Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
The discovery by researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of a molecule that is key to malaria’s ‘invisibility cloak’ will help to better understand how the parasite causes disease and escapes from the defences mounted by the immune system. The research team has identified one of the crucial molecules that instructs the parasite to employ its invisibility cloak to hide from the immune system, and helps its offspring to remember how to ‘make’ the cloak.
The team unravelled details about the first molecule found to control the genetic expression of PfEMP1. PfEMP1 plays two important roles in malaria infection. It enables the parasite to stick to cells on the internal lining of blood vessels, which prevents the infected cells from being eliminated from the body. It is also responsible for helping the parasite to escape destruction by the immune system, by varying the genetic code of the PfEMP1 protein so that at least some of the parasites will evade detection.
This variation lends the parasite the ‘cloak of invisibility’ which makes it difficult for the immune system to detect parasite-infected cells, and is part of the reason a vaccine has remained elusive.
Prof Alan Cowman, Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
Cell Host and Microbe; http://www.wehi.edu.au/site/latest_news/unveiling_malarias_cloak_of_invisibility
In a major shake-up of scientists’ understanding of what determines the fate of cells, Melbourne-based medical researchers have shown that cells have some control over their own destiny. The researchers drew their conclusion after studying B cells, immune system cells that can make antibodies.
Prof Phil Hodgkin, Dr Mark Dowling, Dr Cameron Wellard, Ms Jie Zhou, Immunology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Science; http://bit.ly/yrYDqx
The winner of the Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize, for her lung cancer research, is Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat, from Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI). Having unravelled key information on how and why breast stem cells contribute to the progression of breast cancer, she is now turning to the challenge of lung cancer. Her prize [...]
The winner of the Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize is Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat, from Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI).
Having unravelled key information on how and why breast stem cells contribute to the progression of breast cancer, she is now turning to the challenge of lung cancer. Read the full article →
Posted on behalf of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research
Discovery of the cellular ‘link’ between female hormones and the development of breast cancer has earned Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researcher Dr Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat the inaugural Lawrence Creative Prize from the Centenary Institute. Read the full article →
Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize to be announced today
The winner of the Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize will be announced at 1.45 pm today, Wednesday 19 October 2011, at a lunch at UBS in Sydney.
The winner will receive $25,000. Read the full article →
The Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize is a $25,000 award for outstanding creativity in biomedical research by young scientists. Here are the three finalists. The winner will be announced at an awards luncheon on Wednesday 19 October at the UBS dining room in Sydney. For more information call Niall on 0417 131 977 or niall@scienceinpublic.com.au
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2011 marks the fifth year that L’Oréal Australia will award its
For Women in Science Fellowships to Australian early-career female scientists.
Since its inception in 2007, the Fellowships, worth $20,000 each, have been awarded to 14 outstanding female scientists who have used the award to increase their impact in their chosen field of science, provide support to managing both families and lab work, and jumpstart their independent careers in science.
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Life on other planets, sex determination in marsupials, the links between genetics and mental health—that’s the breadth of research spanned by the four Australians and one New Zealander, life scientists all, who have become L’Oréal Laureate fellows since the awards were inaugurated in 1998. In 2009, one of these women, Elizabeth Blackburn, went on to win Nobel Prize in Medicine.
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The challenge
More women are studying science at university than men. But they’re not staying in science. We’re losing them mid-career.
We, as a nation, are not successfully supporting their transition into independent researchers and science leaders. The loss of these highly trained smart women is economically and culturally damaging to Australia.
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The three L’Oréal Australia For Women In Science Fellows received their awards on Tuesday night at the Melbourne Museum. Here are some photos from the night. All the images are available for use in the context of the L’Oréal Australia For Women In Science Fellowships and should be credited to SDP Photo. To view the [...]
How does breast cancer start? Capturing and releasing gases with smart crystals? Giving malaria a kick in the gut L’Oréal Australia For Women in Science Fellows announced The 2010 L’Oréal Australia For Women in Science Fellows are (click on links to see full citation, videos and photos): Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of [...]
Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Most women in Australia who have breast cancer recover. But many then relapse years later. Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat wants to know why. If she can solve this mystery, her work will open up opportunities for new drugs and treatments. Her achievements to date suggest that she [...]
Applications for the 2010 L’Oréal Australia For Women In Science Fellowships have now closed. Below is the April bulletin for 2010. We’re pleased to include progress reports on our 2009 Fellows. As you will read, their work spans the full extent of space and time—from Marnie’s studies on how genes are controlled, through Tamara’s exploration [...]
Two outstanding female scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have been awarded research fellowships worth $1.75 million to continue their cancer research.
The inaugural five-year Cory Fellowship, sponsored by the institute, has been awarded to Dr Clare Scott and the inaugural five-year Dyson Fellowship, sponsored by the Dyson Bequest, has been awarded to Dr [...]
In this bulletin:
2010 Laureates announced
Two former Laureates win Nobel Prizes in Medicine and Chemistry
Prime Minister recognises L’Oréal Fellow with physical sciences prize
Updates from our 2007 and 2008 Australian Fellows – Tara Telescope in business, and more
Applying for Australian Fellowships for 2010
International Laureates announced
The winners of the 2010 L’ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards were announced on 14 October 2009.
The [...]
Where did we come from; how are we made; and how will it all end?
These fundamental questions are being tackled by the 2009 L’Oréal Australia
For Women in Science Fellows who received their Fellowship from Mark Tucker, CEO of L’Oréal Australia, at a ceremony at L’Oréal’s Australian head office in Melbourne on Tuesday 25 August.
Read the full article →
Marnie Blewitt
The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne
Marnie Blewitt wants to know how a human being is made: how does a single fertilised egg develop into an adult with millions of cells performing a myriad of different functions. It’s the hottest issue in genetics, and one that’s close to her right now as she is expecting her first child soon. Read the full article →
Where did we come from; how are we made; and how will it all end?
These fundamental questions are being tackled by the 2009 L’Oréal Australia
For Women in Science Fellows who received their Fellowship from Mark Tucker, CEO of L’Oréal Australia, at a ceremony at L’Oréal’s Australian head office in Melbourne on Tuesday 25 August.
Read the full article →
