survival.

Based on previous findings it was anticipated that these glycolytic cells would be highly cancerous, however An instead found that the cells were unable to metastasise and form tumours in the lungs. Even more surprising, the tumours that did form appeared to have somehow acquired an ability to reactivate their energy-producing mitochondria.

Subsequent analysis of the cells by An and Dr James Baty has revealed a startling new phenomenon in tumour biology. The outcome has therapeutic implications for controlling the growth and metastasis of glycolytic tumours.

Click here to view the full Scope 47 pdf

Scope 47 - The scientists behind our cancer research

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:31:32 +1200

Professor Mike Berridge's history with the Malaghan Institute dates back to the late seventies, when he came to the Institute as the second Malaghan Fellow. Fast-forward to today and Prof Berridge is leading the Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology research team as they apply their knowledge of cell biology to the treatment of human diseases, with a particular emphasis on cancer and diseases involving altered energy metabolism.

The Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology research group emerged in 1980, just a couple of years after the Malaghan Institute opened. Prof Mike Berridge and founding group member An Tan have since worked together on a large number of projects. Along with the help of a steady flow of PhD students, their work has lead to more than 90 international publications, one of which is amongst New Zealand's most highly cited original research papers - a direct measure of its scientific importance.

Currently working alongside Prof Berridge and An are Postdoctoral research fellow Dr James Baty, Research Officer Carole Grasso and MSc student Alanna Cameron. Prof Berridge says of the group, "The spark of excitement and novelty that ignited the group more than 30 years ago remains alive today."

Pictured above L-R: Dr James Baty, An Tan, Carole Grasso, Prof Mike Berridge

Click here to view the full Scope 47 pdf

Scope 47 - Can we treat cancer with bacteria?

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:39:28 +1200

The potential of using bacteria to treat cancer has long been recognised, but can we do so without having to first make the patient sicker?

In the late 1800s American surgeon Dr William Coley made the remarkable observation that erysipelas (Streptococcus pyogenes) infection in cancer patients coincided with a shrinking of their tumours. Coley then used a crude mixture of killed bacteria called ‘Coley’s toxins’, to activate the immune systems of his cancer patients. His theory being that the immune responses elicited by the bacteria were equally capable of destroying tumour tissue. Although Coley’s results were encouraging, there were serious problems with this approach, mostly concerned with how sick his patients got as a result of their treatment.

Fortunately science has progressed much since Coley’s original experiments and controlled injection of mycobacteria is now a standard first line therapy for bladder cancer, although not without its complications.

In view of the varying, but promising, therapeutic activity of bacterial cell wall components in cancer therapy, efforts have been made to identify the molecules responsible for stimulating the anti-tumour immune responses.

Our Immunoglycomics team, led by Dr Bridget Stocker and Dr Mattie Timmer, were the first to determine how the length of a particular mycobacterial cell wall glycolipid influences the immune response. PhD student Ashna Khan was able to demonstrate this by synthesising a series of glycolipids of defined size and screening these against specific immune cells. Her work featured on the cover of the ChemBioChem journal at the end of last year due to its high scientific quality.

Ashna is now collaborating with Prof Franca Ronchese and Sabine Kuhn to develop safe versions of the immune-stimulating bacterial compounds for the treatment of cancer patients.

Pictured above: Ashna Khan

Click here to view the full Scope 47 pdf

Scope 47 - Three generations support the Run for Research

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:49:00 +1200

Your Link

Taking part in the Malaghan Run for Research last month and raising over $1,000 meant something very special to Wellingtonian Marie Gillies.

Ranging in age from nine to 68 years, Marie, along with her two daughters and two granddaughters walked the 7km around the bays of Wellington together in memory of their beloved husband, father and grandfather, Bob, who died of cancer a year ago.

Bob was a fit and active 69 year old, still working and enjoying life when he was diagnosed with lymphoma in November 2010. He sadly passed away, a mere four months later, on 27 March 2011.

“For us as a family, this was a difficult and shocking time and it is only through continuing research into cancer, that treatments can improve, and who knows, maybe a cure will be found,” says Marie.

“It was our pleasure to take this small opportunity to help support the important research work the Institute does. I guess for us, cancer research will always remain an important priority.”

Pictured: Marie Gillies

Click here to view the full Scope 47 pdf

Scope 47 - Run for Research success!

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:52:24 +1200

What a sight it was to see over 12,000 people line Jervois Quay in Wellington on Sunday 26 February for the sell-out 2012 AMI Round the Bays!

This year our involvement in this event was taken to a whole new level after being announced as the event’s new Official Charity Partner. Around 130 people took part in the Malaghan Institute Run for Research and another 150 people took part as Malaghan Charity Runners, helping to raise over $35,000 to support our research.

Melissa Moon, the two-time World Mountain Running Champion, World Stair Racing Champion and Malaghan Institute Run for Research Ambassador gave a motivating speech to the crowd, kicking the event off to a great start on what was a stunning Wellington day.

The Run for Research brought together people of all ages, from all walks of life and fitness levels, however a uniting feature was their motivation to get behind a great cause and support the work of the Malaghan Institute. For some it was the loss of a loved one that drove them to take part and fundraise, for others, simply the knowledge that they were making a difference.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to reach the wider community and raise awareness of the Malaghan Institute in addition to raising important funds. To capitalise on this opportunity, the Institute was also supported by Lexus of Wellington who loaned a Lexus RX SUV that was branded with decals for the period leading up to the event.

This year marked the beginning of a great partnership between the Malaghan Institute, AMI Insurance and Sport Wellington and it is fantastic to have the opportunity to get the Malaghan name out there and associated with such a well known and loved community focused event.

We have been humbled by the enthusiasm and dedication of the individuals and teams who took part in the Run for Research and the support of those in the community who donated. Thank you to everyone involved for making the 2012 Run for Research such a great success!

Pictured above: the pre-event Run for Research team photo

Thank you to the following organisations for their amazing support of the 2012 Run for Resarch:

AMI Insurance, Sport Wellington, Clemenger BBDO, Lexus of Wellington, Z Energy

Click here to view the full Scope 47 pdf

Taking on tuberculosis

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:20:17 +1300

With tuberculosis (TB) infection rates higher per capita than the United States, Canada and Australia, World TB Day on Saturday, 24 March 2012, was a timely reminder of New Zealand’s vulnerability to this often overlooked disease.

Tuberculosis is one of the world’s deadliest diseases and is responsible for nearly two million deaths annually. In New Zealand it is estimated that one person a day is newly diagnosed with TB, with the disease more prevalent in conditions of household crowding and relative poverty.

TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is spread from person to person through the air. On rare occasions the immune system of an affected individual can eradicate the bacteria, however in most cases the bacteria lie hidden in specialised granulomas in the lungs, where they avoid detection. TB bacteria are slow-growing and insensitive to drugs and thus require long-term multi-drug therapy to prevent resistance. Taken together, these factors create unique challenges for the development of new therapeutics to treat TB disease.

World TB day commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced his discovery of M. tuberculosis. This year the slogan to mark the date was “Stop TB in my Lifetime,” a goal that can only be achieved if scientists, clinicians and public health officials work together to develop more effective therapies for treating those at highest risk.

“New Zealand scientists have made a number of critical contributions to the global effort to fight TB,” says Infectious Diseases scientist Dr Joanna Kirman.

Dr Kirman heads a research team at the Malaghan Institute focused on reducing the incidence of TB in New Zealand through the development and implementation of more effective TB vaccines.

“The current TB vaccine, BCG, fails to reliably protect against adult TB lung disease,” she says. “Efforts to develop a new more effective vaccine for TB have been hampered by a lack of understanding of the immune response required for long-term protection.”

Identifying which components of the immune system are the most critical for protecting against TB is akin to finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. To get around this onerous undertaking, Dr Kirman and colleagues developed a novel strategy that involved trapping immune cells at specific sites in the body, and then looked to see how this influenced the ability of the immune system to protect against TB.

“Our research showed that a vaccine needs to drive the protective cells to the lung if we want to achieve good protection against TB,” says Dr Kirman.

Complementing this work is a drug discovery platform involving the Malaghan Institute’s Immunoglycomics team, led by Dr Bridget Stocker and Dr Mattie Timmer.

“The objective of our research is to better understand the mechanisms by which distinct bacterial components, such as those found on the surface of M. tuberculosis, modulate the host immune response,” says Dr Stocker.

Her team were the first to determine how the length of a particular mycobacterial cell wall glycolipid can influence the activation of the immune response. PhD student Ashna Khan was able to demonstrate this by synthesising a series of glycolipids of defined size and screening these against specific immune cells. Her work was published recently in the international scientific journal ChemBioChem, where it featured on the front cover.

Dr Stocker and colleagues are also developing a unique drug delivery system that specially targets macrophages, the immune cells within the granulomas where the M. tuberculosis bacteria reside.

“Our goal is to be able to deliver TB drug(s) directly to the site of infection,” says Dr Stocker. “This will lead to a higher therapeutic index of any given TB-drug. In addition, the immunostimulatory properties of the molecules we are using make it easier to kill the bacteria.”

It is anticipated that the knowledge and technologies emerging from these Malaghan Institute research programmes will lead to the development of better therapeutics and vaccination strategies for the treatment of individuals with TB. In doing so, the Malaghan Institute is proud to be able to make a small, but significant contribution to the ‘call for a world free of TB’.

Link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to learn more about tuberculosis

Read more about TB control in New Zealand

Paying tribute to Sir Paul Callaghan

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:39:52 +1300

“The passing of renowned physicist Professor Sir Paul Callaghan on Saturday following a long battle with aggressive bowel cancer is a tremendous loss,” says Malaghan Institute Director Prof Graham Le Gros.

“Sir Paul was a truly great New Zealander with an electric personality,” he says. “It was a privilege to have known him.”

Born in Wanganui, Sir Paul studied physics at Victoria University of Wellington, before undertaking his PhD at the University of Oxford, England. From here Sir Paul went on to establish a career in science in New Zealand that was distinguished with awards and accolades too numerous to list. Most noteworthy of which was the Rutherford Medal – New Zealand’s top science award that recognises a lifetime of exceptional contribution to the advancement of science in this country.

A natural communicator, Sir Paul will also be remembered for his unique ability to engage people, and get them thinking and talking about science.

"Sir Paul had a lovely way with everyone, no matter what their background, and gave you the sense that we all have something to contribute to this great game of life," says Prof Le Gros.

"He was generous with his time and praise of anyone who had a go."

"I am really sorry we couldn't do more together."

On behalf of everyone at the Malaghan Institute we offer our heartfelt condolences to the Callaghan family.

Link to Sir Pauls’ obituary in the Dominion Post to learn about his first scientific experiments – “blowing up rocks with Molotov cocktails.”

Read more about Sir Paul Callaghan in the stuff.co.nz article and tvnz national news.

Photo of Prof Sir Paul Callaghan courtesy of Matt Grace, Victoria University of Wellington.

Run for Research success!

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:09:23 +1300

What a sight it was to see over 12,000 people line Jervois Quay in Wellington on Sunday 26 February for the sell-out 2012 AMI Round the Bays!

This year our involvement in this event was taken to a whole new level after being announced as the event’s new Official Charity Partner. Around 130 people took part in the Malaghan Institute Run for Research and over 150 people participated as Malaghan Charity Runners, helping to raise over $35,000 to support our research.

Melissa Moon, the two-time World Mountain Running Champion, World Stair Racing Champion and Malaghan Institute Run for Research Ambassador, gave a motivating speech to the crowd, kicking the event off to a great start on what was a stunning Wellington day.

The Run for Research brought together people of all ages, from all walks of life and fitness levels, however a uniting feature was their motivation to get behind a great cause and support the work of the Malaghan Institute. For some it was the loss of a loved one that drove them to take part and fundraise, for others, simply the knowledge that they were making a difference.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to reach the wider community and raise awareness of the Malaghan Institute in addition to raising important funds. To capitalise on this opportunity, the Institute was also supported by Lexus of Wellington who loaned a Lexus RX SUV that was branded with decals for the period leading up to the event.

This year marked the beginning of a great partnership between the Malaghan Institute, AMI Insurance and Sport Wellington and it is fantastic to have the opportunity to get the Malaghan name out there and associated with such a well known and loved community focused event.

We have been humbled by the enthusiasm and dedication of the individuals and teams who took part in the Run for Research and the support of those in the community who donated. Thank you to everyone involved for making the 2012 Run for Research such a great success!

Thank you to the following organisations for their amazing support of the 2012 Run for Research:

Three years of Real Estate and Research

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:55:38 +1300

The Malaghan Institute is very honored to have received a third donation from Just Paterson Real Estate in memory of Sally Paterson who sadly passed away from brain cancer in 2009.

Just Paterson co-director, Ian Paterson, launched their ‘Blue September’ promotion in September 2009 as a way for Sally’s family, colleagues and clients to create something good out of their loss.

Since then, Just Paterson has been able to raise funds for the Malaghan Institute’s brain cancer research through agent fee donations, company contributions and gifts from the community. Their first donation was gifted in May 2010 and was a staggering $60,000. This was followed in 2011 with another $50,000 and, just this week, Ian was proud to be able to personally present another cheque for $45,000 to Prof Graham Le Gros.

Prof Le Gros says “the support we have received from Just Paterson over the past three years has been phenomenal. In addition to the money donated, Ian has also done an amazing job of promoting our work and this support has been instrumental in accelerating our research programme. We are proud to be in a partnership with such a wonderful Wellington company and are happy to be able to help honor the memory of Sally through our cancer research.”

The Love Boat Ball

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:01:54 +1300

150 ‘love boat themed’ guests gathered at the Floating Pavilion at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour on Saturday 25th March for great night of fun and entertainment. DJ Grant Marshall got the crowd up and dancing, while the Photo Booth Fun team ensured guests are left with a reminder of the evening.

The Malaghan Institute are the recipients of the fundraising from this evening and over $12,000 was raised by an amazing group of hard working and generous people.

We would like to thank Treasury Wine Estates, Continental Cars, APN Media, Red Bull, VNC for their support to help make the evening a great success.

Celebrating three generations of philanthropy

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:01:38 +1300

Behind every name there is a story. For the Malaghan Institute that story begins in 1960s Wellington, with Tip Top co-founder Mr Len Malaghan, his wife Ann and their united belief that supporting quality research is the key to curing cancer. Five decades later, Len’s grandson Matt is proudly continuing the Malaghan family legacy of philanthropy.

As a young man Len Malaghan was a cheese and butter maker at the Tapanui Co-Operative Dairy Factory. At age 20 he qualified to be a manager but was considered too young for a senior position within the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, which instead gave him the opportunity to train under a visiting ice-cream manufacturer from the United States.

This led to a passion for ice cream and in 1935 Len and Ann opened a milk bar in Manners Street, Wellington, specialising in ice cream and milkshakes. This humble enterprise took Wellington by storm and before long had expanded into New Zealand’s iconic Tip Top Ice-Cream Ltd.

At the peak of his career Len was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes. During his treatment Len recognised the value of medical research, so he and Ann established a medical research trust by gifting shares in their company to the Wellington Medical Research Foundation. This was used to establish the Len and Ann Malaghan Medical Research Trust and the Wellington Cancer and Medical Research Institute, later renamed the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research.

In the 44 years since Len passed away, at the relatively young age of 61, his family have worked tirelessly to ensure his vision is recognised. As Chairman of the Trust Board since 1990, son Graham has successfully overseen the rebuilding of the Malaghan Institute into New Zealand’s largest independent medical research organisation. While grandson Matt, a businessman in his own right, is a Trust Board member responsible for governing the Institute’s fundraising initiatives. The major annual event of which is the Wellington AMI Round the Bays fun run.

Not content to simply watch from the sidelines, Matt decided to compete in this year’s ISC Lenco Half Marathon. What’s more, he and wife Deborah were the top fundraisers of the Malaghan Institute Run for Research team, raising $2850 towards the Institute’s research programmes.

Matt says he has always run for fitness, but had never completed a half marathon before. “With the Malaghan Institute as the official charity partner of the 2012 AMI Round the Bays, this was the perfect platform for me to take my running to the next level,” he says.

With Matt involved Deborah says she didn’t get much of a choice about entering, having completed a half the previous year, but was very happy to participate because it was for a good cause. “The only thing I regret is that I didn’t beat Matt as so many supporters had encouraged me to do,” she says.

Matt came home in 1:57 hours, while Deborah was just a few minutes behind at 2:07 hours. Both of them say they will be back again next year.

Institute Director Prof Graham Le Gros says he has a great respect for the Malaghan family, and for Matt’s personal achievement in the RTB fun run.

“It is hard not to get caught up by Matt’s enthusiasm and ‘can do’ attitude,” says Prof Le Gros. “Matt made time in his hectic schedule to train, fundraise, and raise awareness of the Malaghan Institute – and he did this ultimately to improve the lives of other people. This is something I know his grandfather would be proud of and I hope others will be inspired by Matt’s example.”

Dr Anne La Flamme speaks about her MS research on Radio New Zealand

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:30:07 +1300

Dr Anne La Flamme, an immunologist at Victoria University of Wellington, oversees the Malaghan Institute's multiple sclerosis (MS) research programme. One of the primary goals of Dr La Flamme's research is the development of new treatments for MS patients that do not respond to current medications.

She is also interested in the role of a specific class of immune cells, the macrophages, in the regulation of pro-inflammatory diseases such as MS.

Last night Dr La Flamme spoke about some of her research on Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World programme, as part of Brain Awareness Week.

You can listen to Dr La Flamme's interview here

AMI Round the Bays - a great success story!

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:38:36 +1300

What a great day. The weather was perfect, there were over 12,000 people on the start line, with 128 Run for Research participants, 154 Charity Runners and we raised over $35,000.

Thank you to all who made the day such a success by running, walking or supporting us. In the lead up to the event we had some great community and corporate involvement - with particular thanks going to AMI Insurance, Sport Wellington, Clemenger BBDO, Lexus of Wellington, Z Energy and Lithotech of Auckland.

It was lovely to meet so many people at the Malaghan tent afterwards and see our t-shirts proudly worn.

We can't wait until next year, keep training!

Top fundraisers

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:46:53 +1300

We're proud of our top fundraisers, congratulations for doing the event and we appreciate all the support you've received from your friends and family.

Our five top Run for Research fundraisers are:
- Matt Malaghan - raised $2, 850. Visit his page here
- Michael Woodside - raised $2,139. Visit his page here
- Bary Hollow - raised $1,875. Visit his page here
- Mary Fawcett - raised $1,120. Visit her page here
- Marie Gilles - raised $1,085. Visit her page here

If you'd like to donate to these amazing people please visit their pages above, they will remain online until the 29 March 2012.

And an enormous thank you to all our fundraisers who helped us raise over $35,000, what a great success!

Show your support and sponsor someone in the Run for Research!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:22:13 +1300

We have been humbled by the dedication of the individuals and teams who are raising funds for the Malaghan Institute and we are grateful to everyone who has supported the Run for Research so far.

The Run for Research has brought together people from all walks of life, and fitness levels – however a uniting feature is their motivation to get behind a great cause and support the work of the Malaghan Institute. For some it is the loss of a loved one that has driven them to take part and fundraise, for others, the knowledge that they are making a difference.

Now is your chance to show your support of these awesome individuals and teams. Please consider sponsoring someone doing the Run for Research – your donation will not only encourage them to give it their all, but will help our scientists on the journey to discover cures for cancer, asthma and allergy, arthritis, MS and infectious disease.

To make a donation simply visit www.runforresearch.co.nz, click ‘Sponsor a Friend’ and choose someone who is supporting the Malaghan Institute.

Or you can choose someone below:

• Malaghan Institute Staff
Malaghan staff are lacing up their sneakers and taking part in the Run for Research for the second year “running” and hope that you will support the team.

• Melissa Moon
We're thrilled to have our good friend and awesome Kiwi runner Melissa Moon joining us in the Run for Research at the upcoming AMI Round the Bays event. Melissa, the two-time World Mountain Running Champion and World Stair Racing Champion is the Malaghan Institute Ambassador.

• Carol Price
Carol Price, of Whitianga, is another inspiring individual who has joined the Run for Research. At 67, Carol has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for more than 16 years. “Like so many people, I have family members who have died of cancer and a friend who is currently battling melanoma. Medical research has helped people conquer previously fatal conditions, so we owe it to ourselves, our families, friends and community to help scientists continue on this quest.”

We all know someone affected by cancer, asthma, arthritis, MS or infectious disease and this is your chance to help us help them. Please show your support as “Every Step Brings Us Closer to a Cure”.

Maureen Archer’s Everest Marathon

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:31:49 +1300

Travelling all the way to Nepal may seem like a long way to go to run a marathon, but for Maureen Archer it was well worth the journey. While many were preparing for Christmas, Maureen was taking part in the Everest Marathon - the highest in the world with a starting point 5184m above sea level, just below Everest base camp.

Along with the six months of training, fundraising was a key part of Maureen’s journey. Maureen raised over an amazing $4,000 for charity, with half going to the Everest Fund to promote health and education in rural Nepal, and the other half to support cancer research at the Malaghan Institute – specifically melanoma research.

“I am very grateful for all the sponsorship as my husband Denis died as a result of a metastatic melanoma in his brain, and any funding that can help research in this field is just so worthwhile,” says Maureen. “My daughter Kylie also raised $4,000 for the Institute when we completed the New York marathon two years ago and this was a great way to continue our family’s support of the work the Malaghan Institute does.”

Maureen says the biggest challenge was getting to the start line and acclimatizing. They achieved this by trekking for 12 days on rough tracks and steps - including a visit to Sir Edmund Hillary’s school village. A typical day saw the group of around 60 people being woken at 6am with bed tea, getting their bags out by 6.30am for porters to load yaks, breakfast at 7am and on the track by 8am. After stopping for lunch at noon they were back on the track until around 4.30pm when they then sorted their tents, unpacked their bags again, did their washing (both clothes and themselves in freezing cold rivers) and finished up with dinner.

“We were very fortunate that the weather behaved itself and was actually about 10 degrees warmer than normal, but still very cold as soon as sun went down and our washing was instantly frozen solid”, says Maureen. “The coldest night we had frost on the inside of tent and outside of sleeping bag when woke up – just as well I was sleeping with my wooly hat on (the one my seven year old grandson said I wasn’t to wear anywhere else but Nepal).”

Maureen’s group was joined by 23 Nepali runners at the start line, “at minus 6 degrees – us mere mortals were in hats, jackets, thermals, they had shorts/ shirts and took off like rockets which at that altitude is very hard to do.”

“After a couple of days at Namche Bazaar we had a very long day trekking back to Lukla to catch the very small plane back to Kathmandu a very chaotic city which certainly grows on you. What an adventure - I would recommend it to anyone.”

Greig and Willie’s Sahara Charity Challenge – 2013

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:34:45 +1300

Local Wellington fitness gurus Greig Rightford and William Tokona are in training and set to take part in the gruelling Marathon De Sables in early 2013. The legendary six day, 243km endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara is described by event organisers as “quite simply the toughest footrace on earth.”

On Wednesday, January 25th, Greig and Willie gave the public an insight into their incredible stamina and perseverance. Taking one hour shifts, they ran a full 12 hours on a treadmill in the middle of Wellington’s Midland Park. After hitting their 120km target by 3pm they decided to carry on and by 6pm they finished on an incredible 149.56km. Not only was this effort amazing in itself, they also raised $1374.90 for the Malaghan Institute and were featured on TV One’s Breakfast Show.

Greig and Willie encourage you to support their fundraising efforts for the Malaghan Institute. They have set a significant goal of raising $50,000 and every donation counts. To view their fundraising page and sponsor them online visit: http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/SaharaCharityChallenge2013/

You can also visit their Facebook page by clicking here or searching Sahara Charity Challenge.

Punching holes in dendritic cells - could this be the key to controlling asthma?

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:48:30 +1300

Asthma remains one of the most prevalent allergic diseases in the world. It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, characterised by wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.

Specialised white blood cells called Th2 T cells are known to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of asthma. They are activated by immune cells called dendritic cells (DC) in response to harmless environmental allergens such as house dust mites or pollen. Once activated, the Th2 T cells release cytokine proteins, which recruit inflammatory cells into the airways, causing asthma.

The allergen induced Th2 immune pathway to asthma

One of the most puzzling things about allergic diseases is that different people react in different ways. While particular tree pollens might stimulate the allergic Th2 pathway in some individuals, causing them to develop hay fever or asthma, others will be completely unaffected by them.

The steroid inhalers that are currently used to treat asthma work by reducing the airway inflammation so it is easier to breathe. Although effective at relieving the downstream symptoms of asthma, they do not treat the actual cause of the disease and their non-specific mechanism of action can leave users more susceptible to common infections such as influenza.

Malaghan Institute scientists believe that a more effective approach would be to stop the asthma pathway by targeting therapies against the dendritic cells that are responsible for activating the disease-causing Th2 T cells.

Previous work at the Malaghan Institute and other laboratories had shown that activating another class of T cells called cytotoxic T lymphocytes, or CTLs, prevented the development of airway inflammation. However, the mechanism used by the CTLs to suppress disease was still unclear.

“We know that killing by CTLs is important for rejecting tumours and for eradicating cells infected with viruses, but the importance of killing in controlling asthma and allergy has not really been considered,” says Prof Franca Ronchese.

With the support of the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Dr Noriyuki Enomoto and Prof Ronchese (pictured above) undertook further research to determine how the CTLs were able to stop airway inflammation, and they discovered that this phenomenon was dependent on their ability to release a protein called perforin.

Perforin is a protein found in the granules of CTLs. Upon its release, perforin inserts itself into the membrane of a target cell, forming a pore. This sets off a pathway that leads to the cells death.

Prof Ronchese and colleagues used several different approaches to show that if the CTLs were unable to release perforin, they were unable to prevent the development of acute asthma. Their results, which have just been published in the international Journal of Immunology, also indicated that the likely target of the CTLs’ killing activity were the airway dendritic cells.

“Our work has revealed a previously unappreciated mechanism for CTL regulation of the immune response, which may be relevant to the pathogenesis of allergic asthma,” says Prof Ronchese. “We believe that activated CTLs can kill allergen-presenting dendritic cells in the airways by effectively ‘punching’ holes in them.”

“With fewer dendritic cells around to activate the disease-mediating Th2 cells in the airways, there is consequently less allergic airway inflammation.”

The above work was undertaken using an acute model of allergic asthma. Prof Ronchese’s research team is now developing a more clinically relevant chronic model of asthma to investigate the potential of exploiting CTL activity for the treatment of individuals with established allergic airway inflammation.

“Unlike steroid treatment, immune therapies that use allergen-specific CTL are not expected to be broadly immunosuppressive, and may lead to improved treatments for asthma and other allergic diseases,” says Prof Ronchese.

This work was supported by a research grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand and infrastructure funding from the Maurice Wilkins Centre of Research Excellence.

Publication details

Enomoto, N, Hyde E, Zhi-Iong Ma J, Yang, J, Forbes-Blom E, Delahunt, B, Le Gros G, Ronchese F (2012) Allergen-specific CTL require perforin expression to suppress allergic airway inflammation. J Immunol, 188: 1734-41

Link to Pubmed abstract

AMI Round the Bays Charity Runner - ENTRIES NOW CLOSED

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:58:29 +1300

Entries for AMI Round the Bays Charity Runner are now closed.

We have had an overwhelming number of people enter for AMI Round the Bays as a Charity Runner. Thank you for your entry and support of the Malaghan Institute. If you missed out on entering event, you can still take part by supporting someone who is running here.

Good luck for the day and don’t forget to visit us in the Malaghan Institute tent at the finish line.

If you still need to make your AMI Round the Bays Charity Runner payment, please click here to pay by credit card.

If you have any questions please contact Viv Bernard + 64 4 499 6914 or vbernard@malaghan.org.nz

Vitamin C may enhance radiation therapy for aggressive brain tumours

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:43:24 +1300

MEDIA RELEASE by AINSLIE TALBOT from the University of Otago.

Recent research by the University of Otago, Wellington has shown that giving brain cancer cells high dose vitamin C makes them much more susceptible to radiation therapy.

The study, carried out in association with Wellington's Malaghan Institute was recently published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine.

Lead author Dr Patries Herst together with Dr Melanie McConnell investigated how combining high dose vitamin C with radiation affected survival of cancer cells isolated from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumours, and compared this with the survival of normal cells.

They found that high dose vitamin C by itself caused DNA damage and cell death which was much more pronounced when high dose vitamin C was given just prior to radiation.

Herst says GBM patients have a poor prognosis because the aggressive GBM tumours are very resistant to radiation therapy. "We found that high dose vitamin C makes it easier to kill these GBM cells by radiation therapy".

She says there has long been debate about the use of high dose vitamin C in the treatment of cancer. High dose vitamin C specifically kills a range of cancer cells in the laboratory and in animal models. It produces aggressive free radicals in the tumour environment but not in the environment of healthy cells. The free radicals damage DNA, which kills the cells, but the high concentration necessary to kill cancer cells can only be achieved by intravenous injection.

However, these promising findings have so far not been validated in clinical studies. "If carefully designed clinical trials show that combining high dose vitamin C with radiation therapy improves patient survival, there may be merit in combining both treatments for radiation-resistant cancers, such as glioblastoma multiforme," says Dr Herst.

This study was funded by the Wallace Family Estate, Genesis Oncology Trust and a University of Otago Research Grant.

Melissa Moon - The Cure for Fatigue

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:15:18 +1300

We're thrilled to have our good friend and awesome Kiwi runner Melissa Moon joining us in the Run for Research at the upcoming AMI Round the Bays event. Melissa, the two-time World Mountain Running Champion and World Stair Racing Champion is the Malaghan Institute Ambassador.

To help runners on the day, we asked Melissa what inspires her to train hard, run fast and prepare for her races. She gave us an awesome playlist of songs that we've called the Cure for Fatigue, which you can download from iTunes here.

Melissa says music is very important to her and she always selects a couple of songs that connect her with a particular race. For her recent New York Empire State Building win it was Lady GaGa's 'You and I' where she talks about the city of New York and 'just knowing when something feels right'.

At AMI Round the Bays you'll see a couple of different ways we're helping you get through the race. Keep an eye out for our special cures for common running ailments like demotivation. It might be just what you need to keep up with Melissa.

Every Step Brings Us Closer to a Cure.

To read more about the Empire State win click here, or visit Melissa's blog here to read more about her race and what music means to her.

Melissa Moon and Matt Malaghan interviewed on Newstalk ZB

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:20:28 +1300

On Saturday 4 February, Malaghan Institute Run for Research Ambassador, Melissa Moon and Trust Board member, Matt Malaghan were interviewed on Newstalk ZB. Melissa and Matt spoke with Jason Pine about the upcoming AMI Round the Bays event for which the Malaghan Institute is the official charity partner. If you missed the interview you can catch it here.

AMI Round the Bays is taking place on Sunday 26th February in Wellington. People taking part can choose to Run for Research to raise money and awareness for the Malaghan Institute by being sponsored for their run.

You can support Melissa and Matt as they run for research by visiting Run for Research and making a donation. Or if you would like to become a hero and run for research yourself you can sign up today here.

Support the Run for Research

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:26:55 +1300

We are pleased to share the exciting news that the Malaghan Institute is the new Official Charity Partner of the 2012 AMI Round the Bays event in Wellington on Sunday 26 February!

As the Official Charity Partner we will be promoted during the lead up to the event and on the day. Anyone who registers to take part can choose to ‘Run for Research’ and fundraise to support the Malaghan Institute.

Join the Run for Research!

You can raise money to support our research by choosing to ‘Run for Research’ when you register for AMI Round the Bays.

To register now or for more information please visit www.amiroundthebays.co.nz. You can easily set up a Run for Research fundraising page at the end of the registration process, or alternatively visit www.runforresearch.co.nz.

The event, which attracts over 11,000 people, has a 7km fun run or walk option as well as the ISC Lenco Half Marathon run or walk. Both distance options take advantage of the beautiful inner harbour bays before converging on Kilbirnie Park for the ‘finish line festival’.

As an added incentive to register early, you will be able to workout for free at Les Mills from the moment you register until event day. The sooner you register the sooner you can take advantage of this fantastic offer.

Sponsor someone taking part

Help spread the word by forwarding this on to your friends, family and colleagues

Please support the Run for Research as "Every Step Brings Us Closer to a Cure"

Lexus of Wellington gets behind the Run for Research

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:17:12 +1300

Lexus of Wellington have come on board to support the Malaghan Institute by loaning a fabulous RX SUV to promote the Malaghan Institute Run for Research. From mid-January until race day this branded vehicle, with petrol kindly sponsored by Z Energy, will be out-and-about in Wellington to help raise awareness and support for the Run for Research.

Lexus Manager, Bryan Loxton handing over the keys to Victoria Hale from the Malaghan Institute

Greig and Willie’s Rocky Road to the Sahara 2013

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:52:08 +1300

Update – 8 February 2011

Not only did Greig and Willie feature on TV One’s Breakfast Show, they hit their 120km target by 3:00pm and decided to continue on to complete a full 12 hours!! By 6pm, they finished on an incredible 149.56km, and raised $1374.90 for the Malaghan Institute!

Thank you to all those who stopped by Midland Park on January 25th and showed their support by making a donation. To view Greig and Willie’s fundraising progress, or to sponsor them online please visit: http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/SaharaCharityChallenge2013/. You can also visit their Facebook page by clicking here or searching Sahara Charity Challenge.

Media link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/6310655/Desert-marathon-for-Wellington-pair

25 January 2011

Local Fitness gurus Greig Rightford and William Tokona invite the Wellington public down to Midland Park, Wellington CBD on Wednesday 25 January to witness them train for the gruelling Marathon De Sables, the legendary 6 day, 243km endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara.

Greig and William are running in aid of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research.
On Wednesday Greig and Willy will be running on treadmills provided by Les Mills Extreme, taking one hour shifts to run 120km.

Come down to cheer them on and find out more about their incredible journey and how they are helping the Malaghan Institute.

To support their incredible efforts you can sponsor them online by visiting:
http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/SaharaCharityChallenge2013/ . You can also visit their Facebook page by clicking here or searching Sahara Charity Challenge.

“It’s just so insane… isn’t it? To not only run in the searing heat and the sand swept terrain of the Sahara, but also to ensure one’s safety against the possible perils of sandstorms, quicksand, cobras and scorpions that occur and inhabit the desert.”- Greig Rightford

“It’s what makes it so appealing. It’s the possible danger to one’s own safety and well-being that attracts me to this event. It allows you to examine what your physical and mental capabilities are, in a way that very few people will encounter in their lifetime” – William Tokona

Greig and Willie’s Central City Training Run

Midland Park

Wednesday 25 January, From 8.30am-6.30pm

Update – 8 February 2011:

Thank you to all those who stopped by Midland Park on January 25^thand showed their support by making a donation. To view Greig and Willie’s fundraising progress, or to sponsor them online please visit: http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/SaharaCharityChallenge2013/.

Media Links:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/6310655/Desert-marathon-for-Wellington-pair

The Love Boat Ball 2012

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:12:28 +1300

Dress up in your favourite gear as The Love Boat takes you to Acapulco!

Date: Saturday 24th March

Time: 7.00pm – 12.30am

Place: The Floating Pavillion, Viaduct Harbour

Cost: $135 pp

The Love Boat Ball is a brilliant night, where you can party with friends and all for a great cause. Our renown New Zealand DJ will be on board to play the best music to have you dancing all night long. The cost of your ticket includes all drinks (open bar) and a "fork and walk" dinner. In addition, there will be a silent auction with many exciting products and services for you to bid on.

Love Boat Balls, held in Auckland and London have raised over $100,000 for the Malaghan Institute.

The Love Boat Ball was launched in Auckland and after a few years set sail to London. In 2010 the Event returned to Auckland for its 10th anniversary. Due to the success of this event and through popular demand, the Love Boat Ball will again take place in Auckland in March 2012.

Please join us for a night of fun and festivities in support of this great charity.
For further information or to book your tickets, please visit www.loveboatball.co.nz

Shaving for Cancer

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:15:27 +1300

Six weeks ago, in the midst of preparing for their final high school exams, two very caring Year 13 girls from Wellington, Catherine Tomlinson (Kat) and Harriet Small (Harry), did something wonderful.

Recently, Kat and Harry's friend, Harriet, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and after starting chemotherapy she began to lose her hair.

Kat and Harry said "we can't stop the cancer and we can't go through chemo for her but the one thing we can do, is make going bald a little bit easier, by shaving our heads with her. We don't want her to be bald alone, so instead we shall all be bald buddies!"

Not only did they shave their hair, Kat and Harry decided that they wanted to take the opportunity to turn their shave into a fundraiser for the Malaghan Institute to aid cancer research. Their aim was to get people to sponsor them and show their support and love for their friend Harriet, and the work of the Malaghan Institute.

After receiving an amazing amount of support from friends, family and even people they have never met, their efforts raised over $4,300! The money raised will support research being undertaken by Malaghan Institute Cell Survival Group Leader, Dr Melanie McConnell, into how to combat those cancer cells that can survive chemotherapy and potentially cause relapse.

We would like take this opportunity to thank everyone who got behind Kat and Harry and showed their support. To Kat, Harry and Harriet – thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness in choosing to support the Malaghan Institute. You are an inspiration and have shown the amazing love and connection you have with each other.

A passion for making ‘stuff’ sees Janice Cheng reap research awards

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:27:50 +1300

Nothing beats the simple pleasure of making 'stuff'. It might be building a deck, baking a loaf of bread from scratch or helping a child create a fort out of cardboard boxes and multiple rolls of sticky tape.

For some lucky individuals, such as Immunoglycomics PhD student Janice Cheng, making 'stuff' is part of her daily job. A skill which saw her take out the prestigious title of overall winner of the Postgraduate Research Excellence Awards at the VUW Victorias Awards Dinner on Friday, 2nd December. That same week Janice was also awarded the Student Paper Competition Prize at the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) Conference in Hamilton.

So what is the secret to Janice's success? A big part of it has to be her drive and passion for research, which is evident in everything that she does. Even having an arm in plaster for most of this winter didn't dampen Janice's enthusiasm - although it did make working in the lab a little more challenging!

"The most exciting part about being a research organic chemist is being able to make specific molecules that are tangible -you can see them, either as a crystalline powder, a thick oil or even fluorescent green crystals," says Janice. "While results are generally published as percentage yields (a measure of how successful the reaction was), it is even more satisfying when we can literally see our results, something physical that we can see and touch."

"The other aspect of my work that I enjoy is the problem-solving required to take a starting material and make it into the target molecule - this is where our knowledge, skills and creativity as organic chemists really come into play," she says.

Janice's lateral thinking skills were put to the test this year when she was tasked with attaching a fluorescent probe to the marine sponge derived compound a-galactosylceramide (a-GalCer). a-GalCer significantly amplifies the anti-tumour immune responses elicited by a cancer vaccine, and the probe will enable scientists to learn more about how it does this.

Janice published her work describing the elegant synthetic strategy she used to prepare the labelled a-GalCer in the leading international journal Carbohydrate Research, which specialises in carbohydrate chemistry. It was this pivotal publication that won Janice the VUW Postgraduate Research Excellence Award.

Janice also won the Student Paper Prize for the presentation she gave on her a-GalCer work at the annual NZIC conference. No stranger to communication prizes, having won the Vic International category of VUW's 3 Minute Thesis Competition earlier this year, Janice says that oral presentations haven't always been easy for her.

"Being able to effectively communicate my research to any audience is a personal challenge I give myself. I didn't start off very well, and I remember numerous nervous talks that I have presented during my Honour's year."

"I am definitely not a natural orator, but I want to be better at it," she says. "The challenge is different with every presentation because the target audience is different. Being smack in the middle of two fields (chemistry and biology) also means that I constantly find myself having to figure out how best to pitch my story so I don't lose my audience. It is a fine balance."

At the NZIC conference, Janice presented to an audience specialising not only in organic chemistry (the type of chemistry she does at the Malaghan Institute) but also to those who work in other fields such as inorganic chemistry and physical chemistry.

"Winning the NZIC Student Paper competition gives me more confidence for presenting to diverse audiences, but it also reminds me that there is still room for improvement," says Janice.

Next year Janice plans to be back in the chemistry lab making more novel glycolipids, so she can wrap up her research and write up her PhD thesis. We can be rest assured that Janice will tackle this next lot of challenges with the same vigour that has helped make 2011 such a successful year for her.

Read more about Immunoglycomics research at the Malaghan Institute

Listen to a Radio NZ interview with Janice Cheng and Immunoglycomics Research Group Leader Dr Bridget Stocker, on adjuvants and cancer vaccines

Wellingtonians can ‘Run for Research’ with the Malaghan Institute on board for AMI Round the Bays 2012

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:19:34 +1300

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is pleased to announce its partnership with Sport Wellington and AMI Insurance as the Official Charity Partner for the annual AMI Round the Bays fun run and walk.

Being the Official Charity Partner means that participants can choose to ‘Run for Research’ and raise money to support the Malaghan Institute. Sport Wellington will also promote the important work of the Institute leading up to the event and on the day through all official communication channels.

The Malaghan Institute is New Zealand’s leading independent medical research facility and is based at Victoria University of Wellington’s Kelburn Campus. The scientists at the Malaghan Institute are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, asthma, arthritis, MS and infectious diseases.

Viv Bernard, Malaghan’s National Development Director, says that through the support of organisations such as AMI Insurance and Sport Wellington the Malaghan Institute can continue to fund its groundbreaking research.

“The AMI promise – to care, assist, and deliver - is the basis for their relationship with us and we can’t wait to run side by side with AMI and Sport Wellington on 26 February next year” says Viv.

Sport Wellington’s CEO Paul Cameron says, “it is fantastic that Sport Wellington can support such a great, local institution. By aligning with another of AMI Insurance’s charity partners we are showing we are committed to standing alongside AMI Insurance, as they are committed to standing alongside one of Wellington’s iconic summer events.”

Viv Bernard says “although we have been operating since 1979 the amazing research we do, and the fact that we’re in Wellington isn’t widely known, so to be able to leverage off the AMI Round the Bays media partners, such as ZM and the Dominion post, as well as the chance to raise funds for research is a fantastic opportunity for us”.

AMI Round the Bays 2012 takes place on Sunday 26 February 2012. Registrations will open on Friday 4 November and participants will be able to register to ‘Run for Research’ at amiroundthebays.co.nz

Prof Graham Le Gros wins at the 2011 Wellingtonian of the Year Awards

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:21:03 +1300

We are very proud to announce that Malaghan Institute Director, Prof Graham Le Gros, has won the Science and Technology category of the 2011 Wellingtonian of the Year Awards (The Wellys).

The Science and Technology award is presented in association with Hutt City Council, in recognition of the "intellectual capital of Wellingtonians". Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace, who presented Graham with his award, says that "He [Graham] is an excellent example of the science, research and technology professionals who add vibrancy and innovation to our region and make a positive contribution to society." Read more >>

Graham is an incredible mentor and inspiration to all of us that work at the Malaghan Institute. His passion for immunology is evident in everything that he does. Whether it be presenting his latest research finding to an international scientific audience, or educating the community about the wonders of science – Graham's indepth knowledge, quick wit and crooked smile are always on hand to entertain and inform.

The Welly Award is a wonderful recognition of the quality research Graham is pioneering at the Malaghan Institute, right here in Wellington.

Link to the Stuff website to read a full list of 2011 Welly Award winners

Read more about the Wellingtonian of the Year (Welly) Awards

Read more about the 2011 Wellys Finalists

Read a recent media release on Prof Le Gros' food allergy research

Dr Bridget Stocker wins Easterfield Medal - in recognition of significant research by an emerging chemist

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:25:51 +1300

Being awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Easterfield Medal at the 2011 New Zealand Research Honours Dinner is a fitting end to what has been an incredible year for Dr Bridget Stocker.

Dr Stocker currently leads the Immunoglycomics research team at the Malaghan Institute, and has an adjunct position with Victoria University of Wellington. She has presented her scientific research at numerous international conferences and to community groups, has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles, and has featured on Radio New Zealand National on several occasions.

Earlier this year Dr Stocker was invited to present a public seminar as part of the 2011 Royal Society of New Zealand Marie Curie Lecture series. She also appeared on the cover of a special issue of the international European Journal of Organic Chemistry dedicated to leading international 'Women in Chemistry' and was the recent recipient of the 2011 Royal Society of New Zealand Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing.

The Easterfield Medal is given in honour of the late Sir Thomas Hill Easterfield, who was well known for his contribution in the field of chemistry. The medal recognises quality and original chemistry research undertaken in New Zealand by individuals within 10 years of their formal training.

"I am very honoured to receive this award," says Dr Stocker. "It isn't easy establishing a research career in New Zealand, constantly being at the mercy of limited funding, and it is nice that the award recognises this."

Dr Stocker was the top graduating Victoria University of Wellington BSc(Hons) student in 2000, and continued on at the University for her PhD, focusing on the total synthesis of several anticancer agents. Following a brief period as a lecturer, Dr Stocker was awarded a FRST Bright Futures Post-Doctoral Fellowship in 2004 and spent two years at the prestigious Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, where she completed the first total syntheses of several complex mycobacterial glycans. In 2006, Dr Stocker returned to New Zealand and established an Immunoglycomics research programme at the Malaghan Institute in collaboration with partner Dr Mattie Timmer, a Senior Lecturer from Victoria University's School of Chemical and Physical Sciences.

"I am really proud of the work that we are doing here in Wellington and what we have achieved over the past few years," she says. "It has been challenging at times, but the highs definitely outweigh the lows."

Dr Stocker specialises in synthetic chemistry, with a particular interest in understanding the role of carbohydrates in immune responses. In addition to an impressive publication record, Dr Stocker has patented a novel 'protecting-group-free' strategy that her research group uses to synthesise novel glycolipids for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, asthma and tuberculosis.

"2011 has been a really intense year for me and my research team," says Dr Stocker. "We have all worked really hard and have faced some significant obstacles along the way."

"As I say to my students however, it is important to follow your goals and take people's criticism in an intelligent and constructive way. But don't forget that it is just their opinion. Do what you believe is right and always give your very best - if you believe in what you are doing, then all the hard work is worth it in the end."

Dr Stocker will receive her medal at the annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry in Hamilton later this month. As part of the award, Dr Stocker will present a two-week lecture series in the United Kingdom in 2012 or 2013.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please contact Dr Bridget Stocker on 04 499 6914 ext 813 or bstocker@malaghan.org.nz for more information.

RELATED LINKS

Link to the Royal Society of New Zealand website to read a media release on the outcomes of the 2011 NZ Research Honours Awards Evening

Read more about Dr Stocker’s other major win at the 2011 NZ Research Honours Awards Evening – the Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing

Dr Bridget Stocker’s tribute to Marie Curie takes out the 2011 Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:23:18 +1300

At last nights 2011 New Zealand Research Honours Dinner, Dr Bridget Stocker was awarded the fiction category of the Royal Society of New Zealand Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing.

Held in partnership with the New Zealand Listener Magazine and the Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University, the purpose of the competition is to "encourage exciting science communication through the written word," and Dr Stocker won the judges over with her tribute to Nobel Laureate Marie Curie entitled "Radium – A Love Story". Dr Stocker's story will be published in the Listener along with the winning non-fiction entry by Dr Joanna Wojnar.

Using the pen name M.Curie, Dr Stocker takes the reader back to early 19th century Paris, and into the mind of her protagonist Madame Marie Curie. Through her use of beautiful imagery and descriptive prose reminiscent of the era, Dr Stocker successfully recreates an evening alone with the famous chemist and physicist, as she reflects on her discovery of radium. Dr Stocker's knowledge of chemistry and her personal experiences of working in the laboratory help give the story its very realistic feel.

"M. Curie – The Radium Institute, Rue d'Ulm, Paris, 1934

I wait impatiently in my office, the nib of my pen poised above the page. Writing your story, from your birth and christening to your slow demise, is just a means to fill the time. I am to explain the principles of 'the Curie', the rate of your decay, and yet my mind wanders. To write about the end is a travesty. I must focus on how it began. First, I need to be alone."

Reproduced with permission from Dr Bridget Stocker. Link to the Royal Society website to read Dr Stocker's full winning entry, "Radium - A Love Story"

"I felt compelled to write this story on Marie Curie given that I'd taken part in the RSNZ Marie Curie lecture series and featured on the cover of a chemistry magazine celebrating the life of Marie Curie," says Dr Stocker. "That said, I almost didn't enter because I was running out of time – but I'm glad that I did!"

"Marie has always inspired me because of her unfailing dedication and hard work," says Dr Stocker. She had a lot against her at the time because she was a woman in a male-dominated area."

"Despite these challenges, Marie never waivered in her desire to turn her discovery of radium into something that could alleviate suffering. She has often been painted as a nerd or a geek. I wanted to show another side of Marie, as a real person with feelings and passion."

Writing has always been a keen interest of Dr Stocker's but with the demands of university study, was not something she took seriously until moving to Switzerland following the completion of her PhD in Chemistry in 2004. Whilst a post-doctoral fellow at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich), Dr Stocker did not buy a television or install a phone, and made the most of her quiet evenings alone at home to begin writing a novel.

What started as a hobby became more serious when she returned to New Zealand and, in 2008, was accepted into the Victoria University of Wellington Iowa Creative Writing Workshop (fiction stream).

"I would like to acknowledge my mentor from the Iowa programme, Monica Bergers, for supporting me in the early stages of my writing," she says. It was through her guidance that I gained the confidence to continue with this 'hobby' and feel comfortable sharing my stories with others."

Dr Stocker went on to receive a Creative New Zealand Mentor fellowship with Barbara Else (2008-2009), and was then taken on board by Chris and Barbara Else of the TFS literacy agency.

"Barbara and Chris are amazing and saw something interesting about my work, even though, when reading back through my old drafts now, I think oh God, some of that was really bad! In fact Chris asked me recently if I was now 'coming out' (as a writer) - and I suppose I am!"

Dr Stocker is currently working with Barbara and Chris on the completion of her first novel.

She still does not own a television.

CONTACT

Please contact Dr Bridget Stocker on 04 499 6914 ext 813 or bstocker@malaghan.org.nz for more information

RELATED LINKS

Link to the Royal Society of New Zealand website to read more about the Manhire Prize and the full manuscript of Dr Stocker's "Radium – A Love Story"

Link to the Royal Society of New Zealand website to read a media release on the Manhire prize, with a comment on Bridget's story by judge Jo Randerson

Read more about Dr Stocker's other major win at the 2011 NZ Research Honours Awards Evening – the Easterfield Medal for Chemistry

Dr Peter Ferguson speaks about magnetic nanoparticles on Radio New Zealand

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:44:12 +1300

Wellington clinician Dr Peter Ferguson featured on Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World programme last night.

In his interview with Ruth Beran, Dr Ferguson spoke about the PhD research he undertook at the Malaghan Institute on magnetic nanoparticles. Dr Ferguson has used these novel particles, which were developed by Assoc Prof Richard Tilley and colleagues from Victoria University of Wellington, to improve the contrast of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MRI uses a powerful magnetic field and radio frequency pulses to provide an unparalleled view inside the human body. However, the technology does have its limitations, particularly when it comes to visualising very small tumours. Working in collaboration with Wellington Hospital, Dr Ferguson was able to show that the superior magnetic properties of the nanoparticles developed by Assoc Prof Tilley's team, significantly enhanced the utility of using MRI for a number of medical applications.

Link to the Radio New Zealand website to listen to Dr Ferguson's interview and to read more about his research.

Dr Ferguson completed his PhD at the Malaghan Institute earlier this year and now works at Wellington Hospital. He continues to support the Malaghan Institute's cancer research programme in an advisory role as a Research Consultant.

Link to the Victoria University website to read more about Dr Ferguson.

Scope 46 - News under the microscope

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:28:30 +1200

Malaghan Institute in the Media Spotlight

In early September, the Malaghan Institute’s Immunoglycomics Group Leader, Dr Bridget Stocker, was interviewed on the Radio New Zealand ‘Nine to Noon’ programme. Dr Stocker was recently recognised in a special edition of the European Journal of Organic Chemistry, dedicated to women in chemistry who have made a significant contribution to their field and spoke about some of her research in her interview with Kathryn Ryan.

Also in September, a TVNZ crew visited the Institute to film a story about our Allergy research. This research has just been granted HRC funding and is making exciting inroads into better understanding the allergic response and childhood food allergies. Reporter Rebecca Edwards interviewed Prof Graham Le Gros about the research and the progress being made.

Hear Dr Stocker’s interview, or view the ONE NEWS clip

Rotary Club of Port Nicholson donates $20,000

The Rotary Club of Port Nicholson held their annual Charity dinner and Auction in May with the proceeds to be split between three worthy charities. The Malaghan Institute was the main recipient and recently was presented with a very generous cheque for $20,000. This will be used to fund the purchase of our new Immuno-Histo-Chemistry Station, a new cutting-edge technology that will be of importance to our future research work.

Malaghan PhD student finalist in Prime Ministers Prize

Top achieving Malaghan PhD student, Emma Dangerfield, has progressed to the final round of the Prime Minister’s Prize. Emma is nominated in the ‘Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist’ category and gave her address to the panel in late August. The winners will not be announced until early 2012, but we wish Emma all the best!

New Senior Research Fellow welcomed

The Institute welcomes new Senior Research Fellow, Dr Olivier Gasser, who comes to us all the way from Germany. Dr Gasser is here to work on the new Melanoma Clinical Trial which has begun its preparatory work. He will be working closely with Dr Ian Hermans with hopes that the trial itself will be ready to start in late 2012. Welcome Dr Gasser!

Scope 46 - Keeping a good relationship running

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:27:58 +1200

At the Malaghan Institute we’re dedicated to building strong, meaningful relationships. As part of our sponsorship philosophy, the Malaghan Institute seeks partnerships with companies that are truly committed to making their names synonymous with the things that make the Malaghan Institute great. These include a commitment to improving the human condition, a strong involvement in the community and a dedication to excellence.

We have found a great partner in AMI Insurance who proudly support the work we do. Like us they’re a New Zealand organisation who are committed to supporting communities and establishing a positive future for all New Zealanders.

They are a New Zealand owned company formed in 1926 and have been supporting the Malaghan Institute since 1996. The partnership has seen AMI supporting our activities from running to golf, laboratories to research. The AMI promise – to care, assist and deliver – is the basis for their relationship with us and we can’t wait to run side by side in the AMI Round the Bays on 26 February 2012.

Scope 46 - Run be-cause

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:27:18 +1200

We had a taste of it last year and are thrilled to make it official for the next two years. With the support of AMI Insurance and Sport Wellington, the Malaghan Institute would like to announce that we’ve been chosen as the official charity for the AMI Round the Bays 7km run/walk. This is such exciting news.

The AMI Round the Bays attracts over 10,000 participants from the greater Wellington area and offers an event for any level of fitness. If you’re super keen then the half marathon might be for you, or still keen but maybe your legs aren’t, then there’s a 7km walk/run event. The 2012 event is Sunday 26 February so put it in your diary, as we want to have our Malaghan supporters out in force.

How can you help? We’d love to have as many people fundraising for Malaghan and standing on the start line. You could participate with your family, your work mates or even your book club. We’re giving you enough time to gather your loved ones together to train and plan, and raise donations from all the people you know. If you don’t want to participate but you do want to support Malaghan, we can put you in touch with a Malaghan runner/fundraiser and you can donate towards their efforts.

Why is it important to us? We love Wellington and this is a great way to support our local community. It’s also an active way to raise awareness of the Malaghan Institute, the important research we do and the great partnership with AMI Insurance.

We’ll keep you posted over the coming months, but if you’d like to find out more about how you can help, then please contact Victoria Hale, on 04 499 6914 ext 821, or email vhale@malaghan.org.nz.

Scope 46 - In the Media: Vaccination

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:26:22 +1200

With the vaccination debate again hitting the headlines with the recent outbreak of measles in Auckland, we feel it is important to note that, as an immunology research institute, the Malaghan Institute strongly advocates for the practice of vaccination in our communities.

Vaccination as we know it today has been around since the early 1800’s when Edward Jenner used cowpox to vaccinate against the much deadlier smallpox virus. The premise behind his work was to expose patients to a small dose of the less harmful virus thereby spurring the body to mount an immune response, so that if exposed to small pox, a much lesser infection occurred and was not fatal.

Today, vaccines have been developed to combat many diseases that would otherwise cause a dangerous level of illness and even death. These include measles, rubella, pertussis and influenza. The controversy over the safe use of vaccines has been a modern development with concerns being raised about the correlation of the rise in autism and childhood cancers to the prolific use of vaccines today. To date, no credible research has been published that proves this causal link.

The Malaghan Institute conducts research based on the immune system and as such, we believe in using the power of our own bodies to fight infection. We also believe the immune system can be manipulated to provide a better defence against disease than if left to its own devices – a clear example of this is vaccination. The Institute wholeheartedly agrees with the science behind vaccination and would encourage all people, parents in particular who are considering vaccination for their children, to carefully research whether or not the risks of side effects of vaccination outweigh the risks of the getting the full infection. When carefully considered in this way, vaccination is the clear winner.

Scope 46 - The scientist behind the research - Dr Jacquie Harper

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:24:40 +1200

Arthritis & Inflammation Group Leader, Dr Jacquie Harper, first became excited about science thanks to stream of an enthusiastic high school science teachers who set her on the road to a career in research. These teachers should be very proud of their former student, as Jacquie went on to study at Otago University where she completed both her undergraduate degree and her PhD. From there she undertook post-doctoral research at the prestigious National Institutes of Heath (NIH) in the USA.

Dr Harper is a long serving member of our staff, having come to the Malaghan Institute in 1999 as a Research Fellow ready to apply her skills in chemistry and biology to tackle the task of finding the anti-inflammatory components in bacteria . Only three years later she was heading her own team as Group Leader of the Arthritis & Inflammation research group.

Dr Harper says that her multi-disciplinary training allows her to combine a passion for understanding what drives inflammation in arthritis with developing new anti-inflammatory treatments for ameliorating disease.

Scope 46 - Why food allergy research is a high priority

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:22:11 +1200

Food allergy has been increasing in incidence and prevalence throughout the world and imposes a significant burden of disease and health cost on our community. However, despite extensive research into the potential genetic or clinical associations of allergic disease, little progress has been made in understanding why.

Food allergies occur when the immune system, which normally serves to protect us against parasites, viruses and bacteria, mounts an attack on harmless protein components in the food. The resulting allergic reactions can range from mild discomfort to serious and life threatening events, with anaphylaxis (the rapid onset of breathing difficulties, skin reactions, vomiting) the most severe form of food allergy.

There are few treatment options for individuals with food allergy beyond avoiding the allergy inducing food. Some patients might also undergo desensitisation therapy, where they are gradually exposed to the food allergen in a controlled manner to get their immune system tolerant to the protein allergens in the food. However, this approach is not always effective and the mechanism by which it acts is not well understood.

Food allergy is not an isolated disorder and is often linked with other diseases in what is described as the allergic march, where one form of allergy manifests to another over a period of time. For example, children under the age of three who have eczema and food allergy, tend to go on to develop asthma. Then, as their asthma improves, they can be affected by hay fever in their teenage years.

Further research on the immune mechanisms involved in controlling food allergy is therefore desperately needed so we can improve the lives of children living with the disorder and halt its progression into other forms of allergic disease as they get older.

MEET THE ALLERGY TEAM

While the overall research is being supervised and developed by Prof Graham Le Gros, three key members of the investigating team are Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom, Marcus Robinson and Catherine Plunkett. These three dynamic scientists have been working on various aspects of this project since late 2008 and are all passionate about the work being done.

Project team leader, Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom is excited by the allergy research being undertaken at the Malaghan Institute and says “Allergic diseases have reached epidemic proportions, and we don’t know why. Recently, we established an exciting finding that highlights the changing way we now think about food allergen sensitisation. To be a part of this cutting edge research, in our quest for a cure, is an extraordinary opportunity”.

Scope 46 - Changing the way we think about food allergy

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:21:31 +1200

Latest research at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research has highlighted a process by which children might become allergic to peanuts, without ever tasting them.

In July 2011, Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom and Prof Graham Le Gros were awarded funding from the Health Research Council of New Zealand to investigate the early immune responses that take place during the development of food allergy, of which peanut allergy is the most dangerous and long-lasting.

For a child to develop an allergy to foods such as peanuts, their immune system has to first see the peanuts and become sensitised to them. It is the resulting runaway immune response that is responsible for the symptoms of food allergy such as swelling, skin irritations and breathing difficulties.

However, parents of allergic children will often say that their child has never eaten peanuts, so how are the immune systems of these children becoming sensitised? Dr Forbes-Blom believes that in special situations it can be through their skin.

Using unique laboratory food allergy models, Dr Forbes-Blom and colleagues showed that exposure of the skin to peanuts can lead to the development of peanut specific allergic immune responses. Their work also highlighted the importance of concomitant Staph infections in amplifying this process in individuals with eczema.

Collectively Dr Forbes-Blom’s findings, which were published in the international journal of Clinical & Experimental Allergy, support previous clinical data that under some circumstances, having a child’s skin come into contact with certain foods such as peanuts is all that is required for them to become allergic to them – something that needs to be taken into consideration when developing treatments for food allergy sufferers.

Scope 46 - From the Director

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:21:04 +1200

Every day kiwi families are faced with important decisions relating to their health.

For some parents it might be whether or not to allow their young child to attend a friend’s birthday party because of the serious risks associated with that child coming into contact with a food they are allergic to. Others might be lying in bed at night, listening to their baby’s cough, trying to decide whether it warranted a visit to the after hours medical clinic, but questioning whether they were simply overreacting. Or the individual that has been suffering through the crippling pain of their throbbing sore toe, trying to continue on with life as normal, rather than bothering anyone because they are sure ‘it will be better in the morning’.

Here at the Malaghan Institute we are recognised for our leading research into the big diseases affecting New Zealanders such as cancer. However, our independence means that we also have the ability to research some of the less popularised diseases in our community, such as food allergy, bronchiolitis and gout, which can be just as debilitating to the lives of the people living with them. In this issue of Scope we are proud to update you on these community-based research programmes.

Prof Graham Le Gros
Director

Three pioneers of the immune system awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Medicine

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:46:48 +1300

Immunology was a standout winner at this year’s Nobel Prize Ceremony.

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to three immunologists who have dedicated their careers to understanding the extraordinary intricacies of our immune systems.

The Nobel Prize was divided, one half jointly to Bruce A. Beutler and Jules A. Hoffmann "for their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity" and the other half to Ralph M. Steinman "for his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity".

Link to the Official Nobel Prize Web Site to read more

Sadly, Prof Steinman died just a couple of days before the announcement by the Nobel Foundation but will keep his award. Read more >>

This announcement has been received with great enthusiasm by all of us here at the Malaghan Institute, where our scientists are focused on developing novel strategies for harnessing the strength and potency of the immune system to fight disease.

The discoveries published by Beutler, Hoffman and Steinman have played a pivotal role in shaping the Malaghan Institute’s research programmes.

On behalf of everyone here at the Malaghan Institute we offer our heartfelt congratulations to Bruce Beutler and Jules Hoffman, and to the Steinman family in memory of Ralph’s pioneering research.

Read more about the Malaghan Institute's immunology research

Gouty arthritis - more than a pain in the big toe!

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:27:54 +1300

Gout is an extremely painful recurring arthritic disease affecting a great number of New Zealanders, and is the main focus of the Arthritis & Inflammation Group, led by Dr Jacquie Harper.

Gout is caused by the build-up of crystals of uric acid in the joints, which trigger an inflammatory immune response. It is this immune response that is responsible for the swelling, heat and intense pain felt in the affected joint.

The main risk factor for gout is hyperuricaemia or high levels of uric acid in the blood. Hyperuricaemia can occur for a number of reasons including genetics, poor renal function or excessive cell death following injury. In 20% of hyperuricaemics, uric acid crystallises in the extremities resulting in gout.

Acute gout is the most common form of the disease, where an individual will often go to bed feeling fine, but wake in the morning with a painful swollen toe that stays that way for up to two weeks. If acute gout doesn’t self-resolve, it can progress into tophaceous gout – a crippling and debilitating condition where excessive crystal build-up can lead to irreversible joint damage.

Dr Harper’s research is currently focussed on understanding how the immune system reacts to these crystals. Previously it was believed that particular immune cells called monocytes enter the inflamed joint and change into cells that resolve inflammation. However her team has now shown that these cells in fact develop into proinflammatory macrophages and are primed to exacerbate inflammation in the presence of ongoing crystal deposition in the joint. Their work suggests that these monocytes might be an effective drug target for future therapies aimed at easing the pain of acute gouty arthritis.

Call for volunteers for gouty arthritis clinical study

Dr Harper’s research group are undertaking a gouty arthritis clinical study in collaboration with Wellington Rheumatologists Dr Andrew Harrison and Dr Rebecca Grainger, and they are currently seeking volunteers.

This study builds on previous clinical work published by this team in the Journal of Rheumatology last year, which revealed vital information showing that hyperuricaemia may increase inflammatory immune responses to the uric acid crystals. Gout patients about to commence urate lowering therapy are now being recruited for a follow-up clinical study that will investigate the effects of lowering blood uric acid levels on their inflammatory immune response to uric acid crystals.

Please contact Dr Harrison on aharrison@wnmeds.ac.nz if you would like information on how to be involved in this study.

When a baby's cough and cold turns into something a lot more serious

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:48:54 +1300

The leading cause of hospitalisation of babies and infants in New Zealand is bronchiolitis - a viral infection of the small airways in the lungs that causes severe breathing difficulties.

Visit an early childhood facility and you can guarantee that there will be at least one child there with a finger strategically placed to sample the delights of the contents lurking up their nose. Dr Joanna Kirman’s Infectious Diseases team is interested in the same thing, only a sterile swab is used to do the digging!

Dr Kirman is part of an international collaborative study led by Dr Tristram Ingham from the Wellington Asthma Research Group, University of Otago, Wellington, involving over a thousand Wellington children under the age of two. The purpose of the study is to understand why some kiwi kids, particularly Māori and Pacific infants, are more likely to develop severe lower respiratory tract infections and require hospitalisation. The ‘nasal samples’ will be tested by Dr Kirman to determine what respiratory viruses are present in them - one of several different risk factors being explored in the study.

The researchers will also investigate whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased bronchiolitis severity. Vitamin D is produced in human skin when the body is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, such as sunlight. During winter months, when bronchiolitis infections are most common, children tend to spend more time indoors and therefore produce less vitamin D.

By identifying the specific risk factors that contribute towards New Zealand’s high bronchiolitis hospitalisation rates, Dr Kirman and colleagues will be able to provide recommendations for intervention strategies that mitigate their impact.

Why avoiding eating peanuts may not save your child from developing food allergy

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:59:41 +1300

MEDIA RELEASE

Research at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research has highlighted a process by which children might become allergic to peanuts, without ever tasting them.

Prof Graham Le Gros, Director of the Malaghan Institute, leads a team of researchers looking at the early immune responses that take place during the development of food allergy, of which peanut allergy is the most dangerous and long-lasting.

“A child doesn’t just suddenly become allergic to peanuts,” says Prof Le Gros. “Their immune system has to have seen the peanuts beforehand, and become sensitised to them. It is the resulting runaway immune response that is responsible for the symptoms of food allergy such as swelling, skin irritations and breathing difficulties.”

“Parents of allergic children will often say however that their child has never eaten peanuts, so we wanted to know how and why these children go on to develop peanut allergies.”

To answer this question Prof Le Gros and senior allergy researcher Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom developed unique laboratory food allergy models to investigate whether other routes in the body, such as skin contact, were relevant for sensitising the immune system to peanuts.

These investigations were conducted using mice with fluorescent (glow in the dark) tags - when the mice experience an allergic reaction the affected cells glow, allowing researchers to see why they react. Their findings have just been published in the international journal of Clinical & Experimental Allergy.

“We know that children with recognised peanut allergies can have severe allergic reactions to skin creams or oils containing peanut extracts, without having to actually eat the products,” says Prof Le Gros. “This is why early childhood centres in New Zealand are zoned completely peanut free.”

“Recent clinical and experimental investigations also suggest an intriguing correlation between the development of peanut allergy, food exposure through the skin and the presence of eczema in early childhood,” he says.

The skin of most patients with eczema is colonised with Staphylococcus aureus, and particular toxins produced by these bacteria can make their allergic skin irritations significantly worse. These same infections are also being increasingly implicated in the development of food allergies.

“We sought to bring all this information together and use our models to ask the question – what happens at the cellular level when the skin of an individual with eczema (and most likely a Staph infection) comes into contact with peanut extract? Are they more likely to go on to develop a peanut allergy?”

In short, their answer was “yes”.

Prof Le Gros’ team showed that specific bacterial products known as superantigens can amplify the immune response that develops in response to peanut extract coming into contact with the skin. On subsequent skin exposure, the allergic immune response to peanuts was even stronger, even in the absence of the bacterial toxins.

“Previous clinical data suggest that repeated exposure of the skin to peanuts can lead to the development of peanut specific allergic immune responses,” says Prof Le Gros. “Our data show how this could be happening at the cellular level and highlight the importance of concomitant Staph infections in amplifying this process in individuals with eczema.”

“Collectively these studies support the view that under some circumstances, having a child’s skin come into contact with certain foods such as peanuts is all that is required for them to develop an allergic immune response – something that needs to be taken into consideration when developing treatments for food allergy sufferers.”

This research was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, Lotteries Health Research, The Dr Marjorie Barclay Trust and the Wellington Medical Research Foundation.

For more information, please contact:

Prof Graham Le Gros on +64 4 499 6914 ext 822 or email glegros@malaghan.org.nz.

About the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is New Zealand’s leading vaccine and immunology research institute and is based at Victoria University of Wellington’s Kelburn campus. The Institute operates independently and is a charitable trust. Researchers at the Malaghan Institute are focused on developing innovative ways to harness the strength and potency of the immune system, the body’s own natural defence against disease, to treat cancer, asthma and allergy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious disease.

Supporting information

Download a pdf of this media release.

Link to the TVNZ website to view a "Special Report" on the Malaghan's food allergy research, which aired on ONE news on Mon 19 September 2011.

View another recent media release on the Malaghan's food allergy research.

Prof Graham Le Gros interviewed on Radio New Zealand

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:59:42 +1300

Director of the Malaghan Institute, Prof Graham Le Gros, was interviewed about his food allergy research by Mary Wilson for Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme this evening.

Prof Le Gros and Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom have just had a paper published in the journal of Clinical & Experimental Allergy, in which unique GFP-reporter mice were used to investigate whether other routes in the body, such as skin contact, were relevant for sensitising the immune system to peanuts. Read more >>

Prof Le Gros spoke about the main outcomes of this research, which showed at the cellular level, how early childhood eczema and skin infections can predispose an individual to the development of food allergy.

Link to the Radio New Zealand website to listen to Prof Le Gros' interview

Read more about Prof Graham Le Gros

Read more about Asthma and Allergy research at the Malaghan Institute

Antiques Roadshow - 15 & 16 Oct

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:06:18 +1300

The First New Zealand Antiques Roadshow is an event being organised by the Wairarapa Friends of the Malaghan Institute. Campbell Moon, antiques dealer & accredited valuer, is the event coordinator and has organised what promises to be a fantastic, one-off event for antique lovers everywhere!

Experts available during the two day event will come from across the North Island. It will be the first time in New Zealand that so many Antiques experts will be available to appraise and objectively value items in their various specialty categories.

The event will be held at the Tauherenikau Racecourse on 15 & 16 October, 10.00am - 3.30pm daily.

Entry is $10pp (under 12 free) and fully accredited valuations are available from just $20 per item.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Malaghan Institute.

View the event brochure

View the event poster

Fantastic Fundraising from our Taupo Friends

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:08:33 +1300

The past three months have been very busy for our Taupo Friends group, with two successful fundraising events being held.

The first, a Bridge Tournament, was held in June and saw over 80 people attend the evening. A great time was had by all and the committee raised over $2000 for the Institute's research programmes.

Following on from that sucess, the Taupo Friends then held a Fashion Show in late August. This event was hosted by Jennifer Mayer - owner of 'Pear Tree Fashions' and 'Flirts', two local Taupo clothing boutiques. This event was very well received with over 100 people, all ladies, attending the event. Ticket sales generated another amazing donation to the Institute of $2450.

On behalf of the scientists here at the Malaghan Institute, we would like to thank the hardworking committee for their efforts and committment to our cause.

For more information about supporting a local Friends event, please contact Tanya Fulcher on 04 499 6914 ext 811 or tfulcher@malaghan.org.nz

Malaghan PhD Student up for Prime Ministers Prize

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:09:37 +1300

Top achieving Malaghan PhD student, Emma Dangerfield, has been announced as a finalist for 'The Prime Minister's MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize'. Emma flew to Auckland in late August to address the panel with a ten minute speech. The panel, which featured three leading New Zealand Scientists, then finished the interview with a 20 minute question session.

The Prime Minister's MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize is for an outstanding emerging scientist undertaking research for a PhD or within five years of the date of the award of their PhD. If successful, Emma will be awarded $200,000 to use in her future work.

Announcement of the winner will not take place until January 2012, but we wish Emma all the best in this endeavour.

Our Food Allergy Research profiled on TV ONE

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:11:56 +1300

TVNZ reporter Rebecca Edwards visited the Malaghan Institute on Wednesday 14th September to film an interview with Prof Graham Le Gros about his Food Allergy research. Having the filming on site was very exciting and we are looking forward to watching the story and seeing Prof Le Gros live in action on national TV - it will be wonderful exposure for the Malaghan Institute.

***UPDATE***

Link to the TVNZ website to view the "Special Report" on the Malaghan's food allergy research, which aired this evening on ONE news.

View a recent media release on the Malaghan's food allergy research

Dr Bridget Stocker interviewed on Radio New Zealand

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:51:06 +1300

The Malaghan Institute's Dr Bridget Stocker, who heads the Immunoglycomics research group, was a feature guest on Radio New Zealand's Nine To Noon show this morning.

Dr Stocker was recently recognised in a special edition of the European Journal of Organic Chemistry, dedicated to women in chemistry who have made a significant contribution to their field and spoke about some of her research in her interview with Kathryn Ryan.

She also gave her opinion on some of the challenges faced by young scientists trying to establish a career in research in New Zealand.

Listen to Dr Stocker's Radio New Zealand interview or link to the Radio NZ website to download the interview file.

Read more about Dr Bridget Stocker

Read more about Dr Stocker's recognition in the EurJOC Women in Chemistry publication

Read more about an earlier interview of Dr Stocker with Ruth Beran from Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World programme on her cancer research

Malaghan scientists tackle New Zealand’s food allergy epidemic

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:23:06 +1300

The prevalence of allergic disease in this country is among the highest in the world, with 1 in 5 New Zealanders affected by food allergy, asthma, eczema or hay fever.

“For parents of young children, asthma and allergy are of major concern,” said Director of Research Prof Graham Le Gros. “Food allergies are especially relevant because of their impact on a child’s quality of life.”

“Parents of allergic children have a lot to consider when it comes to sending their child to preschool and school, birthday parties or playdates, because of the potential risks of exposing their child to allergy-inducing foods,” says Prof Le Gros.

Food-induced allergic reactions can range from mild discomfort to serious and life threatening events, with anaphylaxis (the rapid onset of breathing difficulties, skin reactions, vomiting) the most severe form of food allergy.

“Until we know why some children react to particular foods in this way, we cannot begin to address how best to treat them,” says Prof Le Gros. “Despite extensive research into the potential epidemiological, genetic or clinical associations of allergic disease, little progress has been made in this area.”

Food allergies occur when the immune system, which normally serves to protect us against parasites, viruses and bacteria, mounts an attack on harmless food components such as proteins. The particular proteins that trigger this immune response are called allergens.

Prof Le Gros and colleagues believe that the answer to treating food allergy lies in understanding how these foods set off the allergic immune response, and why it only happens in some individuals.

“There are few treatment options for individuals with allergic disease,” says Prof Le Gros. “Patients are advised to avoid the allergen (especially in the case of foods) and are offered the drugs corticosteroids, which act by suppressing all immune responses regardless of whether they are beneficial or harmful.

Desensitisation therapy, where a patient is gradually exposed to an allergen in a controlled manner to get their immune system used to seeing it, is currently the only curative option available, however, it is not always effective and the mechanism by which it acts is not well understood. Prof Le Gros says that further research on better treatments and on the immune mechanisms involved in controlling allergic disease is needed.

Working alongside Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom, a Research Fellow at the Malaghan Institute who specialises in food allergy, Prof Le Gros will use the HRC funding to develop new food allergy disease models.

“We will use these models to reveal for the first time the earliest cellular and molecular events involved in sensitising the immune cells in the gut to food allergens,” says Prof Le Gros. “These models will also support further research into the identification of improved strategies for treating food allergy.”

One such therapeutic strategy that has shown promising results in asthma disease models is the targeted killing of the immune cells that are responsible for setting off the allergic immune response. In an earlier HRC funded research project, Prof Franca Ronchese and colleagues showed that by exploiting the killing activity of specialised immune cells called cytotoxic T lymphocytes, they can reduce allergic airway inflammation and alleviate the symptoms of asthma.

With the support of the HRC, Prof Ronchese will now extend these studies further to determine if this therapy is equally effective in reducing inflammation in other tissues affected by allergic disease such as the gut (food allergy) or skin (eczema).

“With the HRC funding the Malaghan Institute is now uniquely placed to better address New Zealand’s growing food allergy problem,” says Prof Le Gros. “The new knowledge generated from the two funded research programmes will improve our ability to treat allergic diseases more effectively and with fewer side effects, which will lead to significantly improved outcomes for allergy sufferers.”

Dr Bridget Stocker acknowledged for her significant contribution to chemistry

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:08:16 +1300

2011 is the International Year of Chemistry, commemorating 100 years since Madame Marie Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

To mark the occasion, the international European Journal of Organic Chemistry has published a special issue dedicated to Women in Chemistry, and Dr Bridget Stocker, who heads the Malaghan Institute’s Immunoglycomics group, was one of two New Zealand female scientists selected to feature in it - the other being Prof Margaret Brimble from The University of Auckland.

The journal states that “this issue was compiled to highlight women in organic chemistry who have made a significant contribution to their field,” which is an incredible testament to the work that Dr Stocker and her team are doing here at the Malaghan Institute.

Dr Stocker’s research is focused on understanding the role of carbohydrates in biology, and applying this knowledge to the development of more effective therapies for diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, and asthma.

In addition to contributing a research paper to the journal, where she describes some of her latest carbohydrate synthesis work, Dr Stocker was also asked to comment on the biggest challenge facing female organic chemists.

She responded, “Guilt. I think that many women have a hard time in striving to achieve without feeling guilty. To succeed in science, or in any career for that matter, focus and commitment are needed. Women may feel that they are neglecting other areas of their lives when focusing on their careers and may push themselves too far and too thin to compensate for this. Of course, men have the same pressures, though I feel that they are better able to accept the choices that they make without the associated ‘guilt’. Women should have more confidence with their choices without feeling like they need to do everything. Fortunately, as society becomes more gender equitable, men and women are better able to share the demands of life so that they can both achieve their goals.”

Dr Stocker’s research made the front cover of the European Journal of Organic Chemistry earlier this year and her PhD student Anna Win-Mason was pleasantly surprised to see it being showcased several times at the recent Eurocarb conference in Naples. Anna’s conference presentation on her latest synthetic chemistry research was also selected for a special edition of the Journal Carbohydrate Research. Another great acknowledgment of how well the Malaghan’s Immunoglycomics research is being received by the international scientific community.

Link to the Women in Chemistry special issue on the EurJOC website

Read more about Dr Stocker’s Immunoglycomics research

Read more about Dr Stocker’s Royal Society of New Zealand Marie Curie public lecture that she gave in New Plymouth in March of this year

Wellington Mayor visits the Malaghan Institute

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:07:48 +1300

Following on from her recent visit to the Malaghan Institute to open the NZASI Conference, Celia Wade-Brown, Mayor of Wellington, returned for a personal visit of the facility on Tuesday the 9th of August.

Accompanied by Graham Le Gros, Research Director and Viv Bernard, National Development Director, Mayor Wade-Brown was escorted around the lab facilities. She stopped to discuss with staff the many different aspects of research undertaken within the institute and was able to draw upon her own scientific knowledge in an active discussion about the Flow Cytometry lab.

As a committed Wellington organisation the Malaghan Institute was grateful to be able to host Mayor Wade-Brown and showcase some of the ground breaking work we do, as well as introduce our brilliant staff. We welcome this recent and increased contact with Mayor Wade-Brown and her enthusiastic support for the scientific community in Wellington.

Malaghan scientists shine at national immunology conference

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:09:13 +1300

Last month 115 research scientists from across New Zealand converged on Wellington for the 2011 NZASI Immunology Conference.

This year the meeting acknowledged New Zealand’s founding immunologists with new student, research technician and postdoctoral fellow speaker prizes and we are very proud to announce that Malaghan scientists took away the three top awards:

Mr Martin Hunn – Winner of the Buck Immunology Travel Award for Best Student Oral Presentation

Martin is a Neurosurgeon at Wellington Hospital who joined the Malaghan Institute in 2009 to undertake his PhD in Dr Ian Hermans’ Vaccine Research Group. He is investigating the therapeutic potential of using immunotherapy to treat patients with high grade glioma.

Lindsay Ancelet – Runner-up for the Buck Award

Lindsay is a PhD student in Dr Joanna Kirman’s Infectious Diseases Research Group, studying the immune responses that result from oral administration of the tuberculosis vaccine. Currently the Tb vaccine is injected under the skin, but oral delivery has many advantages over this approach such as reduced cost, avoidance of needles and a reduced risk of disease transfer.

Fenella Rich – Winner of the Marbrook Award for Best Research Officer Presentation

Fenella is a senior research officer in the Infectious Diseases Group, and has been collaborating with Prof Franca Ronchese’s Immune Cell Biology Group to use microbial ‘danger signals’ to boost the immune response against cancer. Cancers work hard to evade recognition by immune cells and suppress their activity. Fenella’s research suggests that incorporating microbial components into immunotherapy regimes will help overcome these cancer survival mechanisms and thus improve their effectiveness.

Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom – Winner of the Heslop Immunology Travel Award for Best Postdoctoral Presentation

Elizabeth is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Prof Graham Le Gros’ Asthma and Allergic Diseases Research Group, who has played a pivotal role in establishing a food allergy research programme at the Malaghan Institute. Her research is focused on identifying the early events that take place during an allergic immune response, so that we can better understand why particular foods stimulate these effects in some individuals.

Malaghan Institute Student Open Days

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:14:17 +1300

Considering postgraduate research in 2012 or beyond?

Interested in allergy, arthritis, asthma, cancer, infectious disease?

Ever wondered what happens at the Malaghan Institute?

Come and find out!

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is hosting an open day for VUW students. Hear about our research, discover opportunities for summer studentships, Honours, MSc and PhD research, see the labs, and talk to current Malaghan postgraduate students.

When: Tuesday August 2nd, 12-1pm, and Thursday August 4th, 1-2 pm (same programme both days)
Where: Malaghan Institute Seminar Room
What: Short presentations from the Malaghan's research groups, describing their research programmes with a focus on potential thesis projects. This will be followed by a Q & A session with current postgraduate students and a tour of the Institute's laboratories.

Further information

View a map of the Kelburn campus. The Malaghan Institute is located in the Central Services Building.

Read more about Postgraduate Study at the Malaghan Institute

Read more about the diseases we research

Scope 45 - News under the microscope

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:19:42 +1200

Wellington Friends Winter Cocktail Party

The very impressive Premier House was the setting for a recent fundraising event organised by the Wellington Friends of the Malaghan Institute. Over 150 people gathered at the beautiful premises in Wellington on the evening of June 9 for a winter cocktail party. Sean Plunkett was MC for the evening and guests had the opportunity to mix and mingle while listening to pianist Jennifer Timmings. The night was a huge success with over $7,000 raised for the Institute. A special thanks to all our generous sponsors: Spy Valley Wines, Zibibbo Restaurant & Bar, Lion Nathan, SHOTT Beverages, Marianne Muggeridge and Inspire Photography.

Malaghan PhD Student Shines in 3 Minute Thesis Competition

Janice Cheng, a PhD student in our Immunoglycomics research group, recently won the ‘English as a second language’ category of VIctoria University’s 3 Minute Thesis competition. The competition invites postgraduate students to present a three-minute speech on their thesis topic and its significance to the wider community. Janice says that the biggest thing she has learnt from this experience is the power of effective communication. "While we know that the research we are doing here at the Malaghan Institute is something very special - and so are happy to give up our weekends and evenings to continue it - this is of little value if we cannot communicate its significance to people outside the Institute." On behalf of everyone at the Malaghan Institute we congratulate Janice and look forward to more scintillating talks.

Scope 45 - Meet and Greet

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:19:06 +1200

One of the first faces that will greet you at the Malaghan Institute is that of Security and Reception Manager, Dominique Hawinkels.

Dominique has been a valued staff member of the Malaghan Institute for two decades – in fact, his 20 year anniversary passed this April. He began as Administrative Technician back in 1991 when the Institute was located in Newtown at the Wellington School of Medicine. Needless to say, he has been here for many of the important changes that the Institute has been through during that time, including the growth from 9 staff to over 80, a change of Director and the move to our current location in Kelburn.

Dominique says that one of the things he likes most about working at the Malaghan Institute is discovery. “Being involved in the magic that is scientific discovery is very motivating. I also believe that the Institute is here to improve people’s lives through research and I am glad to be a part of that. The great people who work here are also a bonus.”

Scope 45 - Take a Peek Behind the Scenes

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:18:10 +1200

Most people, when thinking about a world class research institute, naturally assume that it would operate behind locked doors and be accessible only by its highly qualified personnel. While this may be true about some facilities, it is not the case for the Malaghan Institute.

As well as conducting ground-breaking research into cancer, asthma, arthritis, MS and infectious disease, a key goal is also to educate the community about the importance of medical research. One way that we do this is by organising tours of our world class facilities based in Kelburn, Wellington. Throughout the year we open our doors to dozens of community groups who all share a common desire to see ‘behind the scenes’ and learn more about the research we are conducting to improve the health of New Zealanders.

We have received wonderful feedback from those who have visited, with one ‘tour coordinator’, Rod Davie of Paraparaumu, stating “Our members loved it! They were amazed by all the things they saw.”

In addition to offering tours, the Malaghan Institute also arranges for its scientists to visit schools and community groups to talk about their work.

If you are interested in arranging a tour or speaker, or would like to find out more please contact:

Victoria Hale on 04 4996914 ext. 821 / vhale@malaghan.org.nz.

Scope 45 - Late Pioneering Doctor Supports Asthma Research

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:17:27 +1200

For over a decade, The Dr Marjorie Barclay Trust has been making an annual donation in direct support of the asthma research group, headed by Institute Director, Prof Graham Le Gros. The Trust was set up from the estate of the late Dr Marjorie Barclay, who was one of New Zealand’s first female hospital specialists. Not content with this achievement alone, she then also specialised in the relatively new field of diagnostic radiology. Dr Barclay studied extensively overseas before returning to New Zealand where she lectured at the University of Otago Medical School and worked for the Otago Hospital Board. Later in her life, Dr Barclay, who suffered from asthma, relocated to Wellington as she felt the bracing sea air would benefit her health.

Sadly, Dr Barclay passed away in 1978, but her Charitable Trust has since seen over $3 million dollars distributed to various New Zealand charities. One such charity is the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, having been a grateful recipient of the Trust since 2000. The Trust funding we receive is allocated specifically for the purposes of research into asthma and has allowed for many purchases of important scientific equipment for the research group, as well as vital salary support for training scientists in the asthma area.

The Malaghan Institute is extremely thankful to The Dr Marjorie Barclay Trust for its ongoing support of Prof Le Gros and his work. We are pleased to be committed to honoring the memory of Dr Barclay by continuing to be at the forefront of asthma research, not only here in New Zealand, but also worldwide.

Scope 45 - Identifying Targets for More Specific Asthma Therapies

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:16:49 +1200

Asthma is the world’s most common chronic disease in children and its prevalence in New Zealand is amongst the highest in the world.

Current asthma treatments usually involve the use of non-specific immune suppressive agents such as corticosteroids. However, although these treatments are effective at reducing the immediate symptoms of asthma, their impact is not specific to the asthmatic immune response and can leave patients more susceptible to common infections such as influenza.

Understanding the signals that trigger the initiation of asthma is critical for the development of treatments that selectively suppress only the asthmatic immune response. Until now our knowledge of these early events has been lacking because we haven’t had the tools to study them.

By taking advantage of the recent advances in flow cytometry capability however, Prof Graham Le Gros’ Asthma and Allergic Diseases research group has been able to identify a unique population of dendritic cells that are capable of initiating what is known as a Th2 immune response – the type experienced by those with asthma.

Dendritic cells function like sentinels, patrolling the body and alerting the immune system to the presence of germs and other potential threats. There are many different classes of dendritic cells, each varying in their surface structure, location in the body and function. Those identified by Prof Le Gros’ team however are particularly interesting because of their highly specific ability to drive a Th2 immune response. This makes them potential targets for the development of vaccines and therapies that can be used to specifically treat the asthmatic immune response without impacting on the rest of the immune system.

Scope 45 - Real Estate and Research

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:16:15 +1200

Less than one year after raising an incredible $60,000 to support the Malaghan Institute’s Cancer Vaccine Programme, Ian Paterson and the team at Just Paterson Real Estate in Wellington have raised the bar by making a further $50,000 donation to support research into glioblastoma, the form of brain cancer that tragically claimed Sally Paterson – beloved wife of Ian, mother, business owner and work colleague of all the team at Just Paterson - in 2009.

Just Paterson co-director Ian Paterson says Sally’s death highlighted the ground-breaking work the Malaghan Institute is doing and provided Sally’s family, colleagues and clients with an opportunity to create something good out of their loss.

Following their “Blue September” promotion in 2009, Just Paterson has continued to raise much needed funds for the Malaghan Institute through agent fee donations, company contributions and gifts from the community, with members of the team also participating in the Malaghan Run for Research appeal in February this year.

“We’re committed to working long-term with the Malaghan Institute to support their bid for a vaccine for this particular form of brain tumour”, Ian states.

Our utmost respect and gratitude go to Ian, his family and the Just Paterson team for their unwavering support in Sally’s memory.

Scope 45 - A Natural Way to Awaken the Immune Response

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:15:42 +1200

The immune system has all the properties that are required to detect cancer and control its progression.

Immunotherapy holds great promise for cancer treatment - immune cells are specific and can discriminate between normal and cancer cells, they have potent ‘killing’ capacity and can also travel to different tissues to eliminate all traces of disease. However, the immune system of a cancer patient can co-exist in equilibrium with their cancer for many years without any signs of immune activation.

Several research groups at the Malaghan Institute are investigating different strategies for reawakening these immune cells so that they stimulate an anti-tumour immune response. The dendritic cell cancer vaccine that is currently being used in a phase I clinical trial for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme is one such example of this, however other approaches are also being evaluated.

PhD student Sabine Kuhn has been investigating the ability of various stimuli (adjuvants) to activate the non-responsive immune cells by injecting specific products derived from bacteria and viruses directly into tumours and then analysing the resulting immune responses by flow cytometry.

In doing so, Sabine discovered that several of the compounds were able to stimulate the activation of immune cells in culture. Interestingly, these compounds were also able to delay tumour growth and prolong survival in laboratory cancer models, suggesting that natural adjuvants can be used to rescue immune cell function in tumours.

These adjuvants might eventually become the basis of safe and simple methods for activating the immune system against tumours in patients.

Scope 45 - The Scientist behind the research - Kylie Price

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:15:10 +1200

The Malaghan Institute is proud to host the busiest flow cytometry facility in the country and provides access to state-of-the-art equipment. This would not be possible were it not for the determination of Kylie Price, who oversees the whole operation.

Kylie, who is supported by the generosity of the Hugh Green Charitable Trust, was interested early in a career in science. She says that as a child of rural New Zealand, she was exposed to the realities and hardships of disease as it pertained to animals from an early age. “These experiences created a passion for understanding what creates wellness and disease. I wanted to find a career where I could be involved in positively affecting the health and wellbeing of people and believed that science was the tool I could use to achieve this goal.”

Very specialised training is required to operate the Institute’s four cytometers, which range in value from $100K to over a million dollars, and Kylie’s unique skill set and expertise has scientists from all over Australasia contacting her for assistance on a diverse range of projects – a challenge Kylie says she relishes.

When not in the lab hunting for cancer stem cells, or analysing viruses from Antarctic sea ice, Kylie can be found out and about enjoying nature or indulging her love of languages (she is fluent in German and is currently learning Spanish with a vengeance!).

Scope 45 - Flow Cytometry - shedding light on the unknown

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:14:31 +1200

Flow cytometry is a fundamental tool used by every research group at the Malaghan Institute.

Using flow cytometry a scientist is able to take a tube of invisible cells and in the blink of an eye, know exactly what it contains. Whether it be the study of a whole lymph node, or a newly discovered cell type, the knowledge gained from using this technology is invaluable. So what is flow cytometry and how does it work?

If we use the analogy of a bag of jellybeans to describe the cells present in a lymph node, then each of the different coloured lollies would represent a different cell type – black jellybeans could be T cells, red jellybeans, dendritic cells, and so on. If that bag contained thousands of jellybeans, just as lymph nodes contains thousands of cells, then the process of counting them and working out how many of each colour were present would be an arduous process. However, a flow cytometer can count and identify each cell type at the extraordinary rate of up to 20,000 cells per second!

Furthermore, if a scientist were only interested in one particular flavour of jellybeans then a more advanced cytometer called a cell sorter could be used to separate them away from all the others at the same high speeds.

Unlike jellybeans however, cells are not naturally coloured, so fluorescent dyes are first attached to the cells via specific antibodies to help the scientist mark the cells they are interested in. When placed into the flow cytometer the dyes are excited by laser beams, which give out different signals that are picked up by detectors and translated into useful information about the size and identity of the cells present.

With recent advances in the number of characteristics that can be simultaneously analysed per sample, the applications of flow cytometry are limited only by the user's imagination.

Scope 45 - From the Director

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:13:50 +1200

Seeing the Invisible

How do you study something you cannot see?

The basic materials that a scientist works with are very different to those of other professions. Unlike engineers, artists or teachers, a scientist spends most of their time handling things that are invisible to the naked eye. This is one of the challenges of research, so technology is constantly evolving to enable scientists to effectively ‘see into the unknown’.

If you have the opportunity to visit the Malaghan Institute, peer through the laboratory windows and you will observe some of our scientists carefully transferring droplets of what looks to be water from one tube to another. Of course these droplets contain a lot more than simply water. Some will contain thousands of dollars worth of antibodies, while others might hold a patient’s personalised cancer vaccine, however to the observer, they all look the same.

Microscopes were invented centuries ago for this very reason and are still used today to provide information on particular characteristics of biological materials, such as cells, that cannot be determined by eye. However, microscopy is a time-consuming and labour-intensive method that has only limited capacity when it comes to addressing more complex questions such as “did the cancer vaccine stimulate an anti-tumour response?”, or “which cells are important for asthma?”.

To answer these questions a scientist will turn to the extraordinary power of a rapidly developing technology called fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) or flow cytometry, of which the Malaghan Institute has the most state-of-the-art facility in New Zealand.

In this issue of Scope we provide an overview of how this technology works and how it underpins our cancer and asthma research programmes. This is only the tip of the iceberg though, and I feel very excited about the future application of flow cytometry in the clinical arena, where its ability to provide individualised cellular profiles for patients promises to revolutionise the way we treat diseases in the future.

Prof Graham Le Gros

Malaghan scientists tackle New Zealand’s food allergy epidemic

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:15:15 +1300

MEDIA RELEASE

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research has been given the green light to launch a new food allergy research platform, with the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) funding two project grants totalling $2.4 million, to Professor's Graham Le Gros and Franca Ronchese.

The prevalence of allergic disease in this country is among the highest in the world, with 1 in 5 New Zealanders affected by food allergy, asthma, eczema or hay fever.

"For parents of young children, asthma and allergy are of major concern," said Director of Research Prof Graham Le Gros. "Food allergies are especially relevant because of their impact on a child's quality of life."

"Parents of allergic children have a lot to consider when it comes to sending their child to preschool and school, birthday parties or playdates, because of the potential risks of exposing their child to allergy-inducing foods," says Prof Le Gros.

Food-induced allergic reactions can range from mild discomfort to serious and life threatening events, with anaphylaxis (the rapid onset of breathing difficulties, skin reactions, vomiting) the most severe form of food allergy.

"Until we know why some children react to particular foods in this way, we cannot begin to address how best to treat them," says Prof Le Gros. "Despite extensive research into the potential epidemiological, genetic or clinical associations of allergic disease, little progress has been made in this area."

Food allergies occur when the immune system, which normally serves to protect us against parasites, viruses and bacteria, mounts an attack on harmless food components such as proteins. The particular proteins that trigger this immune response are called allergens.

Prof Le Gros and colleagues believe that the answer to treating food allergy lies in understanding how these foods set off the allergic immune response, and why it only happens in some individuals.

"There are few treatment options for individuals with allergic disease," says Prof Le Gros. "Patients are advised to avoid the allergen (especially in the case of foods) and are offered the drugs corticosteroids, which act by suppressing all immune responses regardless of whether they are beneficial or harmful."

Desensitisation therapy, where a patient is gradually exposed to an allergen in a controlled manner to get their immune system used to seeing it, is currently the only curative option available, however, it is not always effective and the mechanism by which it acts is not well understood. Prof Le Gros says that further research on better treatments and on the immune mechanisms involved in controlling allergic disease is needed.

Working alongside Dr Elizabeth Forbes-Blom, a Research Fellow at the Malaghan Institute who specialises in food allergy, Prof Le Gros will use the HRC funding to develop new food allergy disease models.

"We will use these models to reveal for the first time the earliest cellular and molecular events involved in sensitising the immune cells in the gut to food allergens," says Prof Le Gros. "These models will also support further research into the identification of improved strategies for treating food allergy."

One such therapeutic strategy that has shown promising results in asthma disease models is the targeted killing of the immune cells that are responsible for setting off the allergic immune response. In an earlier HRC funded research project, Prof Franca Ronchese and colleagues showed that by exploiting the killing activity of specialised immune cells called cytotoxic T lymphocytes, they can reduce allergic airway inflammation and alleviate the symptoms of asthma.

With the support of the HRC, Prof Ronchese will now extend these studies further to determine if this therapy is equally effective in reducing inflammation in other tissues affected by allergic disease such as the gut (food allergy) or skin (eczema).

"With the HRC funding the Malaghan Institute is now uniquely placed to better address New Zealand's growing food allergy problem,"says Prof Le Gros. "The new knowledge generated from the two funded research programmes will improve our ability to treat allergic diseases more effectively and with fewer side effects, which will lead to significantly improved outcomes for allergy sufferers."

For more information, please contact:

Prof Graham Le Gros on +64 4 499 6914 ext 822 or email glegros@malaghan.org.nz.

About the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is New Zealand's leading vaccine and immunology research centre and is located at Victoria University of Wellington's Kelburn campus. The Institute operates independently and is a charitable trust. Researchers at the Malaghan Institute are focused on developing innovative ways to harness the strength and potency of the immune system, the body's own natural defence against disease, to treat cancer, asthma and allergy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious disease.

The 'Art of Giving' to cancer research

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:10:10 +1300

The Art of Giving, a Wellington based company launched in 2010, has just this month added a special item to their range of exclusive artwork, stationery and giftware.

The newly produced Art of Leadership Booklet, created by New Zealand Artist, Liane Ashman and Penny Robson, MBA, B.Comm (Hons), has been designed to inspire leadership excellence and raise money for cancer research. For every booklet sold, 50% of the purchase price will support the Malaghan Institute’s cancer research programme.

Each of the founding directors of The Art of Giving have experienced first-hand the devastating impact of cancer on their loved ones and have been inspired to support cancer research through their business.

Copies of the booklet can be purchased online for $11.99 each by visiting www.theartofgiving.co.nz.

Art of Leadership Booklet

Whether you are leading an organisation, a small team, a project, or taking personal leadership for a work role, family or your life, we encourage you to take a look at leadership with the new visual booklet - the art of leadership. Combining art and business, the booklet has been specifically designed to inspire thinking, conversation and action around leadership. And it's for a great cause!

This pocket size booklet includes all 15 artworks from the art of leadership series, with the artist’s interpretation and an inspirational quote from a famous leader or management expert (Daniel Goleman, Tom Peters, Edward de Bono, and more…). The 42 page booklet is wiro bound so pages stay open easily and there is space at the back to record your own ideas, actions and quotes.

You can use the booklet as a fun, yet structured way to initiate individual thinking or conversations with team members around leadership actions. You can then use the artworks as reminders for particular actions or areas you would like to focus on to improve the effectiveness of your leadership.

New Zealand artist, Liane Ashman, spent over a year creating ‘the art of leadership’ series of 15 original artworks for this project. The focus for the artworks are 6 key leadership actions compiled by University lecturer and strategic manager, Penny Robson. The booklet includes inspirational quotes from well-known leaders and management experts, including Tom Peters, Daniel Goleman, Edward de Bono, Peter Senge and Rosabeth Moss Kanter - whose representatives have wished the pair success with raising money for cancer research through this initiative.

Purchase copies of the booklet - the art of leadership - for yourself, your team or your organisation - available online at www.theartofgiving.co.nz.

Changes afoot in the fundraising team

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:14:08 +1300

The Malaghan Institute Fundraising team is currently undergoing some major changes with our Marketing & Communications Manager, Annabel Lush, moving on to a new position with the Heart Foundation; as well as welcoming the new National Development Director, Viv Bernard, to the team.

Annabel has been with the Malaghan Institute for almost two years, beginning in a part-time capacity as our Northern Region Development Coordinator in August 2009. She has been full time as our Marketing & Communications Manager since January 2011 and has already made a big impact for the Institute. Annabel has been instrumental in the roll-out of our new brand and is glad to have had the chance to be involved in such an important phase of development for the Malaghan Institute. As our only Auckland based employee, Annabel has also had a major hand in supporting the Auckland Friends of the Malaghan Institute and their annual Golf Tournament, as well as raising our profile in the area.

We will be sad to see her go, but wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

In the meantime, we have also welcomed our long awaited National Development Director, Viv Bernard, who comes to us from Te Papa where she was the Manager of Sponsorship and Development. The role of National Development Director is a newly created position which will work very closely with Institute Director, Prof Graham Le Gros, in order to focus the Institute on achieving its goal of becoming a nationally recognised research organisation and also to generate more funds to support those research operations.

Viv brings a unique blend of skills to the role, including corporate development, relationship management and marketing. She is very excited to be part of the Malaghan Institute and is looking forward to steering the Institute toward a new level of success.

$20,000 for MS research

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:15:36 +1300

The Malaghan Institute has, for the second year running, been grateful recipients of the funds raised from The Great New Zealand Trek. On June 8, trek organiser Steve Old, presented a cheque for $20,000 to Institute Director, Prof Graham Le Gros and MS researcher, Dr Anne La Flamme.

The funds will go directly to Dr La Flamme for her research into finding new therapies for MS and into understanding what immune factors control brain inflammation. Dr La Flamme was also lucky enough to join this year’s trek in February and met many of the intrepid trekkers who return year after year, donating to MS research in a very unique way.

History of the Trek

It all began in 1995 in Australia when Trek Manager, Steve Old, helped organise a charity horse ride for the Yooralla Society. It was a huge week long challenge involving 350 horse riders and the worst weather in 40 years! However it was a success and gave him the idea to organise a similar event back home in New Zealand.

The first Great New Zealand Trail Ride was held in 1996 on the Coromandel Peninsula with 483 horses and riders instantly becoming the largest ride of its kind in the world with $40,000 raised for Multiple Sclerosis. Steve's mother had passed away with MS in 1993.

Since then, the format has changed and The Great New Zealand Trek started in 2006 from the top of NZ as an annual week-long event to allow, not just horse riders but everyone the opportunity to trek the length of the country or parts of it on horseback, mountain bike or by walking at their own pace with full support.

What has remained the same is the aim is to raise funds to help to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

Kitty Johnson, one of the Trek Organisers and Trustee of The Great New Zealand Trek Charitable Trust is calling this year's trek an "awesome event". It's a special week of camaraderie and an opportunity to meet new people while going to places very much off the beaten track, with a unique support team ensuring everyone gets the most from the experience - and supporting a great cause.

For more information on The Great New Zealand Trek and to find out how you can get involved, please visit their website at www.greatnewzealandtrek.com.

A cancer drug from the sea

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:18:44 +1300

It is known that white blood cells called T cells can kill tumour cells. Vaccines that stimulate the activity of T cells therefore hold considerable promise as new therapeutic agents.

In 2010, Dr Ian Hermans was awarded $4.5 million from the Health Research Council of New Zealand to engage New Zealand leaders in the fields of immunology, chemistry, oncology and clinical-grade manufacturing, to design, manufacture, and trial new anti-cancer vaccines.

A significant focus of this five-year programme is a melanoma clinical trial that will assess whether the activity of the cancer vaccine can be enhanced by the inclusion of the novel synthetic compound α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer). This clinical trial, which will start recruiting patients at the end of 2012, is the culmination of years of extensive preclinical work at the Malaghan Institute. These studies have shown convincingly that anti-tumour vaccines incorporating α-GalCer induce significantly stronger anti-tumour responses than those without it.

α-GalCer is a derivative of a natural compound isolated from a marine sponge by the pharmaceutical division of the Japanese Kirin Breweries back in 1993. It has been reported to have potential in the treatment of several diseases including cancer, malaria, type I diabetes and MS, and equally importantly, has been shown to exert its therapeutic activity via its ability to activate a subset of T cells found in the blood known as invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells.

The discovery of α-GalCer was remarkable, and given its considerable therapeutic potential, much effort has been spent in developing robust routes for its synthesis and also to determine exactly how it works.

In order to understand more about how α-GalCer is able to stimulate immune responses during cancer immunotherapy, Janice Cheng, a PhD student in the Malaghan Institute’s Immunoglycomics Group, devised a highly efficient strategy for producing a specialised version of the compound with a fluorescent probe attached to it.

The advantage of the labelled α-GalCer, is that it can be ‘seen’ with the appropriate technology, which will enable researchers to gain a better understanding of how it interacts with immune cells to stimulate their anti-tumour activity.

Janice has recently published her work in the international scientific journal Carbohydrate Research, where she describes how the labelled α-GalCer was made, and importantly, how it is functions just the same as its unlabelled counterpart. This is important if it is to be an effective molecular tool for studying α-GalCer function.

Last month we reported that Janice was competing in Victoria University’s 3 Minute Thesis Competition. We are very happy to inform you that Janice went on to win the Vic International (English as a second language) category, where she was applauded for the effective and engaging way in which she spoke about her research on α-GalCer.

The collective knowledge gained from using the new α-GalCer probe, combined with outcomes from basic research being undertaken in the Institute’s Vaccine Research Group with α-GalCer, will be vital for interpreting the results of the melanoma vaccine clinical trial.

It will also be essential for making informed decisions on how to improve the effectiveness of the cancer vaccine therapy even further.

Mentoring the next generation of immunologists

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:32:50 +1300

In comparison to international research organisations such as the National Institutes of Health in the US, or the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia, the Malaghan Institute is relatively small, both in terms of research budget and staff numbers. However, Malaghan Institute scientists continue to make a significant impact in the global scientific arena and students who complete their postgraduate training at the Institute are sought after around the world.

A lot of this success can be attributed to the Malaghan Institute’s focus on mentoring. The Institute’s research groups do not operate as islands, but instead promote the sharing of information and skills, whilst encouraging active discussion and lively debate – the ideal learning environment for young scientists entering the field of research.

Later this week our young scientists will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge even further at the 2011 annual meeting of the 2011 annual meeting of the New Zealand branch of the Australasian Society for Immunology.

115 research scientists from across New Zealand are registered to attend the conference, which will be divided into sessions on infection and immunity, inflammation, vaccines and tumour immunotherapy. The conference will feature keynote speakers from Singapore, Japan and Australia.

“This meeting is an ideal forum for eminent New Zealand immunologists to enthuse our young scientists with their visions of the future for immunology research in this country,” said Dr Joanna Kirman, conference organiser and head of the Malaghan Institute’s Infectious Diseases research group.

“We are also acknowledging New Zealand’s founding immunologists with new student, research technician and postdoctoral fellow speaker prizes,” said Dr Kirman. “Speakers are encouraged to present their research in a short ten minute talk and will be judged both by the quality of their presentation and how well they handle questions afterwards.”

“Immunology is an exciting and fast-moving discipline,” says Dr Kirman. “It is important that New Zealand scientists are able to attend this meeting, as it provides an opportunity for us to develop new collaborations, share resources and unpublished findings from our laboratories. This meeting is also particularly valuable as it offers many students their first chance to present their research at a formal meeting.”

Dr Kirman would like to acknowledge the following organisations for helping make this conference possible: Immunet (University of Otago), the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Victoria University of Wellington, and The University of Auckland; major sponsors BD, Norrie Biotech, Abacus ALS, Beckman Coulter, and Stem Cell Technologies; and Huntingtree Bioscience Supplies and Sapphire Bioscience.

Wellington Friends Winter Cocktail Party

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:09:05 +1300

The very impressive Premier House was the setting for a recent fundraising event organised by the Wellington Friends of the Malaghan Institute.

Over 150 people gathered at the beautiful premises in Wellington on the evening of June 9 for a winter cocktail party. Sean Plunkett was MC for the evening and guests had the opportunity to mix and mingle while listening to pianist Jennifer Timmings and enjoying quality food and wine.

The night was a huge success with over $7,000 raised for the Institute. We would like to acknowledge the efforts of our volunteer committee, the Wellington Friends of the Malaghan Institute, in organising such a successful event to raise both awareness of and funds for the Malaghan Institute. A special thank you also to all the generous sponsors: Spy Valley Wines, Zibibbo Restaurant & Bar, Lion Nathan, SHOTT Beverages, Marianne Muggeridge and Inspire Photography.

Media Release: $4.5 million investment into development of cancer vaccine

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:22:22 +1300

Treating cancer patients with a vaccine is one step closer to reality as a result of $4.5 million investment of Health Research Council of New Zealand funding in cancer research.

Dr Ian Hermans, who heads the HRC-funded cancer vaccine research programme at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, based at Victoria University of Wellington's Kelburn campus, says the funded study has developed from more than a decade's worth of research into developing techniques that train a patient's immune system to fight their cancer.

While the research will focus specifically on targeting melanoma, it is anticipated that the methodology being developed could be applied to other cancers in the future.

The therapeutic vaccine approach differs from the preventative vaccines used to protect against diseases such as measles or the flu because the cancer vaccine is designed to be given to an individual after they have already shown signs of disease.

"It is known that white blood cells called T cells can kill tumour cells," says Dr Hermans. "The cancer vaccines, which are custom-made for each cancer patient, are designed to stimulate the activity of these cancer-fighting immune cells."

Developing the vaccine is a team effort involving key researchers from the Malaghan Institute, The University of Auckland's School of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry, Cancer Trials NZ, Industrial Research Ltd in Lower Hutt, and Wellington Hospital's Blood and Cancer Centre.

"Our vision is to bring together the best expertise in New Zealand to deliver more effective cancer vaccines," says Dr Hermans. "New Zealand's leading immunologists and chemists will design and manufacture the vaccines, and the country's leading clinical researchers will test them in patients."

Dr Hermans believes that immunotherapy is one of the most promising new approaches for treating cancer.

"Currently, cancer patients moving into late stage malignancy are offered therapies such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy," says Dr Hermans.

"While effective to some degree, these treatments are often not durable, and can be accompanied by unacceptable toxicity. As many cancers can potentially respond to immune activation, an effective vaccine-based strategy with a good safety profile could alleviate suffering on a large scale."

Dr Hermans says that before this can happen, more research is needed to improve the effectiveness of the cancer vaccine.

"The vaccination technology so far tested in cancer patients is far from optimal, especially when compared to immune responses induced naturally to infection. Practical new vaccine formulations are therefore required to elicit the full potential of the immune system to eliminate tumour tissue."

The vaccines will be prepared in a state-of-the-art facility opened last month at the Malaghan Institute, which has been designed specifically to facilitate the preparation, processing and culture of human tissues for vaccine production under the exacting standards required for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

The building of these laboratories was a joint initiative with Victoria University and the K.I.A. Taylor Charitable Trust and represents a unique long term commitment by these parties to ensure New Zealand has the necessary infrastructure for the development of human vaccines against cancer.

The programme also benefits from novel manufacturing techniques developed at The University of Auckland and Industrial Research Ltd to provide synthetic components of the vaccine that help ‘target' the immune response to cancer cells.

"It's all about knowing what structures to target in the cancer cells, and then maximising the immune response to those targets," says Dr Hermans.

"Over the years we have developed some new ideas about achieving strong immune responses and we are particularly fortunate in New Zealand that we have developed the appropriate expertise and infrastructure to actually try them out in cancer patients. It will take five years to determine if our strategy works. Regardless of the outcome, we will generate new information to move forward - we are in this for the long-haul."

$1.2 million HRC project grants were also each awarded to Malaghan Institute researchers Prof Graham Le Gros and Prof Franca Ronchese. Prof Le Gros, Director of the Malaghan Institute, will use his funding to develop novel vaccine approaches for protecting against helminth parasites, while Prof Ronchese's project grant will be used to investigate the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated immunotherapy of allergic airway inflammation.

"Translating quality basic research into novel clinical therapies for treating disease is no easy undertaking," says Prof Le Gros. "It takes time, patience, and an extensive network of clinical and research partners. The HRC funding is a fantastic endorsement of the research skills of the scientists and clinicians involved."

All media enquiries should be directed to Dr Ian Hermans on +64 4 499 6914, or Prof Graham Le Gros on +64 4 499 6914 ext 822.

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is New Zealand's premier vaccine and immunology research centre and is based at Victoria University's Kelburn campus, Wellington. The Institute operates independently and is a charitable trust. Researchers at the Malaghan Institute are focused on developing innovative ways to harness the strength and potency of the immune system, the body's own natural defence against disease, to treat cancer, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious disease.

To download a pdf of this release please click here

Malaghan PhD student Janice Cheng shines in 3 Minute Thesis Competition

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:25:00 +1300

We are very proud to announce that one of our up-and-coming young scientists, Ms Janice Cheng, has won the Vic International (English as a second language) category of Victoria University's 3 Minute Thesis Competition (3MT).

First held at the University of Queensland in 2008, the 3MT is an exercise in developing academic and research communication skills in which PhD and Masters students are given three minutes to present an engaging and dynamic talk on their thesis topic.

Janice was one of four students selected to represent the Science Faculty at the University finals on the 7th June, which is a fantastic achievement given the large number of students competing in the event and the high calibre of their presentations.

Janice is a PhD student in the Malaghan Institute's Immunoglycomics Group, and chose to present one particular area of her research – the development of a 'glowing glycolipid' to understand cancer vaccination – at the competition. With such a complicated subject area and only three minutes to speak this was never going to be an easy undertaking, but Janice is a natural communicator and found it helpful to draw on analogies from everyday events to relate her research to a general audience.

"The immune system is able to detect and eradicate cancer cells," says Janice. "This interaction is stimulated by a cancer vaccine but we are always looking at ways we can improve its effectiveness. One way we can do this is through the use of an adjuvant."

Janice is working with a glycolipid adjuvant derived from marine sponges. "Although we can see immune cells under a microscope we cannot see a glycolipid," says Janice. "My research has therefore been focused on labelling the glycolipid with a fluorescent dye so we can determine how it interacts with immune cells to stimulate their anti-tumour activity. This information will be vital for us to make informed decisions on how we can improve the effectiveness of the vaccine therapy."

Janice has just had her work outlining the chemical synthesis of this labelled compound published in the international scientific journal of Carbohydrate Research –another great achievement for someone so early on in their career.

Janice says that the biggest thing she has learnt from this experience is the power of effective communication. "While we know that the research we are doing here at the Malaghan Institute is something very special - and so are happy to give up our weekends and evenings to continue it - this is of little value if we cannot communicate its significance to people outside the Institute."

"It doesn't matter if we are speaking to the general public, students interested in a career in science, or politicians deciding how much government funding to allocate to research – we have to be clear and efficient in what we say if we are to get these people on board with what we are doing," says Janice. "This is a skill I feel every scientist needs to be able to grasp."

Janice was commended by the judges for her enthusiasm for her work and for the way in which she represented the Malaghan Institute and VUW's science faculty.

On behalf of everyone at the Malaghan Institute we congratulate Janice and wish her well in her future research endeavours.

Media release: Reduce, reuse, recycle – targeting the three R’s of cancer survival

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:06:14 +1300

Solid tumours such as brain tumours are highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. One reason for this is a 'reduce, reuse, recycle' strategy that these tumours use to survive treatment. By developing a cancer drug that targets this recycling pathway, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research scientists have struck upon a novel approach for combating otherwise resistant and aggressive cancers.

As part of a collaborative cancer drug discovery programme with Prof Rob Smith from the Department of Chemistry at Otago University, and Dr Lesley Larsen from the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, senior Malaghan Institute scientists Prof Mike Berridge and Dr Melanie McConnell developed and tested a series of novel anti-cancer drugs.

One of these compounds, PMT7, was chosen as a candidate for further study based on its ability to kill certain types of previously drug-resistant cancer cells.

"Tumours grow and survive in relatively hostile environments within the body," said Dr McConnell. "They are under attack from the body's defences and have only limited availability of oxygen and nutrients to sustain their rapid growth."

It is now understood that cancer cells rely heavily on an energy-production pathway called glycolysis to meet their energy needs when oxygen levels are low, while different recycling and salvage mechanisms such as autophagy are used to survive starvation.

"Autophagy is a form of cellular recycling where a cell starts breaking itself down and reusing its components to sustain its growth," said Dr McConnell. "It is often induced in response to chemotherapy, where it aids cancer cell survival."

"We discovered that one of the ways PMT7 works is by blocking autophagy - in doing so it kills the highly resistant glycolytic cancer cells that rely on this pathway in order to survive," she says.

Their work, which has just been published in the international scientific Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, suggests that PMT7 and its derivatives could be used to eradicate populations of cancer cells that are resistant to traditional therapies.

"Killing cancer cells by directly blocking glycolysis has been studied for decades but also leads to the death of normal cells that depend on glycolysis for energy production, such as rapidly growing T cells," says Dr McConnell. "Our research suggests that a more effective scenario would be to target the cancer cells vulnerable spot – its need to undergo recycling to prevent starvation under conditions of stress."

This approach could potentially leave normal cells unharmed, thus reducing the likelihood of unwanted side-effects, because healthy cells growing in a nutrient and oxygen rich environment do not need to use these recycling mechanisms.

"By developing a drug that specifically targets the cancer cells that survive chemotherapy treatment, we have a greater chance of completely eradicating a patient's cancer," says Dr McConnell. "While PMT7 is not the ideal drug, with relatively high concentrations needed for maximum efficiency, it provides a promising lead compound to derive new drugs from."

Developing cancer drugs that complement existing chemotherapies by also blocking the cancer cells ability to recycle is a promising new area of drug discovery that warrants further investigation.

The Malaghan Institute would like to acknowledge the Genesis Oncology Trust, the Cancer Society of New Zealand and Sir Roy McKenzie for supporting this research.

For more information, please contact:

Dr Melanie McConnell on +64 4 499 6914 ext 857 or email mmcconnell@malaghan.org.nz.

About the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is New Zealand's premier vaccine and immunology research centre and is based at Victoria University of Wellington's Kelburn campus. The Institute operates independently and is a charitable trust. Researchers at the Malaghan Institute are focused on developing innovative ways to harness the strength and potency of the immune system, the body's own natural defence against disease, to treat cancer, asthma and allergy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious disease.

Click here to download a pdf (285 KB) of this media release.

Rotorua Aikido Club honours Adam Cooper

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:56:09 +1300

The Institute recently received a donation in support of our cancer research, from the Rotorua Aikido Club. The funds had been raised from a memorial seminar held for a very special and valued member of the club. People attended from all over New Zealand to remember and honour Adam Cooper, who was only 30 years old when he lost his battle with cancer in April 2010.

The tribute page set up for Adam includes these words, “Adam was one of those people that made the world a better place just by existing and we will all miss him terribly - he trained with anyone and everyone and it was always a joy when he popped up at your dojo as you knew the energy on the mat that night would be terrific. Adam leaves behind him a huge hole in the NZ Aikido community.”

We were humbled to learn a little more about Adam’s accomplishments and how much he had inspired and motivated others. He had reached the level of 4th Dan in Aikido and was a highly respected practitioner, who taught students at all levels. Aikido is a non-violent martial art using technical skills to re-direct the opponent’s force to resolve conflict.

The Rotorua Aikido Club where Adam first developed his passion for Aikido was established in 1986 by Dianne and Paul Haynes. His dedication and skill saw Adam well-respected throughout the country and The Aikido Club of NZ states that it is a huge loss to Aikido to no longer have him as a role model and teacher.

Adam was also a chiropractor, graduating from the NZ College of Chiropractors in 2003 and then returning as a supervisor. He worked tirelessly to support the students, even when he was very unwell.

As a result, the Alumni Association of the College has established an award in his memory. The Dr Adam Cooper Chiropractic Practice Scholarship is for excellence and was presented for the first time to 3rd year student Kayla Radovanich.

Adam’s impact is clearly substantial and his family, friends and colleagues will ensure that there is a lasting legacy.

The Malaghan Institute is extremely grateful that Adam’s wife and family chose the Institute as the recipient charity for the proceeds of the Aikido memorial seminar. We would also like to thank the Rotorua Aikido Club for contacting the Institute and making the donation to us in Adam’s memory.

Introducing a new look for the Malaghan Institute

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:58:07 +1300

This month the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research launches a new look for its brand featuring a new colour scheme and logo to improve our visibility and the consistency of our communications.

The history of the Institute goes back over 40 years to the early 1960s when eminent Wellington surgeon Mr Tom Collins, the Wellington Division of the Cancer Society, and the Wellington Medical Research Foundation, recognised the need for an independent medical research institute.

On 26 July 1979 the Wellington Cancer and Medical Research Institute was opened in rented premises in the Wellington School of Medicine. In 1986 the name of the Institute was changed to the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in recognition of the generous support by the late Mr Len Malaghan and his wife, Mrs Ann Malaghan. The Malaghan family remain extremely supportive of the Institute today, with Len's son Graham and grandson Matt on the current Board of Trustees, and daughter Margaret a long time member of the Auckland Friends Committee.

The familiar red and blue logo for the Institute was created over 20 years ago and has stood the test of time extraordinarily well.

During this period, the Institute has moved into new premises on the Kelburn campus of the Victoria University of Wellington and, under the directorship of Prof Graham Le Gros, expanded its profile and influence to become a national entity. The Malaghan Institute is now recognised as New Zealand's leading independent biomedical research facility with programmes focused on treatments and cures for cancer, asthma, arthritis, MS and infectious diseases.

External research conducted last year indicated that while the Malaghan Institute was highly regarded by those that were aware of its research and goals, the brand needed refreshing to better reach out to new audiences with the Institute's key messages.

A thorough examination of the brand followed with the opportunity to identify what makes the Malaghan Institute so unique and special. As a result, the colour palette has changed to warm hues of red and orange, and the logo is also new – a bold "M" with sweeping strokes to represent the links between the past and the future.

It can also represent the juxtaposition of the structure of scientific research with the promise of hope that it brings.

The Malaghan Institute also has a strong new message for people to quickly understand what its motivation and purpose is all about:

"Research is our journey. Cure is our destination."

Celebrating Day of Immunology 2011

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:00:39 +1300

Since 2005, the 29th of April has marked Day of Immunology in many countries across the globe.

This year's event fell on the same day as the Royal Wedding so 'marriage' between the immune system and microbes was chosen as the theme for the Malaghan Institute's Day of Immunology celebrations.

A series of short public lectures were given by senior Malaghan Institute Immunologists Prof Graham Le Gros, Dr Joanna Kirman and Dr Anne La Flamme, discussing how microbes can be used to regulate immune responses that affect diseases including cancer, asthma, diabetes and atherosclerosis.

"While some microbes can be linked to disease in humans," says Dr Joanna Kirman, Infectious Diseases Group Leader at the Malaghan Institute, "others can help promote a healthy life and we can use them to fight disease. The balance between microbes and humans is delicate and complex."

The lectures took place at Victoria University of Wellington and were followed by a 'reception' where attendees had the chance to speak directly with our presenters.

"A Marriage of Convenience – Partnering with microbes for better health" public lecture, 29 April 2011

The Malaghan Institute also hosted a quiz night on the 5 May called "Plagues and Pestilence". With this event we endeavoured to nourish the public with immunology in the guise of pizza and crisps, and stimulate their minds with interesting facts about the immune system.

“Plagues and Pestilence” Quiz night, 5 May 2011

Both events were filled to capacity making this year's Day of Immunology celebrations our most popular yet.

We would like to acknowledge the Australasian Society for Immunology for supporting our 2011 Day of Immunology events.

Please keep an eye on our website to find out more about our plans for the 2012 Day ofImmunology.

Plagues and Pestilence Quiz Nite - A FREE event to celebrate Day of Immunology

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:09:59 +1300

REGISTRATIONS FOR THE QUIZ ARE NOW CLOSED.

What: Plagues and Pestilence Quiz Nite
Why: To celebrate International Day of Immunology
When: Thursday 5 May 2011, from 6 pm
Where: Alan MacDiarmid Building, rooms AM102 and AM104, on Victoria University's Kelburn Campus
Who: Anyone can be involved, no scientific knowledge necessary. Get a team together (max of 6 per team) or go it alone. Prizes and refreshments will be provided.

Click here to download a printable pdf of the Quiz Nite flyer.

For further information please contact Tanya Fulcher on 04 499 6914 ext 811 or tfulcher@malaghan.org.nz.

Today is the World Day of Immunology

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:20:43 +1300

Since 2005, the 29th of April has marked Day of Immunology in many countries across the globe. Established by the European Federation of Immunological Societies, its primary goal is to strengthen public awareness of the importance of the immune system to each person's health and wellbeing.

Here in New Zealand researchers at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, New Zealand's premier immunology research centre, are always keen to promote the day and the key messages that are so relevant to the work that they undertake.

Many diseases such as asthma, arthritis and multiple sclerosis result from an inappropriately operating immune system. Scientists at the Malaghan Institute believe that understanding immunology is therefore key to developing treatments to help manage and reduce the debilitating effects these diseases bring.

This year the Malaghan Institute has teamed up with Victoria University of Wellington and the Australasian Society for Immunology to present a series of short talks on the 29th April, discussing how microbes can be used to regulate immune responses that affect diseases including cancer, asthma, diabetes and atherosclerosis.

"While some microbes cause illness in humans," says Dr Joanna Kirman, Infectious Diseases Group Leader at the Malaghan Institute and one of the speakers at the event, "others can help promote a healthy life and we can use them to fight disease. The balance between microbes and humans is delicate and complex."

It's a challenge to promote the event this year with the date coinciding with the Royal Wedding in London and its unprecedented media coverage. However, the Institute is thrilled that the public seminar is booked to capacity well in advance.

Places are still available for the more light-hearted free quiz evening "Plagues and Pestilence" taking place from 6pm on Thursday 05 May at Victoria University's Kelburn campus.

"We delayed the date of the quiz," explains Dr Kirman, "so that students will be back from their mid-semester break. We have put together some humorous questions with more serious underlying messages regarding immunology and our research."

No scientific knowledge is necessary and teams are encouraged to get together and come along. Refreshments will be provided so reservations are necessary. Click here for more information and to book your place.

Or contact Tanya Fulcher on 04 499 6914 x 811 or tfulcher@malaghan.org.nz

For more information on the Day of Immunology, please contact Dr Joanna Kirman on 04 499 6914 ext 856 or jkirman@malaghan.org.nz.

Want to know more ...
In 2008 young Italian Director Luca Sabbioni produced an award winning short film depicting the importance of immunology called "The Immunology Knight", which can be viewed here (you will need to scroll down the page to see the clip).
Click here to download a pdf of this media release
Click here to download a flyer of the Plagues and Pestilence Quiz Nite

About the Malaghan Institute
The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is New Zealand's premier vaccine and immunology research centre and is based at Victoria University's Kelburn campus, Wellington. The Institute operates independently and is a charitable trust. Researchers at the Malaghan Institute are focused on developing innovative ways to harness the strength and potency of the immune system, the body's own natural defence against disease, to treat cancer, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious disease.

A Marriage of Convenience - FREE public lecture

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:39:35 +1300

The date of the Royal Wedding between Kate and William, April 29th, is also International Day of Immunology. You are invited to celebrate this auspicious day with us by attending a FREE public lecture entitled "A marriage of convenience: partnering with microbes for better health" from 11 am, 29 Apr 2011 at Laby Lecture Theatre 118, Victoria University of Wellington.

A series of short talks will be given by local scientists discussing how microbes can be used to regulate immune responses that affect diseases such as atherosclerosis, asthma, cancer and diabetes.

REGISTRATIONS FOR THIS LECTURE ARE NOW CLOSED.

For further information please contact Tanya Fulcher on 04 499 6914 ext 811 or tfulcher@malaghan.org.nz.

Click here to download a printable pdf of the lecture flyer.

Click here to download a map of Victoria University's Kelburn campus, where the event is being held.

We are also hosting a Plagues and Pestilence Quiz Nite as part of our Day of Immunology celebrations. Please click here for more information.

Scope 44 - News under the microscope

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:35:33 +1200

Kylie is our new Hugh Green Trust Fellow

Thanks to the support of the Hugh Green Charitable Trust, Kylie Price is now our new Hugh Green Flow Cytometry Fellow. In recognition of the pivotal importance of our state of-the-art Flow Cytometry Suite, the Trust has generously donated $100,000 towards this work. Kylie and Prof Graham Le Gros travelled to Auckland in February to meet members of the Hugh Green family, including Hugh himself (pictured above with Kylie).

'Lollipop Appeal' Farewell
After many years of co-ordinating a street appeal in Wellington – affectionately known by many as the "Lollipop Appeal" - the decision was made that 2010 was the last one. Our sincere thanks go to the Wellington Friends and the many terrific volunteers that took part over the years.

Wakefield Health steps up at Round the Bays
We were thrilled to receive a cheque from Wakefield Health Group representing an amount donated for every participant that they had in their own corporate team for the Wellington AMI Round the Bays this year. Our thanks as well go to staff from Just Paterson and Powerhouse People who joined in with our own RUN FOR RESEARCH team.

The Great NZ Trek goes trekking for MS Research

A group of intrepid trekkers went off the kiwi beaten track once again in February on a week long adventure with The Great NZ Trek. Funds raised will be donated to the Malaghan Institute to support MS Research.

Generous donation received from the NZ LAM Trust

Our research into LAM, a rare and invariably fatal lung disease continues thanks to a further $40,000 donation from the NZ LAM Trust. Prof Mike Berridge and Dr James Baty are exploring the feasibility of treating LAM using the immunological therapies currently being developed for treating cancer.

Scope 44 - Breast cancer vaccine on hold

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:34:46 +1200

Christchurch earthquakes have had unexpected consequences for research into a potential breast cancer vaccine.

This significant project is being supported by funds from the Breast Cancer Research Trust. Headed by Prof Mike Berridge, the first phase of the work took place over thepast 18 months. However, due to the economic downturn resulting from factors such as the quakes, the Trust has had to make financial adjustments resulting in the need to temporarily suspend the second stage.

The Malaghan Institute's breast cancer project aims to develop vaccination strategies that stimulate a patient's immune cells to seek and destroy cells responsible for tumour initiation and spread.

A preclinical model of metastatic breast cancer has been established that shows a targeted vaccine approach can successfully block the cancer spread.

However, the highly complex research cannot be undertaken without the necessary funding in place. It remains a priority for both the Institute and the Trust to continue as soon as possible, although no date is currently set. With funds available, the plan is to explore anti-cancer immune responses in breast cancer patients and initiate a therapeutic vaccination trial.

Scope 44 - Three bright young stars

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:34:12 +1200

For New Zealand to remain a world leader in biomedical research we require a continuous flow of new, well-trained scientists. Students who complete their postgraduate study at the Malaghan Institute are sought after globally because of the extensive and comprehensive immunology training they receive. Recently we welcomed three talented young scientists.

Ryan Kyle

Ryan grew up in Napier before moving to Wellington in 2007 to complete a Bachelor of Biomedical Science in Molecular Pathology at Victoria University. He became interested in immunology research after working with Dr Anne La Flamme on his Honours project and felt that the Malaghan was the perfect place to continue his interest. Ryan's PhD research will examine "Th2 cell function and fate during immune responses", under Prof Graham Le Gros' supervision. In his spare time Ryan makes the most of the Wellington music scene and is looking forward to getting back into kayaking, previously being an avid canoe-polo player.

Naomi Baker

Originally from Hamilton, Naomi Baker worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at Wellington Hospital before starting her PhD research at the Malaghan Institute. To support Naomi in her PhD studies, she has been awarded a scholarship from the Rotary Club of Wellington. A snowboarding and indoor soccer enthusiast, Naomi said she chose the Malaghan for her studies because of its "reputation for high calibre research and commitment to the community." For the next three years Naomi will work with Prof Franca Ronchese on the development of a targeted immunotherapy for the treatment of allergic airway disease.

Alanna Cameron

Masters student Alanna Cameron's first contact with the Malaghan Institute was in 2006 when she collected for the annual Lollipop Appeal with fellow students from Queen Margaret's College. Alanna says she has always been interested in disease research and came to the Malaghan after completing her Bachelor of Biomedical Science in Molecular Pathology at Victoria University. When not in the lab studying the "immunological effects of highly targeted anticancer drugs" with Prof Mike Berridge, Alanna says she enjoys "spending time with friends and family, reading, shopping and doing anything that involves the great outdoors!"

Scope 44 - The Scientist behind the research

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:32:44 +1200

Director of the Malaghan Institute since 1994 and Head of the Institute's Asthma & Allergic Diseases research group, Prof Graham Le Gros is one of New Zealand's most well known and respected research scientists. His scientific career and specific interest in immunology began while earning his PhD at Auckland University. "As a PhD student I was encouraged by my supervisor Dr Jim Watson to think big, to make my own hypotheses and to work very hard" says Prof Le Gros. "Allied with the scientific resources available at that time I was able to gain tremendous insight into how basic immunological processes worked." Prof Le Gros has been able to apply these insights to his later career roles in the pharmaceutical industry, academia and research.

He is a member of several national science advisory committees and is a Professor of the Department of Biological Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. His highly successful career has been acknowledged with numerous accolades, most recently a medal from the Wellington Medical Research Foundation. This award was in recognition of his outstanding work within the field of immunology and also of the pioneering research that has been conducted at the Malaghan Institute under his leadership over the last 17 years.

Scope 44 - Hooked on worms

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:32:00 +1200

Prof Graham LeGros says that his scientific interests have been influenced by having lived in the tropics as a child, where he experienced first hand the debilitating effects of worm infection.

In addition to its higher profile research activities, the Malaghan Institute also has an innovative parasitology research programme headed by Prof Graham Le Gros and run in parallel to his asthma and allergy research. The Health Research Council funded parasitology research is dedicated to the development of a vaccine against human hookworm infection, one of the great neglected tropical diseases that keeps over a billion people in a state of poor health. Parasitology has a natural link with asthma and allergy because they both use the same Th2 immune response pathways.

Since vaccination is currently viewed as the only long-term solution to preventing human hookworm infection, Prof Le Gros' research team has been working hard to identify putative targets both for vaccine design and for testing the vaccine's effectiveness in the field. To do this they are studying immune responses to a harmless rodent model of human hookworm called Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (see picture) and have recently had some of their groundbreaking work published in the prestigious international scientific Journal of Immunology. Their discovery, that specialised immune cells called basophils are the major producers of a protein that regulates the Th2 immune responses to parasitic worms, is an important development that will ultimately aid in vaccine design.

This work represents a significant contribution to the global vaccine initiative against human hookworm that New Zealanders can be proud of.

Scope 44 - Introducing the new Scope

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:30:40 +1200

Over the past 20 years, the Malaghan Institute's "Scope" newsletter has been a vitally important way to update everyone on the Institute's research, our staff and our supporters.

Its articles have been wide ranging and informative, from publications in international journals of the latest research findings to the remarkable fundraising efforts of those keen to get behind the cutting-edge work of the Malaghan scientists.

As the old saying goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and in fact not a lot has changed over time – a tweaking of the "Scope" design, a change from two to three editions a year to accommodate the number of stories needing to be told and –as expected with the electronic world we now live in – an 'e' version for readers preferring to receive their Scope by email.

The new Malaghan brand provides the opportunity to refresh Scope once again. However, while the look of the newsletter has changed to reflect the new colours and design, there is still a lot of the familiar content. We will be continuing to bring you updates on the Institute's research programmes and the latest news, as well as including new features such as our scientist profiles. We are sure that you will enjoy your new-look Scope and look forward to staying in touch for another 20 years.

The evolution of the Malaghan Institute’s Scope newsletter over the past 20 years.

Scope 44 - From the Director

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:29:53 +1200

2011: A year of challenge

Every year brings its own set of challenges. Few of us could have imagined back in January how significant these would be.

Recent events in Christchurch and Japan have really brought home the vulnerability of human health and wellbeing to environmental forces. Our thoughts are very much with those who have been directly affected, especially our friends at AMI Insurance who have been such strong supporters over the years. We wish everyone in the Garden City our best regards as they start to rebuild their lives.

It is clear that we, along with other New Zealanders, will face economic challenges in the year ahead with increasing pressure on businesses and families to balance budgets. For the Malaghan Institute, we also face greater competition for both research funding and the philanthropic dollar, as so many worthy causes demand government intervention and public attention.

In this issue of Scope, we report on this challenge with the sad news that our Breast Cancer Vaccine project has been temporarily suspended due to the reduction of funding for reasons beyond anyone's control. Although staff accept it is a privilege to do medical research, the inherent risks and insecurity of the funding has been brought home to us and the staff involved.

However, the pursuit of medical knowledge and our ability to combat disease must be able to stand the test of these turbulent times. This is the particular challenge that we at the Malaghan Institute are confronting this year: to deliver on the promise of our research programmes and ensure that short-term fluctuations in the world around us do not affect our ability to improve the health and lives of New Zealanders over time.

Good science that can deliver significant results requires a steady ship. I, and all my staff, are absolutely determined to meet these challenges. I know that, no matter what issues are assailing us at any time, New Zealanders recognise and value the critical importance of medical research.

I will do all I can to make the message of the Malaghan Institute clear and known, so that those who wish to can identify us and support our efforts. As part of improving our communication to you our supporters we have refreshed the colours and brand we use to identify the Institute in Scope newsletters and correspondence. These changes aim to make us stand out from the crowd, express how we seek to bring together old and new values, but still reflect our commitment to research leadership, passion and our sincerity in everything that we do.

Although it is trite to say that every challenge represents an opportunity, this must be our philosophy. What is research if it is not ambitious? Regardless of the changes in the world around us, our mission remains constant and our determination to succeed undiminished.

Prof Graham Le Gros

Radio interview with Malaghan scientists on Adjuvants and Cancer Vaccines

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:54:22 +1300

Last night Malaghan Institute scientists Dr Bridget Stocker and Janice Cheng spoke to Ruth Beran on Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World programme about their work in developing more effective glycolipid adjuvants for use in cancer immunotherapy.

Summary of the interview (copied from Our Changing World website):

"Adjuvants are compounds that stimulate the body's immune system to fight diseases such as viruses or cancers. They are an essential ingredient in vaccines, and with colleagues at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Bridget Stocker and PhD student Janice Cheng are developing better adjuvants for personalised cancer vaccines.

Bridget Stocker heads the Immunoglycomics Research Group and is particularly interested in the role carbohydrates play in the immune response. The adjuvants being developed are glycolipids, and by synthesising a green fluorescent version of the glycolipid, it is hoped to better understand how they work and thereby develop better vaccines.

On Tuesday 22 March, Bridget Stocker spoke in New Plymouth as part of the Marie Curie Lecture Series - a year-long national tour of talks by female New Zealand chemists in honour of Curie's Nobel Prize in Chemistry."

You can listen to Bridget's and Janice's interview by clicking here.

Click here to listen to a previous Our Changing World story on the development of personalised cancer vaccines at the Malaghan Institute, and here for a story on sorting cells.

A puzzle, a paradox and ultimately a promise of more effective cancer treatments

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:09:48 +1300

A scientific theory is like a jigsaw puzzle. To help piece it together scientists carry out experiments and the results they generate are evaluated carefully to determine where they fit within the overall picture. Sometimes areas of the puzzle come together easily, other times, such as the recent discovery by Prof Franca Ronchese and colleagues, we can be left wondering if the puzzle will ever be solved!

Prof Ronchese and Dr Ian Hermans both head research programmes at the Malaghan Institute focused on exploiting the power and specificity of the immune system to fight disease. For over a decade they have been working on the theory that a vaccine created from a patient's own immune cells and tumour tissue can be used to treat their cancer. Tumours differ from normal cells but they don't always activate a spontaneous immune response in the same way that a virus would. This is because tumours have numerous escape strategies that they use to avoid detection. The cancer vaccine works by helping the immune system to ‘see' the tumour, whilst also providing it with the appropriate signals required to kick-start it into action.

One such signal is a compound from marine sponges called α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), which has been shown in laboratory studies to stimulate even greater vaccine induced anti-tumour immune responses when used in combination with the dendritic cell vaccine. Last year the Health Research Council of New Zealand awarded funding to Dr Hermans and colleagues to use α-GalCer in combination with the dendritic cell vaccine in a clinical trial for melanoma.

Malaghan PhD graduate Dr Helen Simkins has just had work published in the international scientific Journal of Leukocyte Biology showing, somewhat unexpectedly, that α-GalCer also causes the death of a specific population of host dendritic cells. The death of these cells occurs shortly after vaccination and appears to be the consequence of the intense inflammation caused by α-GalCer. In doing so, Dr Simkins' research has revealed an apparent paradox - α-GalCer stimulates potent anti-tumour immune responses, whilst also signalling the destruction of the cells required for the responses to happen!

So what does this mean for the cancer vaccine? Prof Ronchese emphasises that these results should definitely not prevent the use of α-GalCer in T cell based immunotherapies, it is still the most promising and powerful adjuvant we have to date. Intriguingly, the results suggest that protecting dendritic cells from death might make the effects of α-GalCer even more powerful. What they also show however, is that there are still many pieces missing from this puzzle that need to be addressed if we are to fully understand the extraordinary intricacies of the immune system and how best to tap into them to treat disease.

Dr Bridget Stocker to give free public lecture in New Plymouth on 22 Mar 2011

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:15:00 +1300

2011 is the International Year of Chemistry and on 22 Mar 2011 Malaghan senior research scientist Dr Bridget Stocker will give a seminar on "Chemistry, Immunology and the Sweet Stuff" as part of the Royal Society of New Zealand's Marie Curie Lecture Series.

In 1911 Marie Curie received a Nobel Prize in chemistry and Dr Stocker is one of several leading female chemists from around New Zealand that are presenting free public lectures on how chemistry affects and improves our lives and our society, in honour of Curie's groundbreaking research.

"To most people, the term ‘sugar' refers to crystals used to sweeten food but to a chemist, it's the generic term given to a class of compounds which play an important role in a variety of biological events," said Dr Stocker.

"This lecture looks at the sugars that decorate the surface of pathogens and how sugar-derivatives and mimics can be used to develop drugs and better vaccines for diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis."

Dr Stocker's lecture is free and open to the public and we invite you all to attend.

What: Free Public Lecture by Dr Bridget Stocker on "Chemistry, Immunology & the Sweet Stuff"
When: Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011 at 6 pm
Where: Govett Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth

About Dr Stocker

Dr Stocker was awarded the Victoria University of Wellington Gold Medal for the top graduating BSc(Hons) student across all science disciplines in 2000, and continued on at Victoria University for her PhD, focusing on the total synthesis of several anti-cancer agents. Following a brief period as a lecturer at Victoria University, Dr Stocker was awarded a FRST Bright Futures Post-Doctoral Fellowship in 2004 and spent two years at the prestigious Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, where she completed the first total synthesis of several complex mycobacterial cell wall components. In 2006, Dr Stocker returned to New Zealand, and currently leads the Immunoglycomics group at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, a programme established in 2007 in collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington and with a focus on understanding the role of carbohydrates in immunology.

For more information

Please contact lectures@royalsociety.org.nz or 04 470 5770.

The Royal Society of New Zealand has also produced a pdf flyer on Dr Stocker's talk, which can be downloaded from their website by clicking here.

Media Release: Working towards a cure for Multiple Sclerosis

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:34:34 +1300

There is currently no cure for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - however scientists at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research believe that specialised cells found in the blood might hold the key to improving the quality of life of the thousands of New Zealanders affected by this disease.

In an ‘Outstanding Observation' published recently in the international scientific journal Immunology and Cell Biology, Dr Jacquie Harper, Thomas Bäckström and Clare Slaney describe how blood cells called monocytes may play a part in the development of MS.

MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects one in every 1,500 New Zealanders and can render an individual unable to write, speak or walk.

The Malaghan research, which was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, showed that the ability of the blood monocytes to suppress inflammation is impaired in an experimental model of MS.

"As such, these monocytes are no longer able to prevent inflammatory cells from destroying the central nervous system of MS sufferers," said Dr Harper.

"If we can find a way to reactivate suppressor function in the monocytes of MS sufferers, we might be able to provide a new treatment for MS that could delay or even prevent the progression of this
disease."

Dr Thomas Bäckström was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Malaghan study. He recently returned to Sweden to take up the position of Director of the T Cell Biology Department at Scandinavia's biggest pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. Dr Bäckström says that we all have these monocyte suppressor cells in our blood. The new challenge is to find tools to help them do a better job at controlling inflammation to treat dreadful diseases like MS.

"Because MS hits adults in their prime, it dramatically reduces quality of life," said coauthor and Malaghan MS Research Associate Dr Anne La Flamme. "Current treatments are not equally effective in all MS patients and often have side-effects associated with medium to long term use, so there is a desperate need for safer, more effective MS therapies."

Next week Dr La Flamme will participate in stage six of the Great New Zealand Trek, as it journeys the length of the country on horseback, mountain bike or by walking, to raise funds to help the Malaghan continue its groundbreaking research and find a cure for MS.

Please contact Dr Jacquie Harper on +64 4 499 6914 or jharper@malaghan.org.nz for enquiries related to this discovery. For more information on Malaghan MS research please contact Dr Anne La Flamme on +64 4 463 6093 or anne.laflamme@vuw.ac.nz.

About the Malaghan Institute

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is New Zealand's premier vaccine and immunology research centre and is based at Victoria University's Kelburn campus, Wellington. The Institute operates independently and is a charitable trust. Researchers at the Malaghan Institute are focused on developing innovative ways to harness the strength and potency of the immune system, the body's own natural defence against disease, to treat cancer, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious disease.

Please click here to download a pdf of this media release.

Hugh Green Foundation supports Malaghan Flow Cytometry

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:03:31 +1300

If you have ever tried to hunt out the few remaining black jellybeans in the pick & mix confectionery bin, or chased that elusive single cherry around the large tin of fruit salad, then you have just an inkling of the patience required to be a flow cytometrist.

For Malaghan Flow Cytometry Manager, Kylie Price, searching for a single cancer cell or immune cell in a sample containing millions of other cells is just one of the challenges that she faces daily - and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Her long hours and hard work have been recognised by the Hugh Green Foundation (formerly the Hugh Green Charitable Trust), which has made a generous donation to support her work and the pivotal role that the Flow Cytometry Suite has in the research undertaken at the Malaghan Institute.

So what exactly is flow cytometry and how does it work? Essentially a flow cytometer uses lasers to activate fluorescent dyes that have been deliberately attached to cells of interest via an antibody specific to that type of cell. "Unlike jellybeans or cherries" says Kylie, "cells cannot be distinguished by the naked eye, so dyes are used to help the flow cytometrist ‘see' the cells they are interested in. These cells can then be separated from all the others so they can be studied further".

Kylie, with her new title of Hugh Green Flow Cytometry Fellow, explains that the application of this technology is immense. "For instance, there is new understanding that when a cancer-killing immune cell goes inside the tumour mass the tumour itself produces chemicals that act to slow down the cancer-killing cell. Flow cytometry enables us to purify this immune cell and to determine what type of stimulus is needed to wake it up and re-instigate the cancer-killing activity".

The level of detail and knowledge required today in immunology research would not be possible without the availability of a Flow Cytometry Suite and Kylie's expertise. The Malaghan, as New Zealand's leading independent medical research facility with programmes focused on treatments and cures for cancer, asthma, arthritis, MS and infectious diseases, is proud to host the busiest flow cytometry facility in the country and provides access to state-of-the-art equipment unavailable elsewhere in Australasia.

The Hugh Green donation is the "cherry on the top" that will ensure that the suite will continue to operate under Kylie's watchful eye for the benefit of all the Malaghan scientists.

Photo caption: Hugh Green pictured with Malaghan Flow Cytometry Manager Kylie Price.

Scope 43 - Whats been happening...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:52:24 +1200

Our scientists in the spotlight

Ever Wondered?, a new science show on TVNZ 7, takes you behind the scenes to look at what is being achieved at the cutting edge of science in NZ. Kylie Price, the Institute's Flow Cytometry Manager, along with Neurosurgeon and Malaghan Clinical Research Fellow Martin Hunn, recently featured in an episode that looked at how science and technology is aiding medical research. Another Malaghan Institute scientist who you may have caught a glimpse of on TV recently is Infectious Diseases Group Leader, Dr Joanna Kirman. Dr Kirman was filmed for the TV3 show ‘What's really in our...' discussing bacteria and viruses in the episode on ‘Soaps and Cleansers'.

Science Learning Hub website

Our scientists have also been sharing their knowledge and passion for science on the Science Learning Hub website. Managed by the University of Waikato, this website provides resources for teachers of school years 5-10 and is developed in collaboration with NZ scientists. Keep an eye out for our scientists in the upcoming section entitled ‘Fighting Infection' on www.sciencelearn.org.nz.

AMI Insurance - supporting valuable research

AMI Insurance has again shown its wonderful support of the Malaghan Institute by confirming their principal sponsorship of the upcoming Auckland charity golf tournament. AMI's partnership with the Institute has spanned more than a decade and their generosity has included the sponsorship of our annual Lollipop Appeal, the Asthma Laboratory and many Friends fundraising events. A huge thank you to John Balmforth (CEO) and his team at AMI Insurance and our congratulations on their recent ‘Services to the Community' award from the 2010 Australia and New Zealand Insurance and Finance Industry Awards.

Launch into Inner Space

Long time supporter and leading NZ Fashion Designer, Petrena Miller, has created some unique fashion garments for a new range called "Inner Space". These tops are available for sale through retailers in NZ and Australia with a percentage of sales donated to the Malaghan Institute. First revealed on the catwalk during the Auckland Friends' fundraiser, these garments display an image of a dendritic cell that has been turned into something very funky and fashionable. They make great gifts for yourself or for others (there is even a T-Shirt for the guys!).

Scope 43 - Searching for an effective therapy for rare lung disease

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:51:41 +1200

LAM or Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a devastating progressive lung disease that few have heard of. However, for the 21 New Zealand women who suffer from the disease, LAM is a big deal.

LAM causes shortness of breath, chest pains, coughing and lung collapse and there is no known cure. Because LAM is so rare it doesn't receive a lot of attention. Malaghan Institute scientists Prof Mike Berridge and Dr James Baty hope to change this by using their innovative cancer research to help LAM sufferers in a small but significant way.

Although LAM is not presently classified as a cancer, LAM cells have cancer-like properties such as loss of cell growth control, mutations and the ability to spread elsewhere in the body. With support from the NZ LAM Trust and the LAM Australasia Research Alliance, Dr Baty is taking a closer look at LAM cells to find out if there is a small population of cells with cancer stem cell-like properties. If these cells exist in LAM, they will need to be targeted for effective LAM therapy.

Dr Baty says the driving force behind his research is his desire to help people for whom there are very few treatment options currently available. He enjoys the challenge of deciphering the many signalling pathways involved with cell growth, proliferation and survival that are deregulated in LAM patients, and believes the most effective approach for treating these individuals might be with immunological therapies and/or drug treatments currently in use for cancer patients.

Both Dr Baty and LAM Trust Director Bronwyn Gray recently attended the 1st European LAM Conference held in Udine, Italy.

Scope 43 - Understanding cell death could lead to breakthrough in motor neurone disease

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:37:44 +1200

Cancer stem cells have the unique ability to renew themselves and use an extensive network of survival mechanisms to evade chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. As her understanding of these survival pathways grew, Dr McConnell realised that cancer stem cells might just hold the secret to extending the life of cells that die prematurely, such as in motor neurone disease.

Patients with motor neurone disease suffer increasing weakness of the muscles, due to the death of the neurons that feed into them and there is currently very little that can be done to stop this. Dr McConnell with support from the estates of Ellen, Sinclair, Barbara and Alison Wallace, hopes to develop approaches that actually prolong the survival of neurons - a creative flip-side to her usual role of trying to kill cancer stem cells.

Scope 43 - Stumbling block for cancer vaccine - stepping stone for asthma vaccine

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:36:02 +1200

Prof Franca Ronchese and colleagues at the Malaghan Institute have spent over 15 years developing a cancer vaccine that works by stimulating the Immune system to attack a patient's tumour. One of the biggest hurdles they have faced is maintaining the intensity of the Immune response over time.

Part of the reason for this is that under certain conditions specialised cells called cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) attack and kill the dendritic cells before they can do their job. Although dendritic cell killing is a stumbling block for a cancer vaccine, Prof Ronchese made the pivotal connection that this same phenomenon could be used to tone down the immune response in diseases where the immune system is overactive, such as asthma. Her research group went on to make the striking discovery that stimulating CTL's to get rid of dendritic cells in the airway prevented the development of allergic airway inflammation in an experimental model of acute disease.

This exciting research received HRC funding earlier this year to further explore the potential of CTL immunotherapy as a treatment for allergic asthma. This is a fine example of how a problem presented in one area of research has the potential to provide a breakthrough in another. The key to undertaking science that redefines our understanding and treatment of disease is in recognising such opportunities when they appear.

Did you know?
• Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease of major concern in NZ
• It affects 1 in 4 children and 1 in 6 adults
• During an asthma attack the lining of the bronchial tubes swells, causing the airways to narrow - this makes it hard to breathe in and even harder to breathe out
• The final symptoms of allergic asthma are due to activation of the Th2 immune response (which normally serves to protect us from parasite infections) by harmless environmental triggers such as pollen or house dust mites
• The current treatment for asthma is the use of steroid based preventer inhalers, which work to decrease airway inflammation

Scope 43 - TB Vaccine reveals new approach to treating Asthma

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:34:30 +1200

While establishing his asthma research programme at the Malaghan Institute in the mid-1990s, Prof Graham Le Gros observed that certain types of bacterial lung infections could actually halt the development of asthma in mice. This pivotal discovery made the front cover of the prestigious New Scientist magazine and has led to a new form of therapy that could revolutionise the way we treat asthma.

For parents of children who suffer repeated severe asthma attacks, life is a daily battle. Asthma is the consequence of an overactive immune system, causing inflammation in the lungs. The steroid inhalers that are used to treat the disease work by reducing the inflammation in the lung so it is easier to breathe. However, there is growing concern regarding their long-term use.
It has been proposed that the recent increased prevalence and severity of asthma, particularly amongst children, is a consequence of the Western world's obsession with cleanliness. The so-called ‘Hygiene Hypothesis' suggests that some people react to harmless environmental stimulants such as pollen or house dust mites because as infants they were not exposed to the infections required to fully develop their immune systems.

Prof Le Gros' research group decided to test this hypothesis by looking to see if they could restore ‘immune balance' in experimental asthma models with controlled bacterial infections. Strikingly their research showed that treatment with the bacteria used to make the TB vaccine, actually prevented the inflammatory immune responses normally associated with asthmatic lungs. This research revealed a new way of potentially treating asthma - by simply giving the immune system something else to focus on!

Prof Le Gros' published scientific paper describing this landmark discovery has been extensively cited and used by scientists, clinicians and drug companies to identify safer versions of the bacteria and their extracts for the development of a vaccine to treat asthma in humans. There are now several new compounds being developed in the USA that are in the late stages of clinical trial and the FDA approval process - a wonderful testament to the original pioneering research undertaken by Prof Le Gros' research group here at the Malaghan Institute.

Scope 43 - Innovation - the key to discovery

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:32:39 +1200

Renowned early 19th century French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur once said "chance favours the prepared mind". While serendipity plays an important role in scientific breakthroughs, it is the ability to recognise the potential of a chance discovery and turn it into something useful and innovative that exemplifies a truly great scientist.

Scientists at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research strive to be at the forefront of innovation and creativity, and in this issue of Scope we showcase our asthma research programme as an example of this. We also discuss how our scientists are using techniques learned through researching cancer techniques to study a rare disease that has no known cure, and how they are applying their knowledge of therapy-resistant cancer cells to the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

In doing so, our scientists are challenging the way we currently treat certain diseases and offer practical solutions for how we might improve these therapies in the future.

Media release: Malaghan Institute research reveals clue to tackling tuberculosis

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:31:34 +1300

Tuberculosis (Tb) kills more people worldwide than any other bacterial disease. Recent research from the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research suggests that understanding how the immune system responds to Tb is the key to tackling this deadly disease.

Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs, leading to a persistent cough, night sweats, and weight loss. It is spread through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, and is more prevalent in conditions of household crowding and relative poverty.

Tb bacteria are very slow growing, so it can take several weeks, months or even years from the initial exposure before a person develops symptoms of disease - as evidenced by a recent case of Tb in a Palmerston North high school, which has been linked to a 2006 outbreak.

With current vaccines only having limited reliability, along with the emergence of drug-resistant strains, there is an increasing need for the development of more effective Tb vaccines.

"Our struggle to develop a more effective vaccine has stemmed in part from a poor understanding of the immune mechanisms that orchestrate protection against Tb," said Dr Joanna Kirman, who heads the Malaghan Institute Infectious Diseases research programme.

"If we can identify the critical players, and the factors that contribute to their protective nature, then we are far better placed to develop a better Tb vaccine," said Dr Kirman.

By taking a closer look at how the immune system responds to Tb infection, Dr Kirman and colleagues have revealed a new target for vaccine design and have just had their cutting-edge work published in the international European Journal of Immunology.

Identifying which components of the extensive network of cells, tissues and organs that constitute the immune system are the most critical for protecting against Tb, is akin to finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.

To get around this onerous undertaking, Dr Kirman and colleagues developed a novel strategy that involved trapping immune cells at specific sites in the body, and then looked to see how this influenced the ability of the immune system to protect against Tb.

In doing so, they were able to show that following vaccination, the immune cells present at the site of infection in the lungs play an essential role in controlling the growth of Tb bacteria in the early stages of disease.

"Our research suggests that a vaccine needs to drive the protective cells to the lung if we want to achieve good protection against Tb," said Dr Kirman.
This research will contribute to the strong international effort being made towards the development of an effective Tb vaccine.

Searching for an effective therapy for rare lung disease

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:03:19 +1300

LAM or Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a devastating progressive lung disease that few have heard of. However, for the 21 New Zealand women who suffer from the disease, LAM is a big deal.

LAM causes shortness of breath, chest pains, coughing and lung collapse and there is no known cure. Because LAM is so rare it doesn't receive a lot of attention. Malaghan Institute scientists Prof Mike Berridge and Dr James Baty hope to change this by using their innovative cancer research to help LAM sufferers in a small but significant way.

Although LAM is not presently classified as a cancer, LAM cells have cancer-like properties such as loss of cell growth control, mutations and the ability to spread elsewhere in the body. With support from the NZ LAM Trust and the LAM Australasia Research Alliance, Dr Baty is taking a closer look at LAM cells to find out if there is a small population of cells with cancer stem cell-like properties. If these cells exist in LAM, they will need to be targeted for effective LAM therapy.

Dr Baty says the driving force behind his research is his desire to help people for whom there are very few treatment options currently available. He enjoys the challenge of deciphering the many signalling pathways involved with cell growth, proliferation and survival that are deregulated in LAM patients, and believes the most effective approach for treating these individuals might be with immunological therapies and/or drug treatments currently in use for cancer patients.

Both Dr Baty and LAM Trust Director Bronwyn Gray recently attended the 1st European LAM Conference held in Udine, Italy.

Understanding cell death could lead to breakthrough in motor neurone disease

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:45:50 +1300

Senior Malaghan Institute scientist Dr Melanie McConnell has built an entire research programme around finding ways to identify and kill cancer stem cells - a rare population of cells found within tumours that are thought to be the main cause of relapse and metastasis. Ironically, this research has led to an innovative spin-off programme focused on keeping cells alive.

Cancer stem cells have the unique ability to renew themselves and use an extensive network of survival mechanisms to evade chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. As her understanding of these survival pathways grew, Dr McConnell realised that cancer stem cells might just hold the secret to extending the life of cells that die prematurely, such as in motor neurone disease.

Patients with motor neurone disease suffer increasing weakness of the muscles, due to the death of the neurons that feed into them and there is currently very little that can be done to stop this. Dr McConnell with support from the estates of Ellen, Sinclair, Barbara and Alison Wallace, hopes to develop approaches that actually prolong the survival of neurons - a creative flip-side to her usual role of trying to kill cancer stem cells.

Scope 42 - Whats been happening...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:31:00 +1200

In the Market for a Cure

In memory of Sally Paterson, who tragically passed away from brain cancer in August 2009, the Paterson family and team at Just Paterson Real Estate set an ambitious target of raising $50,000 to support the Malaghan Institute's cancer vaccine research. Through their dedication to our cause, Just Paterson succeeded in raising an amazing $60,000 which was presented at a function held in May. We would like to offer our sincere gratitude to the Paterson family and the team at Just Paterson for supporting our research and helping our scientists work towards a cure for cancer.

Motorbikes, Fashion & Fundraising

Petrena Miller Fashions being modelled by Samantha Nicholas on a Harley provided by Auckland Motorcycles.

The Auckland Friends of the Malaghan Institute recently organised a very special evening of Fashion and Classic bikes to raise awareness and funds for the Institute. Over 200 guests attended the event entitled ‘We Have Our Engines Running Hot' enjoying an exclusive catwalk show of Petrena Miller designs and a line up of classic motorbikes, in the unique "New York loft" environs of Shed 5 in Central Auckland. The event was a great success, thanks to the wonderful support of the models, backstage team, Cameron Brewer as MC and everyone who gave their time so generously. AMI Insurance, Spy Valley Wines and Deus ex Machina are also to be thanked for their tremendous support.

Love Boat Ball 2010

(left to right) Blair Lobb, Dan Hewitt, Anna McInness and Matt Malaghan

An Auckland volunteer group held their 8th Love Boat Ball on Auckland's waterfront in early May with funds raised donated to the Malaghan Institute. Originally started in Auckland and then moved to London when many in the group were on their "OEs", the Love Boat Ball has become a tradition and a great excuse to get back together for a good cause. Over $9000 was raised to support our scientist's critical research. Our thanks to the crew for co-ordinating another great event for landlubbers.

Trekking towards a Cure

Every year The Great New Zealand Trek Charitable Trust Inc run a trek for walkers, mountain bikers, and horse riders to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. Since the inception of this annual trek in 1996 it has raised over $300,000 that has been donated to MS organisations. The 2010 Trek from Oparau to Taumaranui spanned eight days and raised $29,000, generously donated to the Malaghan Institute towards MS research. Thank you very much to all those involved.

Scope 42 - A Volunteer Profile - Trudi Gardner

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:47:14 +1200

Annabel Lush, representing the Malaghan Institute from our Northern Office, recently spoke with Trudi Gardner about why she chose to volunteer as a member of the Auckland Friends group:

When did you first start fundraising?

I guess like many New Zealanders, I began fundraising by collecting milk bottle caps and coins for charity while at primary school! As a teenager, I sold Girl Guide biscuits and helped with charities my mother was involved in, such as the Red Cross.

What have you done since you have been a parent yourself?

I have done a wide range of volunteer work and fundraising - for Plunket, Auckland Kindergarten Association, Brownies, Cubs, Primary School Galas, our children's sports teams, and Auckland City Art gallery where I was a docent for seven years.

It has been most enjoyable because, by volunteering, I have been really involved in these organisations and have been able to really get to know people in each place.

When did you first hear about the Malaghan Institute?

I heard of the research facility when it first started in Wellington in the 70's. It appealed to me because it is a NZ organisation. As NZers, we have a fresh, inventive, yet highly professional approach, which may just make all the difference in tackling some of the serious illnesses we have. Coming from an arts background, I admire the technology and scientific expertise in medical research.

Why did you decide to volunteer?

Originally, I volunteered because I just thought it was a worthwhile institute. I had some free time and I wanted to be contributing somehow in the community.

Was there a personal connection?

On reflection, I realise there are several personal reasons: my best friend died of cancer, my mother-in-law had multiple sclerosis, my nephew had severe childhood asthma. Last year, I went to a school class reunion and found that four of my class mates had died of cancer. These are all illnesses the Malaghan Institute is researching so I couldn't have chosen a better place to support.

If you would like to volunteer for the Malaghan Institute from anywhere in New Zealand, please contact:
Vicky Hale on (04)499 6914 x821

Scope 42 - A Patient's Perspective

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:46:14 +1200

In 2008 Kathryn Williams was diagnosed with incurable stage IV metastatic melanoma and given nine to 12 months to live. What started as a small black spot on her shoulder then turned into an aggressive cancer that spread to her collar bone, kidney and ovaries.

Two years on Kathryn is still living life to the full and attributes some of this to the "parcel of hope" provided to her through access to the Malaghan Institute's Compassionate Use Cancer Vaccine Programme. Kathryn says that being treated with the cancer vaccine has not interfered with her life and she has not suffered any ill side effects.

"When I received my prognosis, the most poignant moment was the realisation there was no curative treatment option available for my disease; a diagnosis with no cure, left me in an extremely vulnerable position.

I remember well the flicker of hope ignited the day my medical oncologist advised the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research were offering me access to a vaccine.
I understood it was not a cure to my circumstances, but this Malaghan crowd won my heart.

The only thing I needed to know was that a team of medical researchers and scientists were aware of my situation; and in conjunction with my medical team, had put their hands up to help.
"I have an immense sense of gratitude to the team at Malaghan, for the amazing work they do and the invaluable contribution they have made and continue to make to my wellness.
I believe in the vaccine and I am privileged to be a recipient of the programme".

On behalf of all the staff at the Malaghan Institute, we would like to thank Kathryn for her courage in speaking about her disease and her experience with the cancer vaccine, and also for reminding us of the importance of living life for today.

Scope 42 - United in a Common Cause

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:45:04 +1200

It took 2000 scientists to perfect the Gardasil vaccine, investment of over $US 1 billion to produce it and the involvement of tens of thousands of women in the numerous clinical trials undertaken to test its efficacy and safety.

A daunting prospect to many but not the dedicated scientists at the Malaghan Institute who believe passionately that their research will one day benefit the lives of fellow New Zealanders affected by disease. The reason for this is simple - our scientists do not work alone.

To successfully translate our basic research into a therapy that is used to treat patients, such as the cancer vaccine, our scientists utilise the many collaborative networks established with top researchers, clinicians and health care workers both within New Zealand and from across the world - as the proverb says "a problem shared, is a problem halved".

By world standards the Malaghan Institute is comparatively small, but our expertise in immunotherapy is internationally recognised and by working with organisations such as the National Institutes of Health in the US and the Ludwig Institute in Australia, we can ensure our groundbreaking research has a realistic chance of leading to improved health outcomes for patients.

Scope 42 - Keith & Faith Taylor Cancer Research Laboratories

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:44:12 +1200

On 5 May 2010 the Malaghan Institute officially opened the Keith and Faith Taylor Cancer Research Laboratories. This facility, which includes two separate GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) laboratories, will be used to support our vaccine research efforts.

A GMP laboratory is more sterile than an operating theatre and has many unique features that set it apart from other laboratories, such as light switches that are flush with the wall so that they don't gather dust. By increasing the number of GMP certified laboratories at the Malaghan Institute, we have significantly enhanced our capacity to undertake clinical trials of vaccine therapies against cancer, asthma, TB and other diseases.

The laboratories were opened by the Hon Tony Ryall, Minister for Health, and demonstrate the Institute's sustained commitment to translating the work done at the lab bench into new and improved ways of treating disease. The ceremony was attended by the Taylor family, long-term supporters of the Malaghan Institute, whose generosity has made this new facility possible. Also in attendance were the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, vaccine recipient Kathryn Williams and clinicians and senior representatives from Capital and Coast District Health Board.

Taking basic research results and converting them into whole new approaches to treating disease is no easy undertaking. It takes time, patience, an extensive network of clinical and research partners, and the support of generous individuals. The Malaghan Institute is now uniquely placed to be able to carry out this kind of work and we hope - we believe - that by doing so we will genuinely be able to offer more effective treatments against some of the most devastating diseases affecting New Zealanders.

Scope 42 - The Science of Vaccination

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:43:11 +1200

With the success of the worldwide polio vaccination programmes, which have virtually eradicated new cases of the disease, images of entire hospital wards filled with rows of patients in iron lungs are thankfully a thing of the past.

In fact vaccination is generally considered one of the most effective means of preventing the spread of infectious disease and is credited with increasing our life span by 30 years since the turn of the last century.

The earliest report of vaccination dates back to the late 17th century when English physician Edward Jenner used pus scraped from cowpox blisters on the hands of a milkmaid to protect a small boy against infection with smallpox. Although this is a rather crude example of a preventative vaccine, the theory behind it still relevant today. By exposing your body to a weakened form of a particular infectious bacteria or virus, a vaccine fools it into thinking it is under attack. This gives your immune system the opportunity to learn how to defend itself, should it ever be invaded by the actual pathogen. A current example of such a vaccine is Gardasil, pioneered by Prof Ian Frazer from the University of Queensland, Australia, which is currently being given to teenage girls to protect against infection with human papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancer.

The Malaghan Institute has a groundbreaking vaccine programme that is committed to the development of more effective vaccines against parasites such as human hookworm and the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. However, our scientists also believe that the immune system can be taught to fight any disease, not just those caused by infectious organisms.

For over a decade the Malaghan Institute has been developing a therapeutic dendritic cell cancer vaccine, which is currently being evaluated in a Phase I Clinical Trial for glioblastoma multiforme. This research is headed by Dr Ian Hermans, a recent recipient of a prestigious HRC programme grant to conduct a clinical trial of a vaccine against melanoma. Our scientists are also working on a therapeutic vaccine that has the potential to alleviate the symptoms of asthma. These vaccines work differently to the preventative vaccines described above in that they are given to an individual after they have already shown signs of disease.

Scope 42 - Research gives Hope

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:42:19 +1200

Hope is a powerful, emotive word that holds different meaning to different people. For the scientists at the Malaghan Institute, it is the belief that through quality basic research we can cure diseases such as cancer, asthma, arthritis and tuberculosis.

By supporting basic research you are investing in hope - hope that there are other options out there for those afflicted by disease, hope that these treatments will not have adverse effects on the lives of those receiving them and, most importantly, the hope that our scientists will find a cure.

In this issue of Scope we highlight the Malaghan Institute's vaccine programme as an example of basic research that is successfully making its way into the clinic and get cancer patient, Kathryn Williams', perspective on how this work is providing hope to cancer sufferers. We also introduce the Institute's new state-of-the-art Keith and Faith Taylor Cancer Research Laboratories and speak with a member of the Auckland Friend's about the personal reasons behind her decision to volunteer for the Malaghan Institute.

Opening of Keith and Faith Taylor Cancer Research Laboratories

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:09:13 +1300

On Wednesday 5 May, the Health Minister Hon Tony Ryall will open the Keith and Faith Taylor Cancer Research Laboratories at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. The building of these laboratories is a joint venture with Victoria University and the K.I.A. Taylor Charitable Trust and represents a unique long term commitment by these parties to ensure New Zealand has the necessary infrastructure for the development of human vaccines against cancer. The state-of-the-art laboratories have been specifically designed to facilitate the preparation, processing and culture of human tissues for vaccine production and meet the exacting standards required for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

The new facility will significantly enhance the efforts by HRC funded scientists at the Malaghan Institute who are dedicated to the development of immunotherapy as an effective means for treating cancer. This novel approach to cancer therapy exploits the sensitivity and potency of the immune system, which can be directed to seek out and destroy tumour cells through the use of custom-made vaccines. Although still in its infancy, immunotherapy offers one of the most exciting new approaches for treating cancer as it holds the promise of being able to effect a total cure with minimal side-effects and complements existing therapeutic approaches.

Institute Director Prof Graham Le Gros pointedly notes that it has already taken a decade's worth of funding by the HRC, the New Zealand Cancer Society and the Wellington Medical Research Foundation to develop the necessary knowledge, techniques and protocols required for translating this form of immunotherapy into a clinical setting. This has included two previous clinical trials, and a current Phase I trial headed by HRC Clinical Training Fellow Martin Hunn that is assessing the feasibility of using cancer vaccines in combination with temozolomide chemotherapy to treat patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.

Prof Le Gros indicated that the vision for the new GMP laboratories is that they will be available to support cancer researchers nationwide and enable larger more challenging clinical trial protocols to be undertaken for the treatment of cancers such as melanoma and breast cancer. It also underlines the critical role that private individuals can play through philanthropy in ensuring groundbreaking research translates into improved health outcomes for New Zealanders.

Green Chemistry

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:47:05 +1200

Drug discovery can often require the use of large amounts of chemicals, which can have a detrimental effect on the environment. In fact, it is estimated that each year the pharmaceutical industry generates over 240,000 tonnes of toxic waste from the organic solvents and associated chemicals used to make target compounds.

To address this issue in the Immunoglycomics programme, PhD student Emma Dangerfield has developed novel ("green") methodologies for the synthesis of iminosugars, a class of drugs currently used in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Her approaches are not only greener than many (using solvents such as water and ethanol instead of petrol), but also yield high quantities of drugs in fewer steps, thus reducing the total amount of waste generated.

The compounds are synthesised from renewable, naturally occurring starting materials (sugars), and are easy to purify because there are fewer contaminants to have to remove at the end.

To date Emma's methodology has been used to prepare potential drug compounds for the treatment of tuberculosis, cancer and diabetes. Emma's methodology, which has been patented, was published in the international journal of Organic Letters last year.

Although the optimisation of greener strategies is an on-going process, we are excited about the opportunities that this research brings and the realisation that it is possible to find new ways to treat disease and care for the environment at the same time.

Scope 41 - Whats been happening...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:40:22 +1200

Closed for a Good Cause

On the 4 November 2009, the BNZ closed all of its branches so that its staff could help volunteer in the community. The Malaghan Institute was selected as one of the lucky organisations to receive support. Nine BNZ staff spent the day delivering Scope newsletters to residents in various Wellington suburbs, to help raise awareness of the Institute and to educate the community about the important research being carried out right here in Wellington. We would like to say a special thank you to all the BNZ staff that helped ‘beat the streets’ for medical research; your efforts were greatly appreciated.

Jumbo Tennis Tournament

The Rotary Club of Wellington’s annual Jumbo Tennis Tournament, sponsored by The Interface Financial Group, was held on Friday 5th March at the Renouf Tennis Centre. With giant racquets, BNZ staff volunteering at the Malaghan Institute. around 100 players (including our own Dr Mike Berridge) ‘battled’ on court, against each other and gravity to raise funds for the Malaghan Institute. Thank you to all those involved.

Fashion for Research

Hosted by the Australian High Commission, the Wellington Friends of the Malaghan Institute held a charity cocktail event, Fashion for Research, on the evening of March 25th to raise funds for the Malaghan Institute.

A great night was had by all and a special thanks goes out to the Friends Committee, to principal supporter AMI Insurance, Spy Valley Wine, Blue Cactus, Cerise Clothing, Mi Piaci, The Designer Clothing Gallery, The Mews and Vance Vivian.

2009 Golf Tournaments

The end of 2009 saw three successful annual golf tournaments organised by Wellington, Auckland and Hawkes Bay Friends of the Malaghan Institute Committees. Barring a slight hail storm in Wellington, all three tournaments ran extremely well and collectively raised over $120,000 for the Malaghan Institute. Thank you to everyone who participated, the many generous supporters and to the main sponsors, ING (for the Wellington tournament) and AMI Insurance (for the Auckland tournament).

The Institute was also the lucky recipient of over $3,000 raised through the Khandallah Monteith’s Brewery Bar charity golf tournament held in November.

Scope 41 - Independent Review praises Malaghan Research

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:38:27 +1200

In February of this year, a panel of independent scientists conducted a review of our research programme.

Prof Ashley Dunn (former Director of the Ludwig Institute, Melbourne), Prof Bryan Williams (Director of the Monash Institute of Medical Research) and Assoc Prof John Carter (Clinical Leader, Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre) spent two days evaluating our research and grilling our group leaders before concluding that our work is of a high international standard and offers the potential for genuine breakthroughs in the field of immunology.

The panel were also keen to stress that the Institute’s commitment to translating basic discoveries about the nature of disease into tangible outcomes with a genuine impact on patient care was both highly commendable and extremely rare. They cited the cancer vaccine programme as a shining example of the “bench to bedside” philosophy that is so vital in turning lab results into improved wellbeing for New Zealanders.

We are extremely proud of the outcome of this independent review and the supportive comments we received. We will continue to strive to undertake the very best quality research into diseases affecting thousands of New Zealanders – and then turn those into improved health outcomes.

Scope 41 - Acknowledging the efforts of three inspiring individuals

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:32:59 +1200

Since the Malaghan Institute first opened its doors back in 1979, it has enjoyed immense support and loyalty from the community, without which it could not operate. For three such individuals, their association with the Institute is a very personal one and in this issue of Scope we would like to acknowledge their stories of hope and survival, and their extraordinary efforts to raise funds for our research in 2009.

This is by no means an exhaustive list and we hope to bring you more stories of goodwill in future editions of Scope.

Richard Barr – walked across the UK
Richard Barr is a retired physicist from New Zealand who suffers from CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia). In 2009 he walked 1628 km (1012miles) from John o’ Groats in the northeast of Scotland to Land’s End in the southwest of England, to promote awareness of CLL and to raise money for research into the disease. Half of the funds raised went towards the Malaghan Institute’s CLL research programme.

Dave Wilson – walked 3200 km around England
For Dave Wilson (pictured left), a former Taranaki man, being diagnosed with prostate cancer in his early seventies came as a shocking blow. However, Dave considers himself one of the lucky ones because two years after undergoing radiotherapy and hormone treatment he is now cancer-free. In May 2009 Dave set off from Brighton pier in England on a five month walk that covered 3200km (2000 miles). The motivation behind this venture was Dave’s wish to give back to the clinicians and cancer researchers that helped save his life. Another reason for Dave’s big walk was to promote the critical importance of early diagnosis and detection of some cancers. Dave selected the Malaghan Institute as one of the recipients of the funds raised.

Kylie Archer – ran the 2009 New York Marathon
Aucklander Kylie Archer ran the “42 crazy big apple km’s” of the New York Marathon in memory of her Dad and the thousands of kiwis diagnosed with brain cancer every year and dedicated all of the funds raised to the Malaghan Institute.

Collectively Richard’s, Dave’s and Kylie’s efforts raised over $6000 for our cancer research programmes! Words cannot describe how grateful we are to these inspiring individuals for selecting the Malaghan Institute as the recipient of their incredible fundraising efforts – our sincere gratitude to you all

Scope 41 - Green Drugs

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:31:23 +1200

Drug discovery, such as that described above, can often require the use of large amounts of chemicals, which can have a detrimental effect on the environment. In fact, it is estimated that each year the pharmaceutical industry generates over 240,000 tonnes of toxic waste from the organic solvents and associated chemicals used to make target compounds.

To address this issue in the Immunoglycomics programme, PhD student Emma Dangerfield has developed novel (“green”) methodologies for the synthesis of imino sugars, a class of drugs currently used in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Her approaches are not only greener than many (using solvents such as water and ethanol instead of petrol), but also yield high quantities of drugs in fewer steps, thus reducing the total amount of waste generated. The compounds are synthesised from renewable, naturally occurring starting materials (sugars), and are easy to purify because there are fewer contaminants to have to remove at the end.

To date Emma’s methodology has been used to prepare potential drug compounds for the treatment of tuberculosis, cancer and diabetes. Emma’s methodology, which has been patented, was published in the international journal of Organic Letters last year.

Scope 41 - Immunoglycomics - the new era of drug discovery

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:29:11 +1200

Immunoglycomics is an emerging field of research that focuses specifically on understanding how particular types of sugars can influence the immune response and how this knowledge can be applied to improve treatments of disease.

Through an Immunoglycomics research initiative established between the Malaghan Institute and Victoria University of Wellington in 2007, scientists led by Dr Bridget Stocker and Dr Mattie Timmer are currently synthesising a range of sugar-based drugs and evaluating their potential to treat disease.

An example of this is a class of compounds called glycolipids, which are being used in conjunction with the cancer vaccine to enhance anti-tumour immunity. While the vaccine effectively acts as the ignition and turns the immune response on, the glycolipid acts as the throttle and can be used to control the intensity of the response.

In other work a novel class of drugs are being synthesised that target a survival mechanism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. Sugar-based compounds are also being used to help understand what triggers the allergic immune response seen in asthmatic individuals.

These studies will provide the first detailed insight into the relationship between carbohydrates and the immune response, which will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Scope 41 - A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:29:06 +1200

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research is New Zealand’s premier vaccine and immunology research centre. For over 16 years our scientists have been focused on developing more effective and natural immune-based therapies for treating disease. This pioneering work has led to the development of a cancer vaccine, which is currently being evaluated in a phase I clinical trial for glioblastoma multiforme (brain cancer); however the research doesn’t stop there.

Whilst searching for different ways to control or stimulate even stronger immune responses, Malaghan Institute scientists discovered that ‘sweetening’ particular immunotherapies with the addition of specific carbohydrates (sugars) can actually make them work better!

Through setting up an Immunoglycomics group, which fuses chemistry with immunology, we are in a unique position to use target sugars that have been synthesised onsite. This technique has enabled us to redefine the way we can treat diseases such as cancer, asthma and tuberculosis.

Scope 40 - Malaghan Institute Open Day

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:18:57 +1200

To celebrate its 30 year history of pioneering research into the immune system and how it can be harnessed for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious disease, the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research opened its doors to the general public of Wellington on Sunday, 9 August 2009.

This was the first Open Day of the Institute's Kelburn campus facility, with around 140 people taking advantage of this unique opportunity to see inside New Zealand's premier vaccine and immunology research centre. Individuals that attended the Open Day were given the chance to try their hands at being scientists at a range of activities, and were then taken on a tour of the Institute, where they were shown how we make our cancer vaccines.

The Malaghan Institute was officially opened on 26 July 1979, in rented premises at the Wellington School of Medicine, though its history dates back even earlier to the late 1960's. In 2004 the Malaghan Institute relocated to its current purpose-built facility at Victoria University of Wellington. During this time the Institute has grown from a base of around 10 individuals to its current size of over 80 scientists and support staff.

For the past three decades the Malaghan Institute has relied on the generosity of the public to help us realise our vision of more effective treatment options for New Zealanders affected by disease, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our donors for their continued support.

Scope 40 - Why are some people more prone to gout?

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:13:25 +1200

The goal of our cancer immune therapy and infectious diseases research is to turn on the immune system. To treat gout however, we need to turn it off.

Described as the "King of diseases and disease of Kings," gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis and is caused by the build-up of crystals of uric acid in and around the joints. The immune system reacts to the crystals as if they were viruses or bacteria and it is the resulting inflammation that leads to pain.

In 2006 the Arthritis & Inflammation Group launched a Gouty Arthritis clinical study to determine why some individuals are more prone to developing the disease than others. The study, which has now been completed, revealed that the immune cells isolated from gout patients may be ‘primed' to respond to gout causing uric acid crystals, releasing higher levels of inflammation-causing agents that contribute to disease onset and severity.

The results will provide the basis for the development of new preventative strategies aimed at blocking this priming phenomenon for improved management of gout.

Scope 40 - Protecting our children from Rotavirus

Mon, 28 May 2012 10:33:27 +1200

Complementing the Institute's cancer vaccine programme is the research of the Infectious Diseases Group, whose ultimate goal is to use vaccination to reduce the incidence of infectious disease in New Zealand.

One particular virus of interest is Rotavirus, which causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting in children under the age of two. Infection with this virus leads to approximately 1000 hospitalisations in this country each year and a vaccine is the most effective public health measure for reducing the severity of this disease.

Two rotavirus vaccines have been recommended for inclusion in the national immunisation schedule but have yet to be funded. Since the potential effectiveness of the vaccines could be influenced by the particular types of Rotavirus causing the infections, a national, multicentre rotavirus strain surveillance study was established in 2005 to monitor New Zealand epidemics.

Sample collection for this study was completed in 2008, the striking findings of which revealed a strong geographical link between the different rotavirus strains. For example during the first year of study the strains prevalent in the South Island differed significantly from those most prevalent in the North Island.

The reason for these differences is unknown, but this study will be essential for making informed decisions about the introduction of the rotavirus vaccines.

Scope 40 - Breaking news - Malaghan Institute joins effort to cure breast cancer

Mon, 28 May 2012 10:32:35 +1200

In the first of its kind for the Malaghan Institute, our considerable knowledge and clinical expertise in dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy will now also be applied to breast cancer. This is a highly significant development because New Zealand has the third highest death rate from breast cancer in the Western world and new therapies are needed urgently if we are to turn this statistic around.

This initiative has been made possible by funding from the Breast Cancer Research Trust, Auckland, which is committed to finding a cure for breast cancer by 2018.

The goal of this latest research is to provide the necessary "proof of principle" that will lead to Phase I/II breast cancer vaccine clinical trials and the hope of an eventual cure for this devastating disease.

Scope 40 - Cancer treatment options: surgery, drugs, radiation... the immune system

Mon, 28 May 2012 10:31:18 +1200

An area of rapid growth at the Malaghan Institute is our cancer immunotherapy programme.

An early 20^th century surgeon, Dr William Coley, is often credited with first recognising the potential of the immune system for treating cancer. He showed that he could control the growth of some tumours by injecting his patients with killed bacterial infusions (called Coley's Toxins) to stimulate an immune response. Although this was a rather crude approach to cancer treatment, the basic premise of cancer immunotherapy remains the same -to stimulate the immune system to recognise and destroy cancerous cells.

The Malaghan Institute is currently testing the feasibility and safety of using cancer immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy to treat patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive brain tumour that is ultimately fatal. This Phase I clinical trial is being overseen by Dr Ian Hermans, in collaboration with Wellington Hospital neurosurgeon Mr Martin Hunn, and Dr David Hamilton from the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre.

Supporting this clinical programme is Mr Hunn's PhD research into the identification of ways of directing the immune response specifically against GBM tumour stem cells, which are resistant to current cancer treatments. It is the tumour stem cells that give rise to the disease and are thought to be responsible for tumour regrowth and metastasis, so their elimination is essential for complete remission.

Scope 40 - From theory to therapy

Mon, 28 May 2012 10:23:50 +1200

Over the past decade the Malaghan Institute has become increasingly focused on translating our basic biomedical research into real results for patients. The process required to turn a novel theory into a therapy that is practiced in the clinic however, is not trivial. Scientific breakthroughs cannot be forced or even predicted, as exemplified by the "accidental" discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928, which went on to revolutionise modern medicine.

The Malaghan Institute is recognised internationally as a leading immunology research Institute and we are proud of our excellent track record for taking our bench work science into the clinic. Like Fleming, our scientists are skilled at recognising the potential of unexpected findings and this has played a critical role in shaping how we do things.

As a result of recent developments in our cutting-edge basic research programmes, we have been able to expand and diversify our clinical work and are proud to update you on these initiatives in this issue of Scope.

Scope 39 - Immunity - The battle within

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:18:00 +1200

In order to exploit our immune system to treat disease, it is important to understand how the different cells and proteins work together to generate an immune response.

The Enemy

Think of your body as an isolated fortress, constantly under attack from hostile foreign armies of viruses, bacteria and parasites. These germs want to invade your body to use its resources for their own purpose, potentially harming you in the process. The term "foreign" is often used by scientists to describe invading germs or other substances not normally found in your body. However, in addition to the enemy being anything that is not us, such as germs, it can also be things that are no longer us, as happens in cancer.

The immune system is much better at recognising and attacking germs than cancer because cancer cells originate from within the body and are often not seen as foreign. This is thought to be why cancers are often able to grow, despite the presence of a healthy, working immune system. So instead of thinking of cancer cells as an invading army, they should be considered as more like traitors operating from within.

The Defence Force

The General and the Assassins

The CD4 T helper cell acts as a General, directing the other immune cells in the tasks they have to perform. The primary role of CD4 T helper cells is to trigger the activation of B cells and killer T cells. The command centres for this information transfer are the lymph nodes and spleen.

In response to specific commands from CD4 T helper cells, B cells release special proteins called antibodies that act like smart bombs, specifically targeting a particular intruder and marking it for destruction.

The assassins of the immune system are the CD8 killer T cells and natural killer T(NKT) cells. Upon instruction from CD4 T helper cells, these killer cells will seek out and attack cells of the body infected with viruses or cancer cells. When these killer cells come into contact with foreign or cancerous cells, they give off substances that destroy them.

Another important role of the General is to stimulate the activity of regulatory T cells. These cells act as "brakes" to help keep the immune system in check. Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis can arise when these cells do not work correctly.

Sometimes the General can get it wrong and mistakenly direct immune responses against harmless substances such as pollen or certain foods, resulting in the diseases asthma and allergy. At the Malaghan Institute we have research programmes dedicated at understanding how and why this happens so that we can apply this information to the development of effective therapies for the treatment of these diseases.

The Aides

T cells need help to recognise and respond to germs, so like a General in his war room, the CD4 T helper cell must rely on his aides to provide him with the who, what, and where of potential threats.

The most powerful aides are a rare group of immune cells called dendritic cells, which patrol the body- like sentinels, alerting the immune system to germs and potential threats. If the dendritic cell comes into contact with a foreign invader or cancer cell, it captures the potential threat and travels to the nearest lymph node command centre to present its captive to the CD4 T helper cell. The CD4 T helper cell will then process this information and decide on the appropriate course of action.

Dendritic cells form the basis of cancer vaccines being used at the Malaghan Institute to treat patients with the aggressive brain tumour glioblastoma multiforme. The dendritic call vaccines are generated from a patient's own dendritic cells and tumour tissue and are designed to stimulate the patient's killer T cells to seek out and destroy their cancer. Cancer immunotherapy is emerging as one of the most promising alternative approaches to cancer treatment and has the advantage of minimal side effects to the individuals being treated.

The Enlisted Followers

Conclusion

This is just a glimpse of our immune system and the intricate ways in which its parts interact. Immunity is a fascinating topic that still holds many secrets, which Malaghan Institute scientists are working hard to unravel.

Scope 39 - Immunity and Disease

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:48:26 +1200

Our immune system is one of nature's most magnificent and yet complex inventions. It is constantly on alert, utilising an intricate network of organs, cells and proteins to protect us from the billions of bacteria and viruses that we are exposed to every day.

The true power of our immune system comes from the fact that it has the ability to"remember" invading germs that it has fought in the past and is able to strike more quickly if they attack again. When this happens we say that the body has immunity.

Not surprisingly, the consequences of a poorly operating immune system can be severe. Individuals with immune systems that are less active than normal are highly susceptible to diseases such as cancer, while those with an overactive immune system are at risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as arthritisor multiple sclerosis.

By unlocking the secrets to controlling immune responses, scientists at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research hope to develop more effective and natural therapies for treating disease.

Scope 38 - Lollipop Day - 26 Feb 2009

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:47:14 +1200

On Thursday the 26th of February, Wellington was inundated by lollipops for the Annual Lollipop Appeal. Over 300 volunteers were out and about in the region with collection buckets and the people of Wellington responded generously. $39,000.00 was raised and will go a long way toward supporting our research programmes in the months ahead. Thank you to everyone who gave on the day and to all our volunteers, without whom the appeal would not be possible. Thank you also to our sponsors: the ever generous AMI Insurance, Clemenger BBDO for the great advertising campaign and also Allens for generously donating the lollipops.

Scope 38 - Charity Golf Tournaments

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:44:43 +1200

Once again our three wonderful Friends Committees in Auckland, Hawkes Bay and Wellington came up trumps by organising three fantastic Golf tournaments. Combined, they had over 300 golfers playing in what has become an annual fixture for many of the participating corporates. Over $100,000.00 was raised for research which is a phenomenal result. Many thanks to the hardworking committees, sponsors and players for organising and supporting such a great day out on the golf course. Thank you to both AMI Insurance and ING NZ Ltd for sponsoring the events in Auckland and Wellington respectively.

Scope 38 - The history of fundraising at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:43:22 +1200

Of course, just as the Malaghan Institute itself has a long history of science going back 30 years, so does the history of its fundraising. As the Malaghan Institute has grown so has the level of support and donations.

In 1978, the first year of operation of the Institute, $1525.00 was donated - which in those days was quite a lot of money! Just one year later, in 1979 when the Institute officially opened, there was a dramatic increase in the donations to $32,621.50. Over the next 30 years the donations steadily increased in order to continue to support the growth of the Malaghan Institute itself. The past five years have seen us surpass the half a million dollar mark and our goal is to achieve one million dollars of yearly donations by the year 2014. A big ask, but one we are working hard to achieve, and one which is important to ensure the continued growth and scientific excellence of the Malaghan Institute.

For everyone who has been with us on this journey from the beginning, and to those who have recently joined us - thank you all for your wonderful support and I hope you feel proud of what you have helped us to achieve.

Scope 38 - The Malaghan family legacy

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:42:13 +1200

The namesake of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Len Malaghan, was born in 1906. As a young man, he was a cheese and butter maker at the Tapanui Co-operative Dairy Factory and had a keen eye for business. Following an opportunity to train under a visiting ice cream manufacturer from the United States, Len and his wife Ann opened a milk bar in Wellington in 1936, specialising in ice cream and milkshakes. That humble enterprise was an immediate success and soon expanded into what we know today as Tip Top Ice Cream Ltd. In fact the first ice cream on a stick, the Topsy, was named after one of Len’s favourite cows.

Len's generosity to the Wellington Medical Research Foundation began when he was diagnosed with cancer at the young age of 56. He and his wife Ann established a medical research trust by gifting shares in General Foods Corporation to the Foundation in 1967. Len and Ann’s legacy lives on through their family with son Graham serving as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 1990, and grandson Matthew joining the Board in 2008. Other family members have played significant roles in various fundraising initiatives.

While Len passed away forty years ago, at the relatively young age of 61, scientists at the Malaghan Institute remain committed to fulfilling his vision of improved health outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Scope 38 - Reflections from a founding Malaghan Institute scientist

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:41:22 +1200

Prof Mike Berridge is a household name in the New Zealand science arena. His contributions to the field of cancer research are recognised globally and he has played an active role in advising government on landmark policies such as the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, stem cell research and cancer innovations.

A lesser known fact is that Prof Berridge was the second Malaghan Fellow and has been associated with the Institute since 1976, before its new premises opened. He describes his laboratory space at that time as “a small, drafty, leaky and dirty room on the roof of the old Wellington Hospital building. In bad weather the corridor outside became a river and in really good weather, the animal facility a couple of rooms away was a sensory offence!” While waiting for the Institute to have its own facility, Prof Berridge was also provided with laboratory space within the Biochemistry Department at Victoria University of Wellington.

Prof Berridge’s early research was aimed at gaining a better understanding of blood stem cells, with the goal of improving bone marrow transplantation. His current research concerns the elusive cancer stem cell, a minor population of quiescent, drug-resistant cells that are thought to be responsible for the initiation of most cancers and their recurrence following treatment. When asked how scientific research compares today Prof Berridge said “being a researcher 33 years on involves some dramatic differences and new challenges, but some things haven't changed much. Not surprisingly, the most dramatic changes relate to the revolution in information technology involving wide use of powerful computers fuelled by search engines and electronic publication systems that have shifted the world of science literature and communication from libraries and the printed page to plastic office screens and electronic mail systems. The pace and scope of research has quickened but it still takes about the same time to fill an order.”

From his quirky sense of humour to his unrivalled passion and drive for scientific endeavours, Prof Berridge has been a vital contributor to the success of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research.

Scope 38 - Where there's research, there's hope

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:40:33 +1200

When the Wellington Cancer and Medical Research Institute was first established in the 1970’s, it was stipulated that approximately half of the Institute’s activities were to be directed to the investigation of cancer, and the remaining half to general medical research. The primary goal of the Institute was to foster research of exceptional quality, for it was considered that to do otherwise would betray the faith and generosity of the Institute’s original benefactors.

Under the guidance of the founding Director Prof William Stehbens, the initial medical research focus of the Institute was concerned with the underlying causes and mechanisms of arterial disease (atherosclerosis and its complications), while the cancer component of the Institute’s research programme was mainly directed at leukaemia, a malignant or cancerous disease of blood cells.

Work in these areas continued following Prof Stehbens’ retirement in 1993, and a new initiative in the field of immunology and asthma was developed by Prof Graham Le Gros with the support of Prof Stehbens’ successor, Prof Richard Beasley, and the Wellington Asthma Research Group. In 1994 Prof Le Gros was appointed Research Director of the Malaghan Institute and was instrumental in helping establish a new Cancer Immunotherapy programme at the Institute, headed by Prof Franca Ronchese, to exploit the potential of a rare class of blood cells for directing immune responses against cancer cells. This pioneering research has since led to the involvement of the Malaghan Institute in clinical trials of dendritic cell-based vaccines for the treatment of individuals with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, melanoma and glioblastoma multiforme (brain cancer).

In recent years the Malaghan Institute has replaced its original focus on heart disease with world-class research programmes in arthritis, multiple sclerosis and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis but has remained steadfast in our quest for more effective cancer treatments. Today the Malaghan Institute is recognised as New Zealand’s premier vaccine and immunology research centre, bringing benefit and hope to our communities through scientific research.

Scope 38 - A vision becomes a reality

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:39:39 +1200

The concept of a Wellington-based, independent medical research institute was first proposed in the early 1960’s. At that time relatively little research was being conducted in the area due to lack of facilities, nor was it customary for Hospital Boards to foster or support research in their hospitals.

Using funds from a trust established by the Wellington Medical Research Foundation and the Wellington Division of the Cancer Society, the Wellington Cancer and Medical Research Institute was opened on 26 July 1979, in rented premises in the Wellington School of Medicine. In 1985 the name of the Institute was changed to the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in recognition of the generous support by the late Mr Len Malaghan and Mrs Ann Malaghan. Two decades later the Institute relocated to a purpose-built facility at Victoria University of Wellington.

Through challenging times of funding shortfalls and the ‘brain drain’ of our talented young scientists overseas, the Institute has proudly upheld its original commitment to “quality of work, honesty of purpose and strength of endeavour”. From humble beginnings through to New Zealand’s premier vaccine and immunology research centre, this is the story of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research.

“History has taught us that basic research into the cellular and molecular mechanisms which underlie disease represents the best hope for the wellbeing of future generations.” Prof Graham Le Gros (2004)

Glioblastoma Multiforme (Brain Cancer) Clinical Trial

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:23:45 +1300

THIS TRIAL HAS NOW FINISHED, THE OUTCOMES FROM WHICH ARE CURRENTLY BEING PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION.

In late 2008 the Malaghan Institute initiated a Phase I clinical trial to test the feasibility and safety of using dendritic cell vaccines in combination with temozolomide chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressive brain tumour with a 100 % fatality rate.

Dendritic cells are a rare group of immune cells in the body that can activate T cells, considered the foot soldiers of the immune response, to destroy cancer tissue.

The brain cancer trial is the culmination of over a decade of basic cancer immunotherapy research at the Malaghan Institute and is being overseen by the Head of the Institute's Vaccine Research Group, Dr Ian Hermans, in collaboration with Wellington Hospital neurosurgeon Mr Martin Hunn, and Dr David Hamilton from the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre.

It is anticipated that the trial will involve 12-17 patients that meet a strict set of eligibility criteria. The custom-made vaccines used in the trial are created by loading dendritic cells isolated from the patient's blood with tissue from their surgically-removed tumour. It is hoped that the T cells will be selectively activated to destroy brain tumour cells.

The patients will initially receive three vaccine treatments at two-week intervals, before being given the chemotherapy drug temozolomide. Once chemotherapy has been started, the vaccines and the chemotherapy will then each be given to the patients monthly for up to six months.

The trial was made possible by a grant from the Cancer Society of New Zealand.

Enrolments for this trial have closed due to the required number of patients being met.

Click here to read more about our GMP accredited vaccine production laboratory.

Scope 37 - Scope 36 Donations

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:37:58 +1200

A huge thank you must go out to all our wonderful supporters who sent in a donation in response to our last Scope Newsletter. At the time of going to print, we had raised an amazing $60,402.50!

THANK YOU! - This support will enable our researchers to continue their valuable work into improving the health of all New Zealanders.

Scope 37 - Betty Fleet - a volunteer profile

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:36:49 +1200

The first thing that struck me when I met the Fleets in early 2007 was their wonderful sense of humour and passion for life. Betty and her husband Alan have been tireless volunteers for the Malaghan Institute for over seven years and they prove that you don't have to be Bill Gates in order to make a difference for an organisation. Betty tells me that the reason they became volunteers in the first place is "because it makes us happy to be able to contribute in a meaningful way to causes that we really believe in. We can't give away millions of dollars, so we give away our time."

Sadly, Alan passed away in September last year after a sudden bout with cancer. Instead of this slowing her down, it seems to have made Betty all the more determined to help in whatever ways she can. It is about this time of year that she and I get together for our "Lollipop meeting" and brainstorm about how we are going to get more volunteers collecting out on the streets. She is super organised with a wee notebook full of names and she is not shy to call people up to ask them to help!

What makes her even more remarkable is the fact that the Malaghan Institute is not the only organisation that Betty volunteers for; she also collects regularly for another nine charities. But of course, the Malaghan Institute is her favourite!

And as far as favourites go, Betty is definitely one of ours.

The Malaghan Institute is fortunate to have around 200 volunteers all as wonderful as Betty. However, we are always looking for more helpers - especially for our Lollipop Street Dayin February each year. If you think you might be interested in becoming a Malaghan volunteer, please call 0800 MALAGHAN.

Scope 37 - Pillar of Immunology

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:34:39 +1200

Pioneering research published by Malaghan Institute Director Professor Graham Le Gros early on in his career, has received the highest of honours by being selected as a "Pillar of Immunology" by international leaders in the field. To date there have only been 30 such research papers (out of the many 100,000's going back to the 1960s) that have been awarded this prestigious title.

The extra ordinary scientific insight provided by Prof Le Gros' ingenious approach to understanding the basic biology of IL-4, one of the most influential proteins of the immune system, is as relevant today as it was when it was first published back in 1990. The landmark research was undertaken while Prof Le Gros was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr William Paul at the National Institute's of Health, Bethesda, USA.

Although there have been significant advancements in our understanding of how IL-4controls and directs immune responses since this work was first published, Prof Le Gros' research has withstood intense scientific critique for nearly 20 years, thus cementing its place in history as a classic immunology discovery.

The Malaghan Institute is proud to congratulate its Director on this remarkable achievement.

Scope 37 - The changing face of Malaghan MS research

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:33:01 +1200

After almost 11 years at the helm of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Associate Professor Thomas Bäckström (pictured left) is leaving the Malaghan Institute to take up a position at Novo Nordisk in Denmark. Novo Nordisk is a world leader in diabetes care, producing insulin for half of the European and USA diabetic markets. In his new role Assoc Prof Bäckström will head Novo Nordisk’s T cell Biology Department, providing the potential opportunity for the development of close linkages between the Malaghan Institute and one of the world’s major pharmaceutical companies.

Since his arrival at the Malaghan Institute in 1997 from Sweden, Assoc Prof Bäckström has worked tirelessly to establish the laboratory models and technology required to study this most complex of diseases. In individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) the body’s immune system attacks the myelin tissue of the central nervous system, disrupting the brain’s ability to control such functions as seeing, walking and talking. Scientists do not yet know what triggers the immune system to do this.

Some of the highlights of Assoc Prof Bäckström’s research include the establishment of the EAE (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis) model to study multiple sclerosis; the discovery that the symptoms of disease in the EAE model can be improved through the use of specially designed immune-modifying therapeutic agents; and that the activity of immune cells called regulatory T cells, play a crucial role in determining this outcome.

We will very much miss the passion and intellectual insight that Assoc Prof Bäckström has brought to the Malaghan Institute and the NZ health research scene and sincerely thank him for the significant contributions he has made to MS research in this country.

Assoc Prof Bäckström’s departure does not mean an end to MS research at the Malaghan Institute. It is with great pleasure that we announce that the MS research mantel is to be handed over to Dr Anne La Flamme (left), a senior immunologist from Victoria University that has been a research consultant of the Malaghan Institute since 2001 and has published alongside Assoc Prof Bäckström on several pivotal research discoveries. Dr La Flamme has a particular research interest in macrophages, an immune cell type that plays a critical role in regulating the immune responses in the EAE model, and schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that appears to offer protection against the development of MS.

With Dr La Flamme on board the Malaghan Institute will be able to continue the leading-edge research pioneered by Assoc Prof Bäckström, thus ensuring out commitment to understanding both the causes of MS and the development of immunotherapies to halt its progression.

Scope 37 - International award for anti-inflammatory research

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:31:46 +1200

Malaghan Institute scientists Dr Jacquie Harper and Professor Mike Berridge were key members of a team of marine and cell biologists and chemists from around New Zealand recently awarded the prestigious Arthur E Schwarting Award for best paper published in the international Journal of Natural Products in 2007.

The paper describes the discovery of two novel natural compounds from a sea squirt found in New Zealand's coastal waters that halt the development of inflammation.

Inflammation is common to many debilitating human diseases including arthritis, asthma and cardiovascular disease, and alternative anti-inflammatory treatments are desperately needed.
This research suggests that the simple sea squirt might just hold the answer scientists have been looking for.

Scope 37 - Taking our cancer vaccine to the next level

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:30:02 +1200

In the first of its kind for Wellington, the Malaghan Institute is combining its expertise in immunology and oncology with the engineering research institute Industrial Research Limited (IRL) to unlock the enormous commercial potential of our cancer vaccine. The collaboration brings together the cancer vaccine developed at the Malaghan Institute with a compound developed by IRL that makes the vaccine work even better. With $750,000 for the next three years from IRL, Grow Wellington and Victoria University's private enterprise liaison Victoria Link, the science-business collaboration hopes to carve out a slice of the burgeoning global vaccine market, which is worth around $16 billion dollars.

As the Malaghan Institute is a charitable trust there is a no real outlet for us to be able to develop the vaccine on our own. By sharing the ‘fruits of our discoveries' and working together with other organisations we have the opportunity to produce something that will have a significant impact on the health of New Zealanders. Any value that arises from the venture will be directed back into supporting the Institute's research programmes.

"There is an unmet need for such vaccine products in this country," said Professor Graham Le Gros. "We hope our teams can crack it by working together to get it into the clinics."

Scope 37- Top Honour for Young Scientist

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:27:39 +1200

For her groundbreaking research into the development of designer vaccines for the treatment of cancer, Malaghan Institute PhD student Dianne Sika-Paotonu was named winner of the HRC Advancing Human Health and Wellbeing category of the 2008 MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year Awards.

These awards are presented by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology in recognition of New Zealand-born Nobel Laureate Professor Alan MacDiarmid, to celebrate the achievements of New Zealand's future leaders in science.

The focus of Dianne's PhD research is to improve the activity of a rare group of immune cells called dendritic cells. These cells are able to stimulate the immune system to attack cancerous tissue and are a critical component of the cancer vaccines created at the Malaghan Institute. By developing ways to make the cancer vaccines work even better, Dianne's cutting-edge research brings us one step closer towards a highly effective more natural cancer therapy that doesn'thave the side-effects of conventional cancer treatments.

"Cancer is a terrible disease and we need to support bright young New Zealanders such as Dianne to ensure our future." Professor Graham Le Gros, Director.

Scope 36 - Dr Rebecca Grainger on the Good Morning

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:26:52 +1200

As part of our publicity for the Lollipop Appeal, Dr Rebecca Grainger appeared on the Good Morning Show to promote not only the Appeal, but her research into Gout and the overall work of the Malaghan Institute. Her interview was very well received and it meant that the important work of the Malaghan Institute was broadcast into over 200,000 homes nationwide!

Scope 36 - 2008 Lollipop Appeal

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:25:35 +1200

The 2008 Lollipop Appeal held on February 29th, in the greater Wellington region was again a huge success. It has been an annual fixture for over ten years now and thanks to the brilliant organisational skills of the Wellington Friends of the Malaghan Institute there were over 300 volunteers out and about in the region shaking their buckets on our behalf.

An amazing $45,000 was raised which will be put to good use supporting our research groups. Thanks also to AMI, our wonderful principal supporter; Clemenger BBDO who developed our awesome new advertising; and Allens who supplied all the lollipops we gave out on the day - over 15,000 in fact!

Scope 36 - Clinicians join fight against cancer and asthma

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:24:16 +1200

Last year we were very fortunate to welcome two clinicians to the Malaghan team, Dr Robert Weinkove and Dr Noriyuki Enomoto.

Dr Weinkove is a highly-skilled haematologist who did his medical training at the University of Cambridge and the University of London and came to the Malaghan Institute following clinical work in London and Leeds in the UK, and Hanover, Germany. While treating leukaemia and lymphoma cancer patients using bone marrow transplants, Dr Weinkove developed a strong interest in the immune system. Part of the reason that bone transplants work is that the new (donor) immune system recognises the patients' cancerous cells as foreign and destroys them. However, bone marrow transplantation has its inherent drawbacks and there is an urgent need for the development of better immune therapies that can cure established cancers. The current focus of Dr Weinkove's PhD research is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, the most common blood cancer in New Zealand. Working in conjunction with the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre, Dr Ian Hermans and Professor Franca Ronchese, Dr Weinkove plans to harness a rare blood cell type called natural killer T cells to improve the ability of a patients' immune system to fight their leukaemia.

Dr Enomoto's speciality area is pulmonary medicine. Following his medical training at Asahikawa Medical College, Japan, Dr Enomoto completed a PhD at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, looking at the development of a dendritic-cell vaccine against Listeria monocytogenes infection. Dr Enomoto chose to continue his career at the Malaghan Institute after reading about the exciting vaccine research being undertaken by the Cancer Immunotherapy Group and is now working alongside Prof Franca Ronchese on a project that hopes to identify a natural treatment for bronchial asthma.

With its certified GMP laboratory capable of manufacturing human cellular vaccines, world-class researchers and facilities, and the skills of top clinicians such as Dr Weinkove and Dr Enomoto, the Malaghan Institute is ideally poised to translate its research findings from the laboratory bench into the clinic.

Scope 36 - Anonymous US donor challenges NZ Malaghan Supporters

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:19:40 +1200

Earlier this year we were fortunate to be the recipient of a large anonymous donation. This benefactor is an alumni of Victoria University now residing in the United States and was identified through a partnership between the Malaghan Institute and the VUW Foundation.

They have very generously given half a million dollars to be used to further the development of a vaccine against cancer.

The donor wishes to remain anonymous, but fervently believes in the work of the Malaghan Institute and is hoping that the gift will inspire additional generosity from the New Zealand based supporters of the Institute to help grow this vaccine fund.

Feel inspired?

To find out how you can help, please call the Malaghan Institute on 0800 MALAGHAN (0800 625 2442)

Scope 36 - Restoring balance to the lives of MS sufferers

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:17:51 +1200

Modestly describing herself as a "jack of all trades, master of none", Dr Elizabeth Forbes' larger than life personality is matched only by her unwavering enthusiasm and drive to improve the lives of those affected by the debilitating autoimmune disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

After completing her undergraduate degree at Victoria University, Dr Forbes began her PhD in gastrointestinal allergy and inflammation at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. During her PhD Dr Forbes was awarded a Fulbright scholarship, which allowed her to finish her studies at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, USA. As the recipient of such a prestigious award, Dr Forbes was bonded back to New Zealand on completion of her PhD, and the Malaghan Institute Multiple Sclerosis Group, led by Associate Professor Thomas Bäckström, provided the ideal opportunity in which to further her research career.

Affecting one in every 1,100New Zealanders, there is no known cure for MS. In a healthy individual, the immune system maintains a balance between triggering an inflammatory response and an equilibrium maintained by cells that regulate it. In MS, this balance is disrupted.

The therapeutic goal of Dr Forbes' research is to re-establish this immune equilibrium in individuals suffering from MS - to restore the balance.

Scope 36 - Stirring lost memories with designer vaccines

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:14:43 +1200

With an extraordinary gift for thinking abstractly and an intelligence and passion for immunology that is second to none, Infectious Diseases PhD student Lisa Goldsack is a formidable force in the fight against tuberculosis (Tb). The currently available vaccine against Tb, BCG, is good at protecting infants and young children from the disease but has little effect in adults.

It is estimated that one New Zealander a day is being newly diagnosed with Tb, and with the increasing incidence of antibiotic-resistance, we urgently need preventative measures such as new vaccines. The focus of Lisa's PhD research is on understanding why the immune system appears to forget how to protect adults from developing Tb, and how we can use this information to design more effective vaccines that stimulate life-long immunity against the bacteria thatcause the disease.

Supervised by Dr Joanna Kirman, Lisa was successful in publishing her theoretical work in the international scientific journal Tuberculosis in 2007 and her research is considered to be at the cutting edge of New Zealand vaccine development and design.

Scope 36 - PhD graduate heads to elite American institute

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:13:52 +1200

Laboratory experience in an overseas research facility is recommended for any young scientist that wishes to establish their career back here in New Zealand. Malaghan Institute graduates are considered amongst the best in the country and are consequently highly sought after.

In April of this year we farewelled one of our rising young stars, Dr Nicholas van Panhuys, to the prestigious National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, USA. Dr van Panhuys' PhD studies in Professor Graham Le Gros' Asthma Group have challenged our current understanding of the immune responses that give rise to allergy and asthma and he will now continue this provocative research alongside world-renowned immunologist Professor Ron Germain.

We wish Dr van Panhuys well and will keep you updated on his research progress.

Scope 36 - Crystal clear therapies for gout

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:11:58 +1200

Willy-John Martin, a talented young PhD student in the Arthritis Group headed by Dr Jacquie Harper, and one of only eight recipients (out of over 150 applicants) of a Māori Education Professions Scholarship in 2007, is looking to advance our understanding of the immune processes that give rise to gouty arthritis.

Gout is caused by the formation of crystals in the joints, resulting in intense pain, swelling and reddening of the skin.

In New Zealand the prevalence of gout is twice that observed internationally and is three times more widespread in Maori and Pacific Island populations. Willy-John's research will be vital for the development of new therapies for the treatment of this incredibly painful disease.

Scope 36 - A sweet solution to asthma and cancer

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:11:07 +1200

In the last issue of Scope we introduced Dr Bridget Stocker, a Victoria University chemistry graduate who returned to New Zealand last year following a two-year post-doctoral research position at one of the worlds top synthetic carbohydrate laboratories, the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Switzerland. Working alongside Dr Mattie Timmer from Victoria University, Dr Stocker has established an Immunoglycomics research programme at the Malaghan Institute that is focused on understanding the role sugars play in influencing immune responses. This is a vast untapped area of drug discovery that impacts on our asthma, cancer and tuberculosis research programmes.

Dr Stocker's return to Wellington was prompted by a desire to strengthen the links between chemistry and immunology, and the positioning of New Zealand's leading immunology institute next door to Victoria University's School of Chemical and Physical Sciences provided the ideal opportunity in which to achieve this.

With a purpose-built laboratory currently under construction, Dr Stocker's newly developed research programme promises to make a significant contribution to the New Zealand health research scene and we are very fortunate to have her skills being utilised in this country where they are needed most.

Scope 36 - Reversing the "brain drain"

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:07:44 +1200

(left) Brain cells (image kindly donated by Nina Baker and Dr Melanie McConnell)

"bright young individuals...bring an unparalleled level of energy and vitality to our scientific programmes"

When you first meet the scientists at the Malaghan Institute you might start to think that the “brain drain” we hear so much about in the media is a myth.

With the average age of the Institute staff around 30 to 35, it is easy to overlook the fact that like many research facilities in this country, the Malaghan Institute struggles to find the funding necessary to halt the exodus of our talented young scientists overseas.

In 2007 the Malaghan Institute’s mission to support up-and-coming young scientists in establishing their research careers here in New Zealand, received a significant boost with several of our early stage research scientists competing successfully on a national scale for NZ Lotteries funding.

These bright young individuals, several of whom are profiled in this issue of Scope, bring an unparalleled level of energy and vitality to our scientific programmes and are essential to the continuing success of scientific research in this country.

(Above) Brain cells (image kindly donated by Nina Baker and Dr Melanie McConnell)

"bright young individuals...bring an unparalleled level of energy and vitality to our scientific programmes"

Stumbling block for cancer vaccine – stepping stone for asthma vaccine

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:46:16 +1300

Prof Franca Ronchese and colleagues at the Malaghan Institute have spent over 15 years developing a cancer vaccine that works by stimulating the immune system to attack a patient’s tumour. One of the biggest hurdles they have faced is maintaining the intensity of the immune response over time.

Part of the reason for this is that under certain conditions specialised cells called cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) attack and kill the dendritic cells before they can do their job. Although dendritic cell killing is a stumbling block for a cancer vaccine, Prof Ronchese made the pivotal connection that this same phenomenon could be used to tone down the immune response in diseases where the immune system is overactive, such as asthma. Her research group went on to make the striking discovery that stimulating CTLs to get rid of dendritic cells in the airway prevented the development of allergic airway inflammation in an experimental model of acute disease.

This exciting research received HRC funding earlier this year to further explore the potential of CTL immunotherapy as a treatment for allergic asthma. This is a fine example of how a problem presented in one area of research has the potential to provide a breakthrough in another. The key to undertaking science that redefines our understanding and treatment of disease is in recognising such opportunities when they appear.