2014 ANNUAL REPORT Understanding CONTENTS DISEASE THE YEAR IN REVIEW RESEARCH LABS & GROUPS Chairman & Executive Ageing Director Report Agnes Ginges Disease of the Aorta 1 4 Bioinformatics ABOUT CENTENARY Cardiovascular Signalling Board of Governors Cellular Mechanobiology Scientific Advisory Board DNA Repair 2 Scientific Support Host Responses to TB Centenary Foundation Human Viral & Cancer Immunology Fundraising Committee Liver Cell Biology YCF Melanoma Cell Biology Community Fundraising Molecular Hepatology Origins of Cancer RESEARCH PROGRAMS Gene & Stem Cell Therapy HIGHLIGHTS & AWARDS Immune Imaging Financial Highlights 3 Liver Immunology 5 2014 Award Recipients Liver Injury and Cancer CI Lawrence Creative Prize Molecular Cardiology Structural Biology SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE T Cell Biology 2014 Publications Tuberculosis 6 Invited Presentations Vascular Biology Collaborations Grant Recipients Organisational Chart Finding a CURE 5 granting bodies last year. wide, we are now known CEO of Cochlear, In addition Serena Stewart, for initiating the Centenary who will join our Board of 1 2014 the new head of our Institute Lawrence Creative Governors in early 2015. Marketing and Fundraising Prize (CILCP), which IN REVIEW team, has systematically recognises the most Many thanks to Professor EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MATHEW VADAS AO FAHMS | CHAIRMAN THE HON MICHAEL EGAN AO put into place a strategy talented young scientists Barbara Fazekas for her and developed a team to in Australia and promotes assistance and guidance significantly improve our their careers. during her term as There has never atmosphere, we look protecting our children fundraising capabilities Assistant Director. We also been a more back on 2014 as a and next generations from and engagement with More locally, we are thank Professor Wolfgang exciting time in hugely successful year some of the most chronic our donors (individual enthusiastic members of Weninger for his ongoing biomedical science. for Centenary in terms diseases affecting today’s donors, families, corporate Sydney Research, Sydney efforts as the new Assistant of the number and society. organisations, trusts and Partners and Sydney Director. After decades of hard work, quality of discoveries foundations, community Catalyst, the important arm increasing understanding made that will ultimately In spite of our successes, groups and many more) of the NSW Cancer Institute Congratulations also go of the cellular and fuel the biomedical 2014 has also been a and the general public, supporting all stages of to Dr Xiangjian Zheng and molecular basis of revolution and improve challenging year. The ensuring sustainable cancer research. We work Dr Mainthan Palendira diseases, and what must future therapeutics and funding climate for sources of income to with Sydney Research and on their appointment to have often seemed diagnostics for patients. medical research has support our scientists in with our long-term partners Associate Faculty. somewhat optimistic claims These discoveries span changed, and until the $20 making their next major Sydney University and RPA that these discoveries will across our chief interests of billion Medical Research breakthrough. Hospital in mounting and As mentioned, we translate into better clinical cancer, inflammation and Future Fund becomes developing plans for a welcome Serena outcomes, the payday cardiovascular disease fully operational, we need In the past, Centenary’s campus-wide organisation Stewart, our new Head of has arrived. The major and the mechanisms that to become less reliant brand (though distinctive) of research efforts for Fundraising and Marketing breakthrough this year, and drive these illnesses. on sources of funding has not reflected the optimal efficiency and – already we see an one that has culminated from the Federal and focus of our work, nor the impact. invigoration of fundraising thirty years of effort, has Our publications, State Governments. In enormous contributions we and marketing activities. been the discovery of two appearing in some of 2014, the rate of funding make to saving lives. Thus, This year we were most At the same time, we exciting ways of harnessing the most prestigious of projects by NHMRC with the great assistance of fortunate to have had farewell Jill Atherton who our body’s immune system international journals, dropped to about 15% Suanne Colley of BrandPlus Professor Axel Ullrich, previously held this position to destroy previously such as Nature, Nature (from approximately 23% a Asia we have embarked Director of the Max Planck and thank her for her untreatable cancers of all Immunology, Nature few years before) placing on refining of our brand Institute for Biochemistry, contributions in the sorts, including melanoma. Reviews Immunology, great stress on many with a stronger and more Germany and a Member past year. Nature Communications, scientists, including ones at concise message that of our Scientific Advisory The other truly exciting Immunity, Cell, Centenary. communicates better Board as Guest-of-Honour Finally, we would like to horizon is finally a way of Developmental Cell, with our stakeholders at our Annual General thank our Governors, treating diseases caused Ageing Cell, Journal of To face these challenges and donors. You will Meeting. He has our Faculty, Foundation, staff, by inborn genetic changes. Investigative Dermatology, efficiently and productively, see the major changes sincere thanks for making our Scientific Support Team, A new technique of PNAS and Current Biology, we will diversify our in this report and we the long trip to be with us. headed by COO Dr Nick gene-editing (one that we have put us proudly methods to source funding shall be revealing some Pearce, and our Marketing adopted for humans from amongst the very best from other national and further details in 2015, the We farewelled Professor and Fundraising team, plants) combined with in biomedical science. international bodies. Our 30th anniversary of our Susan Pond AM from our for their tireless efforts in cell-therapy will We are honoured to be, team has responded incorporation as a medical Board of Governors and supporting and promoting revolutionise the lives of surrounded by such to these challenges research institute. thank her for her valuable the Institute. Importantly, patients suffering from talented and hard working admirably, and has been contribution over the past a very special thanks to these diseases, giving them colleagues that are no successful in raising a Centenary continues to five and a half years. We our donors for their hope for a healthier life. doubt shaping the future record amount of $5.9 maintain a truly outward take this opportunity to wonderful support of In this somewhat heady of medical research, million from non-NHMRC looking stance. Australia- welcome Dr Chris Roberts, our research efforts. Dr Susan Pond AM, FTSE Appointed Governor in 2009 Scientific Dr Pond AM, FTSE is Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney, Vice President ADVISORY BOARD of the Academy of Technological 2 Sciences and Engineering, and Board Member of ANSTO, Innovation Australia Professor Sir Marc Feldman AC FAA and Biotron Ltd. Susan’s term expired in FRS FRCP FRCPath FMedSci (CHAIR) August 2014. Head, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Board of Governors Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford The Hon Michael Egan AO (Chairman) Mr Alastair Davidson Professor Bruce Robinson AM Appointed Chair in 2005 Appointed Governor in 2004 Appointed Governor in 2007 Mr Egan, a former Treasurer of NSW Mr Davidson has held executive positions Professor Robinson is Dean of the Faculty (1995-2005), is Chancellor of Macquarie in the banking and financial services of Medicine, University of Sydney, and Professor Richard Flavelle CBE FRS University, Chairman of the Newcastle industry for over 30 years in the UK, US Head of the Cancer Genetic Laboratory Department of Immunobiology Coal Infrastructure Group Pty Ltd and and Australia and is a member of at the Kolling Institute. In 2003, he was Yale School of Medicine a member of the Council of NHMRC. the Institute of Chartered Accountants awarded the Daiichi Prize by the Asia Connecticut, USA During his 25-year parliamentary career in Scotland. He is an Executive of and Oceania Thyroid Association. Mr Egan held several ministerial positions. Australasian Wealth Limited, a listed asset Professor Robinson is the Founding manager, in Sydney, and a Chairman of the Hoc Mai Australia non-executive Director of Biotech Capital. Vietnam Medical Foundation. Mr John Samaha (Deputy Chairman) Ms Elizabeth Dibbs Ms Josephine Sukkar Professor Ian Frazer AC, FRS, FAA, MB Appointed Governor in 2003 Appointed Governor in 2013 Appointed Governor in 2011 ChB(Edin), MD(Melb) Mr Samaha leads the Australian litigation Ms Dibbs held senior legal positions Ms Sukkar is co-owner and Principal of CEO & Director of Research and contentious regulatory practice throughout her career, including General construction company Buildcorp. She is Translational Research Institute Pty Ltd of global law firm Allen & Overy. He has Counsel of PricewaterhouseCoopers prior a Director of YWCA NSW, Opera Australia Queensland represented many leading financial to her retirement. Ms Dibbs now focuses and the Sydney University Football Club institutions and corporations, as well as her energy on the not-for-profit sector. Foundation. She served as a Director executives, from a wide range of sectors, She is