Annual Reports
2008 - 2009 Annual Report
Highlights from the year are outlined below:
- The WRI conducted 47 Investigative Research Projects during the year including:
- Using hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat radiation injury
- Researchers developed predictive tools that have the capacity to accurately forecast which women will have successful Assisted Reproductive Technology embryo transfers
- Physiotherapy treatments that shorten the length of hospital stay for hip replacements patients
- Evaluation of the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy on cognitive function in early breast cancer patients
- Development and improvements to methods for reducing infections following bone fracture treatment
- The WRI Clinical Trials Centre conducted 28 clinical trials during the year including:
- A multi-national study of evaluate the efficacy and safety of a drug to combat patients with symptomatic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
- A study comparing treatments of patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis
- A study comparing the efficacy and safety for the prevention of stroke and non-central nervous system systemic embolism in subjects with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
- Distribution of Tissue samples to various research affiliations and partners
- The official opening of its new Health and Medical Research Centre in October 2009
2007 - 2008 Annual Report
Highlights from the year are outlined below:
- Using microarray analysis, identified with 93 per cent accuracy those patients whose primary malignant bone tumour would metastasise (spread) to the lung
- Defined sub-groups of invasive lobular carcinomas of the breast using new diagnostic/ prognostic markers
- Discovered biomarkers of healing in chronic wound fluid that can be used as therapeutic targets
- Found that a novel form of immunotherapy for patients with malignant brain tumours is safe and effective
- Found that women with asymptomatic upper genital tract infections had worse assisted reproductive outcomes than non-infected women
- Found that (the less invasive) sentinel node biopsy is just as accurate as traditional surgery at determining if breast cancer has spread, and has a much lower risk of serious complications
- The WRI Tissue Bank collected 799 cancer specimens and 938 blood samples to be used for cancer research
- The WRI Clinical Trials Centre received 74 clinical trial proposals and participated in 30
- The official launch of WRI’s Asbestos Research Group on 11 June 2008 and the appointment of Karen Banton, widow of mesothelioma victim and campaigner Bernie Banton, as its Patron
- The start of construction of WRI’s 1300m˛ Health and Medical Research Centre within The Wesley Hospital’s new East Wing development
- The appointment of Seven News presenter Rod Young as WRI’s official Ambassador
- The commencement of WRI’s administration of Hannah’s Chance Foundation
- The beginning of the unique partnership with Scouts Queensland which will see the 10,000 Scouts across the state raise valuable funds during their centenary year to fund medical research at WRI
- The production of WRI’s new Community Service Announcement which is being exclusively screened on Channel Seven free of charge
2006 - 2007 Annual Report
Highlights from the year are outlined below:
- The development of biodegradable surface coatings with incorporated antibiotics to help prevent bacterial infections after bone implants
- Improved diagnosis of early breast cancer using novel image analysis of MRI
- Established that inpatient aquatic physiotherapy, in addition to usual ward physiotherapy, has a beneficial effect on regaining muscle strength and helps decrease length of hospital stay after joint replacement surgery
- The development of a new inventory that distinguishes which obese patients are likely to benefit from lap band surgery and those who are not
- A new treatment regime for patients with an overactive bladder has been successfully tested in clinical trials and is now available on the Australian market
- A new medication for patients with Type 2 diabetes has been found in a clinical trial to meet or exceed the high bar for efficacy and tolerability
- The Institute won a competitive grant for $10 million from the Queensland State Government in August 2006 to construct a new state-of-the-art Health and Medical Research Centre
- The Tissue Bank and new Clinical Trials Centre were opened by the former Premier of Queensland, Mr Peter Beattie, on 6 March 2007
- First collection for The Wesley Research Institute Tissue Bank on 29 March 2007
2005 - 2006 Annual Report
Highlights from the year are outlined below:
- Identified strategies to prevent deaths from fat embolisation during orthopaedic surgery
- Developed internationally-adopted best practice guidelines for nutrition intervention for cancer patients
- Established a safe and effective alternative to surgery for treating uterine fibroids
- Developed novel digital technology using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) that will allow doctors to better assess and treat patients with malignant brain tumours
- Developed unique computer image analysis tools to improve the sensitivity and specificity of breast MRI
- Established MRI as a rapid, safe and quantitative assessment of fatty liver (hepatic steatosis)
- Construction commenced on The Wesley Research Institute Tissue Bank and Clinical Trials Centre
2004 - 2005 Annual Report
Highlights from the year are outlined below:
- The Atlantic Philanthropies granted $10 million to the Institute $1.42 million grant received from the Smart State Research Facilities Fund to develop a world-class Tissue Bank
- Two past and present Board Members were appointed with a Member of the Order of Australia
- Dr Judy Bauer was appointed a Queensland Clinical Research Fellowship as part of the Smart State Health and Medical Research Fund
- The Australian Academy of Sciences invited the Institute’s Director to help improve science education in Australia and throughout the world
