Foreword
At Garvan, we conduct biomedical research that has the power to transform health.
Our mission is to make discoveries that will lead to better prediction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are pleased to present this new strategic plan that will guide Garvan’s journey in the coming years. It comes at an inflection point in the Institute’s history, as we sharpen our focus, deepen our investment in research, and enhance the culture that will drive extraordinary science and its translation to societal impact.
We are tackling some of the most intractable scientific and clinical challenges in cancer, genomics and immunology – areas in which Garvan scientists possess distinctive strengths and critical mass. Our Programs unite research expertise and advanced technologies across the Institute, while fostering collaborations with clinical, industry and consumer partners.
Our greatest asset is our people – the exceptional talent of those at the forefront of medical research and innovation. The success of this strategy hinges on their creativity and determination. A key focus of our plan is to support their professional development, engendering a culture where innovation flourishes.
We are also investing in our teams through the recruitment of worldclass emerging and established leaders in their field to complement and expand our research and clinical translation capabilities.
The strategy comprises three parts. The first acts as a summary, explaining what Garvan is, our core principles, and our vision. The second provides a more detailed overview of our objectives over the coming years, including a focus on ensuring a sustainable future for the Institute. The third provides an overview of the broad scientific areas within which our scientists undertake their specific research programs, and an overview of our enabling scientific platforms.
We are excited about this next chapter of Garvan’s story and warmly invite you to join us in realising our ambitious vision for the future.
Professor
Scott Perkins Benjamin Kile
Professor Benjamin Kile Executive Director
Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Scott Perkins Chair Garvan Institute of Medical Research Board
This Strategy marks an inflection point for Garvan that will drive extraordinary science
Our purpose is to discover the nature and causes of diseases
What is Garvan?
The Garvan Institute is one of Australia’s largest independent medical research institutes.
Garvan is a New South Wales institution with a global reach. Founded in 1963, the Institute brings together world-leading scientists and clinicians to make biomedical research discoveries and translate them into better health outcomes.
In 1984, Garvan was incorporated as an independent, non-profit medical research institute. Our purpose, defined by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research Act, is to discover the nature and causes of human diseases and to improve their prevention, diagnosis and treatment, to provide services in the field of human medicine, to engage and help educate the community, and to raise awareness of our research.
In 1986, Garvan received competitive funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council to become one of only five ‘Centres of Research Excellence’ in Australia. With additional infrastructure funding from the New South Wales Government, Garvan has evolved into a world-class medical research institute and the largest organisation of its type in the state.
Today, Garvan houses more than 750 researchers, students, honorary appointees, professional and support staff who have deep expertise, commitment and dedication to drive the Institute towards its vision of improving health for all. Together, we have made transformative breakthroughs for diseases such as rare cancers and cancers of the breast, prostate and pancreas, immune deficiency, autoimmunity and COVID-19.
Garvan is a founding member of the St Vincent’s Sydney Health Innovation Precinct, Australia’s oldest and most established health partnership, and is proudly affiliated with UNSW Sydney. Our research is funded through a combination of peer-reviewed government grants and philanthropic investment from the community.
Our vision is to improve health for all
Our Vision
At Garvan, we see a future where all diseases can be prevented, treated or cured.
Everyone is touched by disease. Our discoveries today will lead to better health tomorrow.
Our Mission
Our mission is to make discoveries that will improve health for all.
Garvan brings together world-leading scientists and clinicians to advance our understanding of disease, particularly cancer, autoimmunity and genetic disorders. Enabled by cutting-edge technology and world-class facilities, we will drive more of our discoveries to clinical and societal impact.
Our Research Focus
Our research strategy will drive extraordinary science with transformational impact for health.
Garvan’s strategy builds on our expertise in genomics, cancer and immunology, which have transformed medical research over the past 20 years.
Since the completion of the first human genome in 2003, genomics in all its forms has become essential to biological science. Cancer research has driven extraordinary developments in knowledge and technology that have transformed our understanding of human biology. And we now
know that the immune system, once seen as a ‘black box’ of medicine, connects all tissues, organs and systems, and could potentially be harnessed to treat every human disease.
We have a strong track record in making fundamental biomedical discoveries. Our strategy charts a research focus for the Institute and defines targeted investment and initiatives to create the research culture that will translate our discoveries to the clinic.
Garvan’s work is centred around our Strategic Research Programs, each articulated with a vision that aspires to major scientific and clinical impact. The Programs are empowered by our Scientific Platforms, which place Garvan at the cutting edge of technology and continually push the boundaries of what can be achieved.
Cancer Ecosystems
Cancer Plasticity and Dormancy
Translational Oncology
Precision Immunology
Immune Biotherapies
Genomics Immunology
Genomics and Inherited Disease
Translational Genomics
Centre for Population Genomics
Our Strategic Priorities
We will strengthen and enhance our culture of ambition, creativity, rigour and excellence.
At Garvan, our greatest asset is our people, who work together to tackle major research questions. Garvan’s Strategic Priorities are designed for them, supporting a high-performance, ever-evolving research culture that drives extraordinary science.
We will be flexible and adapt the way we work as our people’s needs ebb and flow, removing barriers that hinder scientific and organisational progress. We will embrace the technologies and practices that enable our research vision and accelerate our ambition of making discoveries that impact society.
We will elucidate the basis of disease and create knowledge that contributes to global health.
T nslation Discovery
We will translate knowledge into improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.
We will educate, train and develop world-class researchers and professionals that will become the leaders of the future.
We will engage, inspire and educate the community to deepen the understanding and impact of Garvan’s work and medical research more broadly.
We will strengthen and enhance the supportive systems that enable the delivery of our mission.
Discovery
We conduct medical research that turns public support into public knowledge.
Without new knowledge, progress in combating disease is impossible. Garvan’s great strength is fundamental biomedical science, beginning with the human genome. As an institute, we embrace creativity and rigour to drive discovery and innovation. We seek to understand essentials, to question paradigms, and to generate new understanding of human development and disease.
Our clear and ambitious research vision will advance our three core areas of scientific focus, cultivating depth and breadth in our research to ensure it has impact. We will strengthen and enhance the culture and environment that enables us to attract, develop and retain an exceptional research workforce. Our cutting-edge technologies and systems will empower our researchers to achieve transformative scientific breakthroughs.
We operate within an ecosystem that includes our precinct partners as well as the broader medical research community. Where clear synergies with partners exist, we will integrate and share our resources, facilities and capabilities to enhance the quality and scope of our research efforts.
How we will measure success
• Our clearly articulated Program plans outline research goals, funding requirements and opportunities to build further institutional capability.
• We see growth in high-impact publications, patents and Garvan-led major grants.
• Our scientific Platforms and research services operate at the cutting edge, are accessible, effectively operated, and constantly evolving.
• An increasing number of cross-precinct research collaborations deliver greater collective impact.
• We will enter mutually beneficial agreements with strategic partners that enhance our ability to deliver our research vision.
• Garvan will be increasingly recognised as a leader within the national and international medical research community.
Translation
We will amplify and accelerate the impact of the knowledge we create through translational research and development.
Translation can take many forms, from pinpointing the genetic change responsible for an inherited disease that affects a single family, through to the development of new diagnostics and medicines for common and complex diseases such as cancer.
Collaborations are critical to advancing bold ideas. We will develop the framework, capability, policies and governance to drive more effective business development and commercialisation of Garvan research, and build industry partnerships to drive translation and help us realise impact from our scientific discoveries. We will use state-of-the-art systems for translation, such as our new Biologics Platform, to develop new agents, biomarkers and diagnostics.
We will continue to evaluate and prioritise our intellectual property and patent portfolios, to ensure we engage industry partners around our highest-potential discoveries.
How we will measure success
• We will develop a pipeline of experimental and preclinical tools to probe and progress Garvan researcher-identified therapeutic targets.
• Our proactive strategy to interact, transact and partner with industry will result in increased translational opportunities for Garvan-owned intellectual property.
• Improvements in our translational capabilities, including the creation of our Accelerator Fund to fast-track promising projects, will see an increase in the number of clinical trials of therapeutic agents with origins in Garvan research.
Development
We will educate, train and develop world-class talent.
Garvan’s diverse group of staff, students and volunteers have a remarkably broad range of skills and expertise, all of which are required to enable our research and translation efforts. We take pride in the meaningful nature of our work and are committed to excellence in everything we do. We value and respect every individual and seek to unite researchers and professionals in pursuit of our mission.
We will nurture a positive and inclusive culture providing every member of the Garvan community with the opportunity to flourish. We are committed to creating an enabling environment that values and supports training and development, ensuring our team members have the resources and encouragement they need to grow and succeed.
How we will measure success
• Garvan’s health, safety and wellbeing initiatives will drive improved safety performance.
• Implementation of guidelines and practices that inform and support inclusive hiring approaches will enhance diverse representation at all levels of Garvan, both in research and professional services.
• A transparent progression framework, including metrics and guidelines developed for all roles will support more visible and inclusive promotion practices.
Engagement
We will engage, inspire and educate the community to deepen the understanding and impact of our work.
The trust that Governments and community place in us is both an honour and a challenge we rise to, by ensuring the work we do is original, internationally competitive, and deserving of support.
Garvan is fortunate to have a deep, longstanding and authentic relationship with the community. We will build and expand on this vibrant community support base to strengthen our initiatives and deliver on our mission of health impact. We will actively engage with the medical research sector and Government to ensure collaboration, growth and impact in health research. We will engage and educate the community to deepen the understanding and impact of Garvan’s work, and that of the medical research sector more broadly.
How we will measure success
• Garvan will be increasingly seen by the public as a world-leading medical research organisation and trusted source of scientific knowledge.
• A vibrant and growing community of supporters and advocates will inspire enhanced philanthropic support.
• Increased engagements with all levels of Government and contributions to State and Federal Associations of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) will contribute to advocacy and policy development.
Institutional sustainability
We will create the dynamic culture and robust supporting systems that enable the delivery of our mission.
Medical research is a challenging and often unpredictable quest. We will establish a robust financial model that can navigate the inevitable peaks and troughs of medical research funding to provide our researchers with an environment that facilitates discovery and ensures they can pursue major scientific problems over the long term.
We will develop a long-term vision for Garvan’s premises, centred on an understanding of our current and future workforce, that will ensure that our research can grow and thrive for the decades to come.
How we will measure success
• Consistent and meaningful reporting underpinned by appropriate indictors of financial health will enable transparent decision-making.
• We will establish a Garvan Endowment Fund that is growing and an investment portfolio that outperforms agreed benchmarks.
• Our fit-for-purpose IT systems, talent and infrastructure will support research and institutional operations whilst maintaining cyber integrity.
• A Board-endorsed plan for the expansion or redevelopment of Garvan premises will enable the delivery of our ambitious research vision.
Our Strategic Programs
Garvan’s work is centred around our Strategic Research Programs, which each aspire to major scientific and clinical impact.
Garvan’s Strategy builds on genomics, cancer and immunology, which have transformed medical research over the past 20 years
Cancer
Despite advances in early detection, surgery and treatment, 10 million people die of cancer worldwide each year.
Our mission is to enable a future where all cancers can be effectively treated, controlled or prevented.
Cancer Ecosystems
Cancers don’t develop in isolation, but in a complex ecosystem of cell types that can support or suppress tumour growth and completely change a tumour’s response to therapy. The Cancer Ecosystems Program is discovering and developing new diagnostic tests and cancer treatments targeting this ecosystem, with a focus on breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers.
Using advanced genomic, proteomic, imaging and epigenomic technologies, we are building highresolution maps of the cancer ecosystem within human tumour samples. This analysis is revealing new biomarkers and therapy targets impacting the tumour environment, including fibrosis – a major barrier to chemotherapy – which have already led us to multiple clinical trials investigating combination treatments for cancer. We are also working to generate new therapies to exploit the therapeutic targets we identify.
This Program is enabled by world-leading biobanks housed at Garvan and collaborations with industry and clinical partners, including St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, the New South Wales Early Phase Clinical Trials Alliance and Royal North Shore Hospital.
Blood vessel, extracellular matrix and pancreatic cancer cells captured using intravital imaging. Credit: Dr Brooke Pereira
Cancer Plasticity and Dormancy
Most cancer deaths result from a relapse of treatment-resistant cancers, which can emerge after lying dormant for years after treatment. The focus of the Cancer Plasticity and Dormancy Program is to identify predictors that reveal which patients will relapse, and when, and develop new approaches to target therapy-resistant cells.
By integrating data from disease models, patient samples and clinical cohorts, we are uncovering the genomic, epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms that control cancer cell dormancy. We are identifying and validating therapeutic targets that prevent the emergence of therapy-resistant cells or eradicate dormant cells before they relapse. With an initial focus on multiple myeloma, breast and prostate cancers, the knowledge we generate will be applicable to many cancer types.
This Program is supported by state-of-the-art imaging, human tissue samples, clinical cohorts, single-cell sequencing, deep learning and computational biology approaches.
Translational Oncology
Our access to contemporary human cancer samples together with increasingly sophisticated analytical technologies is driving a much deeper understanding of how cancers evolve, and what factors enable each individual tumour to evade destruction. The Translational Oncology Program is exploiting this understanding to develop new target-based treatments for cancer, with an initial focus on diseases with the poorest prognoses, including pancreatic, breast, prostate cancers and ocular melanoma.
Using a combination of barcoding, single-cell and spatial techniques, we are investigating the mechanisms that facilitate cancer treatment resistance with the aim of pinpointing and developing new therapy approaches that effectively target resistant disease. Translation is central to the Program’s work, with several targets identified to date already undergoing clinical trials.
This research is enabled by clinical collaboration providing extensive access to primary tumour tissue samples, cellular barcoding, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics tools, and advanced mouse models including banks of patientderived xenografts.
Genomics
Our mission is to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of inherited disease and develop innovative new therapies for some of the most prevalent conditions facing society today.
Genomics and Inherited Disease
The Genomics and Inherited Disease Program is paving the way for a precision medicine approach to patient care, by identifying the genetic causes of disease. Using state-of-the-art genomic sequencing and analysis approaches, we are identifying genetic drivers in diseases of the immune system, heart, eyes, kidney, and brain – from common to rare diseases.
We are developing a research pipeline that leverages key strengths across Garvan, to maximise the likelihood of making new genetic diagnoses, improving access to research opportunities and genetic therapies. These insights will form the basis of prediction tools of who will be most at risk of a specific disease or clinical outcome and will inform the development of new treatments.
This Program is enabled by numerous diseasespecific cohorts, including the recently launched Genomics of Rare Disease Registry, and carried out in collaboration with the Centre for Population Genomics, Rare Voices Australia, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the Australian Immunogenomics Alliance, KidGen and Sydney Children’s Hospital Network/UNSW.
The Centre for Population Genomics
Translational Genomics
While our DNA acts in individual cells, it does not act the same way in every cell. The Translational Genomics Program is using cellular genomics to reveal new cell subtypes and genetic elements that underpin disease. By profiling single cells from thousands of people, we are uncovering new knowledge on the genetic causes of complex diseases, such as brain, liver and colorectal cancer, autoimmune disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Using this nuanced picture of disease, we are designing and testing new diagnostic approaches, beginning with liver and lung cancer, that can predict response to existing therapies. For new targets identified, we are designing and manufacturing RNA therapies, small molecule drugs and antibodies as new treatment options that improve patient outcomes.
This research is underpinned by newly established population-scale patient recruitment studies and large-scale clinical collaborations, sophisticated machine learning techniques, and the latest CRISPR and cell analysis approaches.
The Centre for Population Genomics (CPG) is a joint initiative between Garvan and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute focused on accelerating the development of genomic medicine in Australia. The Centre works directly with under-represented communities to co-design and build a new genomic resource, OurDNA, which will span over 10,000 Australians with a diversity of backgrounds.
In collaboration with the Genomics and Inherited Disease Program and other partners, CPG is improving the diagnosis and treatment of severe genetic diseases, having assembled the largest collection of rare disease genomic data in Australia to date. We are partnering with Microsoft Research and other national and international partners to develop and integrate new AI approaches into rare disease diagnosis and to fast-track these advances into clinical practice.
The Centre is collaborating with the Translational Genomics Program to generate a population-scale map of genetic variation that will build a deeper understanding of the biological function of human genes and how we can alter that function to treat disease.
Immunology
Our mission is to improve the management of immune conditions and to harness the immune system to develop treatments personalised to individual patients.
Immune Biotherapies
Tingible body macrophages (blue) clearing germinal centre
B cells inside a lymph node after vaccination. Credit: Dr Abigail Grootveld
Immune systems have incredible therapeutic potential, with antibodies already dominating the development of new disease treatments and the first CRISPR-mediated gene modification therapies now being approved for clinical use. The Immune Biotherapies Program is building on a decade of experience using CRISPR to develop a curative method of reversing pathogenic mutations in bone marrow stem cells in patients. We are also leading the design and testing of new targeting strategies for mRNA vaccines, with very promising initial results, and with cancer vaccination and immunotherapy a high priority for future development.
This Program is underpinned by the Mouse Engineering Garvan/ABR (MEGA) Facility and will be supported by Garvan’s expanding capabilities for antibody development.
Precision Immunology
Vaccine-preventable infectious disease, allergy and autoimmunity pose a significant global health challenge. The Precision Immunology Program’s focus is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases, supercharge the immune response to vaccination, and transform the management of allergic diseases including anaphylaxis.
By investigating the molecular mechanisms that underpin autoimmunity, allergy and immune deficiency, we aim to stratify patients with predictive biomarkers and treat them with therapies that precisely target the drivers of disease. Major projects underway are focused on multiple sclerosis, lupus, food allergies and other immune disorders. The Program is also working to discover the molecular ‘switches’ that activate immune responses, with the aim of generating better vaccines and improve cancer immunotherapy.
This Program is underpinned by single-cell analysis and clonal tracking, intravital imaging, gene editing and in vivo disease models. We partner closely with colleagues including St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, UNSW Sydney, the Kirby Institute and Local Health Districts in Sydney and beyond.
Our Platforms place Garvan at the cutting edge of technology and continually push the boundaries of what can be achieved
Scientific Platforms
Our world-class Platforms accelerate and empower our research vision.
Genomics
The Garvan Genomics Platform is an innovative leader in providing flow cytometry services, single-cell and spatial technologies, and genomic sequencing to the scientific research community. The Platform R&D team can customise solutions to meet researchers’ specific needs – from single service requests to comprehensive all-inone solutions.
Data Science
The Data Science Platform provides expertise and tools for data-intensive medical research, including: providing support for cloud and high-performance computing infrastructure, implementing software solutions, processing large volumes of data and using statistics and machine learning to analyse complex datasets, including imaging, genomics, transcriptomics, single-cell and spatial data.
Garvan’s Data Science Platform is a key contributor to the two national genomics data management initiatives: the National Approach to Genomics Information Management (NAGIM) led by Australian Genomics, and Guardians led by BioCommons and funded by NCRIS.
Biologics
The Biologics Platform is an advanced research initiative dedicated to accelerating the discovery and development of next-generation proteinbased therapies. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, including phage display, single B-cell screening, and comprehensive protein engineering, the platform supports researchers in pioneering new biologics that address critical medical needs.
By integrating with Garvan’s other core capabilities in Genomics, Imaging, and Data Science, the Biologics Platform fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, driving scientific innovation from early discovery through to preclinical development. This transformative facility will position Garvan at the forefront of antibody therapeutics, translating cutting-edge research into clinical applications to improve human health.
Development
The Development Platform is a unique initiative designed to drive translation and commercialisation projects, from concept to clinical application. With a focus on milestonedriven funding, the platform holds researchers accountable to clear go/no-go criteria, ensuring impactful, results-oriented progress.
Supported by development expertise, market analysis, and strategic guidance, the Development Platform will empower researchers to transform breakthrough discoveries into potential therapies. Through a flexible incentive structure and commercialisation pathway, including licensing opportunities and spinout support, the platform will foster long-term engagement and accelerates the journey from research innovation to realworld solutions.
Imaging
The Imaging Platform gives researchers access to state-of-the-art microscopy and preclinical imaging expertise. The Platform houses the largest fleet of intravital microscopes in Australia, enabling visualisation of dynamic cellular states in disease models. The multidisciplinary team of imaging specialists and analysts provide support from experimental design right through to analysis. The team also works on multiple R&D projects to pioneer the development of new imaging methods.
Clinical Translation and Engagement
The CT&E Platform is an interdisciplinary team of genetic counsellors, psychosocial and clinical researchers. The Platform provides a pathway for researchers to return actionable results to patients.
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Cover image: Mouse lymph node mounting a response to vaccination. Credit: Dr Angela Fontaine-Titley
