Annual Report 2017/2018 Annual Report Agrf 2017/2018 2
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 ANNUAL REPORT AGRF 2017/2018 2 AGRF IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL LIFE SCIENCE. AGRF is a not-for-profit organisation, committed to quality and innovation. We actively seek to partner and share our knowledge and expertise in genomics. Through our national network, AGRF provides access to innovative and leading technologies, enabling genomics in the biomedical, agricultural and environmental domains. From single gene analysis to whole genome sequencing, AGRF provides a full range of genomic capabilities and services with complementary bioinformatics across the entire biological spectrum, to academia, healthcare and commercial industries. www.agrf.org.au ABN 63 097 086 292 © Australian Genome Research Facility Ltd 2018. ANNUAL REPORT AGRF 2017/2018 3 CONTENTS Chairman’s Message & A Word from our CEO 04-05 Our Vision, Mission & Values 06-07 Our Team 08-09 Spotlight - Chris Noune and Microbiome 10-11 The Genetics of Epilepsy 12-13 A Key Partner 14-15 Spotlight - Our Clinical Team 16-17 Zero Childhood Cancer 18-19 About Our Clients 20-21 Celebrating 20 Years of AGRF 22-25 Leading Through Innovation 26-27 Single Cell Analysis of Breast Cancer 28-29 Events & Engagement 30-31 Overcoming Anxiety 32-33 Black Tiger Shrimp Transcriptome 34 Our Bioinformatics Team 35 Proudly Supporting Academic Research 36-37 Publications 38-39 Our Board of Directors 40-41 Our Executive Team & Our Funding Partners 42-43 ANNUAL REPORT AGRF 2017/2018 4 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE In 2017/2018 AGRF continued to deliver on our mission of providing “national quality state-of-the-art genomic services to Australia’s researchers and industry”. AGRF maintains Australia’s most comprehensive and distributed array of genomic platforms and capabilities to meet the diversified needs of the biomedical, agricultural, and environmental research and industry domains. AGRF’s transformation strategy continued in 2017/2018 to ensure we are positioned to meet the needs of the Australian genomics community. The key initiative in this context was the relocation of AGRF’s Melbourne laboratories to the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) and engaging with the pathology community in developing solutions to the future needs of Australian clinical genomics. Of particular significance in 2017/2018 was our achievement of ISO15189 Accreditation for Medical Testing Laboratories. With over 20 years of genomics expertise, AGRF now delivers NATA accredited workflows for clinical genomic applications, including genome-wide genotyping, Whole Exome Sequencing, and Sanger sequencing. In 2017/2018, we moved into the second year of our growth strategy with critical initiatives to underpin all aspects of AGRF’s growth, culture, diversification of platforms and services, promotion, and governance. This included the welcoming of new leadership and operational staff in critical areas of Business & Market Development, Research Partnerships, and Science & Technology, as well AGRF’s operational areas of People & Culture, Laboratory Services, and Finance & Business Services. It is exciting to see throughout this report, the It is pleasing to report the 2017/2018 financial diverse work that AGRF has supported throughout year again delivered a positive result with both this financial year, particularly across the research revenues and EBITA above budget. The credit areas of Epilepsy, Childhood Cancer, Mental Health, for this is due to the AGRF management and staff Breast Cancer, and Aquaculture. We are proud to who continued to deliver the most commendable support our clients across all disciplines and look dedication and persistence in response to the forward to working with them again in 2018/2019. complex challenges of increasing competition, restraints and uncertainties in government 2018/2019 will no doubt be an exciting year. The funding and continued technological advances. transitioning initiatives of the past year have primed AGRF for the transformation and growth vision I thank my fellow Board Directors for their and agenda we have set. The AGRF Board looks continued unstinting contribution and enthusiasm forward to working with management, staff and our to AGRF’s mission and continuing success. research and industry clients and collaborators in this pursuit, with the aim of providing Australia’s The continuing contribution of Bioplatforms leading genomics solutions across the biomedical, Australia (BPA) to many of AGRF’s activities is also agricultural and environmental domains. acknowledged and greatly appreciated. ANNUAL REPORT AGRF 2017/2018 5 A WORD FROM OUR CEO 2017/2018 was an important year for AGRF as we implemented our five-year strategy to “grow through transformation”. Our move to the VCCC allowed us to co-locate our Melbourne teams in support of our ‘One AGRF’ culture. With clever design and attention to detail we have created an environment promoting engagement, collaboration, and creative thinking, all of which is supported by the wonderful space and natural light offered on level 13. The move to the VCCC allows AGRF to continue our strategic imperative of leading, enabling, and supporting clinical genomics as a key partner. Beyond clinical genomics and biomedical activity, AGRF also supports agricultural and environmental genomics. This includes improvements to livestock and crops, right through to monitoring our environment. Early access to technology is increasingly becoming a source of competitive advantage for researchers globally. In 2016, we recognised the importance of this, and founded the Genomics Innovation Hub (GIH), in partnership with the University of Melbourne, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and BioPlatforms Australia. In the past year, the GIH has completed a number of projects in collaboration with Our clinically accredited services include researchers, including the exciting area of Whole Exome Sequencing, Single Nucleotide single cell genomics, with work recently Polymorphism Array Genotyping, and Sanger published in Nature Medicine by Professor Sequencing. We are also in the final stages of Sherene Loi, Medical Oncologist at the VCCC. securing accreditation for our Whole Genome Sequencing services. Our clinically accredited In May 2018, the Federal government expertise combined with in-house bioinformatics announced a $500M investment through the and curation capability allows AGRF to be a Australian Genomics Health Futures Mission, key partner in clinical genomics. This is further to “help save or transform the lives of more supported by our active memberships and than 200,000 Australians through research partnerships with the Australian, Melbourne and into better testing, diagnosis and treatment”. Queensland Genomic Health Alliances, where AGRF is excited to support this national AGRF has been involved in a number of key agenda. projects. Furthermore, as part of our strategic “growth I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to through transformation” vision, AGRF has our supporters and partners who have entrusted secured ISO15189 Clinical Accreditation for us with their projects, and have allowed us to Medical Testing. This is a great opportunity continue to deliver genomics expertise for over for us to continue to expand our offerings to 20 years. I would also like to thank our AGRF include clinical-grade genomics services in staff for their contributions and dedication over our expanding portfolio. the year. ANNUAL REPORT AGRF 2017/2018 6 OUR VISION To be a key enabler of world-class genomic science. OUR VALUES innovation integrity respect We embrace genomic We always act in the We honour challenges with best interests of our individuality and curiosity, novel stakeholders and appreciate our approaches and AGRF as a whole. working relationships. world class technologies. Putting our valued staff in the spotlight AGRF launched a staff Recognition Awards Program in February 2018 which provides an opportunity to ‘shine the spotlight’ on an individual, team or group of people for their work that is aligned with our Values in Practice. ANNUAL REPORT AGRF 2017/2018 7 OUR MISSION To provide Australia with a world standard, research integrated capability, delivering genomic solutions to the biomedical, agricultural, and environmental sectors to address key scientific questions. excellence client focused collaboration & teamwork We are proud of our We are committed to We build inclusive quest to be delivering exceptional and valued outstanding in services, all of the relationships in everything we do. time. pursuit of shared goals. Our new AGRF Recognition Awards Program aligns AGRF’s Values in Practice to the nomination criteria. Launching this program is part of the 2017 – 2022 strategic goal: to collectively promote and foster a high performing ‘One AGRF’ culture, and an environment where achievements and contributions are noticed, appreciated and celebrated. ANNUAL REPORT AGRF 2017/2018 8 15 58% languages spoken by staff with our staff parents not born in Australia 36% staff not born in Australia DIVERSITY DRIVING INNOVATION We employ more than 70 highly skilled staff, with a broad range of skills and diverse backgrounds. We wanted to highlight that diversity here. 11% Baby Boomers 32% Generation X 57% Generation Y born 1946-1964 born 1965 - 1979 born 1980 - 1994 ANNUAL REPORT AGRF 2017/2018 9 OUR NATIONAL NETWORK Our Melbourne Team Our Brisbane Team Our Perth Team Our Sydney Team Our Adelaide Team ANNUAL REPORT AGRF 2017/2018