Latest news with #GarvanInstituteofMedicalResearch
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Proto Axiom and St Vincent's Curran Foundation join forces to host Australia's largest medical pitch day
SYDNEY, June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Proto Axiom, Australia's leading biotech incubator, and St Vincent's Curran Foundation unite to launch Challenger Pitch for Health, the nation's largest medical and biotech pitch event, in Sydney in March 2026. Challenger Pitch for Health will award $500,000 in grants to outstanding translational research projects drawn from universities, medical research institutes and hospitals across Australia. Finalists will pitch live to a panel of investors, clinicians and industry leaders, with four grants on offer. A new national platform will bring two opportunities together Proto Axiom Challenger Summit – open nationally to researchers in universities, institutes and the public health system. St Vincent's Pitch for Health – focused on Precinct teams from St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. In 2025 the two inaugural programs attracted more than 75 applicants and 300 attendees at their respective finals. By combining our finals into a single showcase, Challenger Pitch for Health will amplify visibility for researchers, foster collaboration and streamline pathways to capital. Event highlights Up to 16 finalists (up to eight from each program) will present five-minute pitches. Expert panels and keynote addresses will explore trends in clinical translation, investment and health‑tech commercialisation. Winners will share $500,000 across four grant categories. 2024 grant recipients Proto Axiom Challenger Summit Dr Daniel Beard, University of Newcastle – Improving Blood Flow for Better Outcomes in Stroke Patients Chynna-Loren Sheremeta, University of Queensland – Innovative Treatment for Paediatric Atopic Dermatitis St Vincent's Pitch for Health A/Prof Venessa Chin, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research – Comprehensive Lung Cancer Diagnostics (Precision‑DX) Dr Daren Korbie, Garvan Institute of Medical Research– Circulating Tumour DNA: A New Blood Test for Breast Cancer Quotes "Challenger Pitch for Health will give Australia's best clinician‑scientists a national stage and the capital they need to move bold ideas out of the lab and into patients' lives."— Anthony Liveris, CEO, Proto Axiom "Pitch for Health succeeded in catalysing innovation within the St Vincent's Precinct. Partnering with Proto Axiom scales that impact nationwide, bringing new collaborators and investors to our researchers."— Shanthini Naidoo, CEO, St Vincent's Curran Foundation How to apply Medical pitch days are events where individuals or teams present innovative healthcare-related ideas, products, or startups to a panel of judges, investors, or stakeholders. The goal can be to secure funding, partnerships, mentorship, or other support to advance the project. These events are similar to startup pitch competitions but are focused specifically on the medical and healthcare sector. Applications will open August 2025. Full guidelines, key dates and submission portals for both grant streams will be available soon. To register your interest and receive information when available follow this link. About Proto Axiom Proto Axiom is Australia's first dedicated biotech incubator, providing hands‑on support and capital from proof‑of‑concept through to growth. Its investment‑plus‑incubation model accelerates breakthrough science toward commercial About St Vincent's Curran Foundation The St Vincent's Curran Foundation raises philanthropic funds to advance excellence and innovation in patient care, clinical education and medical research across St Vincent's Hospitals and facilities in New South Wales. View original content: SOURCE Proto Axiom
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Which Arm Gets Vaccinated Could Play a Role in Your Immune Response
The arm you offer up for vaccination could impact your immediate immune response. But here's the catch: scientists still aren't sure if it's better to give a secondary booster shot to the same arm or a different one. Currently, only a handful of studies have explored whether you should switch sides between a first and second jab, and the ones on COVID vaccines have produced mixed results. Following the 2020 outbreak of COVID-19, for instance, researchers in Germany found that giving multiple jabs to the same arm produced better immune responses two weeks later. Then, a follow-up study from researchers in the US found the exact opposite. According to that randomized trial, switching arms between shots resulted in a four-fold increase in COVID-specific antibodies four weeks after the second jab. Get ready for yet another contradictory finding. Researchers in Australia are weighing in on the debate, and their experiments on mice and humans agree with the same-arm study. The trial, led by Rama Dhenni from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and Alexandra Carey Hoppé from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), involved 30 healthy participants who had not yet had COVID-19. All participants received two shots of the Pfizer vaccine, three weeks apart – 20 had both shots in the same arm, while 10 got the booster in the opposite arm to the first jab. Those in the same-arm group showed a boosted immune response in the week after their second shot, according to blood and lymph node analysis. "Those who received both doses in the same arm produced neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 significantly faster – within the first week after the second dose," explains Carey-Hoppé. "These antibodies from the same arm group were also more effective against variants like Delta and Omicron," adds immunologist Mee Ling Munier from UNSW. Still, the apparent immune boost from a same-arm vaccination was ultimately short-lived. Four weeks after the booster, those who received a jab in the same arm showed similar antibody levels to those who received a jab in the opposite arm. This suggests that the strengthened immune response from same-arm vaccinations does not last longer than a month. "If you've had your COVID jabs in different arms, don't worry – our research shows that over time the difference in protection diminishes," says Munier. "But during a pandemic, those first weeks of protection could make an enormous difference at a population level." Further research is needed, but Munier suspects that this same-arm vaccine strategy could help achieve herd immunity faster. To explore why that might be, Munier and colleagues used mouse models. When mice were given a second vaccine to the same side of the body, it increased their immune response in that side's lymph nodes. Lymph nodes drain fluid from their respective sides of the body. When a vaccine is administered to one arm, it introduces the corresponding lymph node to a weakened pathogen (or its components). Immune cells called macrophages, which guard the entry point to the lymph nodes, handcuff these invaders and take them to unique players called memory B cells (Bmems). These long-lived cells memorize what the danger looks like for future reference, and they also enter a specialized factory within the lymph node to trigger the production of antibodies tailored to that specific invader. In mouse models, when a second vaccine was given to the same side of the body, the draining lymph node's sentinel macrophages were already primed to respond to that threat. This means they jumped to action faster, communicating with "large clusters of reactivated Bmems" to send 10 times as many Bmems into the antibody factory as the non-draining lymph node. Similar to the mouse data, when 18 of the human participants had their lymph nodes biopsied with a fine needle, the researchers found those who received a same-arm jab had increased percentages of Bmems in these antibody factories. While these results are intriguing and shed some much-needed light on how vaccines work to boost our immune systems, Dhenni and colleagues argue further research is needed to make any practical recommendations. The new findings may be more relevant to initial boosters given in quick succession, for instance, not necessarily seasonal vaccines that can be given months, if not years, apart, when immune responses on both sides of the body have time to balance out. "This is a fundamental discovery in how the immune system organizes itself to respond better to external threats – nature has come up with this brilliant system and we're just now beginning to understand it," says immunologist Tri Phan. The study was published in Cell. Brisk Walking Could Lower Your Risk of Heart Rhythm Abnormalities A Small Drop in Vaccinations Could Spread Measles to Millions, Study Warns This Severe Brain Disorder Is Common But Often Goes Undiagnosed
Hans India
30-04-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Australian researchers find same arm for both shots boosts vaccine response
Receiving a vaccine booster in the same arm as the first dose triggers a faster and stronger immune response and helps the body build protection faster, according to new research. The findings could help improve vaccine strategies and may eventually lead to vaccines that need fewer boosters, Xinhua news agency reported. The study, which was led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney in Australia finds that the immune system responds more quickly when both doses are given in the same arm. That's because immune cells in nearby lymph nodes, which are the body's infection-fighting hubs, become "primed" after the first shot. When the booster arrives in the same spot, these cells spring into action and help produce stronger antibodies, the team explained in the paper, published in the journal Cell. Researchers discovered this effect first in mice, then confirmed it in a clinical study involving 30 people who received the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. Those who had both doses in the same arm developed faster and more effective protection, especially against Covid-19 variants like Delta and Omicron. "This is a fundamental discovery in how the immune system organizes itself to respond better to external threats," said Tri Phan, director of the Precision Immunology Programme at the Garvan Institute. While both groups ended up with similar antibody levels after four weeks, the same-arm group gained protection more quickly, a potential game-changer during pandemic outbreaks. "If you've had your Covid jabs in different arms, don't worry, our research shows that over time the difference in protection diminishes," said the study's co-senior author Mee Ling Munier from the Kirby Institute. But during a pandemic, even a few days can make a big difference, said Munier
India Today
29-04-2025
- Health
- India Today
Left or right arm? Study reveals why location of injecting the vaccine matters
Australian researchers have revealed that receiving a vaccine booster in the same arm as the original dose can trigger a quicker and more effective immune findings of their study, published in the journal Cell, were led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Kirby Institute at UNSW discovered that specialised immune cells, called macrophages, are 'primed' inside the lymph nodes nearest to the injection site after the first dose. These cells then help position memory B cells - a critical part of the immune system - to respond faster when a second dose is given in the same "This is a fundamental discovery in how the immune system organises itself to respond better to external threats. Nature has come up with this brilliant system and we're just now beginning to understand it," said Tri Phan from the Garvan VACCINE LOCATION MATTERSVaccines work by introducing a harmless form of a virus or bacteria into the body, teaching the immune system to recognise and fight the vaccine is administered, it travels to nearby lymph nodes - the body's immune training hubs. Memory B cells, which help produce antibodies when the body sees the same virus again, are often found in the lymph node closest to where the vaccine was injected. Vaccines work by introducing a harmless form of a virus or bacteria into the body, teaching the immune system to recognise and fight it. (Phot: Getty Images) advertisementUsing advanced imaging tools, researchers at Garvan found that these memory B cells move to the outer areas of the lymph node, where they interact with macrophages already trained by the first the booster is given in the same arm, the 'primed' macrophages quickly react and activate the memory B cells to produce stronger antibodies."Macrophages are known for clearing up infections, but here they're also organising the next immune response," said Rama Dhenni, co-author of the FROM CLINICAL TRIALSTo see if the effect was the same in humans, researchers conducted a study with 30 participants receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Those who got both doses in the same arm had faster and more effective antibody responses, especially in the first week after the second shot."These early antibodies were also better at neutralising variants like Delta and Omicron," said Dr Mee Ling Munier from the Kirby both groups had similar antibody levels by four weeks, scientists say that earlier protection could be critical during outbreaks."This simple strategy, using the same arm, might help build community-level protection faster," said Dr hope the findings will inform future vaccination strategies and possibly reduce the number of boosters needed.
7NEWS
29-04-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Getting two COVID vaccinations in the same arm helps immune system respond to disease quicker, study finds
Using the same arm for a booster vaccine as for a first dose may help the immune system respond effectively to a disease outbreak. A study published on Tuesday detailed a clinical trial where most volunteers received two vaccination jabs in one arm, and the rest switched arms between shots. Those who received their booster dose in the same arm as their first had produced neutralising antibodies significantly faster than those who had their second shot in the opposite arm, the researchers found. The trial involved 30 volunteers who were injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine for COVID-19. Immune cells in the lymph node near the injection site activated after the initial shot, according to the study led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Kirby Institute at the University of NSW. These became primed to boost the immune response after the second shot was administered in the same arm. The study's co-senior author Tri Phan, director of Garvan's precision immunology program, hoped the evidence would refine vaccination approaches. 'This is a fundamental discovery in how the immune system organises itself to respond better to external threats — nature has come up with this brilliant system and we're just now beginning to understand it,' Professor Phan told AAP. Breaking down the complex study, Prof Phan said vaccines stimulate the development of immune cells that make antibodies, along with immune cells that become primed to help them. The primed cells that remember the vaccine help to make a faster response the second time around by helping memory B cells change the antibodies they make to adapt to changes in the virus. Viruses can mutate, however so can memory B cells. 'What's exciting about the research is that we showed that these other cells called macrophages, interact with these memory B cells,' Prof Phan said. 'By talking to the memory B cells, they can help direct them to mutate the receptor and make better antibodies.' While there are no official guidelines on whether you should receive your vaccine in the same arm, Prof Phan said the findings show there is a 'benefit' and offer a promising avenue for enhancing the effectiveness of vaccines. 'If we can understand how to replicate or enhance the interactions between memory B cells and these macrophages, we may be able to design next-generation vaccines that require fewer boosters,' Prof Phan said.
