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    Centenary Institute > Impact > Breakthroughs

Breakthroughs

As a world-leading independent medical research institute Centenary’s vision is to improve human health through excellence in medical research. Since our inception over three decades ago, our researchers have contributed to life-changing scientific breakthroughs across cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases.

Visit our Media hub for the latest Centenary discoveries and scientific advances.

2021

  • Shown that inhibiting necroptosis, a form of cell death, could be a novel therapeutic approach for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). More
  • Found that the DPP4 gene family should be further studied to support potential new therapeutic approaches to fighting liver tumours. More
  • Found that a new dual drug approach could offer up a highly effective treatment strategy for melanoma. More
Dr Abdullah Al Emran

2020

  • Discovered for the first time a link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an often fatal lung condition, and the gut microbiome. More
  • Revealed that humans share important genetic mechanisms with a prehistoric sea sponge which is a fundamental discovery in evolution and advances understanding of genetic diseases. More
  • Found human proteins existing in different and changing states with implications for the development of drugs in the fight against disease. More
  • Discovered that genetic testing can reveal previously hidden heart defects in nearly a quarter of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survivors who seem to have a normal heart. More
  • Demonstrated that the enzyme SphK2 is a key player in the regulation of insulin which could lead to a new treatment approach for diabetes. More
  • Discovered that tumour-resident T cells are a critical determinant in survival rates of patients suffering from throat cancer. More

2019

  • Found that an Australian sea sponge could hold the key to successfully combatting the deadly disease tuberculosis. More
  • Uncovered the impact of new technology on the over-diagnosis of a little known inherited heart disease. More
  • Discovered a key reason why the influenza virus is so effective at establishing infection and causing damage in the lungs. More
  • Developed and tested a new type of vaccine targeting tuberculosis, the world’s top infectious disease killer. More
  • Discovered that aspirin could be used to treat patients with severe tuberculosis infection. More

2018

  • Discovering a new virus strain, which could change the way chronic and childhood kidney diseases are approached and treated. More
  • Improved the diagnosis rate of a potentially deadly heart condition by up to 20 per cent. More
  • Determined how to develop safer blood-clotting drugs. More
  • Developed a novel drug which could potentially be used to treat patients with diabetic retinopathy; the main cause of blindness from diabetes. More
  • Discovered a cure for a sub-set of one of the most common genetic blood diseases in the world, Beta-thalassemia. More
  • Developed a novel drug which is being touted as a major step forward in the battle against obesity. More
  • Created a more realistic model of primary liver cancer. More

2017

  • Developed a new drug that could be effective in some of the hardest to treat cancers such as pancreatic and liver cancer. More
  • Discovered that gut bacteria could hold the key to treating and preventing potentially deadly strokes. More
  • Discovered a new cell in the liver, which will inform future investigations into liver disease and liver cancer. More
  • Identified antibacterial compounds in soil that could lead to new treatments for tuberculosis. More
  • Discovered a common pattern in the process of gene regulation that could be the key to treating and finding cures for cancers and other diseases. More
  • Revealed that a naturally occurring chemical process to DNA can change the way information in genes are read to help treat cancer. More

2016

  • Revealed new genetic insights on causes of sudden cardiac death in the young. More
  • Identified the first possible link between the heart and the brain in epilepsy patients. More
  • Identified drug targets for cerebral cavernous malformations. More
  • Revealed new information about the way the cornea responds to damage to assist in treating blindness. More

2015

  • Discovered that an enzyme could be a potential therapeutic target for limiting tumour growth and its spread into the liver. More
  • Discovered new links between nutrition and prostate cancer. More

2013

  • Discovered a new immune cell type that causes skin diseases and skin allergies.

2012

  • Discovered new drug candidates for prostate and breast cancer.

2011

  • Developed an integrated genetic and clinical approach for early diagnosis and treatment solutions to prevent sudden cardiac death.
  • Discovery of a new mechanism by which the liver kills immune cells responsible for graft rejection and viral clearance.

2009

  • Discovered micro RNA can be used to treat diseases associated with vascular leak eg stroke and myocardinal infarction.

2005

  • Discovered anti TNF therapy increases the risk of reactivation of Tuberculosis.
  • Improved the identification of human regulatory T Cells, a discovery used widely in clinical research settings.

1989

  • Discovered critical insights into the role of the immune system in health and disease.

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The Centenary Institute is a world-leading independent Medical Research Institute.

We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Centenary Institute stands.

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Missenden Rd
Camperdown NSW 2050 Australia
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Centenary Institute ABN 22 654 201 090 (DGR 1) • Centenary Institute Medical Research Foundation ABN 85 778 244 012 (DGR 2)
© 2017 Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology.

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