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Children's Medical Research Institute
@cmri.bsky.social
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Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is an independent organisation committed to the treatment or prevention of birth defects and childhood disease. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.cmrijeansforgenes.org.au/
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cmri.bsky.social
We are pleased to announce that Professor Hilda Pickett has been awarded an Osteosarcoma research grant for her work to slow the growth of cancer cell targeting telomeres.
Two researchers in white lab coats working in a laboratory. One is holding up a clear plastic multi-well plate while the other observes. The lab bench is covered with scientific equipment, including pipettes, bottles, and containers. Shelves in the background hold various lab supplies and chemical bottles, and the setting is brightly lit with a clean, organized workspace.
November 7, 2025 at 2:53 AM
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Congratulations to Professor Hilda Pickett, Jadon Wells and former Children's Medical Research Institute student Andrea Iribarren-Lopez for a publication out in Frontier in Immunology.
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November 3, 2025 at 3:04 AM
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With access to ResetData’s AI compute resources, ProCan aims to develop a world-first model that integrates key aspects of a cancer patient’s clinical data with protein data generated in ProCan from many thousands of cancer samples, to transform how cancer is diagnosed and treated.
Three people standing and talking in a hallway outside a laboratory. A large window behind them shows lab equipment and a person working inside. The text on the window reads “Australian Cancer Research Foundation” and “ProCan.”
October 31, 2025 at 5:16 AM
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Having won ResetData’s National AI-F1 Innovation Challenge, we were delighted to welcome ResetData’s CEO Bass Salah into our ProCan labs to see the clear impact of his company’s generous donation of $1m in AI computation, which will benefit future generations of children (and adults) with cancer!
Four people standing indoors next to a tall banner for Children’s Medical Research Institute. The banner features a DNA helix graphic and text that reads “1 in 20 children is born with a birth defect or genetic disease” along with the tagline “Healthier kids, brighter futures.” Four people standing and talking inside a laboratory setting. One person is wearing a white lab coat, while others are dressed in business attire. Laboratory equipment and computer monitors are visible in the background.
October 31, 2025 at 5:16 AM
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2/4 It was a wonderful opportunity for our scientists, A/Prof Anai Gonzalez Cordero and Dr Eden Robertson to talk about their work and hear directly from families about their needs.
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October 31, 2025 at 12:30 AM
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1/4 Thank you to all our families who attended the Inherited Retinal Disease Patient and Family Engagement Day held in Melbourne this week.
A speaker stands at the front of a bright, modern lecture room addressing an audience seated in rows. A large screen displays the text “2025 IRD Patient and Family Engagement Day” along with logos for UNSW Medicine & Health and partner organizations. Two stained-glass panels are visible on the wall above the screen.
October 31, 2025 at 12:30 AM
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1/3 We are extremely grateful to have two Children's Medical Research Institute scientists, Professor Hilda Pickett and Professor Tony Cesare, awarded Australian Research Council grants this week!
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October 29, 2025 at 11:49 PM
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Our very own Professor Leszek Lisowski was chosen to star on Dr Karl Kruszelnicki podcast Shirtloads of Science to talk about his extraordinary work with viral vectors. Learn more about his lab at CMRI by listening here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10e2VcSmIRA
Two people seated at a table in front of a colorful background featuring the text “Shirtloads of Science” in bold yellow letters and “Dr Karl” in white in the top corner. One person is wearing a patterned shirt, and the other is in a dark blazer with a light shirt.
October 29, 2025 at 8:00 AM
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Also in attendance were Children's Medical Research Institute's lab heads Professor Ian Alexander and Professor Leszek Lisowski who were founding scientists at VVMF and instrumental in its inception.

#VVMF #CMRI #MedicalResearch #Westmead
A group of six adults and two children pose for a photo in front of a banner that reads “Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility.” The children are wearing matching navy dresses, and the adults are dressed in formal attire.
October 29, 2025 at 12:13 AM
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Alessia, who is a face of Jeans for Genes, and her family were special guests as they know firsthand the importance of producing gene therapies right here in Australia.
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October 29, 2025 at 12:13 AM
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It was wonderful to see the Westmead medical research community come together to celebrate the official opening of the Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility (VVMF).
A speaker stands at a podium with a sign reading “Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility” in a modern, glass-walled venue. A large screen above displays the same branding along with the phrase “Unlocking the future of medicine.” An audience is seated facing the stage.
October 29, 2025 at 12:13 AM
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Congratulations to Blake Lane for winning best poster at this week’s Australian Cell Cycle, DNA Repair and Telomere Meeting in Melbourne.
October 23, 2025 at 6:27 AM
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Children’s Medical Research Institute was well represented at the recent European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy in Seville with scientists Professor Leszek Lisowski, Professor Anai Gonzalez Cordero and Professor Ian Alexander.
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October 17, 2025 at 5:22 AM
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“In order to make rapid progress, increasingly we need to make research a team endeavour’’ Prof Reddel said during his welcome to the event which was focused on solving global health issues with local solutions. We look forward to today's program!
A person stands at a podium with two microphones, delivering a speech at the Westmead Research & Innovation Conference held from 11–13 October 2023. Behind them, a large screen displays the session title 'Westmead Research Hub Executive Introduction' and information about Professor Roger Reddel AO, Executive Director of Children's Medical Research Institute and Lorimer Dods Professor at The University of Sydney.
October 16, 2025 at 12:18 AM
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It was a great first day at the Westmead Research and Innovation Conference yesterday which featured a presentation by Prof Roger Reddel on using proteomic data for precision oncology, as well as abstracts from Dr Pragathi Masamsetti on her research at CMRI.
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October 16, 2025 at 12:18 AM
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1/3 Children’s Medical Research Institute is thrilled to announce a huge win for ProCan, taking out the ResetData AI-F1 National Innovation Challenge. As the winning bid, announced at SXSW Sydney today, ProCan will get access to $1m worth of AI tokens. @sxswsydney.com
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October 15, 2025 at 9:26 AM
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Congratulations to A/Prof Pengyi Yang who has developed a way for scientists to improve their use of mathematical modelling in understanding complex biological systems. His work was published today in Nature Methods.

Read more here: https://ow.ly/n1BZ50XakIa

University of Sydney (USYD)
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October 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM
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1/2 In work published this weekend, Children's Medical Research Institute's ProCan® team and collaborating cancer researchers have uncovered new clues in the proteins of pancreatic cancer that could help clinicians detect the disease earlier and choose the best treatments for each patient.
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September 29, 2025 at 6:23 AM
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We work with closely with the team at SCHN, particularly in the exciting field of gene and cell therapies, and it was wonderful to hear Michelle passionately explain how scientists and clinicians can work together to bring treatments to children sooner.
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September 15, 2025 at 11:56 AM
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We are incredibly grateful to Dr Michelle Lorentzos, Advanced Therapeutics Medical Lead at The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, for taking the time to speak at Children's Medical Research Institute last Friday.
A person standing at a podium giving a presentation. The podium features the logo and name of the Children's Medical Research Institute and the phrase 'Jeans for Genes.' A screen in the background displays text about ADCY5 dyskinesia, a genetic movement disorder, mentioning treatment options and research efforts.
September 15, 2025 at 11:56 AM
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Today at Children’s Medical Research Institute, staff gathered to mark R U OK? Day.

R U OK? Day reminds us of the importance of looking out for one another and taking time to connect. At CMRI, every employee matters.
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September 11, 2025 at 3:30 AM
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Congratulations to Dr Pragathi Masamsetti and our Embryology team for receiving front page of Developmental Cell @cellpress.bsky.social this week. The knowledge gained through this publication enriches our understanding of early human development. Read more here: doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
Cover of the journal 'Developmental Cell,' Volume 60, Number 14, dated July 21, 2025. It features a scientific image with colored dots arranged in a pattern within a biological structure, set against a dark background with green and purple highlights. The CellPress logo appears at the bottom right.
July 25, 2025 at 5:38 AM
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We’re proud of our researcher Dr Radek Szmyd who has received a 2025 University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health Mid-Career Research Outstanding Publication Award - for Radek’s extraordinary work to understand why cancer cells die in different ways following radiotherapy.
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July 17, 2025 at 6:59 AM
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Congratulations to A/Prof Pengyi Yang, Head of CMRI’s Computational Systems Biology Unit, on receiving Australian Research Council 2025's Future Fellowship! His project will use single-cell omics technologies to improve the study of cell programming.

Read more here: www.arc.gov.au/news-publica...
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July 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM
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We are excited to announce a groundbreaking study out in @natcomms.nature.com from #CMRI Dr Alex Sobinoff & team. They have discovered proteins that guide telomerase — opening doors to new treatments for #cancer, aging & genetic disease. Read more: www.cmrijeansforgenes.org.au/news/scienti...
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July 2, 2025 at 3:44 AM