BodyLab

Imagine living a life free of asthma. Throw away puffers and medications and never have to worry about not being able to breathe again. The Anti-Inflammatory Protein 2 (AIP2) could be a game-changer that transforms the lives of millions of people affected by asthma, and even potentially cure this cruel disease. Associate Professor Severine Navarro explains how this remarkable story begins with hookworms and their interactions with their human hosts. 

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, but a team of scientists at QIMR Berghofer is on a mission to find ways to repair damaged heart tissue.  To help achieve this ultimate goal, they're growing tiny living and beating models of human heart muscle in the lab. These cardiac organoids are no bigger than a chia seed, but closely mimic the real organ so the researchers can study the heart's biology and test new therapeutics.  Professor James Hudson explains how the team's latest advance introduces a vascular system to the tiny heart models for the first time which has already proved to be a gamechanger for their research.

Researchers have identified RNA molecules that could lead to a simple blood test to detect aggressive cancers like pancreatic and ovarian at an earlier stage. These cancers have low survival rates because they are difficult to diagnose, particularly in the early stages. Associate Professor Jason Lee discusses developing a drug that could stop aggressive cancer cells from growing and spreading to other areas. Right now, he is testing the blood samples of people with severe and early stage pancreatic cancer and those who are healthy to find out how early the disease can be detected. This gives real hope that there could be earlier diagnosis and a novel drug to disarm aggressive tumour cells.

QIMR Berghofer researchers have found that nearly a third of melanomas picked up during routine skin checks may not be harmful.

The findings highlight the need for further research to determine why some melanomas appear to stay dormant and undetected for long period of time.

It also may lead to more accurate diagnostic tools which might spare some people the anxiety associated with a melanoma diagnosis.
 
Professor David Whiteman, who led the study, said the results suggest up to 29 per cent of melanomas detected during skin checks may never have come to light if that person wasn't screened.

Did you know your genes play an important role in the risk of having a mental illness?
 
Over the past decade, scientists have discovered hundreds of genes linked to all mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD and bipolar disorder. Professor Eske Derks says it's now time to translate these findings into the clinic to help patients with better treatments and more accurate diagnosis.  There are a few challenges to overcome first to make this goal of "precision psychiatry" a reality. 

One-in-four Australians have fatty liver disease, most don't even know it. With over two decades leading liver research in Australia, Professor Grant Ramm is excited about the possibility of repairing liver damage. His research could be of particular benefit for those born with cystic fibrosis, with wider implications for possible use in treating scarring in other organs.

Research has shown for the first time how a complication of life-saving stem-cell transplants used for blood cancer patients, impacts the brain.

It’s an important step towards improving the quality of life for patients with chronic Graft-Versus-Host-Disease (GVHD), a condition where transplanted donor cells attack the patient’s organs. 

While the transplant can cure the cancer, many patients develop chronic GVHD and are unable to return to normal life or work. Depression, anxiety and issues with concentration and memory are common, but until now were attributed to the emotional ordeal, or the chemotherapy or radiation.

PhD candidate Rachael Adams explains how her preclinical studies show the brain is actually one of the organs targeted by chronic GVHD, which causes these neurocognitive issues. Her ongoing research is identifying altered biological pathways in the brain that could be the focus of potential treatments. 

Imagine leaving school at 13 and becoming one of Australia's richest 200 people.

Clive Berghofer AM has achieved just that, turning his work ethic, business acumen, and remarkable generosity to extraordinary philanthropic endeavours. One of those is helping QIMR Berghofer medical researchers find cures for diseases like cancer and Coronavirus through donations totalling more than $60 million. This is the story of the incredible philanthropist Clive Berghofer told in his own words.

Is a mastectomy the right option for all women with changes in the #BRCA genes? No – yet women who carry a BRCA variant of “uncertain” significance are unnecessarily having preventive mastectomies. Their variant could be benign, but they don’t want to take the chance it’s not. Professor Amanda Spurdle explains how a remarkable world-first data-sharing trial is helping remove the uncertainty for patients by working out which variants are harmful and which are harmless.

If you're allergic to shellfish - you were first allergic to something else! A new study unearthed the real cause, hopefully leading to better diagnosis and treatment of serious allergies. Associate Professor Severine Navarro talks about the culprit and its list of unexpected relatives of which you should be aware.