Garvan Institute

When Michael first started experiencing pain in his lower back, he put it down to a cricket injury.

At 48, he was active and healthy, with no reason to suspect something worse. Then a scan revealed the unthinkable.

Read Michael's story here: ow.ly/qOsI50WrAyE

Did you know? Garvan and Yale University researchers paired up to develop a new AI tool that could be integrated into cancer diagnostics to better inform treatment.

Find out more: ow.ly/jzU550WlpRT

This is the first time researchers have dissected tumour cell diversity with such precision and could transform how cancer is treated.

ow.ly/2pz650WgvKP

AAnet, led by A/Prof Christine Chaffer, Prof Sarah Kummerfeld & A/Prof Smita Krishnaswamy, maps tumour cells into 5 distinct groups, each with vastly different biology.

Tumours aren’t just one type of cell — they’re a mix, each responding to treatment differently. But today, most cancer therapies treat them all the same.

Garvan Institute & Yale researchers have created AAnet, a powerful AI tool that studies individual cells within cancer tumours, opening the door to more targeted therapies.
#AI #CancerResearch

Today our lab head Prof Marina Pajic, along with Prof Anthony Joshua and PurpleOurWorld’s Daniel Goulburn OAM delivered an inspiring public seminar today at @garvaninstitute.bsky.social on how we are working to improve outcomes for patients with #PancreaticCancer.

Hear from one of our wonderful volunteers and supporters, Annie, who has committed to decades of giving back.

Read her story here: ow.ly/mvXO50WetTF

Congratulations to Garvan researcher Shanon Ranjit, who last week won the Early-Stage Innovation Forum pitch as part of the AusMedtech conference. Shanon is part of the team leading Garvan's Genomics Platform.

Find out more: ow.ly/2FXJ50W3P5n

Huge congrats to Prof Daniel MacArthur on receiving the prestigious ESHG award for his outstanding work in human genetics.

He leads the Centre for Population Genomics, a joint initiative of Garvan & @MCRI_for_kids

#ESHG2025

Read more: ow.ly/p8vi50W3Oee

Sydney researchers are recruiting for a study aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment and support for an estimated two million people who live with rare genetic diseases in Australia alone.

Click here to find out more: ow.ly/2IN350VLKqx

Why does the arm you choose for a vaccine matter? 🩹

New research from Garvan and the Kirby Institute shows that receiving a booster in the same arm as the initial dose can lead to a quicker, stronger immune response.

ow.ly/HbA150VJmWl

Did you miss our recent seminar?

Watch Garvan researchers and collaborators share insights on transforming inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis and treatment approaches in this informative session.

Click here: ow.ly/5OkU50Vx6Ki

Thinking about the future and the legacy you want to leave behind? Garvan has partnered with Gathered Here to help you prepare your Will for free.

Click the link below to write your Will – it only takes 10 mins!

ow.ly/cOJF50VvrWU

Optimizing Gene Panels for Equitable Reproductive Carrier Screening: the “Goldilocks” Approach Professional organizations recommend pan-ancestry carrier screening for autosomal recessive (AR) and X-linked (XL) conditions. Advances in DNA sequencing allow for analysis of hundreds of genes, but t...

Published in @GIMJournal, this research offers a data-driven approach to improve carrier screening guidelines worldwide.

www.gimjournal.org/article/S109...

The study shows that testing 248 genes achieves 95% positive yield in couples across diverse genetic ancestries, providing a practical framework for equitable screening programs.

Our researchers analysed data from over 800,000 individuals to develop the “Goldilocks” approach – finding the optimal balance between testing too few or too many genes.

New Garvan research presents a method to determine the most effective number of genes to include in reproductive genetic carrier screening programs.

Carrier screening helps identify if prospective parents carry genetic variants that could affect their children’s health. But how many genes should be tested to make screening both effective and equitable?

@miagruzin.bsky.social

Today Team Pajic Lab proudly walked in the #PanKindAus #PutYourFootDown #Sydney to raise awareness for #PancreaticCancer. We raised over $1300 for pancreatic cancer research and enjoyed the morning hugely.

Thank you @garvaninstitute.bsky.social for the outfits!

Dr Drew Neavin (bottom right) recently secured a NHMRC Investigator Grant, to help advance our understanding of heart disease.

Find out more about her research here: ow.ly/k8ym50VoFiM

At three weeks old, Stella developed a life-threatening condition that left doctors scratching their heads. Then genetic testing provided an answer that saved her life.

Read Stella's story here: ow.ly/EUsG50VmZ45

We are pleased to announce five researchers at Garvan have secured significant NHMRC Investigator Grants to advance our understanding of devastating diseases.

Read about these grants here: ow.ly/oboL50VlYbA

A metabolism switch that could help stop the spread of pancreatic cancer

⚕️ Pancreatic cancer hijacks a crucial metabolism ‘switch’ to help it spread, revealing a potential new treatment strategy for this highly aggressive disease, say @garvaninstitute.bsky.social #UNSW @monashuniversity.bsky.social #UniMelb #UTS @qimrb.bsky.social @sydneyuni.bsky.social

This discovery could lead to a potential new treatment strategy for this highly aggressive disease. Read more: ow.ly/iNCX50VlbMQ

The study identifies the molecule Neuropeptide Y (NPY) as a key driver of pancreatic cancer metastasis. By blocking NPY in lab models, researchers were able to significantly reduce cancer spread.

Our scientists have identified a metabolism ‘switch’ that drives pancreatic cancer spread, opening a potential new avenue for treatment of this devastating disease.

“Without greater inclusion of people of different ancestries, the benefits of genomics will continue to leave people of non-European descent behind,” says A/Prof Ingles. Read more about our findings here: ow.ly/Z7Tl50VgapX

New research from @jodieingles27.bsky.social team shows how a gene variant common in Oceanian communities was incorrectly flagged as a potential cause of heart disease – highlighting the risks of limited diversity in genetic databases. #Genomics #HealthcareEquity #MedicalResearch

Early detection is vital. MS treatments are most effective when started before significant nerve damage occurs. This research could give doctors new tools to diagnose MS earlier, enabling better outcomes for those at risk. ow.ly/WPi350Vev15