Wesley Medical Research Annual Report - 2017/2018

ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

contents 5

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organisation overview

chairman’s report

chief research advisor’s report

featured projects

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projects in progress

chief investigators

research publications

wmr tissue bank

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clinical informatics unit

fundraising

major supporters

supporting wmr

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community engagement

financial summary

our board

committee members

41 get involved

OUR MISSION Immediate improvements in patient care and quality of life through applied medical research.

OUR VISION “A world leader in applied medical research acknowledged for achieving excellence and innovation in patient care. WMR fosters a strong research culture in UnitingCare Health hospitals, improving patient outcomes by linking medical research and clinical practice.�

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OUR philosophy Patients are our focus. We want to empower change at the front line, giving clinicians the opportunity to be curious, to ask questions and challenge the status quo. We work with people, not mice, to seek answers to improve their quality of life, outcome or prognosis.

We value time. Where a cure is years away, we want to give patients options today. Our point of difference is that we bring together patients, clinicians and research with the aim of empowering curiosity.

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WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

organisation overview Wesley Medical Research was established in 1994 and is an independent not-for-profit medical research organisation with a strong focus in applied medical research.

Applied medical research converts scientific knowledge and discoveries into clinical applications in the form of improved diagnostic techniques, new treatment options and better management and recovery pathways.

Wesley Medical Research empowers and encourages those who have direct contact and access to patients to undertake research, such as doctors, nurses and other health professionals in hospitals.

Our focus on applied medical research has advantages including the efficient use of time and money. Unlike laboratory-based research which takes over a decade to show results, the majority of WMR’s research will result in visible medical advancements, better healthcare practices and lasting patient benefits within five years.

Wesley Medical Research has five core business units: • Research and Clinical Trials • The WMR Biobank • Clinical Informatics Unit • Marketing and Fundraising • Corporate Support Services.

In addition to our 17 Staff, WMR has a wide range of people involved in the organisation and critical to our work. They include our volunteers, our volunteer board and committee members, doctors and scientific collaborators, who receive nothing but a sense of personal satisfaction and recognition for their contribution to the collective achievements at WMR. We are proud of the work we do and look forward to expanding our supporter base and growing our capabilities again next year.

We are proud of the work we do and look forward to expanding our supporter base and growing our capabilities again next year.

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message from our chair peter allen I am delighted to present the 2018 Annual report for Wesley Medical Research.

This year we produced more important research outcomes for patients, while consolidating and refocusing Wesley Medical Research.

Our unique model brings together our committed and dedicated people, our strong culture of patient-centricity and our connection with UnitingCare.

In October 2017, Associate Professor John Allan was appointed as CEO. Working pro bono in this role, John has spent the last twelve months restructuring the institute to maximise the impact of donations towards practical outcomes for patients and researchers. He has achieved great results during his tenure in appointing a strong leadership team that has given WMR a fresh perspective and direction.

He has now transitioned to Chief Research Advisor to provide research advice and expertise, to ensure the highest quality research outcomes.

Many people deserve recognition for the success over the past 12 months.

Wesley Medical Research aims to lead the way in a new era of patient care.

This year we have continued to build on the strengths of our organisation.

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First let me acknowledge the contribution of our donors and supporters. Reliant overwhelmingly on private funding, we at WMR are grateful for the trust and confidence our donors have in our organisation.

I would like to highlight the important and continued support from The Brazil Family Foundation, Thorsen Foundation, Katharina Elizabeth Foundation, JJ Richards, Vidyajey Foundation, Albrecht Foundation, Mitsubishi Development and The Justin Cameron Cancer Care Foundation. I would especially like to acknowledge Rosalie Russell and Alex Steele for their commitment through the Katharina Elizabeth Foundation to furthering our cardiac research with

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

their generous donation this year.

We are grateful for donations of all sizes and thankful for the many people who have chosen to contribute to WMR according to their capacities and hopefully they and many more will do so into the future.

Integral to our success is our continued delivery of high quality research. We have 39 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals involved with research projects and clinical trials to improve the health and well-being of patients here and across the globe.

Thank you for your commitment to making a difference and giving patients hope when faced with a challenging diagnosis.

Thank you to the many patients who have participated in our research.

By taking part in our work you have contributed to advancing scientific knowledge and, in some cases, improving health outcomes for yourself and others with the same condition or

“

Wesley Medical Research aims to lead the way in a new era of patient care.

disease. Without your involvement, our research would not be possible.

Thanks to UnitingCare Health, The Wesley Hospital, St Andrews Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital and St Stephen’s Private Hospital for their ongoing support and commitment to upholding our mission and vision.

I would like to acknowledge and thank my fellow board members, members of our research committees and dedicated volunteers who give generously of their time and expertise.

I am excited by the future direction of the organisation and confident it will continue to accelerate discoveries that translate into improvements in patient care and quality of life.

Peter Allen Chairman

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highlights for this year have included

428 PATIENTS Supporting 428 patients on clinical trials and research programs across a range of diseases and specialities including: Parkinson’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, Pompe disease, brain cancer, prostate cancer, coeliac disease, breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.

10,258 samples 10,258 specimen samples were added to our Wesley Medical Research Biobank to assist in accelerating research and advancing precision medicine.

1st Delivering the first Cardiac Surgery Annual Report.

$500,000+ Receiving over half a million dollars from the Katharina Elizabeth Foundation for cardiac research.

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CHIEF RESEARCH ADVISOR’S Report At Wesley Medical Research, we strive to bring innovative research to patients.

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A survey conducted by Research Australia has found that 84% of Australians believe health professionals who see patients and also undertake research provide the best medical care.

Many families today will receive an awful diagnosis. Clinical trials will give some of these patients and their families hope and potentially more time together.

I urge you to continue supporting Wesley Medical Research and give patients hope, extend lives and drive medical advances for better patient care.

It’s great to see support for clinical research grow because evidencebased practice and care is the best and most effective for patients in terms of health outcomes

In 2018, researchers have already seen improvements in patients with cancer and stroke, and increased our knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis.

Thank you to all who have committed to making a difference this past year.

Changes and improvements in patient care and outcomes are only possible with your donations and support.

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

John Allan Chief Research Advisor Wesley Medical Research

what we achieved together in 2018

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5

1,104

4

Staff

Volunteers

Volunteer hours

Hospitals

428

10,258

39

2

Patients participated in clinical trials

New biobank samples

Doctors, nurses and allied health

Universities

37 Research projects conducted across cardiac and cardiac surgery, cancer, neuroscience, clinical innovation, infections and critical illness and Rural and Remote Health.

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featured projects patient story

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WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

wmr trialling new treatment for rare neurological disease It’s a natural human trait to want to plan. It’s natural to want to know what is happening for your foreseeable future.

That’s one of the reasons being diagnosed with a rare disease like Pompe Disease has such an impact on a sufferer’s outlook and head space. Suddenly, as far as they can see, the future consists of symptom management, doctor’s appointments and the limited available treatment.

Wayne Brown was diagnosed with Pompe Disease last year. In spite of the rarity and severity of the disease, he has remained upbeat and positive. Part of his positive outlook has come from being able to participate in a worldwide study of a new treatment option.

Every fortnight, Wayne travels from Kingaroy to Wesley Medical Research to be a part of a multicentre study being conducted in North and South America, Europe, Australia and South East Asia.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the action and outcomes of a new study drug, compared to the currently available treatment, in the management of patients with late onset Pompe disease.

Approximately 96 participants will take part in the three year study, at approximately 27 sites in 25 countries. It is anticipated that there will be one or two participants in Australia. So Wayne Brown definitely sees his glass as half full.

“You can’t underestimate the psychological impact of being involved in a clinical study like this. To have such a rare disease, and to know that in worst case, my symptoms can be halted, or could possibly have a bounce back or remission of damage, does amazing things for my headspace,” said Wayne.

Clinical Nurse Jacqui Langton taking some baseline measurements for Patient Wayne Brown as he receives an infusion during the clinical trial.

what is pompe disease?

Pompe disease is a rare, inherited and debilitating disease caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the enzyme responsible for breaking down glycogen in the body. It damages muscle and nerve cells throughout the body.1 1

http://australianpompe.org.au/find-out-more/resources/

Dr Robert Henderson, a neurologist at Wesley Hospital with a special interest in clinical trials for Motor Neurone Disease and neuromuscular disorders, diagnosed Wayne and identified him as an ideal candidate for this trial and applied immediately for his participation.

But the benefits aren’t limited to accessing world-leading treatment options for rare diseases. As Wayne tells it, ““I also get to see the amazing group here at Wesley Medical Research

every fortnight. They have made this a home away from home. An extended family who are extremely professional, but take such great care of me.”

When asked what he would like to say to potential donors, Wayne simply said, “Please donate to keep research projects like this alive. I am seeing the benefits beyond the medicine. I’m able to be part of something bigger, and you can too.”

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featured projects completed

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WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

RESEARCH PROJECTS Sleep and circadian alterations in Huntington’s Disease and Friedreich’s Ataxia: a case-control study

Investigators • Dr Susanna Mantovani • A ssociate Professor John O’Sullivan • A ssociate Professor Simon Smith • Dr Alexander Ritchie • Mr Riley Forbes

Limited research has been conducted on sleep in HD and FA patients to date. However, clinical experience, epidemiological, and experimental data all indicate that the circadian system (the body clock) is affected in HD, and patients with early stage HD show sleep-wake abnormalities that may be asymptomatic. In FA patients, sleep is often disrupted by arousals associated with obstructive apnoea occurring during sleep.

Background

The Project

Huntington’s disease (HD) and Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) are two devastating and terminal neurodegenerative conditions.

No cure is currently available for either inherited disease, resulting in deep frustration for the patients, their families, and treating health carers who are left with only symptomatic treatment options.

The latest evidence suggests that sleep-wake disturbance may play an important role in the processes of neurodegenerative diseases by exacerbating other symptoms of these diseases, and even by triggering further neurodegeneration. Also, altered sleep patterns, particularly short sleep duration and fragmented or disrupted sleep, can be responsible for immune system, respiratory, and neural alterations, in addition to having social impacts and reducing the quality of life, all of which are often observed in HD and FA.

The aim of this study was to analyse the sleep-wake patterns and circadian rhythms in a group of HD and FA patients compared to age and gender matched controls. The study involved the use of portable devices (homebased polysomnography together with actigraphy), and the completion of sleep specific questionnaires and diaries. The results of the study indicate that HD and FA patients have sleep-wake abnormalities, with both patient groups waking up later in the day and having less exposure to light in the morning, and FA patients having less exposure to light for the rest of the day. Moreover, both HD and FA patients show characteristic sleep abnormalities as revealed by the analysis of their sleep stages, clinically relevant sleep parameters, and detailed study of their sleep electroencephalogram (EEG).

Project Outcomes Sleep and circadian changes can promote neurodegenerative disease progression, and might even be a trigger for further degeneration.

Monitoring sleep and implementing currently available therapies to improve sleep could have a great impact on quality of life for patients with HD and FA, both in the short and long term. This exploratory study suggests novel methods for the early detection of pathological changes and for patient followup over time. Additionally, the study lays the foundation for the development of new tools for the early diagnosis and follow-up of these patients, providing a valuable tool for clinical trials of therapeutic and/ or neuroprotective interventions.

Moreover, sleep-wake studies of patients with HD and FA have great research potential because the genetic basis of these diseases allows identification of people at increased risk for the diseases, providing the capacity for very early detection and monitoring of the deterioration of symptoms. In addition to the research potential, the introduction of new technologies to easily and remotely monitor sleepwake patterns in HD and FA patients could improve timely delivery of treatments to these patients, and improve their clinical outcomes.

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Molecular mechanisms of Kallikrein 7 enzyme promoting ovarian cancer metastasis and chemo-resistance

Investigators • A ssociate Professor James Nicklin • Dr Ying Dong • A ssociate Professor Jonathan Harris • Distinguished Professor Judith Clements

Background Ovarian cancer is a silent killer and has a severe impact on women with this disease and their families. The majority of patients are diagnosed when tumours have spread in the abdominal cavity. At this stage it is very difficult to remove tumours thoroughly by surgery and patients are given chemotherapy. The cancer, however, will eventually become resistant and regrow leading to a less than 30% 5-year patient survival rate. More effective treatments are needed to delay the recurrence of the tumour and to prolong patient survival time.

Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) are a group of serine proteases widely expressed in various tissues and

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involved in a wide range of bodily processes. One of these, Kallikrein 7, is an enzyme that is normally only present in the ovaries at very low levels, but is over produced in high grade ovarian cancer (HGOC).

When overexpressed it may provide a route for metastasis (spreading of cells) in ovarian cancer. Additionally, although Platinum and Taxol are the front-line chemotherapy agents used for ovarian cancer treatment, 75% of patients will have a recurrence of the cancer, which will become resistant to the chemotherapy treatment.

The project also aimed to determine if by inhibiting KLK7, the response to chemotherapy treatments would be increased and the spreading of ovarian cancer cells around the body (metastasis) decreased.

The Project

It is likely to be involved in the spread of cancer cells in the abdomen (peritoneal cavity) and in chemoresistance. The research has shown that KLK7 is involved in many aspects of HGSOC tumour growth like the build-up of ascites, spread of the cancer in the abdomen and chemo resistance and that anti-KLK7 drugs can block these actions. Hence there is considerable potential for anti-KLK7 drugs as a new therapeutic approach for those women with high KLK7 levels in their tumours or ascites in a precision medicine approach.

This study aimed to understand the core mechanisms of Kallikrein 7 (KLK7) associated with ovarian cancer in order to investigate its potential as a therapeutic target and/or prognostic biomarker for high grade ovarian cancer (HGOC), the most aggressive and lethal form of ovarian cancer. To do this, the investigators established a collection of primary ovarian cancer cell cultures from patients; examined the effect of KLK7 inhibition on ovarian cancer and blood vessel cells; and determined the effect of KLK7 inhibition on ovarian cancer cells.

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Project Outcomes This project has shown that KLK7 is involved in many aspects of high grade ovarian cancer tumour growth. KLK7 appears to promote the survival of HGOC cells in the ascites (an abnormal build-up of fluid in the peritoneal cavity).

Profiling the intratumoural microbiome and host reactions in breast cancer tissue

Investigators • A ssociate Professor Ian Bennett • Professor Melissa Brown • A ssociate Professor Nicholas Saunders • Dr Orla Gannon • Professor Mark Morrison

diabetes. More recently, it has emerged that bacteria may be implicated in the causation of human cancers and through a mechanism which involves changing the environment surrounding tissue cells. Preliminary data from the investigators indicated that more than 70% of normal breast tissue contained a bacterial community, compared to 25% of breast cancer tissue.

The Project

Background Breast cancer is perhaps the most extensively studied human cancer of all. Genome and transcript sequences from several thousands of patients are now publically available. Despite the progress made in curing breast cancer, we still do not know what causes it.

Whilst there have been recent reports suggesting that viruses might be implicated in breast cancer development, in an earlier study the investigators demonstrated using genome deep sequencing techniques that viral genomes were not actually incorporated into the tumour genome, thus essentially showing that is was unlikely that viruses were playing a significant role in breast cancer aetiology.

The aim of this study was to determine whether disturbances in the bacterial community associate with breast cancer. PCR and gene sequencing techniques were used to compare normal breast tissue with cancerous tissue from the same breast of patients. Using this approach, the investigators consistently found that normal breast tissue had a population of bacteria. However, significantly, it was discovered that the cancer tissue itself had almost undetectable levels of bacteria. This suggests that the normal healthy breast tissue has a small healthy bacterial community, whereas breast cancer tissue has little if any. It may be that bacteria is needed to maintain breast health and that loss of these “healthy” bacteria may contribute to the formation of breast cancer.

Project Outcomes This project has shown promising insight that could lead to the prevention of breast cancer through targeting of healthy bacteria. “Because our study shows that breast cancer tissue has a greatly reduced bacterial burden, this might suggest that the loss of ‘good bacteria’ may alter the breast tissue biochemical milieu and potentially incite inflammatory changes which predispose to breast cancer development. If we can show that this is the case, then it suggests that tests of bacterial burden may be helpful in diagnosing those at risk of breast cancer.

More importantly, it may suggest that treatments or diets that maintain ‘good bacterial’ communities within breast tissue may prevent breast cancer development,” said Professor Ian Bennett. These findings will be pursued in a future study to understand what preventative mechanisms could be introduced to maintain the healthy bacterial composition of breast tissue.

Bacterial communities are found in almost all human tissue and are generally considered to be required for good health. However, changes in the composition of bacterial communities are known to cause disease such as inflammatory bowel disease, even

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featured projects commencing 2018/2019 FY

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WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

RESEARCH PROJECTS MENTAL HEALTH IN THE BOWEN BASIN

Investigators • Dr Tamara Street • A ssociate Professor John Allan

PROJECT DETAILS The Bowen Basin Community Moranbah, Emerald, Clermont Program Completion June 2024 Stage 1 Funding Gap $150,000

The Project

OUR NOVEL APPROACH

Phase 1 (Year 1) Evaluation and Scope

Rather than researching the needs of the community or medical professionals in silos, as is often the case in previous research, our team will facilitate connections between the service providers and the community who require support to find innovative and culturally appropriate ways to increase mental health support.

Community and stakeholder consultations (including medical professionals) will seek to identify locally appropriate strategies to promote and support solutions to increase help seeking and successful access to services required. Findings will be reported to community stakeholders to inform the design, delivery and management of a mental health program that is of value.

Phase 2 (Years 2-4) Program Implementation

FUNDING PARTNERS

To encourage local ownership of a sustainable mental health program.

Program support will aim to increase help seeking and increase access to mental health support when required.

Mitsubishi Development $500,000 over 5 years

Phase 3 (Years 3-5) Evaluation and Ongoing Improvement

Background The Bowen Basin community faces several challenges to accessing mental health support. These include: poor access to mental health support services; lack of awareness of help available; isolation; cost associated with accessing support; lifestyle risk factors; cultural barriers; lack of anonymity; social attitudes of selfsufficiency; and stigma attached to mental health conditions.

Wesley Medical Research will collect and analyse data to achieve an evidence-based evaluation of mental health program outcomes. Evaluations will be conducted in years three to five to allow longitudinal comparisons and to investigate both shorter and longer term mental health outcomes.

Given the young median age (30 years) and high access to internet (over 90%), we will use a combination of online and face-to-face data collection and health promotion strategies to efficiently engage with the community and medical professionals.

We will assist in the implementation of mental health services that will increase the capacity of Bowen Basin residents to access affordable support locally. We will evaluate program outcomes longitudinally with validated measures such as: quality of life; coping; help-seeking; mental health knowledge and stigma; perceived access to and quality of services; sense of belonging; and community engagement.

This research will be one of the very few studies that evaluate long term mental health programs, identify their impact in the community and proactively implement improvements to services.

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Finding a Safe Level of Gluten for Coeliac Patients Background Investigators

Expected Completion June 2021

Coeliac disease (CeD) is an autoimmune illness triggered by the ingestion of gluten and treatment necessitates a lifelong and strict gluten-free diet. Adequate removal of gluten is important to improve patient symptoms, health and quality of life.

There is a lack of high quality studies that clearly define a “safe” level of gluten intake. In most of Europe, the UK and the USA, food products can be considered gluten-free if they contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. In Australia and New Zealand there is no threshold and the definition is based on “no detectable gluten”. In practice this means the gluten content needs to be lower than the current limit of detection of food testing assays, which is around 3 ppm.

Funding Gap $197,965

THE project

Exploratory Endpoints:

This study aims to determine whether the 20 ppm threshold has the same level of safety for patients as the approach in Australia and New Zealand of no detectable gluten. It will involve participants consuming a small amount of gluten (10 mg) or placebo (no gluten) in addition to maintaining their usual gluten-free diet. Biological effects of a microchallenge with gluten will be measured by recording a person’s symptoms, their blood antibodies and changes to their small intestine. The findings will inform clinical practice and regulatory bodies with respect to food policy.

• C orrelation of faecal Gluten Peptides with symptoms, serology and histology

• Dr James Daveson • Dr Jason A. Tye-Din • A ssociate Professor G Brown • Dr Evan Newnham • Dr Ian Brown • Dr Kirsten Coppell • A ssociate Professor Michael Schultz

PROJECT DETAILS Wesley Medical Research Australia, New Zealand

FUNDING PARTNERS Coeliac Australia $400,000 Private Donor $50,000 The Woodend Foundation $25,000

118 patients required Recruitment commencing 2019

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It will consist of a 3- month micro gluten challenge consisting of a daily dose of 10 mg gluten or a matched placebo. Participant symptoms, serology and histology will be assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks.

This is an international, prospective, multisite, randomised, doubleblind, placebo controlled, microgluten challenge study in patients with medically diagnosed coeliac in remission on a strict gluten-free diet for 12 months.

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

Primary Endpoint: • D eterioration in intestinal Villous height/crypt depth ratio (Change of 0.5 from baseline will be taken as significant) Secondary Endpoint: • C hanges Coeliac Disease Patient reported outcome scores Elevation in Coeliac Disease specific serology (tTG-IgA and DGP-IgG) • I ncrease in intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) count with normal villous architecture is a recognised finding in latent coeliac disease

• C ytokines mRNA (critical mediators of inflammation) in intestinal biopsies PROJECT IMPACT A gluten free diet is labour intensive, socially exclusive and expensive but necessary to support the well-being of people with coeliac disease. Ensuring a wide variety of safe, manufactured gluten-free foods is important for the nutrition, adherence and quality of life of people needing to follow such a highly restrictive diet. It remains unclear whether the “no detectable” gluten definition for labeling gluten free foods is superior or equivalent to the 20 ppm threshold definition, and there is a distinct paucity of high-quality controlled studies to address this issue.

Phase One Trial: Re-Purposing Drugs For Malignant Glioma Background Investigators • Professor David Walker • Dr Frank Tomlinson • Dr Terry Coyne OAM • Dr Richard Kahler • Dr Michael Bryant • Dr Norman Ma • Dr Hamish Alexander • Vivian Biggs

PROJECT DETAILS The Wesley Hospital Expected Completion June 2021 Funding Gap $28,750

Malignant glioma is the most common primary tumour of the brain in adults and despite advancement in surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, the average survival of patients with this disease is 14 months. Whilst advances in alternative treatments such as immunotherapy may have a future role, it is likely that a multifaceted approach to a treatment regime that aims for surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as introducing medications to enhance metabolic changes in cancer cells will lead to improved outcomes. By using widely available medications to induce these metabolic changes in the cancer cells before standard treatments, we believe a significant change in the outcome for patients with malignant glioma can be attained.

Recruitment commencing 2019

Combination Therapy: • M etformin - hydrophobic drug and is known to cross the bloodbrain barrier. It has been shown to decrease glioma cell proliferation, and induce cell cycle arrest, autophagy, apoptosis and cell death • A torvastatin - a cholesterol lowering agent that has anti-inflammatory and apoptotic effects against glioma cell spheroids • C elecoxib- generally prescribed as an anti-inflammatory agent in the management of joint pain project impact

THE project 12 patients required

The medication will be offered to patients at the initial visit prior to a confirmed diagnosis, and if confirmed will continue for a total of 9 months.

The combination therapy will be offered in addition to standard care.

This study proposes to commence a combination of Metformin, Atorvastatin and Celecoxib. Each of these medications has a long prescribing history and is available as part of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

This trial will enable us to determine whether the addition of this drug regime with standard therapy will influence progression free survival, overall survival and the quality of life of patients living with brain tumours.

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PROJECTS IN PROGRESS LAY TITLE

SCIENTIFIC TITLE

Cardiology Predicting response to a new treatment for cardiac amyloidosis

‘The Return of the Normal Heart - An MRI analysis of resolution of cardiac amyloidosis after chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation’

Does high intensity interval training lead to better outcomes compared to moderate intensity continuous exercise?

Feasibility, safety, adherence and efficacy of high intensity interval training in hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation. Is it superior for patient outcomes?

Monitoring respiratory function of patients undergoing moderate sedation

Optimising the clinical application of capnography for monitoring ventilation of sedated patients in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory

Reducing radiation risk in the cardiac catheter theatre through feedback of usage to clinicians

Radiation risk during cardiac catheter procedure: does individualised feedback reduce radiation usage without compromising procedural success?

How can we reduce bleeding and blood clotting risks during and after cardiac surgery?

Towards the rational use of anti-thrombotic prophylaxis to minimize thromboembolic and bleeding complications following transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Cancer Comparison of bacterial populations in normal and breast cancer tissue

Profiling the intratumoural microbiome and host reactions in breast cancer tissue

Blocking the spread of ovarian cancer and increasing the chemotherapeutic response

Molecular mechanisms of kallikrein 7 enzymes promoting ovarian cancer metastasis and chemo-resistance

Improving service delivery within the Wesley oncology department through journal writing

Patient Journaling Oncology Experience (PJOE)

Rural and Remote Health

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Empowering positive health behaviours

Empowering positive physical activity and nutrition health behaviours at work

Rural Health Connect

Rural Health Connect: Improving access to quality health care for regional and remote patients

Medicine use in Rural and Remote Australia

Appropriateness of commonly used medicines in patients from a rural or remote setting presenting to an urban tertiary referral hospital in Australia

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

LAY TITLE

SCIENTIFIC TITLE

Clinical Innovation Development of new long-term urology and radiology database at the Wesley Hospital

Prospective database of urology and radiology outcomes at the Wesley Hospital

Speech performance and gene expression in Galactosaemia FOXP2 gene expression in classic Galactosaemia patients Improving the outcome of the critically unwell patient.

Adiponectin and its association with acute inflammation, critical illness and organ dysfunction

Management of blood loss during total knee and total hip replacement surgeries

A Prospective, Randomised Non-Blinded Pilot Study To Optimise Oral Tranexamic Acid Dosing In Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

The implementation of a 6-day Weekend rehabilitation service at St Andrew’s War Memorial multidisciplinary rehabilitation service at Hospital to improve patient outcome St Andrews War Memorial Hospital A new and improved technique for fixing knee ligament injuries

Medical meniscal root repairs: A simple new arthroscopic technique

Efficacy of two different injections for knee osteoarthritis

Intraarticular steroid versus Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in knee osteoarthritis

Does obesity surgery have negative effect on the bones?

Effects of bariatric surgery on bone density at 24 months

Improving diagnostic method for coeliac disease

Evaluating the efficacy of a point of care testing and HLA typing in screening high risk first degree relatives of patients with coeliac disease

Researching Effective Approaches to Cleaning in Hospitals

NHMRC Partnership Project - 'REACH: Researching Effective Approaches to Cleaning in Hospitals

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LAY TITLE

SCIENTIFIC TITLE

Clinical Innovation

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Better understanding of sleep behaviour in early stage Motor Neuron Disease and Parkinson’s Disease

Sleep and Circadian Alterations in Friedreich’s ataxia and Huntington’s disease

Improving physical activity in Parkinson’s disease patients

A physiotherapy exercise program with a self-management approach to improve physical activity in people with mildmoderate Parkinson’s disease: A RCT

Inflammatory biomarkers for Motor Neuron Disease

Defining inflammatory biomarkers in motor neuron disease patients to assist in clinical trial efficiency of the C5aR antagonist PMX205

Investigating mechanism of energy breakdown in Motor Neuron Disease (MND) patients

Assessment of metabolic health in neurodegeneration: studies in motor neuron disease

Investigating the relationship between gene mutation and new treatment for Multiple Sclerosis patients

Does genetic variation in genes controlling pro-inflammatory immune responses modulate outcomes of MIS416 treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis?

New treatment for insomnia in Parkinson’s disease patients

Using N-of-1 trials to identify responders to melatonin for sleep disturbance in Parkinson’s disease

Using a clinically approved drug to block chronic inflammation in Parkinson’s disease

Targeting peripheral inflammatory pathology in Parkinson’s disease using repurposed drugs

Identification of non-genetic causes of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis including circulating toxins

Use of mass spectrometry to identify circulating toxins in the people with ALS

Exposing mechanisms of impaired appetite regulation in MND

Endocrine and Appetite Targets and Therapies (EATT) for Motor Neuron Disease (MND): Investigating mechanisms of impaired appetite regulation and weight loss in MND

Improving gut health in Motor Neuron Disease patients with Squalamine

A randomised, controlled phase 1 study to investigate the safety and efficacy of orally administered squalamine in subjects with Motor Neuron Disease

The Queensland Drug Repurposing Initiative (QDRI)

Repurposing of clinically approved drugs for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

New treatments for Motor Neuron Disease and Huntington’s disease

Development and translation of a complement C5a receptor antagonist to clinical trials for Motor Neuron Disease and Huntington’s disease

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The WMR difference is that we bring together patients, clinicians and research with the aim of enhancing health outcomes and changing lives.

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chief investigators In alphabetical order, the following list details the committed clinicians and researchers that have devoted their time, energy and expertise to finding answers that will bring about better outcomes for patients.

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Name

Speciality

Org. / Related UCH Hospital

A/Prof Ian C Bennett

Breast and Endocrine Surgeon

TWH

Prof Sandra Brauer

Physiotherapy

UQ

Dr Nicholas Brown

Radiologist

Wesley Medical Imaging / TWH

Ms Erin Caruana

Physiotherapy

SAWMH

Dr Sue Clark

Anaesthetist

TWH

Prof David Coman

Medical Director, Paediatrics

TWH

Dr James Daveson

Gastroenterologist

SAWMH

A/Prof Genevieve Dingle

Clinical Psychology

UQ

Dr Jonathon Fanning

Specialist Anaesthetist

SAWMH

Dr Ben Fitzgerald

Cardiologist

Heart Care Partners / SAWMH

Prof Mary-Louise Fleming

Public Health

TWH

Prof John Fraser

Intensive Care Medicine

SAWMH

Dr Michael Gardner

Cardiac Surgeon (Retired)

SAWMH

Dr Richard Gordon

Senior Research Fellow - Neuroscience

UQ

A/Prof Judith Greer

Neuroimmunology

UQ

Dr Robert Henderson

Neurologist

TWH

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

Name

Speciality

Org. / Related UCH Hospital

Dr Pauline Joubert

Obstetrician Gynaecologist

TWH

Ms Jenna Kirchner

Dietician and Exercise Physiologist

TWH

Dr Philip Lockie

Bariatric Surgeon

SAWMH

Dr Susanna Mantovani

Wesley Medical Research

UQ

Prof Pamela McCombe

Neurologist

TWH

Dr Yogesh Mistry

Director Medical Services

SAWMH

Dr Philip Mosley

Neuropsychiatrist

SAWMH

Dr Shyuan Ngo

Research Fellow - Neuroscience

AIBN / UQ

A/Prof James Nicklin

Obstetrician Gynaecologist

TWH

Mrs Carlie Nielsen

Cancer Care Coordinator

TWH

A/Prof Jane Nikles

Research Fellow

UQCCR

A/Prof John O’Sullivan

Neurologist

SAWMH

Dr Morgan Pokorny

Urologist

TWH

Dr Tony Rafter

Cardiologist

Heart Care Partners / TWH

Dr Katherine Robinson

Intensive Care MEdicine

TWH

Dr Christian Rowan

Addiction Specialist Physician

TWH

Dr Frederick Steyn

Research Fellow - Neuroscience

UQCCR

Dr Tamara Street

Psychology, Rural & Remote Health

Wesley Medical Research

Dr Merryn Thomae

Endocrinologist

SAWMH

Prof David Walker

Neurosurgeon

Brizbrain and Spine / TWH

Dr Margaret Williamson

Endocrinologist

TWH

A/Prof Trent Woodruff

Pharmacologist

UQ

Dr John Yaxley

Urologist

The Wesley Urology Clinic / TWH

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

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RESEARCh publications Clements, J. A. (2017). Mass spectrometry based proteomics analyses in kallikrein-related peptidase research: implications for cancer research and therapy AU - Silva, Lakmali Munasinghage. Expert Review of Proteomics, 14(12), 1119-1130.

Croaker, A., King, G. J., Pyne, J. H., Anoopkumar-Dukie, S., & Liu, L. (2018). Assessing the risk of epidemic dropsy from black salve use. J Appl Toxicol, 38(10), 1274-1281.

Daveson, J. (2017). Point of care testing in first degree relatives of people with coeliac disease. Australian Coeliac, The (Dec 2017), 9-11.

Dingle, G. A. A.-O. h. o. o. X., Williams, E., Jetten, J., & Welch, J. Choir singing and creative writing enhance emotion regulation in adults with chronic mental health conditions.

Fitzgerald, B. T., Ballard, E. L., & Scalia, G. M. (2018). Estimation of the Blood Pressure Response With Exercise Stress Testing. Heart, Lung and Circulation.

Fitzgerald, B. T., Bashford, J., Newbigin, K., & Scalia, G. M. (2017). Regression of cardiac amyloidosis following stem cell transplantation: a comparison between echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in long-term survivors. Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc, 14, 53-57.

Forbes, R., Smith, S. S., Ritchie, A., O’Sullivan, J. D., & Mantovani, S. (2017). A case-control spectral analysis of sleep in Friedreich’s Ataxia. Sleep Medicine, 40, e209-e209.

Fulton, R., Millar, J. E., Merza, M., Johnston, H., Corley, A., Faulke, D., . . . Fraser, J. F. (2018). High flow nasal oxygen after bariatric surgery (OXYBAR), prophylactic post-operative high flow nasal oxygen versus conventional oxygen therapy in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: study protocol for a randomised controlled pilot trial. Trials, 19(1), 402.

Harris, P. N. A., Ben Zakour, N. L., Roberts, L. W., Wailan, A. M., Zowawi, H. M., Tambyah, P. A., . . . investigators, M. T. (2017).

Whole genome analysis of cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli from bloodstream infections in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore: high prevalence of CMY-2 producers and ST131 carrying blaCTX-M-15 and blaCTX-M-27. J Antimicrob Chemother.

Harris, P. N. A., Peri, A. M., Pelecanos, A. M., Hughes, C. M., Paterson, D. L., & Ferguson, J. K. (2017). Risk factors for relapse or persistence of bacteraemia caused by Enterobacter spp.: a case–control study. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 6(1), 14.

Horan, M. P., Chai, S. Y., Munusamy, N., Tay, K. H., Wienholt, L., Tye-Din, J. A., . . . Badrick, T. (2018). High rates of variation in HLA-DQ2/DQ8 testing for coeliac disease: results from an RCPAQAP pilot program. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 71(10), 900-905.

Ioannides, Z. A., Steyn, F. J., Henderson, R. D., McCombe, P. A., & Ngo, S. T. (2017). The risk of overestimating fatness in motor neurone disease: longitudinal assessments of body composition. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 88(5), e1-e1.

Keller, A., Gericke, C., Whitty, J. A., Yaxley, J., Kua, B., Coughlin, G., & Gianduzzo, T. (2017). A Cost-Utility Analysis of Prostate Cancer Screening in Australia. Appl Health Econ Health Policy, 15(1), 95-111.

Lacey, S. J., & Street, T. D. (2017). Measuring healthy behaviours using the stages of change model: an investigation into the physical activity and nutrition behaviours of Australian miners. Biopsychosoc Med, 11, 30.

Mactaggart, F., McDermott, L., Tynan, A., & Whittaker, M. (2018). Exploring the broader health and well-being outcomes of mining communities in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Glob Public Health, 13(7), 899-913.

McCombe, P. A., Ngo, S. T., Guo, C. C., Fazlollahi, A., Bollmann, S., Wang, L., . . . Steyn, F. J. (2018). Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 10.1136/jnnp-2018-318823.

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WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

Mitchell, B. G., Farrington, A., Allen, M., Gardner, A., Hall, L., Barnett, A. G., . . .Graves, N. (2017). Variation in hospital cleaning practice and process in Australian hospitals: A structured mapping exercise. Infection, Disease & Health, 22(4), 195-202 Muruganandan, S., Azzopardi, M., Fitzgerald, D. B., Shrestha, R., Kwan, B. C. H., Lam, D. C. L., . . . Lee, Y. C. G. (2018).

Aggressive versus symptom-guided drainage of malignant pleural effusion via indwelling pleural catheters (AMPLE-2): an open-label randomised trial. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 6(9), 671-680.

Ngo, S. T., Mi, J. D., Henderson, R. D., McCombe, P. A., & Steyn, F. J. (2017). Exploring targets and therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current insights into dietary interventions. Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis, 7, 95-108.

Parham, S. C., Kavanagh, D. J., Shimada, M., May, J., & Andrade, J. (2018). Qualitative analysis of feedback on functional imagery training: A novel motivational intervention for type 2 diabetes. Psychology & Health, 33(3), 416-429.

Pelzer, E. S., Willner, D., Buttini, M., Hafner, L. M., Theodoropoulos, C., & Huygens, F. (2018). The fallopian tube microbiome: implications for reproductive health. Oncotarget, 9(30), 21541-21551.

Retchford, T. H., Tucker, K. J., Weinrauch, P., Cowan, S. M., Grimaldi, A., Kemp, J. L., & Crossley, K. M. (2018). Clinical features of people with hip-related pain, but no clinical signs of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Physical Therapy in Sport, 34, 201-207.

Steyn, F. J., Ioannides, Z. A., van Eijk, R. P. A., Heggie, S., Thorpe, K. A., Ceslis, A., . . . Ngo, S. T. (2018). Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 89(10), 1016-1023.

Steyn, F. J., Ngo, S. T., Chen, V. P., Bailey-Downs, L. C., Xie, T. Y., Ghadami, M., . . . Stout, M. B. (2018). 17-estradiol acts through hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin expressing neurons to reduce feeding behavior. Aging Cell, 17(1), e12703.

Street, T.D., Lacey, S.J. & Grambower, J. (2017) Employees prefer information more than free food: Understanding desires and intentions to develop appropriate nutrition promotion strategies. International Journal of Workplace Health Management. 10(4). 332-342. doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-02-2017-0013 Street, T.D., Lacey, S.J. & Langdon, R. (2017) Gaming your way to health: A systematic review of exergaming programs to increase exercise behaviors in adults. Games for Health: Research, Development and Clinical Applications. 6(3): 136-146.

DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2016.0102 Street, T.D. & Thomas, D.L. (2017) Beating Obesity: Factors Associated with Interest in Workplace Weight Management Assistance in the Mining Industry. Safety and Health at Work. 8(1): 89-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2016.05.005 Street, T.D. & Lacey, S.J. (2018). Employee perceptions of workplace health promotion programs: Comparison of a tailored, semi-tailored, and standardized approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

15(5), 881. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050881 Street, T.D., & Lacey, S.J. (2018). Employee Characteristics and Health Belief Variables Related to Smoking Cessation Engagement. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation. 60: 75-83. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-182716 Street, T.D. & Lacey, S.J. (2018). Accounting for employee health: The productivity cost of leading health risks. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/hpja.200 Taylor, J., Keating, S. E., Leveritt, M. D., Holland, D. J., Gomersall, S. R., & Coombes, J. S. (2017). Study protocol for the FITR Heart Study: Feasibility, safety, adherence, and efficacy of high intensity interval training in a hospital-initiated rehabilitation program for coronary heart disease. Contemp Clin Trials Commun, 8, 181-191.

Wee, B. A., Thomas, M., Sweeney, E. L., Frentiu, F. D., Samios, M., Ravel, J., . . . Huston, W. M. (2018). A retrospective pilot study to determine whether the reproductive tract microbiota differs between women with a history of infertility and fertile women. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 58(3), 341-348.

Williams, E., Dingle, G., Calligeros, R., Sharman, L., & Jetten, J. (2018). Enhancing mental health recovery by joining artsbased groups: A role for social identification.

Williams, E., Dingle, G. A., & Clift, S. (2018). A systematic review of mental health and wellbeing outcomes of group singing for adults with a mental health condition. Eur J Public Health, 28(6), 1035-1042.

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

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WMR bIOBank Our biobank facility continues to be one of the largest in the state. The facility stores ethically consented, clinically annotated human specimens for researchers to assist in the quest to understand and ultimately find cures for various diseases. wesley medical reseach biobank WMR Biobank now houses Queensland’s Brain Tumour Bank, The Australian Autism Biobank and the Justin Cameron Sarcoma Collection.

The Wesley Medical Research Biobank is open-sourced, allowing both national and international researchers to access samples. The Biobank has supported over 37 Australian research projects in the search for new drugs, tests and translational research. Requested samples can be sourced from the current banked samples (over 30 000) or through prospective collection to meet researchers’ specific needs.

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By using the Biobank, researchers can focus on getting results to the bedside faster.

A few examples of how the Biobank has benefited research are:

Current research collaborations across both the public and private sectors which are supported by the Biobank’s services includes: • Brisbane Breast Bank

• I nvestigation into the metabolism of vitamin D in bariatric patients.

• A ustralian Prostate Cancer Bio Resource (APCB)

• Enabling Clinical Epigenetic Diagnostics: The Next Generation of Personalised Breast Cancer Care

• Mater Medical Research Institute

• R esearch into gene expression in patients with Endometriosis

• Autism CRC

• I nvestigating the optimal methods of drug delivery via topical application

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

• Q IMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (QIMR) • Q ueensland University of Technology • University of Queensland • The Wesley Hospital In the 2017/2018 Financial Year we received an additional 10,258 biobank samples to add to the collection.

clinical informatics unit In FY 2017/2018, the WMR Board initiated a review of the Data Management Office, a service that was set up many years earlier, to provide superior data management support for the UCH clinical audit program and Wmr research studies.

The findings of the review will inform WMR’s strategic plan, ensuring the existing and ongoing services are relevant, contemporaneous and offered value for money.

To facilitate the review, WMR recruited an experienced, certified health informatician in the newly established role of ‘clinical informatics manager’.

The scope of the review includes a comprehensive assessment of the Data Management Office’s people, systems and processes associated with the collection, storage, analyses and presentation of clinical data.

The findings will provide recommendations, where applicable, on ways to improve the services offered.

This is a collaborative review involving a range of UCH staff including hospital executives, senior clinicians, nurses and allied health professionals.

A multidisciplinary, extensive mapping exercise of existing data collection methods and tools is being undertaken and compared to current health informatics standards, to gain a better understanding of capability in providing best practice, evidence based clinical audit and research programs.

Whilst the report has yet to be finalised, key findings to date would suggest as follows:

1. Establish a multidisciplinary, clinician-led governance structure to oversee the establishment of a fit-for purpose Clinical Outcomes Improvement Program.

2. Develop ‘point of care’ clinical data systems to collect relevant clinical information at the time of the patient encounter and link the clinical systems to UCQ enterprise administrative systems 3. Establish a permanent and independent ‘clinical informatics unit’, staffed by specialist health Informaticians, to support the delivery of independent review of clinical outcomes AND provide UCH executives with specialist clinical business analytics 4. Underpin the link between clinical audit and investigatorinitiated research 5. Support frontline clinicians, medical students, nurses and allied health professionals to undertake clinical quality improvement activities 6. Provide educational programs in research skills and clinical informatics to clinicians, medical students, nurses and allied health professionals

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fundraising Wesley Medical Research acknowledges the support of its donors. It is only through your generosity that we are able to invest in research that will bring immediate and lasting improvements in diagnostics, treatments, management techniques and recovery pathways for better patient care. We are grateful for our donors, friends, corporations and foundations for your support this year.

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WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

major supporters 2017/2018

• P rof Russell Stitz AM and Mrs Anne Stitz

lifetime donors

Donors $10,000 - $99,999

These donors are recognised as supporting Wesley Medical Research at a transformational level, donating over $100,000 or more cumulatively during their lifetime:

• M r Martin Albrecht AC and Mrs Fran Albrecht

• Brazil Family Foundation

• The Honda Foundation

• Aurizon Operations Limited

• Tour de Cure Limited

• A/Prof Jim and Mrs Jill Nicklin

• Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited

• Vidyajey Foundation

• Dr Alan and Mrs Lois Porter

• Rachael Shetty • The Edward Bullock Endowment

• Mr T Hogg

• The Greatorex Foundation Pty Ltd

• Mrs Maureen Stevenson • Neumann Benevolent Foundation

• Katharina Elizabeth Foundation

Donors $500 - $999

• Dr Ben Fitzgerald

• The Thorsen Foundation

Donors $1,000 - $9,999

• Dr Donald Reiman

• J ustin Cameron Cancer Care Foundation

• Alex Gow Funerals

• Dr Joan M Lawrence AM

• Xstrata Limited • The Wesley Hospital Auxiliary • JJ Richards & Sons P/L • Mitchell & Partners Pty Ltd • Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd • The Atlantic Philanthropies • Devine Limited • Queensland Government • M r Martin Albrecht AC and Mrs Fran Albrecht • Mr Adrian Axelsen • Mr Trevor and Mrs Donna Bailey • Mr Paul Darrouzet • D r Jon Douglas AM and Mrs Kay Douglas • Gary Kleinschmidt • Mr John Martin • Mrs Diana McCamley • Mr Arnold and Mrs Nancy Sinnamon

• Dr John and Mrs Patsy Quayle

• Borgert Family Endowment

• Dr Marie Jameson

• Dr Cathryn Mittelheuser AM • Dr John Chippendale

• Dr Stephen Yelland

• D r Jon Douglas AM and Mrs Kay Douglas

• Mr Craig Cardinal • Mr Hunter Gottschalk

• H eart Support Australia Ltd Caboolture & Districts Branch

• Mr Ian and Mrs Jan Broadfoot

• Inner Wheel Club of Brisbane West

• Mr Ian and Mrs Penny Moysey

• McGarry Partners

• Mr Johannes and Mrs Diana Pronk

• Morgans Financial

• Mr John Clark

• Mr Alexander Dixon

• Mr Michel Holmes

• Mr Alexander and Mrs Mary Peden

• Mr Peter Billingham

• Mr Charlie and Mrs Heather Sartain

• Mr Peter Cranna

• Mr Christopher and Dianne Morton

• Mr Phillip and Mrs Pam Whittaker

• Mr David and Mrs Vivien McGarry

• Mr Rob and Mrs Sheryl Ross

• Mr David Sartor

• Mrs Betty Vandeleur

• Mr Don Murray

• Mrs J Boughen

• Mr Eddie and Mrs Katherine Codd

• Mrs Janelle Miller

• Mr John Allpass

• M rs Jocelyn F Ranson and Mr Ted Ranson

• Mr Ian and Mrs Patricia Munro

• Mr John and Mrs Patrice Foote • Mr John Coman

• Mrs Julie Gastrell

• Mr Peter and Mrs Anne Allen

• Mrs Pam Tate

• Mr Richard Hughes

• Mrs Raelene and Mr Geoff Cranna

• Mr Rodney Wylie OBE

• Mrs Wendy Grummitt

• Mr Tom McKerrell

• Ms Jill McGhie

• Mrs Daphne Dunn

• Ms Marian and Mr Ken Gibney

Donors $100,000 - $999,999

• Mrs Dorothy Singer

• Ms Valmai Pidgeon AM

• JJ Richards & Sons P/L

• Mrs Lorretta and Mr Bill Whitmore

• Prof David and Mrs Nicoletta Coman

• Katharina Elizabeth Foundation

• Mrs Lynette Barnett

• The Thorsen Foundation

• Mrs Viti Packer

• P rof Emeritus Roy Webb AO and Mrs Heather Webb

BEQUESTS These donors have kindly left a gift in their will in the past 12 months: • Estate of the Late Betty Davis

• Ms Marie Isackson

• Queensland Community Foundation

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

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supporting wmr

individual support Individual support can take place in many forms. You can donate to a particular area of interest, join our regular giving program or leave a bequest for WMR in your will.

Most of the medical research at WMR relies overwhelmingly on philanthropic donations to proceed and translate into clinical applications. Your support, no matter large or small, will facilitate advancement and improvements to diagnostics, management techniques, treatments and recovery pathways for patients suffering from various conditions and diseases.

Donate to Medical Research or Area of Interest Wesley Medical Research facilitates and conducts research in a broad range of disciplines, including various cancers and neurological conditions, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, to name a few.

All donations can go into funding a particular area of interest or the area of greatest need.

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WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

Join Our Regular Giving Program Joining our regular giving program will allow your contributions to medical research to accumulate over time – weekly, monthly or yearly. These donations ensure the organisation’s financial security and allow us to plan for the future.

Leave a Bequest for WMR A bequest is an instruction in your Will to leave a gift (property, money or other assets) to a specific person or charity.

By including a provision for WMR in your Will, you are leaving a tangible gift for future generations.

A few of our dedicated supporters have left bequests to WMR in order to continue making a difference in other patients’ lives after their passing. These contributions, both large and small, have funded important research in prostate cancer and cardiology research with far-reaching impacts.

corporate support Funding and sponsorship commitments from corporate leaders and businesses in any form allow us to advance vital medical research.

Your organisation can help make good quality medical research possible, and discover better cures, preventions, diagnosis and management techniques for different diseases and conditions.

In return for corporate sponsorship and support, WMR offers a range of benefits tailored to the needs of your company and business, including naming rights preferences, media recognition and exposure in both traditional and digital channels, special event invitations, regular newsletter updates and recognition, facility tours, research presentations and networking opportunities with other supporters and corporate leaders.

We would like to recognise and thank our corporate supporters for their generosity and partnership which not only made many research achievements and milestones possible, but also accelerated the translation of research results into clinical applications, benefiting various communities in Australia.

Corporate support can take on different formats. Here are three different ways you can support medical research at WMR.

Fund a Research Project Our research projects vary in size and funding requirements. Projects can be fully-funded by the company, co-funded by the company and staff or partially funded by the company with an event or other fundraising initiative. We encourage companies to follow the project they fund, to interact with researchers and share the project’s progress with staff and related stakeholders.

Purchase Equipment Funding the purchase of equipment provides researchers with the tools they need – items with latest technologies which enable better analytics and more accurate calculations. Your support can help researchers achieve more in the time they have available, fast-tracking the translation of research outcomes to clinical applications.

Sponsor a Department or a Room By covering the operational costs of a department or making work spaces and resources available to clinicians and other researchers, a bigger portion of our funds can be directed into research. You can associate yourself with the important work of the department sponsored and share its continuing achievements internally and publicly.

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

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fundraising and community engagement Our community is at the heart and soul of what we do.

Whether it’s our supporters, clinical trial patients, researchers or families affected by the conditions we research, we owe everything to our community. august 2017 bridge to brisbane Through the efforts and support of family and friends, the “Fight Brain Cancer” Team raised a total of $30,417 to go towards the Brain Tumour Bank and Brain Cancer research at Wesley Medical Research.

Campaigned and run by Dr Sarah Olsen, who generously donated her time, running prowess and the team breakfast afterwards to refuel the hungry troops.

Bridge to Brisbane

october 2017 advocates evening brain cancer and mnd Brain cancer and motor neurone disease (MND) featured in the evening’s presentation, where Professor David Walker presented a brief update on brain cancer research and the related immunotherapy trial while researchers Dr Shyuan Ngo and Dr Frederik Steyn shared details of their work into motor neurone disease (MND).

Advocate’s Evening - Brain Cancer & MND

february 2017 advocates evening 28 February is Rare Diseases Day. We hosted our event celebrating the work done to research rare and unique conditions. Professor David Coman presented his work in understanding the childhood rare disease Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) and the research development through the National A-T Clinic held twice a year in collaboration with the BrAshA-T Foundation and UQ Centre for Clinical Research.

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WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

Dr Philip Mosley spoke of his focus on Tourette’s Syndrome, a neuro-developmental disorder characterised by involuntary movements and/or vocalisations (tics).

Tics may be stigmatising and reduce quality of life.

Limited treatment options available are associated with significant side effects. Dr Mosley discussed his upcoming investigator-led, randomised, double-blind placebocontrolled trial of medical cannabis, a first in Australasia.

march 2018 tri for joseph After the tragic loss of 7 hour old Joseph “Speedy� Whittaker to a rare disease called Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, Julie and Todd Whittaker found a way to create hope and honour the short life of Joseph through fundraising for research into rare diseases via the Kingscliff Triathlon in March 2018. Their son Dominic also participated in the triathlon with us to honour his littlest brother.

In completing the triathlon, Todd, Julie and Dom raised over $11,000 for Wesley Medical Research, especially to support the research efforts of Paediatric Geneticist Professor David Coman, for continued medical research into childhood rare diseases. Prof Coman is a passionate rare disease advocate and an Honorary Fellow of Wesley Medical Research.

june 2018 hosted the inner wheel club of brisBane A contingent from the Inner Wheel Club of West Brisbane came to visit us at Wesley Medical Research in late May. During the visit, Vivien Matters, Club President at the time, presented us with a $1000 donation to support our research.

Hosted The Inner Wheel Club

(L to R) Leona Skene (WMR), Pat Rowley, Gabrielle Emery-Reece, Lyn Bavister, Dr Jennifer Schafer (WMR), Desley Smith (Current President), Vivien Matters (Previous President) and Sarah Hutton (WMR).

We also heard about their connection with Wesley Medical Research (one lady is a participant in a longitudinal breast cancer study) and Senior Research Manager, Dr Jennifer Schafer, briefed them on our current research and the impact that the donation will make.

may 2018 wmr achievements dinner Every year, Wesley Medical Research honour the dedication of researchers and supporters that have made significant contributions to research in the previous year.

Chief Patron of Wesley Medical Research, the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey

AC, presented the awards at the annual Achievements function at Government House in Brisbane on the 3rd May. The WMR Researcher of the Year, Professor Walker, received the award for initiating and leading sustained research to understand and treat aggressive forms of brain cancer.

WMR Achievements Dinner

(L to R) WMR CEO A/Prof John Allan, The WMR Researcher of the Year Professor David Walker, Chief Patron of Wesley Medical Research, the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Mr Kotaro Warita representing The WMR Research Supporter of the Year Mitsubishi Development, and WMR Chairman Mr Peter Allen

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

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financial summary Following the successful implementation throughout the year of a number of significant strategic business realignment initiatives, 2017-18 was very much a year of financial consolidation at WMR. Many of these initiatives were focused on the establishment of even more robust financial controls and protocols, with a view to securing the long-term financial stability of the organisation.

As a result, WMR is even better placed to provide the necessary comfort to all its donors and supporters that their generous giving will be prudently managed and effectively applied under a strict regime of financial governance and stewardship.

National industry statistics for 2018 recently published by the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes show that on average across all Australian medical research organisations, for every $1 spent on direct research, a further 54 cents is required to support the indirect costs associated with medical research. In other words, for every $1 donated or given, on average only 65% goes on direct research. Such is the hidden cost of managing and administering medical research. WMR is proactively addressing that through many of the initiatives referred to following

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Through fiscally responsible management, WMR’s current business model for all new medical research projects now delivers a minimum of 70% of donor funds being spent on direct research costs. However, being better than the industry average is not WMR’s end goal. Through carefully crafted growth plans in our fee-for-service activities, WMR is well on-track to ultimately achieve the target of applying 100% of donor funds towards direct research costs.

WMR will achieve this figure predominantly through scaling up clinical trials activities, bio-bank storage capacity and data analysis expertise. The surplus from these fee generating activities (in short time) will then be used to fully offset the indirect operating costs associated with the research element of the business. And the flow-on benefits of this business model are not just in relation to greater expenditure on direct research. The knowledge and resources gained from these endeavours will also enhance the direct research that WMR currently undertakes and provide a guide towards future research needs.

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

Whilst these are ambitious targets, we are optimistic of success, based on the demonstrated expertise that WMR has obtained in these areas over the last 25 years.

Donors are WMR’s lifeblood. And as custodians of their funds, we have an obligation to ensure that their gifts are applied as rigorously as possible to the satisfaction of their intents. By scoring another clean bill of health this year from our external auditors, coupled with the knowledge that our business models are robust, sound and well embedded, we trust this provides the comfort needed to all our donors, supporters and corporate partners that WMR is a safe place to invest their medical research donations.

our board Mr Peter AllEn chairman A WMR director since 2005, Peter Allen is a former partner in and consultant to national law firm Allens Linklaters. He is currently Chair of Biopharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd, Nucrush Group and Riverside Marine Group, and a Director of Ensham Workers Entitlement Fund Pty Ltd. In the community, he is a past president of the MS Society of Queensland, past chair of the Revenue Law Committee of the Queensland Law Society and a former member of a Human Research Ethics Committee.

a/prof john allan chief research advisor A/Prof John Allan has been an obstetrician and gynaecologist VMP at The Wesley Hospital since 1984. He is the Chief Academic Medical Officer of UnitingCare Health and Head of the UnitingCare Health Clinical School. He has a strong interest in research and developed the IVF clinic at The Wesley Hospital in 1988. He is a Clinical Consultant for Cook Medical and is the Chair of the Human Research Ethics Committee. John served as Honorary CEO for one year, then transitioned into his current role as Chief Research Advisor at WMR, where researchers and staff can leverage his wide-ranging knowledge and experience in research.

mr charlie sartaiN Charlie Sartain joined the WMR Board in 2009. Charlie has more than 30 years’ international mining experience. He was Chief Executive Officer of Xstrata’s global copper business for nine years from 2004, during which he oversaw the growth of the business to become one of the world’s leading copper producers, with operations and major projects in seven countries. Prior to that, he held senior executive positions in Latin America and Australia. He is currently a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of ASX-listed companies ALS Limited and Austin Engineering Limited. He also has board roles with the University of Queensland as a Member of the UQ Senate and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Sustainable Minerals Institute.

dr jim aylward Dr Jim Aylward holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Monash University and worked in medical research labs in the US for 5 years, before joining CSIRO. He founded his own biotech-drugdevelopment company, Peplin, in 1998 and sold it in 2009. Dr Aylward has continued to help small tech startups in a mentoring capacity through iLab in Toowong (2004-2010) and the Mentoring for Growth program (Queensland Government). He was an assessor for the Australian Technology Showcase (2009-2012). Dr Aylward was joint winner of the 2012 LSQ Excellence award, in recognition of his contribution to the life sciences industry.

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mr peter crowley Peter is a highly experienced business leader and public company director with 15 years’ experience leading public companies and 17 years’ experience serving on public company boards both in Australia and overseas. His international business experience covers diverse industries including construction materials, building products, mining, transport, industrial chemicals and automotive components. From early 2003 until his retirement in late 2015, Peter led GWA Group Limited.

Peter also served on the Business Council of Australia from 2009 until his retirement.

dr ian dickinson Dr Dickinson has been an orthopaedic surgeon at the Wesley Hospital for over 25 years. His major clinical and research interest has been in orthopaedic oncology. He has been Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and Board Member at the Wesley Hospital, Vice President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and President of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. He has also served as Chairman of the Queensland Branch of the Australian Orthopaedic Association, Chairman of the Orthopaedic Department of Princess Alexandra Hospital, and as Trustee of the Queensland Orthopaedic Research Trust. He is an editorial board member and reviewer of a number of journals.

professor marylou fleming Professor MaryLou Fleming is Head of School of Public Health and Social Work at the Queensland University of Technology. She has experience in University administration, teaching and research in higher education and public health and health promotion for over twenty-five years. She has been a member of Boards such as the St Andrew’s Hospital Board and Research Institute, the Board of the National Heart Foundation in Queensland and Health Promotion Queensland and Chair of the Quality Management Committee for Breastscreen Queensland. She has been a panel member for NHMRC project grants and the National Endeavour Awards selection panel. She is a member of the Public Health Association of Australia.

richard lizzio As Group Executive, Health for UnitingCare Qld, Richard has executive responsibility for four private hospitals in QLD including The Wesley Hospital, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital on Qld’s Sunshine Coast, and St Stephen’s Hospital in Hervey Bay. Richard also served as QLD/NT/WA State Manager for Healthscope where he was responsible for nine private hospitals, including Gold Coast Private, Brisbane Private, Sunnybank Private, Peninsula Private, Darwin Private and the Mount Hospital in WA. Richard also holds an extensive commercial background including the not for profit sector in health, aged care and education.

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WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

dr john lumley John Lumley is a colorectal surgeon practicing at the Wesley Hospital. He has been involved with the development of laparoscopic colorectal surgery since 1992. He continues to run laparoscopic courses demonstrating new technology and techniques. His major surgical interests include colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and defaecatory disorders. John has served on the executives of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, the Colorectal Section of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Colorectal Society of Australia and New Zealand.

ms deborah o’toole Deborah has extensive experience and expertise as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for listed companies in a range of industries. She was appointed as QR National’s Chief Financial Officer in December 2007 after a career that included 20 years in the mining industry. She was CFO of MIM Holdings Limited for six years and is a former CFO of Queensland Cotton. She has served as a member of the Queensland Biotech Advisory Council, the Workers Compensation Board of Queensland, Queensland Country Health Society and subsidiary companies of MIM Holdings Ltd including overseas corporations. She is currently a member of the Advisory Committee for the Banking and Finance School of the Queensland University of Technology.

dr christine foley Dr Christine Foley commenced as the Director of Clinical Governance with UnitingCare Health in December, 2016. She worked in senior leadership roles within Catholic health and aged care for the past 11 years, gaining a unique perspective from working in private not-for-profit health and aged care settings as a nursing leader. Prior to this, she worked as a senior nursing leader at the Princess Alexandra Hospital as an Assistant Director of Nursing.

mr gareth jones Gareth Jones is the acting Group Executive Health with UnitingCare Health, based in Brisbane.

Prior to working with UnitingCare, Gareth was based in Sydney with Little Company of Mary (Calvary Hospitals) as National Manager Funder Relations and he relocated to Brisbane to work with UnitingCare Health. As an Accountant, Gareth has over 30 years’ experience, involving senior leadership positions in non-profit, faith-based organisations, as well as in private sector companies.

With a strong background in health finance, Gareth has mainly operated in the private hospital sector but has also spent time in the aged and community care, Private Health Insurance, health software and health services sectors.

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

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Committee members our patrons and ambassadors

wesley medical research committee members

Cancer

Chief Patron

• A /Prof John Allan (Ex-Officio Member of RCs)

• Dr Troy Gianduzzo • Prof David Walker

Neuroscience

• A/Prof Paul Vasey

• H is Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC Govenor of Queensland Patrons • M r Martin Albrecht AC Prominent Australian businessman in the construction and engineering industry, Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia and Centenary Medal recipient • P rofessor Mervyn Eadie OA Emeritus Professor of Clinical Neurology and Neuropharmacology, University of Queensland • P rofessor John Pearn AO, RFD Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics, University of Queensland • Professor Maurice J. Webb Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mayo Medical School; Former Head.

Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic & Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA

• Prof Mervyn Eadie OA

• Dr David Schlect

• Prof Gwen Jull

Women’s & Children’s Health

• Dr Dan McLaughlin

• Prof David Coman

• Dr Moya Pattie

• Dr Navid Adib

• Dr Stephen Read

• Dr Andrea Garrett

• Prof George Mellick

• Dr Johanna Holt

Surgical & Medical Innovations

• Dr Kowsi Murugappan

• Dr Christopher Jeffery

Infections & Critical Illness

• Dr James Daveson

• Prof Bala Venkatesh

• Dr John Lumley

• Dr Paul Bartley

• Prof Keshwar Baboolal

• Dr Peter Kruger

• Prof Michael Muller

• Dr John McNamara

• Dr Moya Pattie

• A/Prof Jeremy Cohen

Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery

Rural & Remote Health

• Dr David Cross

• Prof MaryLou Flemming

• A/Prof Louise Cullen

• Ms Louise Baldwin

• Dr John Hayes

• Prof Herbert Biggs

• Dr Chris Raffel

• Mr Fraser Power

• Prof William Parsonage

• Ms Tegwen Howell

• Dr Ian Smith

wesley medical research life members • Martin C. Albrecht, AC • Adrian and Andree Axelsen • Ros Brand • Julie Campbell, AO • Jon Douglas, AM • Arnold and Nancy Sinnamon • John and Wendy Thorsen • Annette Wotton • Rod Young

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• Ms Fiona Jonker

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

get involved

We hope you have been inspired by the research in this magazine. Below are some ways you can get involved and make a big impact.

Donate to fund research Online Visit wesleyresearch.org.au/donate Phone Contact our fundraising staff on (07) 3721 1774.

Help us raise awareness www.wesleyresearch.org.au

Register for a clinical trial www.wesleyresearch.org.au/clinical-trials

Mail Complete and return the included donation slip using the enclosed reply-paid envelope.

PO BOX 466 Toowong DC QLD 4066

WESLEY MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018

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you can Help make good quality medical research possible, and discover better cures, preventions, diagnosis and management techniques for different diseases and conditions.

Level 8, East Wing, The Wesley Hospital 451 Coronation Drive, Auchenflower Q 4066 T 07 3721 1500

F 07 3721 1590

wesleyresearch.org.au