breakthrough Annual Report 2016 Message from the Director 2 Year at a glance 4 Manifesto 6 In brief 8 In the blood Creating blood stem cells in a dish. 10 Gut reaction 30 years Why a healthy immune system requires exposure to a wide range of germs. 12 Turning research into reality MCRI’s engine room of discovery. 14 The perfect pair Combining peanut protein with a probiotic. 16 The future is here Exome gene sequencing gives families answers. 18 of life Thank you – donors 20 A brilliant mind Introducing Professor John Christodoulou AM. 22 MCRI rising stars Students Sophia Frentz and Alex Sexton-Oates share their motivation and inspiration. 24 Landmark Lancet A turning point for adolescence. 26 changing Early birth blues Depression and anxiety among parents of premature babies. 28 The alcohol taboo Delving deep into the unanswered questions around drinking alcohol in pregnancy. 30 Your support You showed your support in many discoveries and varied ways in 2016. 32 Financial position and cash flows 36 Message from the Chairman 40 Published June 2017 Research by Professor Katie Allen’s team contributed to the recommendation that parents 2011 1993 1999 2010 1990 introduce cooked egg into their > child’s diet between four and Professor Andrew Sinclair six months, not 10 months as and team identify the previously directed. sex-determining gene SRY. MCRI moves into its The discovery attracts A trial of rotavirus vaccine new world-class worldwide media attention The Institute’s focus on developed by MCRI facility, co-located with and finally provides an Menkes syndrome culminates researchers, RV3, found The Royal Children’s answer to one of our most in the co-discovery of the immune system was Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Hospital. The facility fundamental questions the Menkes gene led by successfully stimulated award $1.4 million to MCRI to help was oficially opened – what makes us male or Professor David Danks and and therefore protected combat childhood pneumonia by by Her Majesty Queen 1986 female? Professor Julian Mercer. against the virus. improving pneumonia vaccines. Elizabeth the next year. Landmark study by Professor The Murdoch Institute The Murdoch Institute for Research Victorian Infant Hearing Kerr Graham proves the safety and The Royal Children’s in Birth Defects founded by Screening Program and efectiveness of Botulinum Hospital Research Professor David Danks with support established - one of 1994 1992 2000 1986 toxin A – Botox – for children Institute merge to form from Dame Elisabeth Murdoch the first whole-of-state with cerebral palsy. the Murdoch Children’s and her family, Sir Jack Brockhof, screening programs in Research Institute (MCRI). the Scobie and Claire Mackinnon the world to detect Trust, the Miller family and others. congenital hearing loss. It quickly becomes a world-class centre of genetics research and clinical genetics services. Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, an amalgamation of clinical genetics services and genetic pathology laboratories, is established. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCRI. Research led by > Professor Katie Allen A clinical trial led by discovers low levels of Professor Mimi Tang 2011 2012 2015 2013 Vitamin D in infants with finds 82 per cent of Australia-born parents children involved in the is linked to an increased study with a peanut risk of food allergy. allergy can tolerate > peanut after treatment The Fontan registry is with a probiotic taken in conjunction with established by Associate Professor Yves d’Udekem. peanut protein. The Registry collects MCRI Patron Dame health information on Elisabeth Murdoch Professor Kathryn North Fontan patients living in passes away on joins MCRI as its new Australia and New Zealand. December 5th. director. 2016 Rupert Murdoch A study shows that Professor Ruth Bishop > The Australian Genomics Victorian Clinical contributes a behavioural sleep awarded the CSL Florey Adults conceived Health Alliance (AGHA), a Genetics Services $10 million grant techniques, known as Medal for her lifetime’s through IVF and other national network of 47 partner celebrates 50 2012 2015 2014 on behalf of his “controlled comforting” work on rotavirus. assisted reproductive organisations, led by Professor 2016 successful years of family to MCRI. and “camping out”, are > technologies have Kathryn North and Professor newborn screening an efective way to help mostly grown up as Andrew Sinclair is established. in Victoria and MCRI infants sleep better healthy individuals, celebrates its 30th and reduce mothers’ an MCRI study finds. anniversary. Professor Melissa Little leads a depression levels. research group that successfully grows a ‘mini kidney’ from stem cells in a dish. The Melbourne Children’s Trials Centre is established. message from the director executive committee 2016 Chair: Professor Kathryn North Professor Katie Allen Professor Vicki Anderson Professor John Bateman Professor Andy Giraud Professor David Thorburn Professor Andrew Sinclair Dr Leanne Mills Mr John Dakin Dr James Dromey It is my pleasure to share our in digital technologies together with medical Our scientists work alongside two Your generosity changes lives and brings science to make healthcare more accessible heavyweights in child health and academic hope to children, families and communities. 2016 annual report with you. and we’re leading the way for disadvantaged leadership – the Royal Children’s Hospital This is an achievement we can all be proud children both locally and abroad. and University of Melbourne Department of. Thank you for all of your contributions. As Director of this When I walk the corridors of the Institute, of Paediatrics are just metres from our labs. It has been a joy and a privilege to lead the remarkable institution, I’m I am inspired by the shared sense of unity, The joint focus on collaboration and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in purpose, and excitement about the potential translation is second to none, and discoveries 2016, and I’m exhilarated when I think about immensely proud of the of discovery shared by the MCRI community. quickly convert into practical treatments for what we will discover next. children in hospital and the community. people I lead and the work MCRI had a remarkable year in 2016 – we have achieved at MCRI. the year we celebrated 30 years of life- changing discoveries at the Institute. In It works the other way as well. Our research the following pages, we share with you leaders are all university academics and enthusiastically train and mentor the next This is a group of more than 1,500 curious some of our most exciting highlights and and clever scientists, clinicians and achievements, including: generation of researchers. Many of our scientists are also clinicians, and they are able administrative staf, who strive day after • The discovery that we are well on the way Professor Kathryn North to use research to solve problems that arise in day to discover new knowledge that can, to creating the right type of blood stem their daily work with children and families. and does, make a diference to children, cells in the lab to potentially treat blood adolescents and their families. diseases and leukaemia; All of this would not be possible without At MCRI we tackle the toughest issues • A new partnership forged with investors vital funding from state and federal afecting children’s health, so every child to accelerate the development of a life- governments, including the National Health can live a healthy and fulfilled life, and changing treatment for peanut allergy, and Medical Research Council. communities can prosper. developed here at MCRI; It is our vision to solve the challenges faced • How we are finding more answers The legacy of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch by the rise in epidemics that are increasingly than ever before for children with rare, lives on through the trusts, foundations common among our children: allergy, obesity, unexplained illnesses through cutting- and individuals who generously gave us cancer, learning problems, depression and edge genomic testing. more than $16 million to help us continue anxiety. And it is our goal to ensure we live in We have received support from federal and to fight the most troubling health issues a world of wellness rather than illness. state governments, grant funding bodies, afecting children. We are especially To achieve this, we are focusing on venture capitalists, and donors who value grateful for the continued support of the prevention and early intervention, rather research and innovation as much as we do. The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation than waiting for disease and trying to treat it. This has been instrumental in the advancing who provided funding to some of our most We are pushing the boundaries by investing our ability to deliver our research. innovative research projects. 2 3 year at a glance $130.1m Total revenue $35.88m National Health and Medical Research grants $11.79m International grants $71.8m Total competitive funding $16.06m Donations, fundraising and bequests 951 Peer reviewed publications 1,719 Media mentions 1,181 People Pictured: Harry and James 4 5 Pictured: Benjamin We believe that for every question there’s an answer. For every child’s illness there must be a cure. For every obstacle there must be a way around. What inspires us is asking the big questions – Why is it so? Why does it happen? How can we fix it? What excites us is tackling the big issues afecting children’s health. Children are at our heart, in our blood, and in our bones. We believe that every child deserves a healthy start to life. And a happy and prosperous community needs healthy children. We believe in the power of curiosity, cleverness and cutting-edge research. We are excited by discovery and new knowledge to make a diference. The future is purchased by the present, we can shape the future, we can change the world.