Biennial Report 2013-15 Research Institute
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Annual Report 2009 ANZAC Research Institute ANZAC Research Institute ANZAC Research Institute ANZACHospital ResearchRoad, Concord Institute Hospital Hospital SydneyRoad, ConcordNSW 2139 Hospital Sydney NSW 2139 Telephone: (02) 9767 9100 or Facsimile: (02) 9767 9101 Telephone:www.anzac.edu.au (02) 9767 9100 Email: or Facsimile: [email protected] (02) 9767 9101 www.anzac.edu.au Email: [email protected] ANZAC Health & Medical Research Foundation ABN 48 066 780 005 ANZAC ANZAC Health & Medical Research Foundation ABN 48 066 780 005 Biennial Report 2013-15 Research Institute ANZAC Research Institute GIVING OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT US □ Yes. I would like to help ANZAC Health & Medical Research Foundation. □ I would like to meet a representative from the Foundation to discuss making a bequest. Vision □ I have already remembered ANZAC Health & Medical Research Foundation in my Will. To provide Leadership and excellence in health and medical research activities throughout Australia, □ Please send me more information about the Foundation’s Bequest Program, including the recognition of benefactors. with a focus on aging, to improve the future health and medical care for the Australasian community. In so doing, the Foundation will provide a lasting legacy to the veterans and their families who have □ A gift to continue vital scientific research. created the society we have today. □ Please send me more information on the FOTARI. Mission I / We wish to make a donation of $________________ to ANZAC Health & Medical Research Foundation. • To establish and operate a state-of-the-art biomedical research institute on the campus of Concord Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hospital that is affiliated with the University of Sydney. Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________ • To encourage, collaborate in and undertake basic, clinical and epidemiological research, with a ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ particular focus on ageing, that aims to improve health and medical care and is dedicated to the memory of our war veterans and their families. Postcode: _______________ Telephone Home: _______________________ Work: _______________________ Mobile: _______________________ • To gain and optimise support from the wider community in order to facilitate our vision. Email: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ • To provide leadership and excellence in biomedical research in national and international arenas. Payment is by: • To foster education and training in relevant research and health disciplines. □ Cheque □ Money Order □ Visa □ Bankcard □ Mastercard Number: __ __ ____ ___ / __ __ __ _____ / __ ____ __ ___ / __ __ ____ ___ Expir y: _____ / ______ Signature: _______________________________________ Date: __ __ ____ ___ / __ __ __ _____ / __ ____ __ ___ For further information contact: ANZAC Health & Medical Research Foundation ANZAC Research Institute Hospital Road CONCORD NSW 2139 Telephone: (02) 9767 9100 or Facsimile: (02) 9767 9101 www.anzac.edu.au Email: [email protected] All gifts over $2.00 are tax deductible Cover image: Courtesy Lynley Pilon. Contents Chairman’s Report . 2 Chairman’s Report . 3 Director’s Report 2013-2015 . 4 ANZAC Research Institute Research Groups Adrenal Steroid . 6 Andrology . 6 Atherosclerosis . 7 Biogerontology . 7 Bone Biology . 8 Burns Research and Reconstructive Surgery . 8 Dendritic Cell Research . 8 Geriatric Epidemiology . 9 Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory . 9 Vascular Biology and Platelet and Thrombosis Research Lab . 10 Our Research and Staff Ongoing Studies . 11 Highlights & Prizes . 19 Collaborations: Summary . 22 Staff & Students 2013-2013 . 25 Grants & Contracts 2013-2015 . 28 Publications . 31 Financial Performance . 38 Board . 39 Donor Honor Roll . 44 Annual Financial Report & Independent Audit Reports Annual Financial Reports available at http://www .anzac .edu .au Biennial Report 2013-15 1 Chairman’s Report I am pleased to present the biennial report from the board of the ANZAC Research Institute . During the past two years the Institute has continued to progress very well, ever onward and upward . Over that time there have been some changes in the board membership, some due Directors reaching their full term and others due to retirement from SLHD positions for which they were nominees . These include Mrs Eve Bosak, Prof Bruce Robinson, his alternates Profs Ben Freedman & Arthur Conigrave as well as Matthew Swanborough, Dr Ross Bradbury and Emeritus Prof Michael Field . Prof Field will continue his valued services as one of the Institute’s external advisers in scientific integrity . Balancing this and with changes of the governance status of the ANZAC, we welcome newcomers George Elias, Dr Tim Sinclair, Dr Ilona Cunnigham, Dr Meng Ngu, Dr Katherine Moore and Prof Andrew McLachlan . To ensure the smooth running of the ANZAC Research Institute’s finances and we have also secured the services of Peter Tan, who has decades of accounting expertise and experience in the financial management of the SLHD and its predecessors, to assist the Institute’s Finance Manager, Annet Doss . The board has been in the habit of commencing each meeting with a presentation from one of its senior researchers . This practice has filled us with some awe and considerable pride as we gain fresh purpose in the Board’s efforts to support the Institute’s work . The MRIs affiliated with the University of Sydney have continued extended negotiations on the details of their affiliation agreements, exploring the nature of the relationships as well as the financial arrangements . It is with considerable pleasure I can report the successful outcome of these negotiations as signified by the subsequent signing of a multi-year agreement between the Institute and the University of Sydney . In keeping with MRIs around the country, we applauded the establishment of the Medical Research Fund by the Federal Govt and keenly look forward to the time when this major boost to medical research funding flows to the coal face . During this centenary of the ANZAC landings, I was able to make my own private journey to the Gallipoli Peninsula in April . This allowed me to look with awe upon the extraordinary terrain which faced these young soldiers . The legend is less powerful than the real history of these events told by dispatches, the incredible letters and diary notes that eventually found their way back to Australia . Finally, I wish to advise of my own retirement from the board . Fortunately my able deputy chair, Prof Bob Lusby AM, was prevailed upon by the rest of the board to accept the Chairman’s role - another smooth transition . Bob has the distinction of being an academic surgeon on the staff of CRGH, as well as an active member of the military who has served in peacekeeping forces in both Rwanda & East Timor . I would like to thank all members of the board, particularly our scientific director Prof David Handelsman, and Dr Teresa Anderson CEO of SLHD, whose support & intervention have made all the difference to ARI . I leave you in good hands, Diana Horvath 2 Biennial Report 2013-15 Chairman’s Report It is a great privilege to follow Dr . Diana Horvath as Chair of the ANZAC Health and Medical Research Foundation and gratefully acknowledge her leadership and steady hands in guiding us over the past years . It seems hard to believe the Foundation has been going for over 20 years, I can remember our first fund raising dinner in a marquee set in the grounds of Victoria Barracks . A lot of people have helped us over the years with initial funding of Six million dollars coming from the Commonwealth and State governments to mark in real terms the ending of the Second World War . It was very fitting that the Institute be sited in the grounds of Concord Hospital, the successor of the 113 Australian General Hospital . Built to care for the casualties of the Second World War, there was a need to reassure our service men and women that there would be a first class Hospital to care for them if needs be . The Department of Veterans Affairs subsequently took over the Hospital, then known as the Repatriation General Hospital . The DVA with great insight realized that to maintain high standards in a post war setting, it would benefit from inviting the University of Sydney to open a Clinical School . One essential arm of a Teaching Hospital is Research, which attracts high quality staff that benefits both patients and students and enables clinically important questions to be addressed . So out of that need the ANZAC Health and Medical Research Foundation was formed from which the ANZAC Research Institute arises . The Foundation is affiliated with the University of Sydney and is a controlled entity of Sydney Local Health District, being in the grounds of Concord Hospital . The Institute has been very focused on first class research most capably led by Professor David Handelsman . The majority of our day to day funding comes from grants competitively awarded (some $11 million a year), which reflects the quality of the work done . The Foundation has grown to having over $31million in assets and some 150 people engaged in research and its support including 60 post graduate (mostly PhD) students and in 2014-15 some 249 publications came out of the institute . The important work from 10 research areas including