Finding cures for cardiovascular disease through world class medical research Annual Report 2017 Contents
SUBJECT PAGE NO.
About Us 02 MAKING A DIFFERENCE Leo’s Story 04 Chairman’s Report 06 Executive Director’s Report 10 Organisational Structure 12 Board of Directors 13 DISCOVERIES Baby Brain 16 DISCOVERIES Preventing Fatal Heart Attacks 20 DISCOVERIES Yesterday’s Science, Tomorrow’s Technology 24 DISCOVERIES Fishing for Clues 26 MAKING A DIFFERENCE Kiran’s and Miranda’s Stories 30 Research Divisions 32 The Victor Chang Innovation Centre 34 Fundraising Events 36 17.5 million Sohn Australia Hearts & Minds people worldwide Investment Leaders Conference 38 die from cardiovascular Achievements and Awards 40 disease every year Statement of Income and Expenditure 42 Victor Chang Health Check Booth 43 Supporters and Acknowledgments 44 Support Life-Saving Heart Research 49 Leo Henricks, who was born with a genetic heart disorder Front cover. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 01
Heart attacks + stroke
Stem cells
Pregnancy + birth defects
Life-saving Inherited heart disease research
Heart transplants
Genetic analysis
Cardiac arrests
12min 3× One Australian dies from Women are three times more cardiovascular disease likely to die from heart disease every 12 minutes than breast cancer 02 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
About Us
The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Our Mission Institute is dedicated to finding cures The relief of pain for cardiovascular disease through and suffering, and world class medical research. the promotion of wellbeing, through Renowned for the quality of an understanding of the our breakthroughs, the Victor fundamental mechanisms of cardiovascular Chang Institute uses innovative biology in health transplantation techniques, advanced and disease. stem cell research, bioengineering, and complex molecular and genetic analysis – to discover better ways to diagnose, treat and ultimately prevent the onset of heart disease. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 03
Our Values Our 2017 Statistics Health Impact
Excellence: 306 Cardiovascular disease to achieve excellence in research researchers and staff is the leading cause of Creativity: 122 death globally. It claims the to demonstrate creativity in the scientific publications life of one Australian every pursuit of scientific discovery 24 12 minutes and can affect Integrity: laboratories to act with honesty, integrity anyone regardless of age 10,002 and fairness at all times people tested by the Victor or gender. As Australia’s Impact: Chang Health Check Booth most expensive disease, to undertake research that has 1,031 it currently costs more than significant impact and makes people toured the $7.6 billion in healthcare a difference Victor Chang Institute expenditure per year. Teamwork: to promote a sense of teamwork and collegiality amongst staff and collaborators
54,000 people suffer a heart attack every year in Australia Making a Difference Leo’s Story
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Making a Difference At the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute there is nothing more rewarding Leo’s Story than watching a patient recover and “We found out Leo had a severe heart defect when I went for my routine lead a happier, healthier life. It’s the 20‑week ultrasound. The paediatric cardiologist confirmed that our little boy reason we do what we do every day had hypoplastic left heart syndrome; – to help people. our baby would be born with half a heart. I can’t tell you how broken my own heart was that day. We were scared and unsure what this meant for him, but we knew if he’s anything like his mum, dad and sisters, he’d have a big fighting spirit! At three days old he was whisked away for the first of three open heart surgeries. We waited seven long, agonising hours for the surgery to be finished and when we finally walked into intensive care my feet felt like concrete. I remember Leo lying there with tubes, drains and machines coming out of everywhere, and thinking ‘how did this happen?’. After two weeks we finally got to hold our baby boy for the first time. Five years on, we know the future is uncertain and at any time things can change for us. Leo can go into cardiac arrest at any moment, but we roll with the punches and take it a day at a time. There will be more good days and bad ones too, but our Leo is everything we had dreamed b for him. Despite having half a heart, Leo is a very happy little boy with an even bigger personality. As my husband says, he has more heart than anyone we know, and JACINTA, LEO’S MUM I think I’d have to agree”.
There were times I thought we were really going to lose him, but he has shown us how to be strong, a just like him. Leo back in hospital again Leo after his first open heart surgery Leo with his mum, Jacinta, his dad, Justin and his siblings a. b. c. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 05
c
Research Update
Giving back to medical research, Leo and his parents have donated tissue samples to Professor Richard Harvey’s laboratory at the Victor Chang Institute to help its ground-breaking investigations 42 into hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Professor Harvey is using babies are born with a heart defect renewable stem cells to search for a genetic pattern that leads every week to childhood heart disease. 06 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Importantly, whilst there has been Chairman’s enormous progress in treating cardiovascular disease (CVD) Report during this time, it remains the main cause of death and disability, and imposes the highest level of economic burden of all disease In the world of science, it’s not often that truly groups in Australia. remarkable discoveries are made which have There are also signs that the potential to positively impact millions of lives we are at risk of a resurgence around the world. So, it is with great pride that of CVD in Australia with, as an example, higher incidences of we reflect on the incredible discoveries made by atrial fibrillation and general Professor Sally Dunwoodie and her team at the heart failure for the middle Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, which aged. This will of course were published in the prestigious New England lead to an even higher future cost to the NSW and Federal Journal of Medicine on 10 August, 2017. Health Budgets. These discoveries, which are now being further Because of this dichotomy, the Victor Chang Institute’s investigated, may lead to a change in the Board and management have way that all pregnant women are managed been particularly focused this to minimise the risk of certain potential birth past year on increasing the awareness at both the Federal defects, including heart defects. and NSW Government levels of the importance and urgency These achievements are a reflection of the of increasing their investment capability of our world class team of over 300 into cardiovascular research. researchers and staff, guided by our scientific Sydney is one of the world’s major leadership team, who themselves have been global cities and NSW is Australia’s responsible for some extraordinary ground- most productive State and its community deserves and expects breaking discoveries over the past 24 years. to be able to get the world’s best treatment and care for cardiovascular disease, particularly in Western Sydney and regional areas where the incidence of heart disease is greatest. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 07
This resurgence of cardiovascular disease comes at a time when funding for medical research In this regard, I’m pleased and, more alarmingly, funding for cardiovascular to report that the NSW Government clearly recognises research in Australia and in particular NSW, this need and, together with the remains in steady decline. NSW Cardiovascular Research Network, we have made good progress towards securing long term, ongoing investment in cardiovascular research across the State. At the Federal level, we welcome the Government’s continued commitment that the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) will be fully capitalised by 2020/21 and provide long term funding to those important areas of research, such as cardiovascular disease, which have the highest social and economic burden. As the former deputy Chairman of a working group that included representatives from most of Australia’s large medical research institutes and universities, which fought hard to ensure the establishment of the MRFF, I am hopeful the MRFF can be used to set a long term path for growth in medical research funding in Australia. This would help attract international scientific talent and private capital to this field of discovery, and have a positive economic multiplier effect following the path of other successful nations in this area, such as Israel and Singapore. Matthew Grounds, Chairman Grounds, Matthew d. d 08 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
It has been a privilege to work alongside such a committed Board who is focused on developing the Given the recent decline in Victor Chang Institute’s supporters and maintaining funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, its excellent reputation. coupled with a commitment by the Board to maintain our leading research activities across the Fundamental to the financial The warm generosity of Steven Victor Chang Institute, we have success of the conference is the and Judy Lowy enabled our had to fund part of our operations generous support that we receive Board to host a special Cocktail from our reserves which has from our partners including the Party on board the super placed an even greater reliance fund managers who donate yacht, “Hey Jude” in October. on philanthropic support for the their time to speak and make The night raised vital funds Institute’s ongoing research. financial contributions, our major for the Victor Chang Institute’s sponsor, Commonwealth Bank, cutting edge Cardiogenomics In this regard, I wanted to thank and The Ainsworth and The Paul Program, which is working to our many regular supporters, Ramsay Foundations. make whole genome sequencing our major donors, our corporate a standard diagnostic test so sponsors and our fundraising The Western Australian business that our researchers can develop partners for their continued community demonstrated their effective new treatments and drive generosity and for sharing our continued commitment to personalised medicine for patients long-term vision for the Victor cardiovascular disease research with, or at risk of, developing Chang Institute. at our annual cocktail party held cardiovascular disease. in Perth in May. We were joined In November, the leading on the night by some of our investment minds from most valued supporters including around the world gathered Mimi Wong who is a Victor for a second year to share their Chang Institute Ambassador, best investment idea at the Sohn and trustees of the Perth based Australia – Hearts and Minds Simon Lee Foundation. Investment Leaders Conference at the iconic Sydney Opera House on 17 November, 2017. The conference brings together the local funds management community to raise awareness and investment into Australian medical research. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 09
I thank each and every one Finally, a very special thanks of our Board members and in and congratulations to all particular David Craig, our Deputy our researchers, scientists Chairman, who also Chairs the and administration staff and Victor Chang Institute’s Finance in particular the Victor Chang and Risk Committee and takes Institute’s founding Executive the lead on some of its non- Director, Professor Bob Graham, scientific projects. In particular, who drives the overall scientific David was instrumental in forging performance of the Institute a closer alliance with UNSW and continues to inspire our Sydney, which will help underpin researchers and fosters the continued collaborations across development of so many young both organisations and provide scientists across the organisation. the Victor Chang Institute with I must say it has been a great important funding support for honour and also most enjoyable its research. I would also like working alongside Bob on a range to extend a warm welcome to of projects over this past year. Annabel Spring formerly from Congratulations on a wonderful Commonwealth Bank, who joined year. the Board in March 2017. As many of you will know, Sister Anthea Groves has played a very important role at the Victor Chang Institute over many years, in particular Matthew Grounds since joining the Board in 2003. CHAIRMAN Hence her retirement from the Board last year was met with great sadness. Thankfully, because of Sister Anthea’s great work and support over many years her presence is still felt throughout the organisation and the Institute’s mission continues to build on the traditions of the Sisters of Charity. 10 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Executive Director’s Report
In 2017 our scientific achievements remained Other scientific highlights very strong. One of the highlights this year included numerous papers in leading biomedical journals, was an impressive discovery from Professor such as The Lancet, Nature Sally Dunwoodie’s laboratory, which gained Chemical Biology, Elife, the significant media attention around the world. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), the Sally and her team described a double Journal of Clinical Investigation and Nature Communications. discovery: the molecular basis for repeated This year we bid farewell and miscarriages and multiple birth defects, thanked one of our brightest as well as the identification of a simple young investigators, Associate potential cure, using a vitamin supplement. Professor Cath Suter – a pioneer in studies of epigenetic mechanisms Importantly, these discoveries may not just causing disease. We also sincerely be applicable to a few, rare families around thank Sr Anthea Groves, who, the world, but may lead to a change in the after 14 years, has stepped way all pregnant women are cared for, much down from our Board. A truly inspirational and beautiful person, as the finding that folate reduces neural tube Sr Anthea has been a stalwart, defects did several decades ago. caring for the sick and indigent at St Vincent’s Hospital for over five decades, and has been actively involved in helping the Victor Chang Institute, since its inception in 1994. We thank them both for their extraordinary efforts and wish them both all the very best for the future.
e ANNUAL REPORT 2017 11
We could not have made such progress in our Finally, I would like to take this research or momentous breakthroughs without the opportunity to thank all our supporters, as well as our Board overwhelming support of our generous donors. and Committees, the Trustees of the Mary Aikenhead Ministries, our administrative and scientific Almost every year since the Importantly, a major initiative staff, and of course, the Sisters Victor Chang Institute started, in 2017 was the strengthening of Charity, who continue to inspire we have held a global symposium of our collaboration and us and support our work. featuring major international as interactions with our affiliated Most importantly, I thank you, well as local speakers. In 2017, university, UNSW Sydney. our donors – the lifeblood of we joined forces for the first We believe this will be a major our organisation. None of the time with the Heart Research win-win for both organisations ground-breaking discoveries Institute to create the Sydney and will help strengthen described in this Annual Report Cardiovascular Symposium. cardiovascular research at both could have happened without This year’s symposium, Big Data institutions. I thank our Deputy your generous support. and the Future of Cardiology, was Chairman, David Craig and also enormously successful, covering our Chief Operating Officer, such major technological advances Janina Jancu, as well as the as machine learning and Artificial Vice Chancellor and President Intelligence. Keynote speakers of UNSW, Ian Jacobs, and included our Princesses’ Lecturer, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert M. Graham AO Professor Calum MacRae from (Research), Nick Fisk, for their EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Harvard, as well as Professor efforts in developing this major Dan Roden, Vanderbilt new initiative. University School of Medicine, and Professor Joseph Wu, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. In the spirit of collaboration and to enhance interactions across the cardiovascular research community, we look forward to continuing and developing these international conferences every year. 50 10% Australian women of patients survive have a heart attack if they suffer a cardiac every day arrest outside a hospital Professor Graham and his laboratory his and Graham Professor e. 12 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Organisational Member Structure St Vincent’s Health Australia CHAIR Paul Robertson
CHAIRMAN DEPUTY CHAIRMAN Affiliations Scientific Advisory Board Matthew Grounds David Craig UNSW Sydney
Board Committees
Finance and Risk CHAIR David Craig EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEPUTY DIRECTORS Media and Communications Prof Robert Graham AO Prof Richard Harvey Prof Jamie Vandenberg CHAIR Jill Margo AM Western Sydney CHAIR Louise Di Francesco
Research Divisions
Cardiac Physiology and Transplantation CHIEF OPERATING DIRECTOR OF FUND OFFICER DEVELOPMENT HEAD Prof Peter Macdonald AM Janina Jancu Ariane Gallop Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Administration Fund and Core Facilities Development HEAD Prof Richard Harvey AM Essential Services Bequests Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Finance Corporate Partnerships Governance and Policy Direct Marketing HEAD Prof Robert Graham AO Human Resources Media and Molecular, Structural and Information Technology Communications Computational Biology Philanthropy
HEAD Dr Joshua Ho Vascular Biology
HEAD Prof Roland Stocker
Innovation Centre CENTRE DIRECTOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR MANAGER Milad Melhem Prof Roland Stocker Prof Sally Dunwoodie ANNUAL REPORT 2017 13
He is a Fellow of the Australian Board of Academy of Science and the David Craig Australian Academy of Health Directors DEPUTY CHAIRMAN & Medical Sciences, and foreign BEC, FCA, GAICD member, Royal Danish Academy Mr Craig joined the Board of Sciences and Letters. Professor in 2007 and is the Chair of the Graham is also a member of The successful operations of the Victor Chang Institute’s Finance the American Association for Victor Chang Cardiac Research & Risk Committee. He was the the Advancement of Science, Institute are heavily reliant on the Chief Financial Officer of the the American Society of Clinical Commonwealth Bank of Australia Investigation and the American dedication, commitment and vision from 2006 to 2016 and has over Heart Association, and a Life provided by our Board of Directors, 30 years of experience in financial Member, Heart Foundation led by Mr Matthew Grounds. management, strategy, mergers of Australia. and acquisitions. His previous roles include: Chief Financial Officer for Australand, Global Chief Financial Officer of PwC Consulting, and for 15 years Senior Audit Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers Australasia. Mr Craig is President of the Financial Executives Peter K Allen Institute of Australia, a Director BAPPSC, AAPI Matthew Grounds of the Lendlease Group, and has Mr Allen is an Executive CHAIRMAN also served as a Director of the Director and Chief Executive BCOM, LLB (HONS) Australian Gas Light Company. Officer of Scentre Group. Mr Grounds is Chief Executive Prior to this, Mr Allen was Officer and Country Head of UBS an Executive Director and Chief Australasia. Until May 2014 he Financial Officer of Westfield also held the position of Head Group. Mr Allen joined Westfield of Corporate Client Solutions, in 1996 and between 1998 and Asia Pacific and was a member of 2004 was Westfield’s CEO of the UBS investment Bank Global the United Kingdom / Europe Executive Committee. With more Robert M Graham and responsible for establishing than 25 years investment banking EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Westfield’s presence in the experience, Mr Grounds is one AO, FAA, MBBS (HONS), MD, FRACP, United Kingdom. Prior to joining FACP, FAHA, FAHMS, GAICD of Australia’s leading corporate Westfield, Mr Allen worked for advisers and has been responsible Professor Graham is Executive Citibank in Melbourne, New York for a number of landmark Director of the Victor Chang and London. Mr Allen is also the transactions for major Australian Institute. He is the Des Renford Chairman of the Shopping Centre and international companies. Professor of Medicine, and Council of Australia. Mr Grounds is also a member Professor, School of Biotechnology of the UNSW Sydney Council, and Biomolecular Science, a member of the Business Council UNSW, and Professor (adjunct) of Australia and Director of the of Physiology and Biophysics, Case UBS Foundation. Mr Grounds Western Reserve University School graduated from UNSW and of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio. holds a degree in Commerce (Finance Major) and Law. 14 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Terry Campbell Jennifer Doubell Leslie Field AM, MD, DPHIL, FRACP MSC, MA, BA DIP SOC STUDS, AM, FAA, DSC, PHD, BSC DIP CRIM, CFRE Professor Campbell joined the Professor Field is the Senior Board in 2013. He is Director Mrs Doubell has worked in the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at of Research at St Vincent’s Health not-for-profit sector for more UNSW. Prior to this appointment, Network, Sydney, and Deputy than 30 years. Mrs Doubell is he served as the Deputy Vice- Dean of Medicine, UNSW. currently the Executive Director Chancellor (Research) at UNSW From 2003 to 2009, he served of the Peter MacCallum Cancer from 2005 to 2016. He is the as Deputy Director of the Foundation. Previous roles include recipient of the Rennie Medal Victor Chang Institute alongside National Fundraising Director at (1983); The Edgeworth David Professor Richard Harvey. He also the Heart Foundation, Director Medal (1986); The Organic served as President of the Cardiac of Development and External Chemistry Medal (1992); the Society of Australia and New Affairs at the University of Sydney Centenary of Federation Medal Zealand from 2000 to 2002. and at the Australian Graduate (2003) and the RACI Leighton Professor Campbell’s research School of Management, UNSW, Medal (2010). He was elected has encompassed both laboratory and Group Manager at the as a Fellow of the Australian work and clinical cardiology. Wesley Mission, Sydney. Across Academy of Science in 1996 and In 2003, he was appointed her various senior management appointed as a Member of the as a Member of the Order positions, Mrs Doubell has helped Order of Australia in 2011. In 2013, of Australia (AM). raise in excess of $484 million, he was appointed Secretary for and is the recipient of many Science Policy in the Australian industry awards for her work. Academy of Science and he is currently member of the Governing Council of the Australian Academy of Science. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales in 2014. Louise Di Francesco Mrs Di Francesco joined the Hamish Douglass Board in 2010. Mrs Di Francesco BCOM has worked in the media industry for more than 30 years, initially Mr Douglass joined the Board as a journalist, and for the past in 2016. He is Co-Founder, Chief 23 years in media and corporate Executive Officer and Chief communications. She is a specialist Investment Officer of Magellan Angelos Frangopoulos in all areas of corporate media Financial Group. Mr Douglass BA(COMM) MCAE, HonDA CSTURT, GAICD, JP management, public relations, is the Lead Portfolio Manager issues management and crisis of Magellan’s Global Equity Mr Frangopoulos is the Chief management, and has worked strategies and a member of Executive Officer and Managing on campaigns for AAPT, CeBIT, Magellan’s Investment Committee. Editor at Australian News Mercedes Benz Australian He was formerly Co-Head of Channel Pty Ltd (ANC), the Fashion Week, Alterian, Carbon Global Banking for Deutsche Bank operator of the SKY NEWS Planet, Australand, Lend Lease, AG in Australia and New Zealand, services and the leading provider Multiplex, Colliers, Landcom a member of the Foreign Investment of 24‑hour television news and James Fairfax. Review Board, the Financial Literacy services in Australia and New Board, the Australian Government’s Zealand. Mr Frangopoulos Takeovers Panel, and the Forum is also the Chairman of the of Young Global Leaders – World Australia Day Council of NSW, Economic Forum. Chair of the Centre for Media ANNUAL REPORT 2017 15
History at Macquarie University, Ms Spring attended the University Pro‑Chancellor (Sydney) for of Sydney and holds a Masters Charles Sturt University, Chair of Business Administration from of the Walkley Advisory Board, Harvard Business School. a Director of the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) Jill Margo and is a graduate member AM, BA (HONS) of the Australian Institute of Ms Margo joined the Board Company Directors. He’s been in 2008 and is the Chair of awarded an Honorary Doctorate the Victor Chang Institute’s by Charles Sturt University. Media and Communications Dr Gary Weiss Committee. She is the health LLB (HONS), LLM, JSD editor of The Australian Financial Dr Weiss joined the Board Review and is a best-selling in 2009 and is a member of author and biographer. She has its Finance & Risk Committee. won numerous international and He holds the degrees of LL.B national media awards, including (Hons) and LL.M (with dist.), two Walkleys and a Churchill as well as a Doctor of Juridical Sr Anthea Groves Fellowship. In 2006, Ms Margo Science (JSD) degree from Cornell RSC, OAM, RN LHA DIP. OF was awarded an Order of Australia University, New York. Dr Weiss NURSING ADMINISTRATION for services to journalism and is Chairman of Ridley Corporation In July 2017, we said farewell cancer. In 2016 Ms Margo was Limited and Executive Director to Sr Anthea after 14 years as appointed an Adjunct Associate of Ariadne Australia Ltd. He is also a Director at the Victor Chang Professor at UNSW. a Director of Premier Investments Institute. Sr Anthea is a member Limited, Estia Health Limited, of the congregation of the Sisters Thorney Opportunities Limited, of Charity and a Director of the Pro-Pac Packaging Limited, Sisters of Charity Foundation. Tag Pacific Limited and The She served as Patient Liaison Straits Trading Company Limited Officer at St Vincent’s Hospital, in Singapore. Dr Weiss is also Sydney, caring for the sick over a Commissioner on the Australian several decades. Annabel Spring Rugby League Commission and BEC (HONS), LLB (HONS), a Director on The Centre for MBA (HARVARD) Independent Studies. Ms Spring was Group Executive of the Wealth Management Division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). She was responsible for Colonial First John Kean State, Colonial First State OAM, FCA, FAICS Global Asset Management, Mr Kean has been a member Wealth Management Advice of the Board since 2003, and CommInsure, and was is a Life Member of the Victor a member of the Group Chang Institute and was the Executive Committee. Prior to Chair of its Finance & Risk this, Ms Spring was Managing Committee until retiring from Director and Global Head of Firm this position in 2012. He acts as Strategy and Execution at Morgan an Independent Business Advisor Stanley in New York. She is also and holds directorships in various Deputy Co-Chair of the Financial businesses involved in finance, Services Council and a member trade, primary production, of Chief Executive Women. property and healthcare. Discoveries: Baby Brain
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Discoveries ANNUAL REPORT 2017 17
“ oday is the celebration Tof a double breakthrough. Not only have we identified a new cause of miscarriage Baby and birth defects, we have also discovered a potential prevention.”
Professor Sally Dunwoodie smiles as the press conference is broadcast around Australia and the rest of the world. It is brain the biggest moment in her impressive, exhausting career. Her breakthrough research has just been published in the A powerful pregnancy New England Journal of Medicine. It’s the world’s most prestigious medical journal discovery and the and her success is the scientific equivalent of winning an Oscar. Her acceptance mastermind behind it speech is brief, humble. “I never imagined this. In the past, whenever I was asked if my research would cure babies with birth defects, my answer was always, ‘No it can’t. Our focus is prevention’. And then I would say, ‘Perhaps, pie in the sky, maybe one day, we might be able to override a mutation with something as simple as a dietary supplement’. It was a fantasy of mine. But now here we are. I think that day has come.” It took 12 years. Subconsciously spurred on by the memory of her father who passed away from heart failure when Sally was just Professor Sally Dunwoodie
a young girl. Consciously though, she was f. thinking of families other than her own.
f 18 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Discoveries
“The more families I meet, the more important it becomes to find answers. A couple came to me once, eager to donate their DNA to my research. Their Research is not fast, it’s not easy nor cheap, baby had a terrible heart defect and didn’t and the job isn’t done yet. There is still have a hope of surviving. I’m proud of what a mountain of work to do and with more we have achieved but it’s these people who inspire me. They want to help others even funding, we’ll get the answers sooner. though it’s too late to help themselves.”
4.9 million babies are born with a birth PROFESSOR SALLY DUNWOODIE defect every year. This is why Sally works late into the night and on weekends. It’s also why Sally has never been able to help out at her kids’ school. She just cannot find the time. In the lab, Sally holds a small jar up to the light. Inside is a tiny, engineered mouse embryo submerged in a clear solution. The embryo is mostly see-through but you can clearly make out its vertebrae, stained a bright aqua colour for easy analysis. To the trained eye, its kinked spinal column hasn’t formed correctly. It has a genetic defect that has helped Sally make one of the greatest breakthroughs in pregnancy research in decades.
The greatest pregnancy breakthrough in decades? Make a difference It’s a bold statement, but one that has been By making a philanthropic investment towards unapologetically defended by the Executive combatting birth defects and recurrent miscarriages Director of the Victor Chang Institute, you will enable our researchers to: Professor Bob Graham. “Can you point to a more significant • Establish an observational study to quantify discovery in pregnancy research this NAD levels in pregnant women century?” he asks simply. • Develop a standard diagnostic test to measure Currently when a baby is born with a defect, NAD levels in women the cause is unknown 80% of the time. The doctors just shrug their shoulders. • Conduct clinical trials to test if vitamin B3 prevents birth defects and miscarriages in humans
Professor Sally Dunwoodie in the laboratory • Determine a safe dosage of vitamin B3 that g. women could take, to potentially prevent birth defects and recurrent miscarriages.
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 19
“Imagine what that must be like for the parents!” Sally exclaims. “They’d have all these questions. They’d ask ‘why, how and what did we do wrong?’. The mother always blames herself.” But this study is real progress. It found that a deficiency in a vital molecule, known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), can prevent a baby’s organs from developing correctly as it grows in the womb. It can lead to recurrent miscarriage as well as spinal, kidney, heart and other congenital malformations. In other words, Sally’s research has identified a probable g cause of these mysterious birth defects and recurrent miscarriage. And it gets better… Could a simple vitamin Driving our prevent birth defects? discoveries Using a preclinical mouse model, Sally and her team also discovered that you could boost NAD back to desirable levels by simply supplementing a mother’s diet with Vitamin B3 (niacin). This prevented Professor Dunwoodie is fortunate birth defects in the offspring with to receive generous support from 100 per cent success. Chain Reaction NSW, the Key Foundation, and the National Back at the media launch, Sally tries to Health and Medical Research explain the significance of her discovery. Council. Her work would also not “What isn’t known is how many women be possible without the ongoing 4hrs are deficient in NAD. The normal range of collaboration with Professor Every four hours NAD in the human population is not known. David Winlaw, Paediatric a baby is born We need more funding, more research and Cardiac Surgeon at The Children’s with a heart defect we need to do clinical trials. But there is Hospital at Westmead. Their in Australia enough evidence to conclude that Vitamin commitment has enabled this B3 could be the key and what was found research to continue over several in mice will be found in humans too.” years, ultimately leading to this important breakthrough. But now The news spreads like vegemite. there is even more work to do. Discoveries: Preventing Fatal Heart Attacks
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Discoveries
Preventing fatal heart attacks Australian researchers are making a splash in heart attack prevention and diagnosis
t’s three minutes to six on a bright Monday morning and Professor Roland Stocker is waiting outside a locked door. A familiar crowd Iof regulars stands beside him, clutching sports bags and towels while they chat about grandkids, football scores or the weather. The glass doors slide open and Roland heads for Lane 4, Fast. Underwater, away from the laboratory, this is where the celebrated professor gets his best ideas. The repetitive freestyle rhythm is meditative and, like the water, the ideas just flow. “I think a lot about research when I swim. My thoughts are free to go anywhere. Much of the inspiration for my key experiments come to me in the pool.” Three kilometres later and Roland is on his way back home. He spends almost an hour answering a multitude of emails, then hops on his bike and cycles 25 minutes into work. He doesn’t think about his research as he rides. He is too busy “trying not to get run over”. Today Roland is re-writing a scientific paper about an enzyme which could be a major culprit causing heart attacks. It’s a promising piece of work but it needs finessing. A thought occurred to Roland during this morning’s swim and it could be the difference between a rejection and publication. The paper reports more than a decade of work condensed into 8,950 words. The enzyme is mentioned 213 times. For a non-scientist, the enzyme, myeloperoxidase, has a forgettable name, but it has h an unforgettable property… ANNUAL REPORT 2017 REPORT ANNUAL
h. Professor Roland Stocker 21 22 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Discoveries
“It’s what makes pus yellow,” Professor research, we now know that wherever A non-invasive test Stocker explains. “It’s present in our body’s there is myeloperoxidase activity there immune cells.” is also an unstable plaque ready to erupt There’s another major part to Roland’s and cause damage to the heart. research. He is trying to develop a non- It’s also present in the blood vessels invasive test to determine who is at risk. that provide the heart with oxygen “This is potentially really important In Roland’s eyes, this is the “holy grail” and nutrients. More importantly, Roland for clinical cardiology. Unstable plaques of interventional cardiology. has just discovered that myeloperoxidase kill people. If we could translate our causes plaques to become unstable in our findings into humans it could have Currently, doctors rely on angiograms to arteries. When an unstable plaque ruptures a potentially big impact in decreasing determine whether the heart’s arteries are it clogs the blood vessels and can lead lives lost to myocardial infarction blocked or narrowed by plaques. But it only to a heart attack. Thanks to Roland’s and stroke as well.” paints half the picture and you cannot see what is actually occurring inside the arterial wall. So your next option is an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan. This procedure can identify unstable plaques within the arterial wall but it is invasive, costly and risky. “As I get older I think about this more. People of my age die of this. I’d personally like to do a non-invasive test to see whether I have unstable plaque in my heart and then I’d like to do something about it. Let’s say I do have an unstable plaque… it could rupture at any moment clogging my arteries and to avoid this my only option would be an invasive procedure. I kept thinking ‘there has to be another way’.”
i
Driving our Professor Roland Stocker’s research has received support from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council. discoveries It also relies on a generous contribution from The Angles Foundation. This funding is integral to the ongoing success of the research program at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. Equipping our leading scientists with the very best technology is critical to providing better patient care and could help prevent the deaths of thousands of men and women who continue to die from cardiovascular disease each year. Professor Roland Stocker with his team Professor Stocker in the laboratory i. j. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 23
j
Make a difference
By making a philanthropic investment in support of this program, you will enable our researchers to:
• Increase our pace of discovery dramatically in coronary artery care and accelerate our capacity to save countless more lives sooner
• Provide clinical practitioners with an effective tool capable of non-invasively detecting unstable plaques that could dramatically reduce the number of fatal heart attacks and change clinical practice
• Ensure Australia remains at the international And there is; three words – magnetic forefront of preventive medical advancement resonance imaging, better known against coronary artery disease and heart attacks as an MRI. Roland has discovered a non-invasive way to detect unstable
plaques in arteries with a simple MRI scan. It involves a chemical probe which highlights myeloperoxidase activity like a neon sign. It’s a potential game changer.
So how does Roland propose to treat “We’ve narrowed it down to one specific the problem? The good news is, we are drug which inhibits the enzyme and close to having an effective medication. stabilises the dangerous plaque in a mouse Due to the essential role the enzyme plays model. Our results are exciting and we’re in our immune system, drug companies ready for the next steps. At the moment have been developing myeloperoxidase we have been administering the drug inhibitors for years. But until now, right at the beginning, before the unstable no one has plans to use it to tackle plaque has developed. But I want to know 25% atherosclerosis in the heart. what happens if we wait until the plaque of heart attack is about to erupt? Will the drug still be victims display as effective? Can we stabilise a vulnerable no prior symptoms plaque? What effect does the drug have in the presence of other medication, like statins? We have a long list of questions and I need some inspiration!” Perhaps tomorrow’s swim will shed some light… Discoveries: Yesterday’s Science, Tomorrow’s Technology
24 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Discoveries Yesterday’s science, tomorrow’s technology How new technology is shaping new research for women with heart disease
ewind to 1994. Bill Clinton is President, Disney’s The Lion King is the highest grossing Rfilm, Janet Jackson is top of the pop charts, and the World Wide Web is just a toddler. It was also the year that Dr Siiri Iismaa started working at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, on Tuesday the 14th of June to be exact. “It was just myself and one other scientist. We hardly had any equipment, so we had to borrow a lot of it from another laboratory. We shared a Macintosh computer the size of an ATM machine! It’s quite funny to think of the technology back then. If I wanted to get my hands on a scientific journal I had to make a trip to the library and I’d often have to wait months for the latest issue to arrive on a boat from America.” Almost 9,000 days later and the world is a very different place but one thing hasn’t changed – Siiri still works at the Victor Chang Institute. She scoffs at the idea of a career change. “I’m having too much fun making a difference,” she casually replies. From heart regeneration to biochemical analysis, Dr Iismaa has lost track of the number of research k projects she’s worked on. Her latest research is focused on a disease called Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, or SCAD for short. Never heard of it? Until very recently SCAD was as rare as a floppy disk. It’s predominantly misdiagnosed l and occurs when there’s a block in the blood flow to the heart. It causes a heart attack, abnormalities m in heart rhythm or sudden death. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 REPORT ANNUAL “one in a million”, this “I’ve seen never almost my chest, in atwinge “I felt 95% that of fact by the struck “I was DR SIIRI IISMAA SIIRI DR latestwith the technology.” at the cellular, genetic and molecular levels, develops that and requires SCAD research how why and we need to understand someone into developing a treatment or prevention, To makeresearch on scale. amolecular inroads have patients The only SCAD hope is medical A revolving door of specialists and and ofspecialists door A revolving home sent get just they time ofthe A lot fit. And then all of a sudden they present present they sudden ofa all then And fit. doctors told her “it’s extremely rare”, her “it’s extremely doctors told down radiated pain This of my chest. centre ofthe left the to just pain extreme laundry. the out taking was as she a SCAD they’re and diabetic not they’re overweight, shortly. Thankfully they did some tests tests some did they Thankfully shortly. Women at risk Women at Mum of four, Pamela McKenzie, suffered suffered McKenzie, offour,Mum Pamela without treatment!”without nothing wrong and that I’d be going home I’d home that going be and wrong nothing the to Igot When over me. nausea wash to double check,” Pamela reveals. reveals. Pamela check,” to double attack aheart with GP or hospital the to not They’re patients. risk high traditional your not they’re and women are the cases hospital, the nurses told me there was was there me told nurses the hospital, before”, alive”. be to “you’re lucky awave of Ifelt then and both arms have split. arteries coronary their because like a click. Then I felt a sudden intense, intense, asudden Ifelt Then like a click.
k. Dr Siiri Iismaa at the Victor Chang Institute in the 1990s l. Dr Iismaa with the late Diana, Princess of Wales m. Dr Siiri Iismaa
n. SCAD survivor, Pamela McKenzie n “I’ve been really amazed by that Facebook Facebook by that amazed really “I’ve been of,” unheard explains Siiri. “It’s completely “Each recruit is given a small take asmall given is recruit “Each 1994 has long gone. Instead she relies on on relies she Instead gone. long has 1994 That gives us enough DNA to search the the search to DNA enough us gives That A social network A social to undertake studies at the cellular level. level. cellular the at studies to undertake funds importantly, as but, testing genetic the to do funds need only not we research, this To advance community. our and women for concern significant of area an in research our of progress the impact will Your support Archdiocese. Catholic the and Foundation Clinic Vincent’s St the Zealand, and New Australia of Society Cardiac the from support without possible be not would Institute Chang Victor the at research SCAD first Australian This discoveries our Driving an entire patient database on a social asocial on database patient an entire patient first the began so And site. jobs on a a fancy gene machine called the HiSeq X HiSeq the called machine gene a fancy analyse to power processing enormous isolate We can swab. amouth containing study in Australia (if not the world) where where world) the not (if Australia in study swabs from SCAD survivors. SCAD from swabs platform is fascinating. Our whole study study whole Our fascinating. is platform recruit now To can you page. that think patient’s entire genetic make genetic entire patient’s whole genome sequencing. We’re hoping sequencing. genome whole System. It’s state of the art, top of the line, line, ofthe top art, ofthe state It’s System. Siiri’s pixilated Macintosh computer from It was as effective as a recruitment drive drive arecruitment as effective as It was the patients were recruited on social media. media. social on recruited were patients the the billions of pieces of code and data.” and ofcode ofpieces the billions may that mutation agenetic identify to swab. the on cells cheek the from DNA the Facebook users around the globe. Bingo. Bingo. globe. the around users Facebook sought Pamela anxious and isolated Feeling Now Siiri’s desk is piled high with DNA DNA with high piled is desk Siiri’s Now has grown out of that and everyone everyone and ofthat out grown has in billion the monthly 2.2 hope and comfort best in the world. For now…. For world. the in best requires it and disease this causing be is so willing to participate.” to participate.” is so willing - up through through up - home kit kit home 25 Discoveries: Fishing for Clues
26 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Discoveries
SENDAI
TOKYO Fishing for clues A small, stripy fish may hold the key to heart and spinal cord regeneration in humans
Growing up in Sendai in northern Japan, Dr Kazu Kikuchi spent all his free time playing in the forest near his home. “My friends and I used to enjoy fishing and catching crayfish and bright coloured beetles in the forest every afternoon. I was doing very poorly at school. I’d get 10%-40% on exams and I’d throw away the papers on the way home so mum wouldn’t find out. I hated maths!” At 14, Kazu was the black sheep in a family of high achievers. His father is a surgeon, his mum is an ophthalmologist, even his siblings are doctors. “It made my mum really upset to see me flunking. She’d say to me ‘I’m not going to be around forever, you need to be able to support yourself’”. In Japan, students must sit an entrance exam to determine which high school they attend. The brightest children are separated from the not-so-bright and Kazu was destined for the worst school in Sendai. “I was tiny for my age. The kids at that school were enormous! It would have been dangerous, I would have been constantly bullied and I was determined not to go there! It was almost impossible to catch up. I didn’t even understand Dr Kazu Kikuchi in the zebrafish aquarium
o. what the teachers were talking about in class. But I worked extremely hard.” ANNUAL REPORT 2017 27
o 28 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Discoveries
A change of heart Kazu finished senior school at the top of his class. He graduated from Tohoku University School of Medicine like the rest of his family, but he was rattled by an eerie sense that the next 50 years of his life had already been decided for him. So Dr Kikuchi packed his bags and boarded a plane to North Carolina, pursuing a new adventure as a scientist at Duke University. For the next five years Kazu was captivated by a surprisingly clever freshwater fish, that can repair its heart, spinal column, kidneys p and fins – much like a lizard can grow back its tail. “Zebrafish, believe it or not, are very similar Every afternoon Kazu can be found in the to humans. Our organs develop in similar aquarium discussing progress with his team ways and almost 70% of our genetic make- of researchers. up is the same too. If we can understand “He always checks to make sure everything how zebrafish repair their cardiac muscle, is in place,” says the aquarium’s manager, we may get some insight into how we can Cecilia Jenkins. “It’s amazing how he keeps stimulate healing in the human heart.” track of things with so many zebrafish to q By 2011 Kazu had emerged as a world remember, but he is incredibly thorough leader in zebrafish regeneration. and notices even the smallest change. He boarded another plane, this time He never misses a trick.” for Sydney, Australia and the Victor Dr Kikuchi’s research is painfully time Chang Institute. consuming and meticulous. But according The first thing you notice when you enter to his colleagues, when he makes a discovery the zebrafish aquarium at the Victor Chang it has far greater resonance. Institute are the blue tanks. There are thousands of them bubbling away, stacked on racks from floor to ceiling. While several scientists utilise the facility, Kazu dominates the space. He’s in charge of approximately 35,000 zebrafish and there are more being Driving our At the end of 2016, Dr Kazu Kikuchi was delivered from Queensland today. (They awarded a three-year Project Grant from fly Virgin Airlines, in a temperature and discoveries the National Health and Medical Research pressure-controlled cabin). Council. He has also been honoured with a JDRF Innovation Award for his promising investigations into zebrafish immune cells and type 1 diabetes. This funding is integral to the ongoing success of the research program at the Victor Chang Institute. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 29
Making an impact “Imagine if we could do that in humans!” Kazu exclaims. “If we can manipulate His latest scientific paper is the cover human T cells to cure heart disease, story in the highly prestigious journal, reverse spinal cord damage and repair ‘Developmental Cell’. The front page vision loss the implications are likely features a striking photo, taken by Kazu, to be huge. We just need to keep working of a zebrafish under a microscope. It looks at it, no matter how long it takes.” like an X-ray, covered in tiny fluorescent red dots. Even today you can still see glimpses of Kazu as a 14-year-old student. There’s a lot of excitement about these His determination to succeed hasn’t bright dots. They’re a special population dwindled in all these years. of immune cells, known as regulatory T cells, which are critical for repairing damaged tissue. It was previously believed that they did not exist in zebrafish. Kazu proved the world wrong. Make a difference “One afternoon I received a phone call from one of my technicians who told A gift in support of Dr Kikuchi’s research will: me to come downstairs quickly. I ran all the way to the aquarium and looked • Enable significant medical findings in regenerative into the microscope and there they medicine with far-reaching community impact were, unmistakably! Hundreds of T cells, sprinkled across the surface of the skin. • Aid in the development of molecules that stimulate It was incredibly exciting, we’d never the growth of new cells in a damaged human seen anything like it.” heart, spinal cord and retina, helping them function again after serious trauma. Kazu also unearthed that when a zebrafish is injured, these unique cells migrate to the • Potentially reverse our understanding that damaged site and completely regenerate a human heart, spinal cord and retina lack the the tissue without any scarring. capacity to regenerate muscle cells “We were fascinated to discovered how
adaptable these immune cells are. They have the remarkable ability to change their function and produce regenerative factors specific to the injured tissue. So if the heart needs repairing, they’ll adapt to the heart, or if the spinal cord needs healing they’ll change to suit the spine, and so forth.” Dr Kikuchi’s image on the cover of Developmental Cell A zebrafish at the Victor Chang Institute r Dr Kazu Kikuchi inspects the zebrafish
p. q. r. Making a Difference: Kiran’s and Miranda’s Stories 30 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Making a Difference
s Kiran’s Story
“My biggest fear is dropping dead on the train on my way to work, alone and not with my family. My grandfather died of a heart attack at Tokyo airport on his first overseas trip. My father died of a heart attack at 57. I’ve just turned 57 and I’m more anxious than ever. I’ve realised that my dad wasn’t that old and there’s a lot he missed out on. Due to my family history of heart disease, I always had an annual stress test, but about six years ago I received some abnormal results and my cardiologist wanted to do further testing. Waiting for the angiogram appointment was really difficult. Every pain, every twitch, every feeling... you freak out! They found I had a 95% blockage in one of my arteries. I was relieved they found it in time and I had a stent put in. I take care of myself, but my heart disease is mostly genetic, so a lot of it is out of my control. I’m not ready to go. I want to meet my grandkids and watch them grow up. I want to make sure everyone’s happy especially my wife and daughter. I’ll do everything I can to make sure this happens. But I also know heart disease doesn’t let you say goodbye”.
KIRAN Research Update
I continue to get Professor Roland Stocker and his team at the tested every year, Victor Chang Institute are investigating how heart but I keep thinking, attacks can be detected and treated before they 26min what if I don’t Every 26 minutes occur. Professor Stocker’s laboratory is currently an Australian dies make it to the next developing a non‑invasive technique to better of heart disease appointment. identify the type of blockages in arteries that predispose patients to heart attacks. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 31
Miranda’s Story
“I was 21 when I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. I knew what it was because my father had passed away from it when I was just 16 months old. It wasn’t until I wanted to have a baby that I realised how much my life was affected. I was told a pregnancy would likely kill me but all I wanted was a baby. Thankfully my sister- in-law offered to carry my baby and we began our surrogacy journey together. In June 2014, I found out I was going to become a mum! It was the best news ever. I held a baby shower for my unborn baby before Christmas, and the next day I was told I needed a heart transplant. My initial reaction was ‘NO!’ How could I go through this when I was just getting t ready to become a mum? I didn’t have time for a heart transplant. My miracle baby boy was born in February.
I put off the transplant as long as possible, MIRANDA but eventually the doctors told me I had to or I wouldn’t survive. I’m now two years post-transplant and my life couldn’t be It’s bittersweet more different. I can live life to the fullest to be given such again. Best of all, I can now run and play a gift when you with my little boy. 100 know somewhere I feel very lucky. I owe my life and this Around 100 heart in a hospital, second chance to my team of doctors and transplants are nurses, but most of all to the family who performed every a family is saying said yes to organ donation”. year in Australia their final goodbyes.
Research Update
At the Victor Chang Institute, Professor Peter Macdonald and his team are leading a new era in heart transplantation, responsible for the most significant advance in this field in three decades. They’ve developed a unique preservation solution that can extend the time a donor heart can spend in transit from 4 to as many as 14 hours. Their work has increased the number of organs available for transplantation by as much as 30%. Kiran with his wife and daughter Miranda with her husband, Chris and son, Harry s. t. 32 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE 1
Cardiac Physiology and Transplantation
Macdonald Laboratory Research • Heart transplantation • Donor heart preservation Divisions • New heart failure treatments Hayward Laboratory • Heart failure • Left ventricular mechanical support devices Feneley Laboratory • Cardiomyopathy • Heart attack • Ischemic heart disease Keogh Laboratory 3 • Pulmonary hypertension • Heart failure • Immunosuppression Muller Laboratory Molecular Cardiology • Structural heart disease and Biophysics • Valvular heart problems Jabbour Laboratory Graham Laboratory • Heart transplant rejection • Cardiac regeneration • Magnetic Resonance Imaging • Heart failure • Hypertension Dhital Laboratory • Heart transplantation Vandenberg Laboratory • Arrhythmias 2 • Electrical activity in the heart Hill Laboratory • Drug-induced arrhythmias Developmental • Computational cardiology and Stem Cell Biology Fatkin Laboratory • Dilated cardiomyopathy Harvey Laboratory • Atrial fibrillation • Heart development • Inherited heart disease • Congenital heart disease Martinac Laboratory • Heart stem cells & regeneration • Ion channels in the heart Dunwoodie Laboratory • Mechanical forces • Congenital heart disease Hool Laboratory • Embryonic development • Cardiomyopathy • Birth defects • Heart failure associated with Kikuchi Laboratory muscular dystrophy • Heart muscle regeneration Smith Laboratory • Heart failure • Hypertension Winlaw Laboratory • Pharmacology • Congenital heart disease • Genetic analysis ANNUAL REPORT 2017 33
4 Clinical Faculty
A/Prof Cameron Holloway A/Prof Jane McCrohon Molecular, Structural and Dr James Otton Computational Biology A/Prof Jacob Sevastos Dr Phillip Spratt A/Prof Rajesh Subbiah Suter Laboratory • Epigenetics • Parental Obesity Honorary Faculty Ho Laboratory Prof Oliver Freidrich • Bioinformatics Prof Matthias Hentze • Mass analysis of human Prof Ahsan Husain genomic data Dr Lawrence Lee Giannoulatou Laboratory Dr Ming Li • Bioinformatics Prof David Martin • Cardio genomics Prof Andras Nagy • DNA analysis Prof Soren-Peter Olsen Dr W. Andrew Owens Stewart Laboratory Prof Thomas Preiss • Protein structure • Cryo-electron microscopy Christie Laboratory • Protein biochemistry • Protein function
5 6 Victor Chang Innovation Centre Vascular Biology Professor Roland Stocker Director
Stocker Laboratory Professor Sally Dunwoodie • Atherosclerosis Deputy Director • Heart attack Milad Melhem • Stroke Manager
A/Professor Mark Hodson Metabolomics Laboratory
Dr Ashish Mehta iPSC and Phenotyping Research Laboratory The Victor Chang Innovation Centre
34 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
VICTOR CHANG INNOVATION CENTRE NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA u ANNUAL REPORT 2017 35
The Centre’s purpose is to improve the ability of cardiovascular The Victor researchers in NSW to undertake cutting-edge research using state- of-the-art equipment and to facilitate better collaboration amongst Chang cardiovascular researchers across the state. Innovation After extensive consultation with researchers and industry experts we have purchased most of the equipment that will form part Centre of the Victor Chang Innovation Centre, including the world’s first Work on the Victor pre‑clinical 9.4T PET MRI which will allow researchers to measure the functionality of tissue and organs using two different processes Chang Innovation to generate a single scan. Centre, established with Building works to accommodate the equipment in purpose built a $25 million investment facilities is ongoing with the Metabolomics Facility being the first from NSW Health, to be completed. is progressing well. The Centre has forged closer working relationships with UNSW Sydney and St Vincent’s Hospital, who will each house some of the equipment forming part of the Innovation Centre. These collaborations will allow us to utilise the expertise of equipment operators located at these facilities, to increase researcher access to the equipment and improve research outcomes. Dr Alastair Stewart Dr Ashish Mehta and A/Professor Mark Hodson
v u. v. 36 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE Guests at The Bay Soiree Cyclists from the Chain Reaction Foundation Chain the from Cyclists w x y w. x.
Fundraising Events
Pedal power Charity steer Beachside at helps mend moo‑ves heart Cocktails the Bay Soiree broken hearts research along at the Crown
MARCH 2017 MARCH/APRIL 2017 APRIL 2017 MAY 2017
The much-anticipated Hawaiian Over 30 senior For the nineteenth consecutive The Victor Chang themed Bay Soiree, hosted in business executives year, livestock heavyweights Institute hosted partnership with Watsons Bay from NSW cycled more Schute Bell Badgery Lumby a marquee event at Boutique Hotel transported guests than 1,000 gruelling auctioned off 500kg ‘Marco’, the Crown Mansions to the shores of Waikiki. Guests kilometres through New the steer at the Sydney Royal in Perth to showcase enjoyed a bespoke menu as the Zealand’s North Island to Easter Show to raise vital funds our recent achievements sun set, raising over $60,000 to raise money for children for lifesaving heart research. and celebrate the help support a young scientist’s with congenital heart Cared, fed and raised by students extraordinary efforts dream to find cures for heart disease. The Chain at Murrumburrah High School, of our supporters. disease. The night was a huge Reaction Challenge Marco was sold to the very Awarded a prestigious success thanks to our MC Todd Foundation raised generous Paul Ferry, who has Ambassador Award, McKenney, the Young Appeals $190,000 for babies purchased the charity steer we wish to congratulate Committee, Marcus Chang, born with heart defects. at the Easter Show for the and thank Patti Chong Fraser Short, the team at the The support of the riders, ninth year in a row. for her exceptional Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel John Ward, and his team dedication to and all sponsors. have helped scientists championing the at the Victor Chang Victor Chang Institute Institute make a world and its vital work. first double pregnancy breakthrough. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 37 Fun in the pool at the Des Renford Charity Gala day Glen Carling Memorial Golf Day Guests at the La Dolce Vita lunch Guests at the Women Against Heart Disease Luncheon Fiona Coote at the Sydney Royal Easter Show Steer Auction
z A B C y. z. A. B. C.
Family fun Women day helps Keeping a legacy unite against find a cure for Ladies who lunch alive one putt heart disease heart disease raise vital funds at a time
JULY 2017 OCTOBER 2017 NOVEMBER 2017 NOVEMBER 2017
Established to honour The annual Des Renford Hosted in partnership with Dedicated to the memory the memory of Monica Charity Gala day was Joh Bailey, the first La Dolce of Glen Carling and his passion O’Loughlin, the Victor a huge success! The Des Vita lunch at Bar Machiavelli for golf, the fourth annual Chang Institute’s Women Renford Leisure Centre was held in spectacular style, Glen Carling Memorial Golf Day Against Heart Disease has hosted a fun filled with 200 glamourous guests was a huge success! Creating Lunch supports the day for the whole family coming together to raise funds an ongoing legacy on the green fight for women’s heart to enjoy for the past for heart disease in women. for the much-loved husband, health. In partnership 17 years, raising a total A big thank you to Joh Bailey, father and friend, the day has with Commonwealth of $500,000 for the Marilyn Koch, Hoda Waterhouse, raised a cumulative total of over Bank’s Women in Victor Chang Institute. Kate Sorrenti, Carla Farah, Paola $100,000 for researchers at the Focus, the event This year, 3,000 people Toppi, Jesse Davidson and our Victor Chang Institute. The golf raised $68,000 for our came along to enjoy MC Kerri-Anne Kennerley whose day was established by Norm scientists. Guests heard a day out supported by combined efforts helped raise Atkinson, Gemma Carling, and from heart transplant Randwick City Council, over $98,000 for Victor Chang the extended Carling family. survivor Miranda Hill, Michael and Vanessa Institute scientists. Dr Penny Adams, Renford and the team Professor Diane Fatkin of wonderful volunteers. and MC Jaynie Seal. 38 D Sohn Sohn Conference Conference Leaders Investment & Minds Hearts Australia SOHN AUSTRALIA HEARTS & MINDS INVESTMENT LEADERS CONFERENCE LEADERS INVESTMENT &MINDS HEARTS AUSTRALIA SOHN
D. The Hon Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of New South Wales E. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Jim Mellon raising crucial funds to support medical research. medical raising funds to crucial support single greatest investment concept to asell funds management local the shared community and their of brightest the gathered world with around the from in November. investment Once again, sharpest minds the Leaders Conference held at Sydney Opera House was the &Minds Investment Hearts The Sohn second Australia E FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2017 17 NOVEMBER FRIDAY F VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE RESEARCH CARDIAC CHANG VICTOR - out audience, ANNUAL REPORT 2017 REPORT ANNUAL who opened the conference. conference. the opened who MP Berejiklian, Gladys Hon The Premier, NSW ofthe support the We pleased to have were speakers. guest special as appearing both Keating Paul Hon The and MP Turnbull, Malcolm Hon The with present and past Ministers Prime welcome to We delighted were ofVGI Partners. Luciano Rob of8VC; and Co‑Founder Lonsdale, Joe Naam; Ramez Investor, Angel and Futurist 2008, in GFC the with starting trends global emerging forecasting for –renowned Jim Mellon entrepreneur and philanthropist, billionaire British included speakers line exceptional The - up of up
F. Panel of experts G. Annabel Spring, Group Executive Wealth Management, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Diabetes Research Foundation. Research Foundation. Diabetes Juvenile and Australia Research MS Institute, Dog Black Institute, Research Chang Cardiac Victor the amongst shared was that research medical Australian for million $3 than more raised conference The 85%). Brinks (up pick, 2016 stock his with Investments of Cooper Cooper, Chief Officer Investment (up 54%) Apple pick Peter and 2016 his stock with Douglass, Hamish Group, Financial Magellan Co and Member Board Chang Victor Atlassian; Co and - Cannon Mike Caledonia, Nelson, Mark included gurus Local investment SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA G - Chief Executive Officer, Officer, Executive Chief Brookes Co - Founder of Founder - Founder Board Meeting in 2015, in and Meeting Board Chang at a Victor Weiss Dr Gary member, Board by raised was first conference the for idea The 2017 conference. the from picks investment in $10 investing is that million Foundation Ramsay The Paul and Bank Commonwealth the including partners our from we receive that support generous the is conference ofthe success financial the to Fundamental in Australia. leading conference investment the become has and research medical over $7 for million raised now has initiative this
H. The Hon Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE OPERA SYDNEY H 39 40 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Achievements 1 and Awards
Scientific Accolades 3
Professor Richard Harvey 1 AM (Order of Australia) Australia Day Honours Joseph Meyerhoff Visiting Professorship Weizmann Institute 2 of Science, Israel
Professor Peter Macdonald 2 AM (Order of Australia) Queen’s Birthday Honours 4 5 Professor Sally Dunwoodie 3 Winner NSW Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Medical Biological Sciences
Professor Diane Fatkin 4 Fellow Professor Livia Hool 5 The American Heart Association Research Affiliate and Honorary Senior Research Fellow
6 Perron Institute Perth, 2017-20 Dr Louis Wang 6 Fellow Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (FCSANZ) Young Tall Poppy Science Award Australian Institute of Policy and Science
Dr Inken Martin 7 7 8 Joint Winner Ralph Reader Basic Science Young Investigator Award Finalist NSW Government Ministerial Award for Rising Stars in Cardiovascular Research
Dr Hananeh Fonoudi 8 Postgraduate Award for Research Excellence Australian Society of Medical Research Dr Hong Chee Chew Finalist President’s Prize, Transplantation Society of Australia & New Zealand ANNUAL REPORT 2017 41
Victor Chang Institute Awards
9 Dr Chris Stanley 9 14 Post Doctorate Paul Korner Seminar Series Award
Celine Santiago 10 PhD Student Paul Korner Student Award
Dr Julie Moreau 11 Post Doctorate Paul Korner People’s Choice Award 10 15 Dominic North 12 Precinct Stores and Dock Manager Executive Director’s Award
IMB Community 13 Foundation Supporter Victor Chang Ambassador Award
11
16
12 13 Victor Chang Community Awards
Victor Chang Award for Excellence 14 in Cardiovascular Journalism Jordan Baker and Sam Ruttyn, The Sunday Telegraph
Victor Chang Heart of Gold Awards 15 26 Australians honoured for helping save the life of someone having a heart attack or cardiac arrest
Victor Chang School Science Awards 16 Over 200 year 11 students across NSW commended for excellence in science 42 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Statement of Income and Expenditure
2017 2016 For the year ended 31 December $ $
Income Grants 12,774,886 12,624,817 Donations and fundraising 2,849,3661 7, 367,783 Investment and other income 2,090,217 2,199,484 Total income 17,714,469 22,192,084
Expenses Research expenses 14,680,685 15,129,827 Administration expenses 5,886,458 5,783,628 Fundraising expenses 1,411,149 1,310,438 Total expenses 21,978,292 22,223,893
(Deficit) before non operating income (4,263,823) (31,809)
Non operating income Unrealised gain on investment revaluation to market 987,70 5 208,422
Net (deficit)/surplus for the year (3,276,118) 176,613
1. Donations and fundraising activities include an incremental investment of approximately $3 million made in 2017 in developing and implementing strategically focused fundraising activities of Regular Giving and Direct Marketing Appeals. Comparative figures have been adjusted to conform with changes in presentation for the current year. The above is an extract from the 2017 audited Financial Statements. The extract does not include the information normally included in the financial statement. Accordingly, this extract is to be read in conjunction with the audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2017. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 43
Victor Chang Health Check Booth
Keeping the hearts of Australia alive The Victor Chang Health Check Booth travels right across Australia, reaching communities in many corners of the country and 2017 was another successful year for the Health Check Booth. Staffed with ten qualified nurses, the Health Check Booth tests people for key heart disease risk factors including blood pressure, blood sugar levels and blood cholesterol levels. The Health Check Booth is generously supported by HCF and IMB Community Foundation. For all enquiries or to book the Victor Chang Health Check Booth, please contact Jayne Baric on (02) 9295 8760 or [email protected]
2017 Results
58,000+ 10,002 Australians tested new participants tested since 2011
67 5 locations states
36% 86%
had high cholesterol did not know their A nurse from the Victor Chang Health Check Booth blood sugar level I.
36% were encouraged I to visit their GP 44 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Supporters and Discoverers Partners Acknowledgments ($100,000 – $499,999) ($25,000 – $99,999) Leonard Ainsworth Estate of the late Elizabeth Adamson AMP Foundation Charitable Trust Lenore Adamson Estate of the late William Bell Alceon Group Pty Ltd Bing Lee Electronics Appliances Online Our life-saving research Caledonia (Private) Investments Pty Limited Ardea Investment Management Ariadne Australia Limited would not be possible without Challenger Group Services Sam Chisholm Auscap Asset Management the generous commitment Club Marconi Australian News Channel of our valued supporters. Gerry and Wendy Commerford AW Edwards Pty Ltd Commonwealth Bank Balnaves Foundation Pty Limited Cooper Investors Pty Ltd Patricia Barringer These categories represent cumulative David Craig Guido Belgiorno-Nettis AM philanthropic support received over Ernst & Young BlackRock the past 10 years. Paul Ferry Capital Investment Partners Goldman Sachs Australia Services Carla Zampatti Foundation Chairman’s Council High Pass Holdings Pty Ltd William Chalk Jessica Hore Evelyn Chan ($1 million+) Mark Johnson Vanessa Chang Marcus Chang ANZ Banking Group Ltd John Kean OAM Ann L Chang Balmoral Pastoral Pty Ltd Ralph Keyes Angela Cho Chain Reaction Challenge Foundation Estate of the late Paul and Jennifer Korner ClearView Wealth Ltd Citigroup Estate of the late Marjorie Grace Lawn Denis Cleary AM Commonwealth Bank Le Montage CM & JA Whitehouse Foundation Consolidated Press Holdings Ltd LFG Estate of the late Peter Charles Coghlan Crown Resorts Foundation Tony Littlemore Commercial Projects Pty Limited Estate of the late Ian Norman Macquarie Group Foundation Matthew Comyn State Government of New South Wales Estate of the late Moira Marlin Estate of the late Ausilio Confalonieri The Lady Fairfax Charitable Trust Mineral Resources Limited Estate of the late Mary Elizabeth Corlis The Lowy Foundation Neilson Foundation RJ Crawford Robert Ingham AO Estate of the late Rose O’Keefe Paradice Family Foundation Cue & Co Pty Ltd Estate of the late May Lillian Perkin Estate of the late George Davis Director’s Lab Priceline Pty Limited Deutsche Bank AG ($500,000 – $999,999) Regal Funds Management Louise Di Francesco Road Runner Mobile Tyres Estate of the late Peter Dixon Estate of the late Ilze M Baltins Tim Roberts Dymon Asia Capital; (Singapore) Pte Ltd Estate of the late Bob Henry De Groot Estate of the late Valerie Ronayne Richard Elmslie Barbara M Ell OAM Estate of the late Thaddeus Schbilski Elsie Cameron Foundation Estate of the late Tatiana Suslov Seven Group Holdings Bruce Fink Angela Riccio Simon Lee Foundation Christopher Flynn David and Diana Ritchie Estate of the late Allan Ernest Nicolas Tackaberry Angelos Frangopoulos Estate of the late Nancy M Roberts Estate of the late June Lillian Teb-Pitt Scott Gibbons Estate of the late Thelma R Tagg The Profield Foundation Goodyer Real Estate The Freedman Foundation The RA Gale Foundation Greencape Partners Westfield Holdings Limited Jennie Thomas AM Greencliff Realty Pty Ltd UBS Foundation Matthew Grounds Estate of the late Annette Geraldine Van Dop Estate of the late Grace Hall VGI Partners Pty Ltd Kim Harding Ervin and Charlotte Vidor AM Ena May Harries Waislitz Family Foundation Hawkesbury Race Club Estate of the late Douglas Arthur Westerland HCF Wilson Asset Management Kristiane Herrmann Mimi Wong IMB Limited ANNUAL REPORT 2017 45
John Ingram Valerie Taylor Richard Becker Kerry James AM Tony Tesoriero Ben & Gloria Sharma Foundation Kerry Ingredients Australia Pty Ltd The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Mr and Mrs KP and MJ Berry Marcus Laithwaite Limited Leigh Birtles Landerer & Co The Mostyn Family Foundation Blue Ocean Equities Lanyon Asset Management The Sky Foundation Lucie Boulter Audrey Lois Lee The Wales Family Foundation Pty Limited Grant Bourke John Leece AM Estate of the late Theodora Zaxarias Panaretos Dr WR Bradford Lewin Foundation Alden Toevs Ben Brazil Lin Huddleston Charitable Foundation Toga Pty Limited Breville Steven Lowy AM Trazoy Pty Ltd Andrew Brown Mr and Mrs Tom Lyons UBS Australasia Estate of the late Edna Brown Macquarie Group Services Australia Pty Ltd Estate of the late Una Margaret Biddle Mary Brown Magellan Asset Management Limited Unilever Australia Limited Dr Mark Bryce Angelo and Maria Maggiotto WCL Management Pty Ltd Hilary Marion Cairns Manikay Partners Wesfarmers Limited Jack William Callaghan Manildra Group Weswal Gallery Cafe Richard Campbell Susan Maple-Brown AM Robert Whyte Campsie RSL S/B Club Ltd Geoffrey Marshall Simon and Mikhal Wilkenfeld Carbon Systems Australia P/L Master Management Pty Limited Albert Wong Stephen Cassin McDonald Jones Homes Foundation Pty Limited Lynn Yager Christopher Caton MCK Family Pty Ltd Estate of the late Walter Ziemba Challenger Limited Mersquad Investments Pty Limited Champ Group Services Pty Ltd Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Supporters Dan Chesterman Wayne Morris Edith Chu ($5,000 – $24,999) Estate of the late Alfred Ewart Morris Ross Cicco Patricia New CitiBank Limited ABC Tissue Products Oakville Produce Group Grant Cleary Rymill Abell Sylvia O’Cass Estate of the late Lawrence Coates Anthony Aboud Origin Energy Timothy Cohen Alton Abrahams P & M Quality Smallgoods Pty Ltd Anne Cohen Accenture Paceline Inc Col Johnson & Co Pty Ltd Adexum Capital Limited Roslyn Packer AO Commonwealth Bank Allard Partners Estate of the late Carma Passaris Bernie Connolly Malcolm Allen Pengana Capital Group John Cooper Greg Alt Perpetual Limited Mr and Mrs David Cooper Alvaro Brothers Pty Ltd Estate of the late Peter Powell Philip Cornish American Express Australia Ltd PwC Australia Cornish Group Investments Pty Ltd AMP CAPITAL R T Hall Trust Stanley Costigan AMP Services Limited Ralph Johns Pty Ltd Russ Cottle Emily Andrews Randwick City Council Estate of the late Harold Ernest Court Ariadne Administration Pty Ltd Mark Reardon Coutts Industrial Real Estate Yvonne Aris Michael Renford Rick Crabb Arrow ECS Australia Res Publica Pty Limited Steven Crane Arthur Phillip Pty Ltd Denis Richmond Crestone Wealth Management ASI Solutions Jessie Ritchie Croatian Karlovac Association Astron Technology Pty Ltd Estate of the late Roland Roberts Elaine Croker ASX Rotary Club of Dubbo South Inc Crowe Horwath Aurrum Pty Ltd Secure Parking Peter Cuciti Australian Chinese Charity Foundation Estate of the late Shirley Margaret Corder Cunneen & Co Australian Global Marketing David Shmith Michael Curcio Auzcorp Philip Small William A Currie Alina Azar Speed & Stracey Lawyers Nicholas Curtis Baden J Green Service Pty Ltd Marie Spies Estate of the late Melissa Daly Baker & McKenzie Alice Styles Noel Darnell Jayne Baric Tarkett Australia Pty Ltd David Jones Limited Paul Bartlett 46 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Gary Goundrie Sid Kelly Supporters ($5,000 – $24,999) CONT. GPT RE Limited Caroline Kennedy Mr and Mrs John Davis Gavin Gracie Dr John Kennedy Leonie Davis James Graham Debra Kepitis Timothy Day Benjamin Graham Kia Motors Australia Pty Limited Eddy DeMarco Janet Graham Linda Kichno Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management Kiera Grant Kin Group Mr and Mrs PN and M Devlin Estate of the late Censina Grech Linda Klarfeld DEXUS Property Group Stuart Green SH Koh DFT ATF Bev Trust Account Baden Green Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. Phil Dixon Dawn Greenwell Koppers Australia Pty Ltd RS Donaldson Greenwoods & Freehills Pty Ltd Franz Kornfeld Dorothy & Bill Irwin Charitable Trust Jack Grimsley Josie La Spina William Douglass Dr Paul Gross Leda Holdings Pty Ltd Hamish Douglass GSA Services Paul Lederer Jennifer Dowling Claudio Guerrera Margaret Lederman Tim Downing William Gurry Lend Lease John Duckworth Michael Gutman John and Christine Leslie John D Duffy Christopher Hadley Peter Leslie Steve Duggan Eric Haines Estate of the late Wah Lew Linda Duncombe Janette E Hamilton Walter Lewin Phillip Durney Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd Thomas Lin Ken Dwyer Matt Hanning Linneys Jewellery Pty Ltd Justin Dwyer Martin Hanrahan Lions Club of Parramatta Inc Eileen Egan John Harris Listed Equities Elder Insurance Victoria Harris Trevor Loewensohn Naomi Elias Kleo Hatziladas Logan Family Foundation Elite Fresh Produce HCF Iris Lustig-Moar Steven Fahey Heartbeat of Football Chris Mackay Dr and Mrs Alan Farnsworth Corinna Ho Jann C. Mackie Ronald Ferster Bruce Hogan Alistair S Maclennan FHG Rogers Pty Ltd Peter Homan Macquarie Capital Adrian Fini Dominic Hopkins Macquarie Group Limited Estate of the late Sheila E Finlayson Robbie C Horn Jan Madden Joanna Fleming Mark Houghton Maggiotto Building Pty Ltd Angela Fleming Merrick Howes King Wood Mallesons Justine Forbes Richard Howes Frank Malouf Joyce Forster Michael Hudson Manly Warringah Australian Football Club Vince Foti Humich Group Lisa Mar Lars Erik Frankfelt A Kai Hung Maroubra Seals Sports & Community Club Ltd Richard and Jan Freemantle Peter Hutchinson Marsh Insurance Freshworld Geoff Hutchinson MJ Martin David Fuchs Graham Huxley McCabes Lawyers Pty Ltd Fujitsu General (Aust) Pty Limited Hydro Produce (Aust) Pty Ltd Ben McGarry Stuart Fuller IFS International Finance Services John McGuigan GDC Accountants IMB Ltd Elizabeth McIntyre Gelatissimo Pty Limited Frances A Ingham McIntyre Philanthropic Fund Hazel George Cameron Irving K Mead GFI Australia Pty Ltd Patricia Irwin Mediserve Pty Ltd Anthony Gill Italian Affair Dennis Meek Giugni Family Trust J W Kirkwood Pty Ltd Melbourne Welsh Church Errol Goldberg J.P. Morgan Mercator Supply Co (QLD) Pty Ltd Golden Fruit Elizabeth Jewsbury Meridian Corporate Pty Ltd Julie Goold Ralph Johns Victoria Montano John and Judy Gooley Peter Joseph OAM Montgomery Investment Management Frank Goudge K & T Irwin Foundation MJM AC Morgan ANNUAL REPORT 2017 47
Norm Moses James Quille David Temme Dr David Muller RARE Infrastructure Terra Capital Management Mulloway Pty Ltd Maria Rayner Lillian Tesoriero Murphy Foundation Patrick Regan The Alexandra & Lloyd Martin Murphy Trust Anne Reid Family Foundation Murphy’s Produce Res Publica Pty Limited The Catholic Club Limited Jacquie Murray Andrew Roberts The Dick and Pip Smith Foundation Myer Pty Limited Estate of the late Richard Roberts The Jenour Foundation N & P Romeo Pty Ltd Frank Robertson The Johnson Family Foundation NAB Robert Rockefeller The Lewis Foundation Ian Narev Judith Rose The Myer Family Company Limited Mr and Mrs Filippo Navarra Lance Rosenberg The O’Halloran Foundation James Neave Estate of the late Dorothy May Rosenfeld The Patricia Dukes Foundation Mr and Mrs J and A Newnham Stanley Roth, AM The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation Kenneth Ng John Rowan The Wolanski Foundation NGA Marketing Dr Paul Roy Sue Thomas Nine Network Australia S & W Mi-Lees Pty Ltd James Tong Dr Elizabeth F Niven Sam the Paving Man Pty Ltd Millie Tong Heather Nobbs Jamie and Renee Samaha Toshiba (Aust) Pty Limited David Norman Dr Howard Sandler GB Trahair Ralph Norris Mr and Mrs Rosina Santamaria Trim Fresh Leichhardt Pty Ltd Northryrie Pty Ltd – Trustee Jeremy Sargeant Tristate Produce Merchants Pty Ltd NSW Chamber of Fruit & Vegetables Schwartz Foundation June M Truscott Nudie Foods Australia Pty Ltd Estate of the late Jennifer Seccombe Colin Tuck Nu-Tech Air Conditioning Pty Ltd Maurice Segura Turnbull Foundation Oatlands Golf Club Limited Geoff Selig UBS Ord Minnett Mr and Mrs Gordon Selig Ungarie District Bowling Club Prof Michael O’Rourke Seven Network (Operations) Limited Unilever Australia Limited Pacific Bondi Management Seven West Media Ian Vale Francesca Packer Barham John Sevior Tony Valos Pall Mall Manufacturing Co Pty Ltd Ben Sharma Valo’s Holdings Pty Ltd Panthers Group Vivienne Sharpe Prof Jamie Vandenberg Michele Parker Helen Showniruk Bruce Vaughan Dominic Parsons Denis Shultz Paul Verscheur Leon Pasternak John Simmons Sarina Vignaduzzo Pater Pty Ltd Rosemary Simpson Vison Pty Ltd Brett Paton Sinclair & Antico (Aust) P/L Rebecca Wachholz George Penklis Smeg Australia Pty Ltd Estate of the late Audrey Walcott Penrith City Council Jarrod Smith Brian Walker Perpetual Trustee Company Limited Charles Solomon Ian Wall Filippo Perri Southern Cross Produce Pty Ltd Waterpoint Asset Management PKF Chartered Accounts South Sydney Juniors Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel Matthew Playfair Annabel Spring Peter Watt Stephen Pocklington JD St John Richard Weinberg Saverio Polistina St Vincent’s & Mater Health Sydney Westfield Corporation Prof Carol Pollock Michael Stening Westfield Retail Trust Steven Porges Antonia Stephenson Westpac Banking Corporation Brent R Potts Maureen Stevenson Westpac Institutional Bank Mark Powell Bruce Stracey Neill Whiston Estate of the late Joyce Price Yvonne Sullivan Simon Whiston Professional Advantage Mr and Mrs S and V Swanson Chris Williams Fong Pui Yin Simon Swanson Willimbury Pty Ltd Hazel J Punton Sydney Market Limited Alfred Charles Wilson Peter Purcell Sydney Markets Foundation Inc Phillip Wolanski Robert Purves Sylvania BMW Yoke-Koon Wong QBE Australia Victoria Taylor XL Fruit & Vegetable Pty Ltd 48 VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Michele Parker (2012) SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD Supporters ($5,000 – $24,999) CONT. Emma Quick (2012) Professor Doug Hilton (Chair) Yoba Pty Ltd Randwick City Council (2013) Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Australia Raymond Young Kia Motors (2013) Professor John Chalmers T Zammit Ryan Stokes (2013) The George Institute for Global Health, Australia Zap Nominees Pty Ltd Craig Marshall (2013) Professor Andrew P. Feinberg Zappia Bros Pty Ltd Sharlene Melville (2013) Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bin Bin Zhang Kate Ritchie (2013) USA Vincent Zimbardi Profield Foundation (2014) Professor John F. Keaney Jr Michael Renford (2014) University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mimi Wong (2014) USA Honorary Life Governor Ruth Zukerman (2016) Professor Eduardo Perozo University of Chicago, USA Her Royal Highness Crown Patti Chong (2016) Professor Janet Rossant Princess Mary of Denmark IMB Community Foundation (2017) The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada Honorary Life Members FACULTY REVIEW COMMITTEE Patrons Professor John Shine (Chair) University of NSW and Garvan Institute Ann Chang Fiona Coote AM (2001) of Medical Research Steven Lowy Kerry James AM (2004) Professor Peter Gunning John Kean (2010) UNSW Sydney John McGuigan (2010) Professor Michelle Haber Past Patrons Barbara Ell OAM (2014) Children’s Cancer Institute
The late Kerry Packer AC Professor John Rasko Centenary Institute The late Hon Neville Wran AC QC Committees Professor Phil Robinson Children’s Medical Research Institute COMMITTEE FOR WESTERN SYDNEY Ambassadors Louise Di Francesco (Chair) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND Alan Crouch COMMERCIALISATION COMMITTEE John Laws CBE (2001) Professor Bob Graham (Chair) The late Amana Finley (2001) Vince Foti Ariane Gallop Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Ken Laing AM (2001) Maria Kovacic William Delaat The late Alan David (2002) Pharmaxis Jody Masina Crane Group Limited (2002) Britt Granath Steve Costi Seafoods (2003) Brendon Noney Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Crestbrook Mountain Springs (2003) Frank Oliveri Sally Head Baker & McKenzie (2004) Danny Rezek Baker & McKenzie Schute Bell Badgery Lumby (2005) Amanda Rose Janina Jancu Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute David and Diana Ritchie (2005) John Shim Milad Melhem Scott and Rhonda Gibbons (2006) Craig Wellman Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Russell and Julieanne Cooper (2007) Tony Zappia Dr Tony Shaw John and Margaret Ingram (2007) YOUNG APPEALS COMMITTEE Allens Ralph and Lorraine Keyes (2008) Marcus Chang (Chair) Professor Roland Stocker Guinness Peat Pty Ltd (2008) Alistair Booth Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Cameron Irving (2009) Adam Buist Deutsche Bank (2009) COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS Sally Buist AND PROMOTIONS Club Marconi (2009) James Camilleri (EXTERNAL MEMBERS) LK Jewellery (2009) Noura Cheded Professor Gemma Figtree Mark Vincent (2009) Anthony Collins University of Sydney Steve Quinn (2011) Daniela Elser Professor Katharina Gaus Cobram Estate (2011) Jenna Klug UNSW Sydney Anne-Marie Allgrove (2011) Ashley Parker Professor Chis Goodnow Garvan Institute of Medical Research United Airlines (2011) Michele Parker Professor John Mattick Virgin Airlines (2012) Keren Weiss Garvan Institute of Medical Research Terry McCabe (2012) Evelyn Yeung Mark Ryan (2012) Dr John MacKay University of Sydney HCF (2012) Support Life-Saving Heart Research Finding cures for heart disease depends on support from people like you. Make a difference and donate today.
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