annual report 2011 - Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
The Royal Children’s Hospital
Flemington Road, Parkville
Victoria 3052 Australia
Phone: +61 3 8341 6200
Fax: +61 3 9348 1391
www.mcri.edu.au ABN: 21 006 566 972
annual report 2011

The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute celebrated a
landmark milestone in 2011, our 25-year anniversary. Until
the merger in 2000, the Murdoch Institute for Research into
Birth Defects, subsequently the Murdoch Institute, was
renowned for its human genetics and ethics research and
for excellent clinical care for people with inherited diseases.
The Royal Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, with
which the Murdoch Institute amalgamated, had a history
of excellence in child healthcare and research, community
child health research and expertise in adolescent health.
The strengths of the two former institutes were clearly
complementary and drove the merger in 2000.
Since then, Murdoch Childrens has become the preeminent
child health research institute in Australia, and is among
the world leaders in infant, child and adolescent health
research. The Institute encompasses laboratory, clinical
and public health approaches. Throughout its history,
the Institute has transformed to include interdisciplinary
research teams of critical mass and excellence, and is now
fully integrated ‘from bench to bedside to community’.
As well as celebrating our silver anniversary, we also
entered into another exciting phase of growth in 2011
as the Institute moved to the new Royal Children’s
Hospital campus, which meant a doubling of research
space. The space was designed to ensure ease of access
between researchers and clinicians, which will improve
communication and increase collaboration. This will be
a critical factor in enabling us to find answers quickly to
the most important child health problems.
www.mcri.edu.au

annual report 2011 > contents
1
When our kids are sick, we take for granted
that doctors and nurses will know what to do
to make them better. It is only past research
discoveries that have made this possible.
contents
about us 2
25 years of life-changing discoveries 4
year at a glance 8
chairman’s report 10
director’s report 12
organisational chart 14
board of directors 15
board committees 16
executive committee 17
research priority reports
allergy & autoimmune 18
brain & mind 22
research highlights 32
students, achievement
awards & fellowships 38
victorian clinical genetics services 40
corporate & scientific services 42
global collaborations 46
financials 48
government & competitive grants 52
special events 54
corporate partners 58
major donors & supporters 60
donor list 62
genetics 26
obesity 30

about us
25 years of life-changing
discoveries
In 2011, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute celebrated
a significant milestone: our 25-year anniversary. In 25 years,
Murdoch Childrens has become the preeminent child health
research institute in Australia, recognised globally for its
child-health discoveries. We’ve grown from having a handful
of dedicated researchers to today being Australia’s largest
child health research institute.
For 25 years, researchers at the Institute have been making
discoveries to improve child health. Now, with more than
1500 highly-skilled researchers, we have the critical mass
needed in modern-day research to solve child-health
problems more rapidly.
our work
World-renown paediatrician, the late Professor David Danks
established the Institute in 1986 with generous philanthropic
support from Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC BDE, her family
and others.
Our team of more than 1500 researchers combat emerging
conditions affecting children, such as allergies, diabetes and
obesity, as well as finding answers to unsolved problems,
such as cancer and genetic conditions.
In 2000, The Murdoch Institute and The Royal Children’s
Hospital Research Institute merged to form the Murdoch
Childrens Research Institute. This prompted the biggest
change to the Institute during its 25-year history, as it shifted
from a primarily genetics-based research institute to an
institute with a broader focus on child health.
Working across 70 large research groups, we conduct
nationally and internationally recognised studies to help
give doctors and parents the knowledge to improve the
health and wellbeing of children. We work across four key
areas of child health in which we have the demonstrated
skills to make a difference on the world stage.

annual report 2011 > about us
3
OUR VISION
To be a major global
contributor to the creation
of knowledge that leads to
improved child health.
OUR MISSION
To obtain knowledge
to improve the health
of children in Victoria
and globally.
OUR VALUES
• Excitement of discovery
• Innovation
• Teamwork
• Integrity
allergy & autoimmune
We strive to better understand how and why allergic and
immune disorders are increasing. Allergic disease including
food allergy, asthma and eczema affects up to 40 per cent
of Australian children, and the incidence is increasing rapidly.
brain & mind
We look at brain development and the brain’s ability to
function after disease, injury and intensive care. We also
focus on understanding and improving the mental health
and wellbeing of children and adolescents.
obesity
Australian kids are among the most obese in the world. In
Victoria alone, more than 220,000 children are overweight.
We look at ways to combat the obesity epidemic and prevent
the long-term health risks including type 2 diabetes, heart
disease and high blood pressure.
genetics
Each year, eight million children globally are born with a
serious birth defect of genetic origin. The genetic cause
remains unknown for more than half of these conditions.
We study genetics to ensure future generations are healthy.
While we have a focus on these areas, our size allows us to
also address other common and rare childhood conditions,
such as language disorders, heart disease, mitochondrial
disease and cerebral palsy.
how we spend donor funds
As a not-to-profit organisation, we rely on the generosity
of donors to seed fund priority research projects.
Every donation, no matter how small, has the potential to
save lives. As governments and other grant-making bodies
tend to support established research, philanthropic and
corporate funds are vital to providing the seed funding we
need to bring bold, daring and innovative research ideas to
life. Many of our research projects that now receive
government funding were initially established with funding
from private sources.
For every dollar donated in 2011, we leveraged a further
$6 from external sources. Most importantly, we distribute
philanthropic funds to our research teams based on
performance and research excellence. Gifts to Murdoch
Childrens are an investment in the future health of children.

Throughout its 25-year history, the Institute has cemented
itself as a leader in child health research. This reputation
has been achieved through hundreds of innovative research
projects and life-changing discoveries.
25 years of life-changing
discoveries
early discovery
using botox to help
children walk
Whilst the Institute was still in its infancy, the Institute’s focus on
Menkes syndrome, a disease of copper deficiency, culminated in
the co-discovery of the Menkes gene by researchers.
victorian infant hearing
screening program
In the early 1990s, our researchers set up one of the first
whole of state screening programs in the world to detect
congenital hearing loss, which up until then had devastating
impacts on children’s life chances. For more than 20 years they
have studied the epidemiology of deafness and effectiveness of
early detection systems. This led to the Centre for Community
Child Health at The Royal Children’s Hospital implementing the
new Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program (VIHSP) and
contributed to similar newborn screening programs throughout
Australia. Every Victorian baby born with hearing loss can now
join VicCHILD, a new Murdoch Childrens register that works
hand in hand with VIHSP to support cutting-edge research into
deafness and to give these children the best possible start in life.
Researchers here and overseas worked on the link
between botulinum toxin, a well-known muscle relaxant,
and reducing spasticity in the limbs of children with
cerebral palsy. The finding has given children with
cerebral palsy the chance to lead a more active lifestyle,
helping them walk and play. The ongoing work of
researchers on gait analysis and botulinum toxin has
resulted in a paradigm shift in the treatment of children
with cerebral palsy worldwide.
rotavirus vaccine
Rotavirus, the leading cause of severe dehydrating
gastroenteritis in infants, leads to more than 500,000
deaths worldwide each year, mostly in developing
countries. As infection occurs very early in life, Murdoch
Childrens is working with developing countries on an
oral vaccine that can be delivered at birth to those
most at risk.

annual report 2011 > 25 years of life-changing discoveries 5
1986 – 2011
leading the way in
allergy research
computer program which
changed the face of diagnosis
We found that babies given egg after 12 months of age
were up to five times more likely to develop egg allergy
as they grew older than infants introduced to egg at four
to six months of age. This contradicted Australian and
international guidelines that previously recommended
that infants with a family history of allergy delay introducing
allergenic foods until two or three years of age. Egg allergy
is the most common food allergy in infants and toddlers.
change in thinking about
children’s brains
Research at the Institute showed for the first time that
early childhood brain damage and injury has a poorer
outcome than later or adult brain damage. The finding
was the culmination of a 15 year study looking at brain
injuries and goes against previous theory and practice in
this area, which hypothesised that children’s brains had
greater plasticity and greater capacity to recover from
injury than adult brains.
Our doctors and researchers developed and designed a
computer based system called POSSUM, which helps doctors
around the world to diagnose genetically based syndromes
and malformations in their patients. The comprehensive
database contains photos and information on more than
3000 syndromes. Using the system, doctors can search based
on a patient’s traits or by syndrome name to assist them in
making a diagnosis, or to learn about syndromes.
sex determination
Disorders of sex development occur one in every
4500 babies born. Development of the gonads (testes or
ovaries) requires the coordinated functioning of many genes
and proteins. A breakdown in this complex development
pathway may lead to children being born with uncertain
sex. In 1999, our team found a gene responsible for the
production of normal testes. This discovery has improved the
diagnosis and clinical management of children with disorders
of sex development as well as providing insights into diseases
that affect other organ systems.

25 years of
innovation
type 1 diabetes affects brain
development, school
function & mental health
A 15 year study by our researchers found that type 1
diabetes results in reduced brain volume and cognitive
function from childhood to young adult life. The same
diabetes study cohort had double the rate (32 per cent)
of failure of secondary school completion, with 39 per
cent of patients failing to continue with specialist medical
care after leaving hospital. The leading complication of
diabetes is now recognised as adverse mental health
outcome during childhood and adolescence, with 38 per
cent of patients having been referred to mental health
services since their diagnosis. This highly significant and
prognostic burden of adverse brain development and
poor mental health is a previously unrecognised
consequence of type 1 diabetes. Researchers at the
Institute are now recommending routine cognitive and
mental health screening.
arthritis finding
Arthritis affects four in 1000 children and can impact
on the quality of life of babies as early as six months of
age. Researchers identified the enzyme responsible for
destroying cartilage in the joints of arthritis patients.
The enzyme, called ADAMTS5, was found to degrade
aggrecan, which gives cartilage in healthy joints the
ability to bear loads and resist compression. The work
that has followed seeks to identify new targets for
arthritis therapies, for both children and adults.
haemochromatosis discovery
Researchers at the Institute determined how significant
the health problems were for people who carried a common
gene that caused iron to accumulate in the body
(haemochromatosis). The study was published in the world’s
biggest medical journal, The New England Journal of Medicine,
and provides the basis for a screening program.
Haemochromatosis can cause organ failure if not identified,
but is easily treated through donating blood.
sound sleeping for babies
Researchers found that having a baby with a sleep problem
triples the risk of postnatal depression symptoms in mothers.
Determined to do something to help, researchers then
developed and trialled a baby sleep program, which was
found to decrease infant sleep problems by 60 per cent and
postnatal depression by 30 per cent.
pioneering new technology
We were co-leaders in an international study that found
‘next-generation’ DNA sequencing could accurately
diagnose a rare genetic disease more quickly and cost
effectively than current techniques. Because current testing
can only screen one gene at a time, many children need to
undergo painful muscle and liver biopsies to identify which
genes should be tested, a process that can then take
anywhere from a few months to several years. Nextgeneration
sequencing can test many genes at the same
time through a simple blood test. The finding will lead to
more accurate diagnosis and will improve prenatal
diagnosis and prevention of rare disease mutations.

annual report 2011 > 25 years of life-changing discoveries 7
helping children with
a common condition
chromosome discovery
Researchers at the Institute discovered a new way of
investigating and treating chronic constipation in children.
This discovery will help thousands of children who
experience problems with chronic constipation who have
not responded to existing treatments.
2000 stories of adolescents
growing up
In 1992, 2000 adolescents were enrolled in a study looking at
mental health and substance use. They are now 35 years old
and many are still in the study and having children of their
own. Major findings from this study indicated that cannabis
and alcohol use in adolescence precedes many mental
health and substance use problems in young adults.
Our researchers were the first to discover human
chromosomes could spontaneously form a structure that
could control chromosome movement during cell division.
Using this structure, our labs were able to form mini
chromosomes, which have the potential to be used in
treatment of genetic conditions.
genetics in medicine
The doctors and scientists at the Victorian Clinical
Genetics Services have spent the past 25 years working to
discover genes and characterise rare genetic disorders.
This, in addition to the newborn screening program, has
been able to offer diagnoses, information and genetic
counselling for thousands of families across Victoria
and Tasmania.

year at a glance
research highlights
Our research continued to deliver results to improve the
health and wellbeing of children. Among the highlights:
• Murdoch Childrens was awarded two Centres of Research
Excellence grants by the National Health & Medical Research
Council (NHMRC). Professor Sheena Reilly was awarded
$2.5 million to establish a Centre of Research Excellence
in Childhood Language to address gaps in current research,
policy and capacity. Professor John Carlin was awarded $2.5
million for a new Victorian Centre for Biostatistics (ViCBiostat),
which aims to foster the careers of a new generation of
biostatistical leaders by developing an integrated program
of methodological and collaborative research.
• We were involved in an international study that found mental
disorders such as major depression, schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder are the leading cause of disability in young people
worldwide. The international study was the first to provide a
comprehensive picture of the global causes of disability in
adolescence and the main risk factors for disease in later life.
• Our researchers identified a gene that causes a severe form
of osteoarthritis. The TRPV4 gene regulates calcium entry
into the cell, which is important for normal function of
cartilage cells. Researchers found that when the gene is
mutated, cells don’t function properly, causing the arthritic
condition. The breakthrough could ultimately help develop
new therapeutic treatments for all types of arthritis.
• The Institute began the process of establishing a Children’s
Bioresource Centre. The Centre, based on the UK Biobank
model, will enable investigation of a wide range of childhood
conditions and diseases through storage of biological
specimens and health data. It’s anticipated the facility will
include data from more than half a million participants and
will be among the largest of its kind in the world.
• Preliminary results from the Early Language in Victoria Study
(ELVS) discovered that toddlers who later go on to be
diagnosed with autism use fewer gestures. The results of
the study could revolutionise the way autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) is screened and provide better outcomes
for children with ASD through early intervention programs.

annual report 2011 > about us
9
2010 2011
Total income (like for like) $85.9 million $88.3 million
NHMRC grants awarded (for projects to commence in the following year) $26.5 million $26.3 million
Peer-reviewed publications 564 632
Peer-reviewed publications in the world’s top medical journals (tier one and two) 154 171
Paid staff, students and honoraries 1475 1512
Donations, fundraising and bequests $8.1 million $7.7 million
Media mentions 856 1163
income
On a like for like basis, annual turnover increased from $85.9
million to $88.3 million. With the one-off revenues from the
Commonwealth Government grant and accrued interest
($66.6 million) and the associated fundraising campaign
($7.8 million), 2011 revenue increased to $162.7 million.
grants
communication to the scientific and medical community.
This enables key discoveries to be more quickly adopted and
translated to ensure better outcomes for children. In 2011,
we had 632 papers published, up from 564 in 2010. This
included 171 in the world’s highest-ranked journals.
staff
Grants from Government and external funding bodies are
awarded based on the quality and significance of research.
In 2011, we secured $26.3 million from the National Health
& Medical Research Council.
international grants
We received $2.5 million in grants from international funding
bodies in 2011 to support research into pneumonia, allergies
and premature birth.
publications
When our researchers make discoveries, their work is
submitted to peer-reviewed journals around the world for
There were 1512 paid staff, students and honoraries at the
Institute in 2011. This number includes staff from The Royal
Children’s Hospital and allied health professionals and
University of Melbourne academics who conduct research
within Murdoch Childrens.
fundraising
Our team engages with the community to raise monies to
seed fund our research to get it to the point where larger
grants can be attracted. In 2011, our fundraising, donation
and bequest income totalled $7.7 million, excluding the
$7.8 million raised from the campaign fundraising.

chairman’s report
2011 summary
Murdoch Childrens consolidated its reputation as one of the
leading medical research institutes in Australia. Our results in
grant funding, research publication, income growth and
fundraising resulted in 2011 being a highly successful year.
Highlights for 2011 included:
• Competitive grant funding secured from the National
Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) totalled
$26.3 million. This was the highest level of NHMRC
funding awarded to an Australian independent medical
research institute in 2011.
• Annual turnover increased from $85.9 million to
$162.7 million. This was due to a $66.6 million
Commonwealth Government grant together with the
accrued interest for the new building and a sum of
$7.8 million from campaign fundraising.
• Publication output, an important measure of new
knowledge creation, increased to 632 academic articles,
up from 564 in the previous year.
• Donors and supporters generously gave more than
$7.7 million to support our research programs.
These results reflect the continued hard work and commitment
of Director Professor Terry Dwyer, his executive team and all of
the researchers and staff. I thank them for the contribution to
our success.
celebrating 25 years
Murdoch Childrens celebrated its 25 year anniversary in 2011.
Highlights of the scientific discoveries and achievements of the
Institute over this period are listed in this report. This important
celebration gave us the opportunity to acknowledge our Patron,
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, her family and other
founding donors who gave generous support to establish an
independent child health research institute in Melbourne.
Murdoch Childrens is today comparable in size and output to
some of the leading child health research institutes globally, a
tremendous achievement. We acknowledge those who have
contributed to that journey, and look forward to an equally
distinguished future.
our move to new premises
It is pleasing to report a very successful move to new research
premises within the redeveloped Royal Children’s Hospital.

annual report 2011 > chairman’s report
11
Funding for our new premises included a Federal Government
grant and accrued interest of $66.6 million through the Health
and Hospitals Fund enabling expansion our facilities to
20,000 square metres, as well as support from Victorian State
Government through the Department of Health. The new
facilities will greatly improve the collaboration between
hospital clinicians and researchers, allowing even better
translation of important discoveries into clinical practice.
governance
Murdoch Childrens is fortunate to benefit from the
involvement of highly committed and knowledgeable
individuals who provide invaluable expertise to the
Institute through the board and its subcommittees.
In 2011 we welcomed Mr Ahmed Fahour, Dr Charles Day
and Mr Jason Yeap OAM to the board, and a number of new
members to our subcommittees. The continued growth and
development of the Institute would not be possible without
their contribution.
our supporters
The development of Murdoch Childrens over the past 25 years
into a globally competitive research enterprise demonstrates
the importance and transformational power of philanthropy
to support the development of a major organisation.
Our donors make a very significant contribution to the success
of the Institute by providing vital funds to priority research
areas and projects that need seed funding. To each and every
donor, I extend the utmost appreciation and gratitude on
behalf of all our researchers whose work you support.
the future
Over the past 25 years, Murdoch Childrens has
demonstrated its ability to make important global
contributions to child health research, particularly in the
areas of genetics, premature birth and autoimmune
conditions. As we look to the future, we are very well placed
to capitalise on our intellectual capital and continue the
formation of strategic collaborations internationally to further
consolidate our position among the leading child health
institutes in the world. With the support of Government,
funding bodies, our donors, our Campus Partners, The Royal
Children’s Hospital, the University of Melbourne’s Department
of Paediatrics and the wider community, we look forward to
building on our achievements.
Our Director Professor Terry Dwyer will depart the
organisation in October 2012. Terry leaves to take up a
prestigious role at the International Agency for Research on
Cancer in Lyon, France, to continue his research as part of the
International Childhood Cancer Cohort Consortium (I4C) study
into childhood cancer, which involves one million mothers and
babies. Terry’s leadership over the past eight years has
resulted in the Institute becoming one of the major child heath
research organisations globally. His achievements are many,
and include developing global collaborations, overseeing
significant increases in competitive grant funding, and
transitioning the Institute into new premises to be poised
for our next platform of development.
In addition to our annual fundraising program, we extend
special thanks to those who gave to our campaign to raise
funds for our move to the new building. This included a
$10 million challenge grant from Rupert Murdoch and his
family, as well as major contributions from a number of other
donors. This campaign has now raised nearly $15 million
(including pledges) for world-class fit-out, new equipment
capability to expand research teams in key priority areas
to ensure we continue to build global competitiveness.
Mr Leigh Clifford AO
Chairman

director’s report
new research facility
restructure
There is no question 2011 will be seen as a landmark year for
the Institute. The year saw another substantial increase in our
measurable outcomes – grants obtained and scientific papers
published – reflecting the scientific competitiveness of our work.
Despite the fact we have had to weather the global economic
crisis, we have increased our outputs substantially.
The exciting thing is that we have been achieving this while many
of our research teams have occupied outdated research space,
with many also in temporary accommodation awaiting the
completion of our new research facility. This new 20,000 square
metre development is a state-of-the-art construction. Our teams
transferred to this facility in November, and from the start it has
been clear this new environment will give us a real boost in our
quest to find answers to health problems facing today’s children.
Its design fosters easy interaction between team members in
different parts of the organisation. This facilitates our strategy to
build more complex interdisciplinary teams that we believe will
find answers faster to the problems we are investigating. The
incorporation of the facility into the fabric of The Royal Children’s
Hospital, with close proximity to the University of Melbourne’s
Department of Paediatrics, means that our close operational
interaction with our two campus partners will be enhanced.
The new setting will also make it easier to recruit top level
staff from all over the globe as well as locally. Already we have
made senior appointments of individuals to core areas such as
bioinformatics and genetic statistics. During the year, there was
also creation of two new Associate Director positions, which
will oversee development of research strategy and the newly
created ‘Affinity Groups’. Professor Sheena Reilly was appointed
Associate Director of Clinical and Public Health and Professor
Andrew Sinclair was appointed Associate Director of Laboratory
Sciences. Affinity Group Leaders were named, and progress
has already been made on significant initiatives through the
establishment of these groups. This will strengthen our research
into areas such as adolescents, neurodevelopment, healthcare
innovation, cancer, allergy, autoimmune conditions, genomics
and personalised medicine.
research excellence
When our researchers make discoveries, their work is submitted
to peer-reviewed journals around the world for communication
to the scientific and medical professions. This enables key
discoveries to be more quickly adopted and translated to
ensure better outcomes for children. We published 632 papers

annual report 2011 > director’s report
13
in 2011, of these, 171 were in the world’s most prestigious
medical journals. This is compared with 154 in 2010.
Some interesting and important findings from among these
publications were:
• A world-first international collaborative study involving
the Institute, the Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania,
and investigators in the USA and Finland, showed that the
association between childhood obesity and cardiovascular risk
is reduced when obese children become non-obese as adults.
• Researchers identified a gene that causes a severe form
of osteoarthritis. The breakthrough, which was published
in Nature Genetics, could ultimately help develop new
therapeutic treatments for all types of arthritis.
• An international study that found mental disorders such as
major depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are
the leading cause of disability in young people worldwide.
In 2011, income awarded by the Federal Government’s
National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) totalled
$26.3 million. This will help us fund 27 research projects and
20 fellowships and scholarships. This is a major achievement
considering the competitiveness of the process and the flat
funding environment for NHMRC. We also received $3 million
funding from the State Government’s Operational Infrastructure
Support scheme administered through the Department
of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development. This
was an increase of 9.5 per cent on last year’s funding.
25 year anniversary
As well as the move to our new home, the Institute celebrated its
25th anniversary in 2011. It has been 25 years since the Institute
was established as the Murdoch Institute for Research into Birth
Defects, subsequently The Murdoch Institute, a world-class centre
focused on genetics research and clinical genetic services. In 2000,
the Institute merged with The Royal Children’s Hospital Research
Institute to form what is today known as the Murdoch Childrens
Research Institute, and the scope of research was broadened to
have an all-encompassing focus on child health. Over our 25 year
history, the achievements have been many; today’s children are
the beneficiaries of our research discoveries. Our most prominent
research discoveries are highlighted in this annual report.
donors
As always, donations are integral to our success. While we
are very good at securing large competitive grants, including
those from NHMRC, we could not get these grants without
the research being first seed funded through donations. I am
pleased that in very tough economic times we had another
successful year in fundraising, with income totalling $7.7 million
in 2011. Our research again received support from The Royal
Children’s Hospital Foundation, including income raised through
the Good Friday Appeal. I would like to thank those who
supported the Appeal, as well as our donors for their ongoing
support and interest. I acknowledge the support provided by
our Development Board, led by Suzi Carp and Steven Casper,
for their role in helping us to achieve this result.
looking ahead
Whilst our 25 th year was a wonderful time to reflect on the
considerable contribution the Institute has made, we are very
focused on the future, to build on past successes. After years
of sustained growth, development and organisational change,
next year’s focus will be to consolidate and embed those
changes. We will also continue to focus on strengthening
and further building our international collaborations, as
global interaction is a priority moving forward.
I thank our staff, Board committees, our Patron Dame Elisabeth
Murdoch and Ambassador Sarah Murdoch for their ongoing
support and dedication. Thank you also to all the researchers
and staff for their hard work and determination,
and for their contributions in improving
the health and wellbeing of
children worldwide.
Professor Terry Dwyer
AO MD MPH
Director

organisational chart
The Royal Children’s Hospital
Professor Christine Kilpatrick
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
University of Melbourne,
Department of Paediatrics
Professor Paul Monagle
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Chairman Leigh Clifford
Victorian Clinical Genetics Services Board
Chairman Professor Terry Dwyer
Director
Professor Terry Dwyer
Associate Director, Clinical & Public
Health/Research Enablement &
Funding/Healthy Wellbeing & Policy
Professor Sheena Reilly
Research
Groups
Research
Groups
Quantitative Sciences
Theme Director, Cell Biology
Development & Disease
Professor John Bateman
Research
Groups
Research
Groups
Theme Director, Critical Care &
Neuroscience
Professor Vicki Anderson
Theme Director, Population Health
Genes & Environment
A/Professor Katie Allen
Research
Groups
Research
Groups
Research
Groups
Research
Groups
Affinity Groups
Core Groups
Clinical Research
Development Office/
Australian Paediatric
Pharmacology
Research Unit
Theme Director, Genetic Disorders
Professor Andy Choo
Research
Groups
Research
Groups
Scientific Services
Theme Director, Infection & Immunity
Professor Andy Giraud
Research
Groups
Research
Groups
Associate Director Laboratory Sciences
Professor Andrew Sinclair
Victorian Clinical Genetics Services
Director A/Professor David Amor
Genetic Health Services Victoria
VCGS Pathology
Chief Operating Officer
Mr Brent Dankesreither
Corporate Services
Research Strategy
Dr MaryAnne Aitken
Public Relations & Development
Ms Alyssa Jones

annual report 2011 > boards & committees
15
board of directors
Mr Leigh Clifford AO, Chairman
Non Executive Director 2007 - 2009,
Chairman from December 2009,
Chairman of Qantas Airways Ltd, Director
of Bechtel Group Inc (USA), Chairman
of Bechtel Australia Pty Ltd and Senior
Advisor to Kholberg Kravis and Roberts
Mr Ian Miller, Deputy Chairman
Non Executive Director from 2007,
Executive Chairman of The Burnham
Group, Former Ernst & Young Partner
Mr Martin Armstrong
Non Executive Director from 1997,
Principal of Plante & Henty, Chairman of
Carnbrea & Co Ltd, Director of The Jack
Brockhoff Foundation and other public,
private and non-profit organisations
Mr Anthony Beddison AO
Non Executive Director from 2004,
Chairman, The Royal Children’s Hospital
and the Beddison Group of Companies
Dr Charles Day
Non Executive Director from February
2011, Project Director at the University
of Melbourne, Director of Bionic Vision
Technologies and the Oral Health CRC
Professor Terry Dwyer AO
Executive Director from 2004, International
Scientific Advisory Board for UK BioBank,
Board member of the Australian Institute
of Health and Welfare
Mr Ahmed Fahour
Non Executive Director from February
2011, Managing Director and CEO of
Australia Post, Chairman of the Rip Curl
Group, and a Director of AUX Investments
Professor Christine Kilpatrick
Non Executive Director from 2008,
Chief Executive Officer of The Royal
Children’s Hospital
Mrs Janet Calvert-Jones AO
Non Executive Director from 1986,
Director of Herald & Weekly Times
Limited, Chairman of Tapestry
Foundation of Victoria
Professor Paul Monagle
Non Executive Director from 2008,
Stevenson Professor, Department of
Paediatrics, the University of Melbourne
Mrs Suzi Carp
Non Executive Director from 2006,
Director of River Capital, Chair of
Pilotlight Australia
Mrs Judy Paterson
Non Executive Director from 1996,
Director of Ace Radio Broadcasters
Mr James Craig
Non Executive Director from 2009,
Chairman of Macquarie Capital Advisers,
Director of other public and non-profit
organisations
Mrs Patricia Cross
Non Executive Director from 2005 –
Resigned 3 March 2011, Non Executive
Director of National Australia Bank,
Qantas Airways, JB Were and the
Grattan Institute
Mr Jason Yeap OAM
Non Executive Director from February
2011, Chairman of Mering Corporation
Pty Ltd, trustee of the National Gallery of
Victoria, former Senior Partner of Stamford
Law Firm and Director of Herbaceutic
Holdings Ltd, China
Company Secretary
Mr Brent Dankesreither
Chief Operating Officer

oard committees
Audit, Finance & Risk
Management Committee
Monitors the systems and controls established
to safeguard the Institute’s assets.
Chairman, Mr Ian Miller
Mr Viren Abeyasinghe
Mr Martin Armstrong
Mr Brent Dankesreither
Professor Terry Dwyer AO
Mr David Gillespie
Commercialisation
& IP Committee
Advises the Board on business development
opportunities for biotechnology and pharmaceutical
industries and on related issues including patent
protection.
Chairman, Mr Bruce Grey
Mr Martin Armstrong
Ms Angeline Bartholomeusz
Mr Brent Dankesreither
Dr Charles Day
Professor Terry Dwyer AO
Ms Sue Michelmore
Mr George Raitt
Associate Professor Howard Slater (from September 2011)
Professor George Werther
Invited to attend
Ms Michelle Baker (from March 2011)
Development Board
Provides advice on fundraising, marketing and
communications activities to engage donors and
supporters.
Co-Chair, Mrs Suzi Carp
Co-Chair, Mr Steven Casper
Ms Lisa Bond
Mrs Susannah Calvert-Jones
Mr Andrew Cox
Mr Tony Davies
Mrs Victoria Gillespie
Mrs Tanya Hamersfeld
Ms Alyssa Jones
Mr Clark Kirby
Ms Marisa Leone
Mrs Kate Mohr
Mrs Sarah Murdoch
Mr Peter Mastos (from February 2011)
Mr Adrian Redlich
Ms Emma Rosenberg
Ms Fiona Rowland (to March 2011)
Mrs Dahlia Sable
Ms Ariane Baker (from June 2011)
Mr Anthony Coops (from February 2011)
Investment Committee
Advises on the financial investments of the Institute.
Chairman, Mr James Craig
Mr Viren Abeyasinghe
Ms Suzi Carp (to November 2011)
Mrs Patricia Cross (to March 2011)
Mr Brent Dankesreither
Mr Peter Griffin AM
Mr Ben James
Mr Dominic Leary
Mr Paul Martin
Mr Ian Miller
Mr John Nickson
Ms Ariane Baker (from May 2011)
Remuneration Committee
Chairman, Mr Leigh Clifford AO
Mr Martin Armstrong
Mr Ian Miller
VCGS Board
Oversees the activities of the Victorian Clinical
Genetics Services, an incorporated subsidiary
of Murdoch Childrens.
Chairman, Professor Terry Dwyer AO
Mr Brent Dankesreither
Mr David Gillespie
Professor Stephen Holdsworth
A/Professor Andrew Kornberg
Professor Finlay Macrae
Mrs Judy Paterson
Invited to attend
A/Professor David Amor
Mr Stephen Dyt

annual report 2011 > boards & committees
17
executive committee
Responsible for the management of research strategy,
operational issues, research funds and infrastructure.
Professor Terry Dwyer AO
Director
Professor Sheena Reilly
Health, Wellbeing and Policy (Acting)
Mr Brent Dankesreither
Chief Operating Officer
Professor Andrew Sinclair
Associate Director Laboratory Sciences
A/Professor Katie Allen
Population Health & Environment
Invited to attend
Professor Vicki Anderson
Critical Care & Neurosciences
Dr MaryAnne Aitken
Research Strategy
Professor John Bateman
Cell Biology, Development & Disease
Ms Michele Gellatly
Head of Human Resources
Professor Andy Choo
Genetic Disorders
Ms Alyssa Jones
Head of PR & Development
Professor Andy Giraud
Infection & Immunity
Ms Julia Malone
Grants Office Manager

esearch priority
allergy & autoimmune
Allergies have emerged as one of the major public health
problems in children in developed countries during the 20th
century. Australia and New Zealand have among the highest
prevalence of allergic disorders in the developed world. It’s
important to understand how and why allergic and immune
disorders are increasing. Our team is focused on this priority
area to help prevent and treat these conditions.
Donations helped us invest more than $285,000 into allergy
and autoimmune research in 2011, which allowed
researchers to leverage a further $3.2 million in grants from
the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
This is up from $2.7 million in the previous year.
finding answers to food allergy
Peanut allergy is of great concern as it is usually lifelong, the
commonest cause of anaphylaxis in children, and the most
common cause of death from food anaphylaxis.
The immune mechanisms that determine how you develop
or grow out of a food allergy remain unclear. In 2011, our
researchers received $584,000 from the NHMRC to examine
what happens when you grow out of a peanut allergy.
As part of the clinical trial, participants are given an oral dose
of peanut protein, as well as an immune modulator in the
form of probiotic bacteria, once daily over 18 months to
induce tolerance. The research provides a unique
opportunity for researchers to investigate the key immune
changes driving resolution of peanut allergy. Assessing the
new information from the study has great potential to lead
to novel treatments and potential cures.
Our team was also awarded more than $450,000 by the
NHMRC to investigate the dramatic increase in food allergy
and the consistent increase in early vitamin D insufficiency.
Some hypotheses suggest these two have a causal link;
however, it has never been directly tested. The study, which
will use data from two existing NHMRC-funded studies, aims
to learn more about the prevention of common health
problems such as allergy, autoimmune disease, asthma
and cardiovascular disease.
Food allergy affects up to
10 per cent of children,
and rates are rising.

annual report 2011 > research priority
19
food allergy on the increase
Associate Professor Katie Allen
with Azumi and Junko Sakamoto
When Azumi was a year old she was allergic to cashew
nuts and egg whites and had suffered sesame-induced
anaphylaxis. Now, at four-and-a-half years of age, Azumi
has outgrown her egg white and sesame allergy, but is still
allergic to cashews. Azumi is one of more than 5000 children
who are part of a Murdoch Childrens’ study called
HealthNuts, which aims to better understand the natural
history of allergic disorders including food allergy, asthma,
eczema and hay fever, and the relationship of risk factors for
development of these conditions in the first six years of life.
Azumi’s mother Junko jumped at the chance for Azumi to
be part of the study after being approached by researchers
at her daughter’s one-year-old immunisation. “Azumi had
eczema, so I wanted to find out whether she also had a food
allergy, and through the study we discovered that she did,”
Junko said.
The study, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology, assessed more than 5000 one-year-old
children to determine their allergy to a range of common
foods including raw egg, peanuts, sesame, shellfish and
cow’s milk. Infants underwent skin prick testing, and those
with any sensitisation to one or more foods were invited to
attend an allergy research clinic and underwent an oral
food challenge.
Katie said the rise of allergies was similar to that of the
asthma epidemic in the 1990s, and equally as mysterious.
“Just one generation ago, food allergies like the ones
experienced by children today were almost unheard of.
If you went into the community and asked adults how
many had food allergies when they were kids, almost none
did. But if you walk into a classroom now, almost every class
has at least one child with a food allergy,” Katie said.
It was through this HealthNuts study, led by Associate
Professor Katie Allen, that researchers found more than
10 per cent of one-year-olds had an allergic reaction to an
oral food challenge, a rate that was higher than expected.
Katie and her team agree that the increase may be linked
in some way to modifiable environmental factors such as
diet, sunlight and microbes, and other modern lifestylerelated
issues, and requires further investigation.

maternal obesity risk for
early life asthma
study challenges baby
formula claim
Our researchers found hypoallergenic baby formula does not
reduce a baby’s risk of developing allergies in later life. Despite
the formula being recommended in public health guidelines
set out by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology
and Allergy, the study found there was no benefit in using
hypoallergenic (partially hydrolysed whey) formula to prevent
allergies in high-risk infants up to seven years of age,
compared with a conventional cow’s milk-based formula.
The trial involved 620 infants and assessed whether using
the formula decreased the risk of allergy in later life. Infants
in the study were given either hypoallergenic, cow’s milk or
soy formula after the cessation of breastfeeding. Allergy
testing was undertaken at six, 12 and 24 months, and the
children were followed up again at six or seven years of age.
Lead authors David Hill and Dr Adrian Lowe said their
findings did not support the recommendations that
hypoallergenic formula should be used after breastfeeding
as a preventive strategy for infants at high risk of allergenic
disease. In fact, the hypoallergenic formula did not show
any beneficial effect, when compared with a normal cow’s
milk-based formula, for the prevention of childhood eczema,
asthma or hay fever in children up to seven years of age.
The study was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology, in collaboration with the University of
Melbourne and Monash University.
Our research suggests being obese during pregnancy
dramatically increases the risk of your child having asthma
before their 10th birthday. Researchers found there was
a clear increase in the risk of childhood asthma with
increasing level of obesity in the mother, with the children
of very obese mothers having a 57 per cent increase in the
odds of requiring asthma medications between eight and
10 years of age. In the largest study on the association
between maternal obesity during pregnancy and the risk
of childhood asthma, researchers – including Dr Adrian
Lowe from the Institute – drew on data collected by the
Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. In
collaboration with Umeå University, Sweden, researchers
studied more than 189,000 children born to 129,239
mothers in Stockholm, Sweden. In a letter to the editor in
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers
found children of very obese mothers had the highest rate of
asthma medications use (10.3 per cent), but even children of
mothers who were only slightly overweight had an increased
risk (7.8 per cent) when compared to children born to
mothers with normal weight (6.9 per cent).
Lead author Dr Adrian Lowe said the link could potentially
explain some of the increase in incidences of childhood
asthma during recent decades. “The prevalence of both
asthma and obesity has increased over the past five decades
in westernised countries, as has the proportion of mothers
who are obese or overweight. If the association between
maternal body mass index and asthma risk in children
is causal, it might explain between 11 and 13 per cent
of childhood asthma,” Adrian said.
The study hypothesised that maternal obesity may increase
the risk that a child will develop asthma by increasing the
child’s own risk of obesity, influencing the infant’s immune
system towards allergies during pregnancy or by changing
the metabolic balance of the child. “Although the underlying
mechanism to explain these results remains unclear, these
results suggests that, if successful, public health campaigns
to combat obesity may have a beneficial effect on the rate
of childhood asthma.”

annual report 2011 > research priority
21
link between childhood
eczema and adult asthma
Nine-year-old Lauren Ong, who has several
allergies, undergoes an allergy test by nurse
Christine Axelrad as Pamela Martin looks on
Photo Richard Timbury/Casamento Photography
Children who have eczema, particularly when occurring
with hay fever, are nine times more likely to develop
allergic asthma in their 40s. The study published in The
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, in collaboration
with the University of Melbourne, Menzies Research
Institute and Monash University, reported on evidence
from a clinical study of around 1400 people and found that
up to 30 per cent of allergic asthma within the population
sample could be attributed to a history of childhood
eczema and hay fever.
The participants were initially assessed about their allergies
and childhood environment in 1967, at seven years of age,
and were followed up in 2004, at the age of 44. “In the study
we saw that childhood eczema, particularly when hay fever
also occurs, is a very strong predictor of who will suffer from
allergic asthma in adult life. The implications of the study are
that prevention and rigorous treatment of childhood eczema
and hay fever may prevent the persistence and development
of asthma,” lead author Pamela Martin, a University of
Melbourne PhD student based at Murdoch Childrens, said.

esearch priority
brain & mind
one in 12 teens self-harm
A world-first study by our researchers found that one in 12 teens
self-harm during their adolescent years. In collaboration with
King’s College in London, researchers found teens were most
likely to self-harm at 15 years of age, but most young people
gave up their self-harming behaviour as they entered adulthood.
The study, which was published in The Lancet, found 10 per cent
of females reported self-harm at least once during adolescence,
compared with 6 per cent of males, translating to a 60 per cent
increased risk of self-harm in girls compared with boys.
Professor George Patton said the findings should offer
some reassurance to parents of adolescents who self -
harm, but said it’s important to recognise when treatment
is needed. “The study found most of this self-harming that
happens during adolescence resolves without medical
intervention, probably as young people learn new strategies
for avoiding or dealing with distressing emotions. However,
associated mental health problems did not always resolve
in the same way,” he said.
As part of the study, almost 2000 Victorian students were
asked about recent self-harm on four occasions during their
teenage years, and were followed up from early adolescence
through to their late 20s. The study found during adolescence,
self-harm was independently associated with symptoms of
depression and anxiety, antisocial behaviour, high-risk alcohol
use and smoking. Adolescent symptoms of depression and
anxiety also predicted later self-harm in young adulthood,
even in those who had not harmed themselves as a teenager.
“Although many young people work out ways of dealing with
emotional problems, there is need for treatment when these
problems are persisting. We found that adolescents with high
levels of depression and anxiety continued to have high risks
for self-harm into young adulthood. It’s important to
recognise and treat persisting depression and anxiety,
as this will continue to be an important part of suicide
prevention in young adults.”
More girls than boys self-harm. While most teenagers
abandon the practice as they mature, some will remain at risk.

annual report 2011 > brain & mind
23
working conditions impact
on mental health of mothers
premature birth
In 2011, our researchers were involved in a study which
found poor employment conditions can have a significant
impact on the mental health of mothers who return to work
before their child turns one. The findings show that even
when accepted risk factors are taken into account, issues
such as lack of access to paid parental leave, inflexible
hours and job insecurity are linked to psychological
distress in mothers of young children.
The study collected data from 1300 mothers who took part
in the Federal Government’s Longitudinal Study of Australian
Children. It found nearly half of the 40 per cent of Australian
mothers who returned to work in the first year of their child’s
life did so earlier than they wanted to, and only one in five
returned to jobs that provided optimal conditions for
balancing their work and family commitments. Women who
had the least favourable employment conditions were one
and a half times more likely to report psychological distress
than women with the most optimal employment conditions.
80 per cent of preterm babies are born between 32-36
weeks’ gestation, and are categorised as late preterm (LPT).
Over the past few decades, many studies have focused on
very preterm or very low birth-weight infants, but there has
been little research on the outcomes of LPT children.
There is now emerging evidence from other countries that
shows LPT birth is associated with higher rates of morbidity,
an increased risk of cognitive and motor development delay,
and developmental delay. But why this occurs is unknown.
To date, there are no published Australian developmental
outcome studies of LPT infants, so the severity of this
problem in Australia is unclear. To answer this question,
researchers including Dr Jeanie Cheong are conducting a
study which aims to understand the effect of LPT birth on
brain development. The world-first study will incorporate
detailed neurobehavioral assessments in infancy, brain
magnetic imaging (MRI) and developmental assessments
at two years of age.
The research, which was published in Archives of Women’s
Mental Health, is part of a wider Parenting Australian Children
collaboration between the Parenting Research Centre and
our researchers, and aims to generate new knowledge about
contemporary influences on parenting and child wellbeing
in Australia.
“This comprehensive approach will enable a global
understanding of the impact of late preterm birth on
brain development and developmental outcomes. The
results from this study will have vital implications for timing
of semi-elective LPT delivery and identification of ‘high-risk’
LPT infants for early intervention,” Jeanie said. The study
was awarded more than $800,000 by the National Health &
Medical Research Council in 2011.

esearch priority
brain & mind
The Dench family: Noah, 3, dad Martin,
Leo, 6, and mum Brigitte Photo © Newspix
being optimistic is good
for your health
Our team found being optimistic does make a difference
in teen mental health and behaviour, especially against
the onset of depressive symptoms. The study, published
in Pediatrics, assessed 5634 students aged 12 to 14 years
over three years on optimistic thinking style, emotional
problems, substance use and antisocial behaviours.
Researchers found levels of optimism in boys remained
stable but in girls there were marked falls in optimism
across the study. At any given time, optimistic teens were
doing much better in terms of health risks. Most importantly,
risks for the later onset of depression in adolescents who
reported high levels of optimism were almost half those
of the least optimistic. Optimism was also protective against
the onset of substance abuse and antisocial behaviours such
as theft, interpersonal violence and property damage.
childhood brain injury
Researchers published a study in The Journal of Head
Trauma Rehabilitation, which examined children who had
experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) to determine their
recovery of attention from three to six months post-injury.
Traumatic brain injury during childhood can cause a range
of physical and mental health problems including coordination
difficulties, speech problems, social anxiety and
learning difficulties. The study aimed to identify the effects
of injury severity and time since injury on performance, and
to explore whether complex attention skills such as divided
attention and attention control were more vulnerable
and slower to recover than simple attention skills.
Researchers, in collaboration with the University of
Queensland, looked at more than 200 school-aged
children and found more severe injury affected attention
skills most negatively. However, they found children showed
significant recovery over time. There were few interaction
effects, with severity groups exhibiting similar levels of
recovery over the six months post-TBI. Lead researcher
Professor Vicki Anderson said the findings have important
clinical and educational implications, suggesting that children
with TBI, and particularly those with more serious injuries,
are most vulnerable to attention deficits in the acute stages
post-injury. “It is important that schools and families are
aware of these limitations and structure expectations
accordingly. For example, gradual return to school should
be considered, and in the early stages of recovery, children
should be provided with sufficient rest time, with reduced
expectations for tasks such as homework,” she said.

annual report 2011 > brain & mind
25
helping parents who have
a seriously ill child
Six-year-old Leo is in remission from leukaemia, having
battled the disease since he was two. Leo’s parents took part
in a pilot Murdoch Childrens and Parenting Research Centre
program that aims to improve the lives of families who have
children diagnosed with a serious illness or injury. The Take a
Breath studies will help researchers to better understand the
emotional and social impacts that serious illness or injury
have on parents, children and their families.
Two projects form the study: a survey of parents and
children, and the development and evaluation of a program
for parents to reduce their distress and help them adapt to
their child’s illness and the requirements of the medical
treatment. Researchers hope their work will increase
understanding about how parents adapt to their child’s
illness and how to identify parents and families who may
benefit from psychosocial support.
The pilot study, which was completed in 2011, showed the
parent program helped parents improve their sense of
wellbeing and they reported feeling less guilty, sorry or
uncertain. A total of 320 parents will participate in the study
over the next two years. The study is supported with major
grants from the Victorian Department of Human Services,
North and West Metropolitan Region, the Pratt Foundation
and the Children’s Cancer Centre Foundation.

esearch priority
genetics
discovery highlights new
way to diagnose serious
genetic disease
Our researchers led a collaborative study with the Broad
Institute of Harvard and MIT, which discovered a new
genetic defect that can lead to Leigh syndrome. Leigh
syndrome is a rare and potentially fatal neurometabolic
disorder that affects the central nervous system. In Leigh
syndrome, infants are born apparently healthy only to
develop movement and breathing disorders that worsen
over time often leading to death by the age of three. The
problem is that the mitochondria responsible for
powering their cells can’t keep up with the demand for
energy in their developing brains.
The findings, which were published in Cell Metabolism,
were made after researchers used next-generation
DNA-sequencing technologies to test more than 1000 genes
encoding proteins active in the mitochondria in two
individuals with Leigh syndrome.
Unlike current tests, which test one gene at a time, this
technology allows scientists to screen many genes at the
same time to establish a diagnosis more quickly and
cost-effectively. It also means patients in the future may
not need to undergo painful muscle biopsies, and could
instead have a simple blood test. The findings highlighted
the value of next-generation sequencing technologies for
diagnosing rare diseases and learning more about the
underlying biology.
Each year, eight million children are born with a serious birth
defect of genetic origin. The genetic cause remains unknown
for more than half of these conditions. We study genetics to
ensure that future generations are healthy.

annual report 2011 > genetics
27
Kawasaki patient Axel Molina has
his heart checked during a check-up
with Dr David Burgner Photo © Newspix
The gene researchers uncovered encodes an enzyme in
mitochondria known as MTFMT. In addition to the clinical
implications, the new findings also offer insight into the
biology of human mitochondria. Previously, mutations
in more than 10 different genes had been shown to cause
defects in human mitochondrial translation. It is now clear
that the MTFMT gene is also required for efficient
mitochondrial translation.
Although it isn’t clear in the case of Leigh syndrome
whether a precise molecular diagnosis will necessarily
lead to therapies, the findings represented a meaningful
advance. Lead researcher Professor David Thorburn said
that even without a remedy, it can be reassuring for families
to have a definitive answer. “Patients are often referred
around from one doctor to another. A diagnosis at least
provides some closure to the diagnostic odyssey, even
without a treatment,” he said.
“Diagnosis of the disease along with its specific genetic cause
can also be informative about the risk a couple has of having
another affected child. The diagnostic information can help
in decisions about whether and how to pursue alternative
means of having a healthy child.”
kawasaki disease
The mystery of Kawasaki disease – a poorly understood,
relatively common and serious childhood condition – is
now a step closer to being solved after a team of
international researchers, including researchers from
the Institute, identified two genes that are important in
determining who develops the disease. The study, which
was published in Nature Genetics, found that children who
have had Kawasaki disease have naturally occurring
variation in two key genes involved in the immune response.
Kawasaki disease is a serious illness affecting young children.
It causes symptoms including high fever, rash, swollen hands,
red eyes, enlarged glands in the neck and redness of the
tongue and lips. In up to a quarter of untreated children, the
blood vessels supplying the heart – the coronary arteries –
are affected, sometimes with serious long-term
consequences. Kawasaki disease is a leading cause of heart
disease acquired during childhood. The heart problems can
persist through life and may require coronary artery bypass
or, rarely, even heart transplant.
In the largest study ever to have been conducted on Kawasaki
disease collaborating physicians and scientists from more

esearch priority
genetics
than 70 centres in 11 countries analysed almost 500,000
genetic markers in European-Caucasian cases
and controls, and then confirmed the findings in Kawasaki
disease patients from Australia, Europe, the USA, Canada
and Asia. They identified the two mutated genes in five
different cohorts of Kawasaki disease patients.
Dr David Burgner, one of the lead researchers of the study,
said the discovery is an important step towards
understanding the condition. “Kawasaki disease is familiar
to every paediatrician, but there is no diagnostic test and it
can be difficult to diagnose. Similarly, as we don’t fully
understand the condition, current treatment is non-specific
and it doesn’t always prevent heart damage – the most
serious complication,” he said.
“However, in this study, we discovered that when either of
these two genes are mutated, this significantly contributes
to the risk of developing Kawasaki disease, which is a major
step forward into understanding and treating this disease.
We hope that these findings are an important piece of the
jigsaw of Kawasaki disease and will help with the search for
easier diagnosis and better treatment.”
new registry for disorders
of sex development
In 2011, we were involved in developing an online web
portal which will serve as a secure national and international
database for patients with disorders of sex development
(DSD). The portal will be utilised to initiate large-scale research
studies to look at the underlying genetics, ongoing health
issues for DSD patients, and make it easier for doctors and
researchers to knowledge-share. Ultimately, the research will
lead to improved diagnosis and clinical management of patients
with DSD. The international DSD network already has more than
700 patients registered from Australia, South East Asia, the USA
and India. The registry is expected to exceed 2000 patients and
be the largest database of its kind in the world.
It is not possible to provide an accurate diagnosis for many
DSD patients, making clinical management difficult.
The international database will be used to establish the
underlying cause of these conditions, which in turn will
provide an accurate diagnosis and improve the clinical
outcome for patients.
cancer research
Researchers were awarded more than $580,000 by the National
Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to look at cell
division and the role it plays in cancer development. When cells
divide, their DNA must be copied and distributed faultlessly into
the new cells. Defects in the factors that control this process
will result in serious health problems, including cancer. Results
gained from this project are expected to significantly increase
our understanding of how cancer cells control the replication
of their DNA and therefore, their own fate.
In a separate study, our researchers will examine centromeres,
which is a region of DNA typically found near the middle of a
chromosome. Defective centromeres can result in genome
instability, infertility and development of cancers. Researchers
will study how the identity of a centromere is maintained and
inherited after each cell division, which will help them to
understand cell growth and cancer development. The study
was awarded $307,000 by the NHMRC in 2011. About 600
children are diagnosed with cancer in Australia each year.

annual report 2011 > genetics
29
arthritis breakthrough
Dr Shireen Lamande and
study participant Ian Begg
In a study published in Nature Genetics, our researchers
identified a gene that causes a severe form of osteoarthritis.
The findings were made after researchers studied three
unrelated families with a form of inherited hand osteoarthritis
and discovered the mutated gene, called TRPV4.
The TRPV4 gene regulates calcium entry into the cell and
is important for normal function of cartilage cells. Working
with collaborators from the Pharmacology Department at
the University of Melbourne, researchers found that cells
don’t function properly when the gene is mutated, causing
the arthritic condition. Importantly, researchers at the
Institute also found TRVP4 gene expression was dramatically
reduced in a mouse model of arthritis and the greatest
decrease was seen in mice with the most severe arthritis,
confirming that altered TRVP4 activity is associated with
arthritic disease.
The breakthrough could ultimately lead to the development
of new therapeutic treatments for all forms of arthritis. The
discovery also raises the possibility that the gene may also
play a role in age or injury-related arthritis.
Dr Shireen Lamande, who led the study, said the discovery
represented a major step forward for arthritis research.
“The next step for us is to understand the cell signalling
pathways that are changed by the mutations and lead to
arthritis. This will help us develop therapies that specifically
target those pathways and prevent the disease,” Shireen said.
The gene is also expressed in nerves and is responsible for
increased sensitivity to pain, meaning the finding could also
have implications for people with cancer and other painful
chronic conditions. “Understanding more about how this
gene works will help us understand how drug treatments will
affect the different conditions caused by TRPV4 and which
drugs might be best suited for each condition.”
Ian Begg, along with members of his family, participated in
the study. Four generations of the Begg family are affected
with the condition. “It’s nice to know why we are the way we
are, and now that the problem has been identified, there
may be answers that can help,” Ian said. “The condition
restricts your hand movements as you get older and can
cause a lot of pain, so if this discovery leads to some form
of treatment it would be fantastic for future generations,
the younger family members as well as me as I get older.”

esearch priority
obesity
The number of overweight Australian children has
doubled in recent years. Today, around a quarter of
Australian children are overweight or obese, with health
problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure,
asthma, hypertension and sleep apnoea directly attributed
to childhood obesity. Our researchers are committed to
helping curb obesity among children and adolescents, and
to finding innovative prevention and treatment strategies.
parents opt to weight and see
Our researchers discovered that many parents find it hard
to know if their children are obese. The study, which was
published in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity,
found there was no clearly identifiable weight above which
parents will usually realise their child is overweight. The
study of 4983 preschoolers found that concern from
parents about their child’s weight was ‘only modestly’
related to their actual size, and was not triggered by
any definable body mass index threshold.
Lead researcher Professor Melissa Wake said some parents
of overweight children were even concerned that their child
was underweight. “We thought maybe it was just the cut-off
point that public health doctors have set, so we wondered
if there was a definite weight cut-off that parents would
respond to. But we found there was not. There were lots
of parents who were worried when they needn’t be, and
many who perhaps could have been but were not. But
generally the concern about underweight was far stronger
than it should have been, especially given that thinner
children are usually pretty healthy,” she said.
Melissa said the results of the study identified the need
for weight screening in child health checks to properly
identify overweight children. “If we really want to know
which children are overweight or obese, there seems no
way around actually weighing and measuring them.
However, this would involve population screening, and
screening would only be useful once there are acceptable,
effective methods that reliably help overweight children.
The hunt is on, but it does still seem a long way off.”

annual report 2011 > obesity
31
Today, around a quarter of Australian children are
overweight or obese, with health problems such as type 2
diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, hypertension and
sleep apnoea directly attributed to childhood obesity.
study questions link
between sleep and obesity
Despite some international studies suggesting short sleep
duration in children is associated with an increased risk
of obesity; our researchers found longer sleep duration
may not play a part in combating childhood obesity. This
study went further than others by employing cutting-edge
sleep and body composition measures. It found no
relationship between short sleep and obesity in 133 obese
adolescents aged 10-16 attending an American weight
management clinic.
Cardiovascular disease affects more than 3.4 million
Australians, with one in six Australians affected. Previous
research has shown that overweight or obese children
who are obese as adults have an increased risk of type 2
diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels
and cardiovascular disease. However, it was not previously
clear whether the association between childhood obesity
and cardiovascular risk persists when overweight or obese
children become non-obese as adults.
Researchers found those taking part on average slept
less than the recommended guidelines of more than eight
hours a night. More than half experienced some degree
of sleep disordered breathing and nearly a quarter had
metabolic syndrome. Lead researcher Dr Valerie Sung said
that, based on their findings, it was premature to expect
that lengthening sleep will improve body mass index for
obese adolescents, and that longer sleep duration was if
anything associated with worse cholesterol and triglyceride
profiles. The study was published in Sleep.
impact of childhood obesity
can be turned around
Professor Terry Dwyer, chair of the steering committee for
the global study, said the study demonstrates that it’s never
too late for children to get into shape and reinforces the
concept that it’s worthwhile helping overweight and obese
children to reach a normal weight as they become adults.
The study, which was conducted in collaboration with
Tasmania’s Menzies Research Institute and Finland’s
University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, looked
at long-term follow-up data of more than 6000 people in
three countries. Over an interval of almost 25 years, only
15 per cent of children who were of normal weight were
obese as adults, whereas 82 per cent of those who were
obese as children were obese as adults.
In 2011, we were involved in a world-first international
collaborative study, which showed that the association
between childhood obesity and cardiovascular risk is
reduced when obese children become non-obese as
adults. The results of the study were published in The
New England Journal of Medicine.
“The good news is that the study shows that childhood
obesity does not permanently increase cardiovascular risk
if obesity in adulthood is avoided. However, preventing
obesity at all ages is still the key message, as very few obese
children became non-obese in adulthood,” Terry said.

Professor Sheena Reilly and
Professor John Carlin
research highlights
centres of research excellence
Murdoch Childrens was successful in being awarded two
Centres of Research Excellence grants by the National Health
& Medical Research Council (NHMRC), each worth $2.5
million over five years. The feat was made more impressive
by the fact only four major universities received more than
one of these awards.
We were awarded $2.5 million by NHMRC to establish a
Centre for Research Excellence in Childhood Language.
Spoken language defines the human species and is critical
to achieving one’s full potential. Poor language and literary
skills can cause significant problems for children at school
and later in life. The Centre for Childhood Language will
address how language develops, what goes wrong and
why it matters. Together with researchers from the USA
and the UK, the team will generate new knowledge to
address the gaps in research and do so by working closely
with policy makers and practitioners.
Professor Sheena Reilly, who is leading the Centre, said the
Institute is well positioned to address a number of important
issues. “As a result of the data we have captured over the
past 10 years and the Institute’s resources, we are uniquely
positioned internationally to advance understandings in the
field of childhood language.”
The Institute was also awarded $2.5 million by the NHMRC
for a Centre of Research Excellence – with collaborating
partners Monash University and the University of Melbourne
– to create an academic centre for biostatistics research and
training across the three campuses.
Professor John Carlin, who heads the new Victorian Centre
for Biostatistics (ViCBiostat), explained that it will bring
together leaders in the field of biostatistics in Victoria, with
the core aim of fostering the careers of a new generation of
biostatistical researchers.
Biostatisticians play a crucial role in medical and public
health research, as they help to design and lead the analysis
of many studies ranging from randomised controlled trials
to epidemiological investigations that follow large numbers
of people over many years.

annual report 2011 > research highlights
33
Although the Centre will be Victoria-based, it is hoped
the impact will be national. “We would like to see the
establishment of a critical mass of advanced trainees
and enhanced collaborations on a sufficient scale –
and with enough visibility, to underpin the ongoing
development of the discipline. To date in Australia,
although many health researchers recognise the need,
there have been no vehicles for building the necessary
high-level capacity,” John said.
childhood pneumonia
Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children
under five worldwide, killing two million children annually,
the vast majority in developing countries. In 2011, the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed an additional
$1.5 million to help researchers at the Institute to
investigate the condition; which is on top of $1.3 million
awarded to researchers in 2009 by the Foundation.
The grant will enable researchers to further their studies
into the different strains of pneumonia-causing bacteria to
help improve vaccinations and develop new ones.
Pneumonia is caused by bacteria known as pneumococcus,
which has about 90 strains. The current vaccine protects
against only a small number of strains of bacteria. However,
children in developing countries often carry different strains
of the bacteria, so even those who have access to the
vaccine may not be protected.
Working with an international team of scientists, our team
has taken bacterial samples from children in Fiji, Kenya,
South Africa, The Gambia, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh
and the USA.
Poor language and literacy skills can cause major problems in
children and stop them from fulfilling their potential in life.

esearch
highlights
refugee status report
Dr Georgia Paxton led a team based at the
Institute in writing the Refugee Status Report for
the Victorian Department of Education and Early
Childhood Development.
The report examined outcomes for refugee children
in Victoria across the domains of health, wellbeing,
learning, development and safety. It drew on multiple
datasets; compiling published information and also
including previously unpublished Government data, an
analysis of Census data, extensive service mapping and
a significant qualitative component examining service
delivery. Importantly, the status report also highlighted
gaps in data and services.
The report detailed the complexity of health, mental
health and educational issues that occur in refugee
children. It found refugee children were far more likely
to live in poverty after arrival, compared to Victorian
children overall, and less likely to have access to a car
or the internet. They were less likely to meet minimum
standards on benchmark literacy and numeracy testing
in school and faced particular challenges in accessing
education. At the same time, their rates of service use
were generally lower, and the international literature
suggests the majority of refugee children are resilient
and grow up to be healthy well-adjusted adults.
This benchmark report provides an invaluable summary
of the health status of refugee children and is unique in
the national and international context. It provides a
foundation for research and policy development and is
already being used for this purpose. The report was
launched by Victorian Government Ministers Lovell
(Early Childhood) and Davis (Health) in July 2011.
The report was co-authored with Natalie Smith, Dr Aung
Ko Win, Nigisti Mulholland and Dr Suzanne Hood.
young males most at risk
We were involved in an international study which found
young Australian men are three times more likely to die
prematurely than male toddlers.
The study, published in The Lancet, tracked global
death trends between 1955 and 2004 and found
that while mortality rates had fallen overall, rates were
now relatively higher in teenagers and young adults
than in young children. The study into youth mortality
found the number of children dying aged one to four
had fallen by about 80 per cent, largely because of
better protection from infectious diseases. However,
in the past 50 years, transport injuries, suicides and
homicide rates had risen in older adolescents and young
adults in high and middle income countries. Any gains
in mortality from reducing infectious disease deaths in
these age groups had been wiped out by this rise in
injury deaths.
Senior author Professor George Patton said the
message from the study was that this young adult age
group should be a priority in order to further reduce
deaths in early life, with focused health campaigns
targeting these issues.

annual report 2011 > research highlights
35
gestures point
to autism diagnosis
partner violence linked
to postnatal depression
Our team discovered that toddlers who later go on to be
diagnosed with autism use fewer gestures. As part of the Early
Language in Victoria Study (ELVS), the early developmental
skills and behaviour of 1900 children at key ages was
measured – including those of 45 children diagnosed with
ASD between the ages of three and seven years.
The study showed there was a pattern of low gesture use
for children with ASD between the ages of eight months up to
24 months. As early as eight months, early communication
gestures differentiated children with ASD from some of the
other children. Early identification and intervention is crucial in
managing ASD, but previously it had been difficult to diagnose
children with the disorder until the age of three or older.
It found the decreased use of gestures – such as pointing,
showing and waving – at 24 months of age, was the main
characteristic that differentiated children with ASD from all
other groups of children. These results could revolutionise
the way ASD is screened for and provide better outcomes
for children with ASD through early intervention programs.
A study published in BJOG-An International Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology found 40 per cent of women
who report depressive symptoms following birth also
reported intimate partner violence.
The study looked at more than 1300 women who had
given birth to their first child. It found that one in six
women reported intimate partner violence in the year
after having their first baby. Emotional violence was more
common than physical violence, 14 per cent versus eight
per cent. Sixteen per cent of women reported depressive
symptoms in the 12 months postpartum.
Co-led by Dr Hannah Woolhouse, the study also found
that most of the women reporting postnatal depression
first reported it at six months after birth, or later. The
finding has major implications for clinical practice, with
current health guidelines suggesting women should be
screened for postnatal depression in the first three
months after birth, meaning many women who develop
depression after six months will be missed.

esearch
highlights
unlocking the mysteries
of heart operation
Six-year-old Mia Cowley was born with complex
congenital heart disease; she has holes in her heart,
ventricles in the wrong position, a missing valve and
half of her heart failed to form.
Throughout her young life, Mia has had to endure
four different operations, including the Fontan
heart operation in 2010.
The Fontan procedure is a life-saving medical
technique used to treat children born with certain
serious heart defects. The procedure involves
restructuring the heart so that it can operate
effectively using only one ventricle, or pumping
chamber, as opposed to two. There are more than
1300 people in Australia and New Zealand who are
alive today due to the Fontan procedure.
In 2011, researchers at the Institute established the
‘Fontan Registry’, which will collect valuable health
information on Fontan patients living in Australia and
New Zealand. It will follow and monitor their health
and progress with the aim of determining the size
of this population, their life expectancy and their need
for heart transplantation later in life. Mia is part of the
registry, which is the largest of its kind in the world.
“The average procedure only lasts up to 20-30 years.
After this time, some of these patients may require a heart
transplant, but it is not yet known how many of them will
require it,” Yves said.
A/Professor Yves d’Udekem, who is leading the study,
said 90 per cent of children who have had the
operation were alive after 20 years, but it was not
known what happened to them after this period.
“With the population of Fontan recipients growing each year,
there is a need to develop longer-term solutions to offer
these patients a greater life expectancy. Ultimately, we hope
this registry will help identify the needs of these patients now

annual report 2011 > research highlights
37
Heart patient, Mia Cowley
Photo © Newspix
and in the future, so that measures can be taken to ensure
they receive the best possible care and life expectancy.”
The registry will also be utilised to initiate large-scale trials
for potential new medications and treatments.
the success. In the future we will be able to definitively
say what works. The lessons learned through this database
of patients will allow children in the future who undergo
Fontan procedures the opportunity to live a near-normal
life for their whole lives.”
“It’s likely that by taking simple medications, Fontan heart
patients’ life expectancy could be increased by five or 10
years – but at the moment we have no means of measuring
The collaborative work is the first of its kind in the world,
with all cardiac specialists in Australia and New Zealand
working jointly on the project.

Elena Tucker
Andre Tan
students & awards
Students at the Institute benefit from interacting with our
senior scientists and clinicians, and from opportunities to
gain skills in leadership and communication.
phd success
Elena Tucker completed her PhD in 2011 under the
supervision of Professor David Thorburn and Dr Alison
Compton, and has since become a research officer in the
Mitochondrial Research Group, which David leads.
While undertaking her PhD, Elena investigated the molecular
basis of mitochondrial disease, a devastating disorder that
results in a range of debilitating symptoms and sometimes
death. Using next-generation sequencing – revolutionary
new technology that sequences thousands of genes at a
time, rather than each one individually – Elena and the team
looked at more than 100 patients with the aim of achieving
a molecular diagnosis for patients. Not only did the study
achieve a number of diagnoses, it also identified three
novel disease genes. The study provided new insight into
mitochondrial disease and highlighted the huge potential
of the new technology.
While studying for her PhD, Elena won a number of awards
including the New Investigator Award from the Human
Genetics Society of Australasia, an Australian Postgraduate
Award, a Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarship and the
Murdoch Childrens David Danks Scholarship, which she
won in the first year of her PhD.
study leads to
innovative invention
Andre Tan’s association with Murdoch Childrens started
long before he commenced his PhD at the Institute. His first
experience was as a science and engineering undergraduate
student working on a summer vacation project in 2005.
Andre worked under the supervision of Dr Bridget Southwell
and Professor John Hutson, who were investigating how an
electrical stimulation therapy for chronic constipation worked.

annual report 2011 > students & awards
39
the innovation award
“I was used to looking at mathematical formulas, calculators
and programming computers, so interviewing patients and
families who were experiencing chronic constipation was an
eye-opening experience; it really humanised the condition,”
Andre said.
After completing three summer vacation and two
undergraduate projects with the Surgical Research team,
Andre realised that an engineering solution was needed to
treat the condition, as existing electrical stimulators weren’t
suitable for home use. His description of a new device to
treat patients with chronic constipation formed part of the
team’s invention. “Being a co-inventor of an innovative device
was something I never expected in my wildest dreams,” he
said. The team are now working on developing the device,
which will allow patients to treat themselves in the comfort
of their own home.
Recognises staff in research support or corporate
services who have improved support for research
and have demonstrated a level of creativity in
their contribution.
A/Professor Yves d’Udekem, for implementing the
Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry for patients
who had undergone a Fontan operation. The registry
will provide the international community with important
information on paediatric heart surgery
the teamwork award
Acknowledges the contributions of staff who work
beyond their own position in the areas of events
and staff engagement.
Jade Knapp, for volunteering her time to assist with a number
of fundraising events
achievement awards
& fellowships
environment, health
& safety award
The Institute’s staff awards formally acknowledge and reward
high achievers to motivate staff and promote awareness of
the exceptional commitment of individuals to the values and
mission of Murdoch Childrens. The awards are presented
annually in May at the Institute’s Annual Review.
the discovery award
Recognises excellence in research achievement for
senior researchers, 10 or more years postdoctoral.
Professor Terry Nolan, for his work on the H1N1 vaccine
in infants and children
the rising star award
Recognises both a staff member and a team which has made
significant contributions to improve safety performance.
Wendy Francis (Leadership Award)
Comparative Development Research Group (Team award)
leadership excellence award
Recognises excellence in leadership.
Steven Nasioulas, for his leadership in the role of Laboratory
Services Manager within Victorian Clinical Genetics Services
professor david danks
scholarship
Recognises up-and-coming researchers for their
excellence in research achievement.
Dr Peter Vuillermin, for his work leading the Barwon Infant
Study, which aims to learn more about the prevention of
common health problems such as allergy, autoimmune
disease and asthma
Awarded in honour of Professor David Danks,
the founding director of The Murdoch Institute,
the scholarship recognises leading PhD students
and provides a financial supplement to their
university scholarship.
Elisha Josev (Developmental Imaging Research Group)

victorian clinical
genetics services
Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS), a subsidiary
of Murdoch Childrens, provides not-for-profit clinical and
laboratory genetics services with an emphasis on innovation
and on translating the latest research discoveries into clinical
care. These services are provided through five diagnostic
laboratories based at the Institute and clinical services
located at multiple sites across Victoria and Tasmania.
The most prominent event of 2011 was the relocation
of our Murdoch Childrens-based services to the new
Royal Children’s Hospital building. The move took place
in November, but planning was a focus for much of the year.
Ensuring the smooth transition of our pathology and clinical
services presented many challenges. In particular, it was
vital to ensure continuity of our pathology services, despite
the need to relocate major pieces of laboratory equipment.
We now have co-location of all VCGS laboratories and
clinical services for the first time, and are enjoying the
benefits of greater integration of our services and closer
physical links to the Institute.
new information
technology projects
VCGS also initiated two major projects in 2011, both
involving information technology. First, we commenced
the implementation of a new Laboratory Information
Management System (LIMS) for our diagnostic laboratories.
The LIMS project, which will take a year to complete, is the
largest-single project ever undertaken by VCGS – and will
significantly enhance the integration and efficiency of our
laboratories. Second we initiated a comprehensive rewrite
of the software for POSSUM, our dysmorphology database
of genetic syndromes, which has been used worldwide for
more than 20 years. The new software will make POSSUM a
fully web-based program and facilitate closer collaboration
with clinicians and other databases. Both the LIMS and
POSSUM projects will be completed in 2012.
VCGS is making more genetic diagnoses than ever before
and demand for our services has never been greater.

annual report 2011 > VCGS
41
services in demand
maternal serum screening
In 2011, we saw further advances in genetic knowledge
and testing technologies. VCGS is making more genetic
diagnoses than ever before and demand for our services
has never been greater. The Molecular Genetics Laboratory
is taking advantage of new gene-sequencing technology
that, for the first time, allows the simultaneous testing of
large numbers of genes rather than testing one gene at a
time. VCGS is initially focusing on inherited heart conditions
for which genetic testing has previously been prohibitive due
to the large numbers of genes involved. In the Cytogenetics
Laboratory, we completed a pilot study using microarraybased
chromosome testing to replace traditional
microscope-based chromosome testing for prenatal
diagnosis. This technique is particularly useful where there is
a fetal ultrasound abnormality requiring further investigation.
VCGS is now the only provider of this service in Australia.
Demand for Clinical Genetic and Metabolic Genetic services
also continued to increase in 2011, driven by advances
in genetic knowledge and testing technologies. VCGS
continued to provide high-quality family-centred genetics
services to people of all ages across metropolitan and
regional Victoria and Tasmania. VCGS is committed to
excellence in all the services it provides, and in 2011 the
clinical service successfully completed quality accreditation
through Quality Improvement and Community Services
Accreditation (QICSA).
changes to newborn screening
The Newborn Screening Laboratory collaborated with the
Victorian Department of Health in 2011 to introduce written
informed consent for newborn screening and for the use
of newborn screening cards for research. Parents are now
better informed about newborn screening and the reasons
for storing newborn screening cards. The informed consent
project also resulted in the appointment of a newborn
screening nurse, who is providing improved education for
midwives and communication with parents. In the Metabolic
Laboratory, VCGS obtained new state-of-the-art equipment
for amino acid testing, funded by the Department of Health.
This new instrument will allow us to provide results more
quickly and keep pace with increasing demand.
Using a combination of a blood test and ultrasound
findings, the Maternal Serum Screening Laboratory
performs screening during pregnancy to determine
whether a pregnant woman’s baby has an increased
risk of having Down syndrome. In 2011, the laboratory
added the ultrasound nasal bone measurement to the
existing screening panel, which will improve the
performance of the screening program by increasing
the accuracy of the test and reducing the number of
invasive diagnostic tests.
research & education
VCGS is also a leader in genetic education and
research, and in the training of the next generation
of genetic scientists, counsellors and clinicians. The
Master of Genetic Counselling course, established in
2008, is the first professional entry program in Australia
to train genetic counsellors in a two-year Masters degree.
Already 32 students have completed the course, with
graduates finding employment throughout Australia
and internationally. For genetic researchers, these
are also exciting times. In 2011, VCGS staff made a
number of exciting research discoveries and published
a total of 56 scientific papers, many in prestigious
international journals.
I thank our Board, Executive committee and all our
staff for their ongoing support and commitment to
providing the highest standard of clinical and laboratory
genetics services.
Associate Professor David Amor
Director, VCGS

corporate &
scientific services
Murdoch Childrens could not fulfil its goal to improve the
health and wellbeing of children without the support it
receives from donors and the Government.
With this firmly in mind, the Corporate & Scientific Services
(C&SS) team works hard to leverage maximum value from
every dollar received and to set in place the processes and
practices to give our supporters confidence that the money
they entrust to us is being governed well.
In addition to supporting the researchers of Murdoch
Childrens, C&SS also provides support to Murdoch Childrens’
subsidiary, the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS),
whose clinicians, genetic counsellors and pathology scientists
focus on improving the genetic health of people in Victoria,
Australia and around the world.
In 2011, we continued to work hard under tight constraints
to ensure that the resources, systems and services
supporting our researchers and VCGS gave them the best
chance of achieving success in their fields.
The past year has been dominated by planning and
executing the move into our new world class research
facilities. In addition to working closely with the architects
and builders to ensure the design of the new facility fully
met current and expected future research needs, the C&SS
team were the key planners of the move, liaising with our
researchers and VCGS staff members to schedule the move
of more than 1500 staff and their associated equipment.
I am pleased to report that the move was completed
successfully, with minimal overall disruption to the progress
of research and provision of VCGS services. The Institute
is very grateful to the behind the scenes efforts of the team
to make such a complex logistical move appear simple.
While the new facilities undoubtedly will underpin even
greater research outputs and improved services in genetic
health, they also provide opportunities for gaining greater
operational efficiencies. We were able to relocate a number
of research groups that were previously off-site back to The
Royal Children’s Hospital campus, reducing our footprint
and saving operational costs. World class facilities also
give Murdoch Childrens a compelling reason for our best
researchers to stay and to attract leading researchers from

annual report 2011 > corporate & scientific services
43
around the world. Improving the complex process of how
we bring new research groups and new researchers into
the Institute with the greatest ease and minimal disruption
will be a focus for us in 2012, and work has already begun
in that regard on multiple fronts.
complemented the training already available and our widely
used online training resource, i-Learn. We were encouraged
by the engagement and positive feedback from our staff and
leaders to the program, and look forward to the program
continuing into 2012 and beyond.
While the majority of the new facilities have been built, by
September 2012 we are confident that we will have finished
outfitting the remaining 1100 sqm of space, which will have
the capacity to house another 80 researchers.
Matching our new facilities, our intranet and internet
sites were both rebuilt during the year. The intranet was
particularly valuable as a new knowledge, information
and communication portal and intranet use has increased
three-fold. Our new facilities were designed to facilitate
increased interactions in the workspace, and our intranet
has supplemented this well.
With almost all areas of research continuing exponential
growth in the need for data processing and storage, we
invested almost half a million dollars to upgrade our data
server and storage capabilities, disaster recovery systems
and service virtualisation in 2011.
Biospecimen management and storage protocols will be
reviewed during 2012 in line with the expected significant
investment for biospecimen storage freezers. Apart from
our people and knowledge, biospecimens are one of our
most important resources and C&SS will continue to support
researchers to safeguard this irreplaceable asset.
Murdoch Childrens ongoing commitment to its people and
culture meant that in 2011, for the eighth consecutive year,
we were named as an Employer of Choice for Women
(EOWA) – an achievement we can all be proud of.
In 2012 we will continue our journey to improve our
systems and processes, so that we can be ready for the
ongoing growth of the Institute. We need to be able to
properly administer continued growth in our staff numbers
on campus, as well as develop ways to appropriately care
for and manage staff around Australia and the world. We
are also aware that our researchers often juggle research
with another time demanding career, such as clinical roles
in The Royal Children’s Hospital, so system flexibility, ease
of access and ease of use are important.
The launch of our new Human Resources Information
System is eagerly anticipated, which will allow our leaders
to reduce staff recruitment times, improve success and more
easily manage team administration and workforce planning
at any time from anywhere in the world. We expect this will
not only increase the effectiveness of team leadership, but
also substantially reduce the time required to properly
administer a research team – returning more time to
direct research activities.
2011 was a year that all those in Corporate & Scientific
Services can be proud of, and I thank them all for their
efforts. We take pride in our achievements because we
know our work is important to the success
of the researchers we support who
improve the health and wellbeing of
children. We all look forward to 2012.
Recognising that successful modern researchers require
skills beyond scientific excellence, in 2011 we also launched
the Institute’s first performance and talent development
program, including an extensive leadership development
training program. Facilitated workshops and off-site events
Brent Dankesreither
Chief Operating Officer &
Company Secretary

corporate &
scientific services
clinical research
development office
clinical epidemiology &
biostatistics unit
The Clinical Research Development Office (CRDO) aims
to increase the capacity for high-quality clinical research
on the campus. It provides seminars, written and web-based
educational materials and expert advice on study design
and clinical research projects. CRDO works closely with
the Research Development and Ethics office, Clinical
Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit and the Australian
Paediatric Pharmacology Research Unit.
Highlights for 2011 included:
• The delivery of a quarterly seminar series outlining
the framework required of a clinical research project
to more than 50 campus researchers
• Invitations to speak on research principles and practices
to researchers external to The Royal Children’s Hospital
campus, and the provision of direct support and guidance
to more than 40 research projects
• Mentoring of study coordinators and research assistants,
and the presentation of monthly forums for researchers
• Developing web-based guidance materials on research,
which are being increasingly accessed by researchers
both on and outside of the campus, and new strategic
initiatives including input into a national paediatric
trials network for all paediatric research organisations
across Australia
The Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit (CEBU)
provides expertise in biostatistics and related areas
including study design and data management to a wide
range of research at Murdoch Childrens, with a focus on
clinical and population health studies. We perform research
in collaboration with clinicians and epidemiologists, and
also conduct our own research to improve methods of
biostatistical analysis. Our short courses in research methods
and biostatistics, including use of the statistical package Stata,
attracted more than 350 attendees.
Highlights for 2011 included:
• CEBU researchers were co-authors on 66 publications
in a wide range of scientific journals
• Several CEBU researchers were successful as coinvestigators
on new National Health & Medical Research
Council (NHMRC) Project Grant applications. In particular,
Dr Katherine Lee was involved in three successful grants,
two on brain development in preterm infants and the
other a major randomised trial in The Royal Children’s
Hospital on optimal intravenous fluid maintenance for
very sick children. Professor John Carlin was involved in
a successful grant on the development of atherosclerosis
in early life (Barwon Infant Study) and A/Professor Susan
Donath in another on the effect of probiotics on the
neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants
• Dr Fiona Mensah had a number of outstanding
achievements, including receipt of her PhD from
the University of York (UK), the award of an Early
Career Fellowship from the NHMRC and success as
a co-investigator on a NHMRC grant for a Centre of
Research Excellence in Childhood Language

annual report 2011 > corporate & scientific services
45
australian paediatric
pharmacology research unit
• Professor John Carlin was successful as the lead
investigator on a grant to establish a NHMRC Centre
of Research Excellence in Biostatistics, in collaboration
with A/Professor Michael Coory (Health Services Research)
and colleagues at Monash University and The University
of Melbourne. This grant provides $2.5 million over five
years to fund post-doctoral researchers and PhD
candidates in biostatistics, with the aim of developing
careers and high-level leadership capacity in this core
research discipline
• Dr Katherine Lee presented results of our research (joint
with John Carlin and John Galati) on aspects of the method
of multiple imputations for handling missing data at the
annual conference of the International Society for Clinical
Biostatistics in Ottawa, Canada
bioinformatics unit
The Bioinformatics Unit has expertise in high throughput
genomics, including experimental design and statistical
analysis. In 2011 a new head of bioinformatics was appointed
and the group further expanded with a new post-doctoral,
computational scientist and Masters student. The
Bioinformatics Unit fulfils a pivotal role in many collaborations
throughout Murdoch Childrens and is also at the forefront
of bioinformatics research methodology, which is produced
for the wider research community. In 2011 the group was
involved in 13 journal publications, a NHMRC project grant
and Dr Alicia Oshlack won the Australian Academy of Science
Gani Medal for human genetics.
Headed by A/Professor Noel Cranswick, the Australian
Paediatric Pharmacology Research Unit (APPRU) performs
high quality, timely clinical trials in children that comply
with local and international guidelines. Our primary focus
is always on the quality use of medicines in children. We
provide clinical trial services and personnel who are highly
experienced in phase I to phase IV trials and issues relating
to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Case Report Form (CRF)
management and subject recruitment. We also provide
clinical pharmacology, research and development, clinical
trial design and protocol development, GCP compliance,
pharmacokinetic modelling and regulatory affairs strategy.
In 2011, we provided support to 25 clinical studies in our unit.
Highlights for 2011 included:
• The 17th World Health Organisation Essential Medicines
List (EML) and third essential medicines list for children
were updated in March 2011 at a meeting in Ghana. Noel
Cranswick is a full member of the committee and has been
involved in the development of the children’s EML since its
inception in 2006. The committee is also involved in a
$10 million Gates Foundation grant on the implementation
of essential medicines policy for children in Africa and India
• The group presented and published on the safe use of
antipyretics (paracetamol and ibuprofen), the risk of
adverse events with complementary and alternative
medicines and the detection of adverse drug reactions.
The paper was published in Archives of Disease in Childhood,
and resulted in a large number of media reports related
to the study and ongoing discussion about the safe use
of alternative medicines in children.

In today’s world of child health research, international
collaborations are vital to sharing skills and knowledge
to help find answers to problems more rapidly.
Murdoch Childrens continues to have a global focus
and is concentrating on strengthening, and further
developing international collaborations.
global
collaborations
global burden of disease
Our researchers played a leading role in an international
study that looked at the global burden of disease.
Analysing data from the World Health Organisation,
researchers found mental disorders such as major
depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, were
the leading cause of disability in young people worldwide.
The study, which was published in The Lancet, was the
first to provide a comprehensive picture of the global
causes of disability in adolescence and the main risk
factors for disease in later life. It found that mental
disorders represent 45 per cent of the disease burden
among young people aged 10-24 years.
The study found that the main global risk factors for
future disability in all age groups (0–80 years) were
being underweight, unsafe sex, alcohol use, unclean
water, poor sanitation and hygiene. The research
showed that the main health risks emerging during
adolescence were alcohol use, unsafe sex, iron
deficiency and lack of contraception, with the rates
of alcohol use and unsafe sex rising sharply in late
adolescence and early adulthood.
Lead researcher Professor George Patton said the health
of young people has been largely neglected in global public
health because the adolescent age group is perceived as
healthy. “The burden of disease is increasingly driven by
conditions causing disability, rather than death. Although
risk factors and the lifestyles that young people adopt might
not affect their health during this period, they can have a
substantial effect in later life. Interventions should address
the behaviours and social conditions that have both shortterm
and long-term health consequences. Interventions that
increase resilience are crucial for health promotion in young
people,” George said.
children’s bioresource centre
In 2011 we began the process of establishing a bioresource
facility at the Institute. Once established, the centre, based on
the UK Biobank model, will enhance our ability to investigate a
wide range of childhood conditions and diseases by
examining stored biological specimens and health data. It is
hoped the facility will eventually contain data for more than
half a million participants, and will be among the largest of its
kind in the world. The initiative is expected to have a profound

annual report 2011 > global collaborations
47
Dr Ning Wang
impact on how we investigate, diagnose, treat and cure
serious and life-threatening childhood illness in the future.
The Institute was also delighted to benefit from the expertise
and experience of Dr Timothy Peakman, the Executive
Director of UK Biobank, who spent two weeks with a number
of our researchers. Timothy surveyed and interviewed staff
to determine the biobanking needs of the Institute,
culminating in a report outlining recommendations and a
plan for the establishment of a world-class bioresource
facility. As the inaugural recipient of the Dame Elisabeth
Fellowship, established to honour Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s
100th birthday, this was a most productive visit and fulfilled
the goal of attracting a top international researcher to the
Institute to impart new knowledge and train staff.
building relationships
with china
We hosted our inaugural Laurie Cox Fellow in 2011.
The Laurie Cox Fellowship was established in honour of
our former Chairman to foster a young researcher from
another country and to exchange research skills and
knowledge. Dr Ning Wang from the National Center for
Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and
Prevention, China, spent six months at the Institute.
Ning worked on two separate research studies, one
looking at factors related to placental weight and
placenta status while the other was concerned with
the association between prior foetal loss and
childhood cancer. Ning also worked in Geelong as part
of the Barwon Infant Study, which aims to learn more
about the prevention of common health problems
such as allergy, autoimmune disease, asthma and
cardiovascular disease.
In China, Ning is involved in a two-part study, following
247,000 pairs of mothers and children, to investigate
the outcomes of folic acid exposure in pregnancy, on
childhood cancer and other non-infectious diseases.
The visit was extremely productive, with strong links
created between the two organisations.

financials at a glance
of consolidated entity
revenue
2011 ($M) 2010 ($M)
Government & other peer reviewed grants 41.66 (108.29*) 40.82
Clinical services 20.40 19.75
Donations, fundraising & bequests 7.71 (15.51**) 8.07
Finance income 2.56 1.45
Contract research & clinical trials 8.01 6.90
Other research income 7.72 8.61
*Reported “Government & other peer reviewed grant” income was $108.29M. This included $66.634M being the $50.0M Commonwealth Grant,
together with accumulated interest since 2007, for a 50 year right to occupy in the redeveloped RCH.
** Reported ”Donations, fundraising & bequests” income was $15.51M. This included campaign fundraising proceeds of $7.8M for 2011.
expenditure
2011 ($M) 2010 ($M)
Research expenditure 50.69 51.71
Clinical services 20.08 18.92
Fundraising 1.13 1.04
Administration 6.14 6.04
Technical & scientific services 5.90 6.02
where the money comes from
where the money goes
government & other peer
reviewed grants
47%
clinical services
(VCGS)
24%
technical &
scientific services
6% 7% 1% fundraising
7%
administration
other
research
income
9%
clinical services
(VCGS)
23%
9%
3%
9%
contract research
& clinical trials
finance income
donations, fundraising
& bequests
61%
research expenditure

annual report 2011 > financials
49
murdoch childrens research institute and its controlled entities
statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 december 2011
Consolidated
The Company
2011 2010 2011 2010
$ $ $ $
Revenue from research & clinical activities 144,420,990 76,077,490 124,022,750 56,331,495
Depreciation & amortisation (2,255,457) (3,440,990) (1,890,685) (3,110,944)
Other expenses for research & clinical activities (80,558,017) (79,225,410) (60,841,233) (60,635,681)
Surplus/(Deficit) from
research & clinical activities 61,607,516 (6,588,910) 61,290,832 (7,415,132)
Donation, Estates & Bequest
& Fundraising income 15,512,350 8,074,246 15,512,350 8,074,246
Fundraising expense (1,129,491) (1,044,310) (1,129,491) (1,044,310)
Net surplus obtained from Fundraising Activities 14,382,859 7,029,936 14,382,859 7,029,936
Finance income 2,748,816 1,749,489 2,563,964 1,452,026
Finance expenses - (17,744) - (17,744)
Net Finance income / (expense) 2,748,816 1,731,745 2,563,964 1,434,282
Operating surplus for the period * 78,739,191 2,172,771 78,237,655 1,049,086
Other comprehensive income:
Net change in available for sale financial assets (1,963,962) (260,276) (1,963,962) (260,276)
Total comprehensive surplus for the period 76,775,229 1,912,495 76,273,693 788,810
* The operating surplus for the year ended 31 December 2011, includes non-recurring Commonwealth Government Grant income
of $66.6M associated with the redevelopment of the Royal Children’s Hospital

murdoch childrens research institute and its controlled entities
balance sheets as at 31 december 2011
Consolidated
The Company
2011 2010 2011 2010
$ $ $ $
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents 15,685,631 12,120,231 8,245,279 6,167,100
Trade receivables and other assets 9,046,541 5,253,346 7,393,069 3,262,799
Other investments 88,325,078 69,316,333 87,805,983 68,873,681
total current assets 113,057,250 86,689,910 103,444,331 78,303,580
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Trade receivables and other assets 65,470,037 481,523 65,470,037 481,523
Other investments 27,458,764 31,938,093 27,458,764 31,938,093
Property, plant & equipment 15,281,169 14,961,088 13,962,547 14,060,996
total non-current assets 108,209,970 47,380,704 106,891,348 46,480,612
TOTAL ASSETS 221,267,220 134,070,614 210,335,679 124,784,192
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Trade and other payables 91,836,718 20,215,896 90,106,318 19,008,985
Employee benefits 9,034,616 7,600,903 5,571,275 4,708,467
Payables-Deferred Income - 62,945,892 - 62,945,892
total current liabilities 100,871,334 90,762,691 95,677,593 86,663,344
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Employee benefits 1,320,501 1,007,767 1,057,234 793,679
total non-current liabilities 1,320,501 1,007,767 1,057,234 793,679
TOTAL LIABILITIES 102,191,835 91,770,458 96,734,827 87,457,033
NET ASSETS 119,075,385 42,300,156 113,600,852 37,327,159
MEMBERS’ FUNDS
Accumulated funds 88,284,449 9,545,258 82,809,916 4,572,261
Fair value reserve 532,109 2,496,071 532,109 2,496,071
Capital reserve 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000
Permanent investment funds 26,258,827 26,258,827 26,258,827 26,258,827
Building development fund 2,600,000 2,600,000 2,600,000 2,600,000
Fellowships & scholarships fund 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
TOTAL MEMBERS’ FUNDS 119,075,385 42,300,156 113,600,852 37,327,159

annual report 2011 > financials
51
murdoch childrens research institute and its controlled entities
statements of cash flows for the year ended 31 december 2011
Consolidated
The Company
2011 2010 2011 2010
$ $ $ $
Cash flows from operating activities
Patient fees received 12,860,782 11,763,525 - -
Government and other grants received 54,718,889 41,022,474 46,828,164 40,822,474
Donations received 15,515,274 8,609,297 15,512,350 8,606,876
Interest received 1,025,288 - 1,025,288 -
Other receipts 13,516,829 14,345,399 13,869,631 6,902,145
Cash paid to suppliers and employees (76,909,665) (66,875,348) (57,554,567) (48,642,776)
Interest paid - (17,744) - (17,744)
net cash provided FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES 20,727,397 8,847,603 19,680,866 7,670,975
cash flows from investing activities
Investment income received 184,852 297,463 - -
Proceeds on sale of PP&E - - - -
Advances to (from) related parties - - (932,192) 120,333
Proceeds on sale of investments 12,841,583 1,526,540 12,841,583 1,526,540
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (2,468,590) (1,663,415) (1,792,236) (1,704,811)
Acquisition of investments (27,719,842) (5,079,516) (27,719,842) (5,079,516)
NET CASH USED IN INvesting activities (17,161,997) (5,918,928) (17,602,687) (5,137,454)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayment of borrowings - (478,576) - (478,576)
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES - (478,576) - (478,576)
NET INCREASE/ (DECREASE) IN CASH
AND Cash Equivalents 3,565,400 2,054,945 2,078,179 2,054,945
cash AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT 1 JANUARY 12,120,231 9,670,129 6,167,100 4,112,154
cash AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
AT 31 DECEMBER 15,685,631 12,120,231 8,245,279 6,167,100

Government and international grants received by
Murdoch Childrens in 2011 will be used to fund research
projects, including adolescent health and premature birth.
grants
government funding
international
competitive funding
Murdoch Childrens was awarded a record $26.3 million
by the National Health & Medical Research Council
in 2011 for new research projects commencing in 2012.
This will help fund 27 research projects and 20 fellowships
and scholarships in research, including childhood allergies,
genetic conditions and adolescent health. Applications
undergo a rigorous selection process based on scientific
quality and significance, and applicant track record.
federal
Australian Research Council
Department of Health & Aged Care
state
Department of Human Services
Transport Accident Commission
Transport Accident Commission Health Research Group,
formerly Victorian Trauma Foundation
Murdoch Childrens received $2.5 million in grants from
international funding bodies in 2011 to support research into
pneumonia, allergies and premature birth.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA
Department of Defense, USA
Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, USA
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, USA
Muscular Dystrophy Association, USA
National Ataxia Foundation, USA
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, USA
National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, USA
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, USA
National Institutes of Health, USA
Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Holland
Thrasher Research Fund, USA

annual report 2011 > grants
53
competitive grants
Our research was generously supported by many
charitable foundations, which provide peer-reviewed
funding for excellent research.
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
Australian Egg Corporation Limited
Australian Rotary Health
Bone Growth Foundation
Brain Foundation
Cancer Council Victoria
Cass Foundation Limited
Cerebral Palsy Foundation
Deafness Foundation
Diabetes Australia Research Trust
Equity Trustees
Financial Markets Foundation for Children
Friedrich Ataxia Research Association Australasia
GlaxoSmithKline
Heart Foundation
Heart Kids NSW
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
Hugh Williamson Foundation
Ian Potter Foundation
Jack Brockhoff Foundation
Menzies Foundation
Multiple Sclerosis Australia
Perpetual Trustees
R E Ross Trust
Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Shepherd Foundation
Sylvia & Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation
Victorian Cancer Agency
Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative

Special events are not only vital for raising funds for research
at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; they also provide
an opportunity to highlight our research projects to existing
supporters, as well as engage a new generation of supporters.
special events
art for science
Creativity, philanthropy and corporate Australia
came together to support child health research for
the fourth biennial Art for Science event. Australia’s
established and emerging artists donated works for
the charity art exhibition in support of the Institute.
The event, which has gone from strength to strength
since its inception in 2005, saw 60 donated works
auctioned and sold off, raising more than $540,000
for life-saving research.
The Art for Science event has raised almost $1.5 million
for child health research since 2005.
contributing artists Rick Amor, Brook Andrew, David
Band, Lionel Bawden, Karen Black, Chris Bond, Andrew
Browne, Stephen Bush, Jon Campbell, Travelyn Clay, Bindi
Cole, Sean Cordeiro and Claire Healy, Paul Davies, Robert
Doble and Simon Strong, Michael Doolan, McLean
Edwards, Emily Ferretti, Sally Gabori, Angelina George,
Ghostpatrol, Deborah Halpern, Steven Harvey, Cherry
Hood, Philip Hunter, Todd Hunter, Yvonne Kendall,
Veronica Kent, Jeremy Kibel, Janet Laurence, Sam Leach,
Rhys Lee, Richard Lewer, Song Ling, Dane Lovett, Jess
MacNeil, Tim Maguire, Dani Marti, Laith McGregor, Lara
Merrett, Hitesh Natalwala, Geoff Newton, John Nicholson,
Nyapanyapa, Robert Owen, Colin Pennock, Patricia
Piccinini, Shorty Jangala Robertson, Lisa Roet, Kate Rohde,
Sally Ross, Alexander Seton, Kate Shaw, Jackson Slattery,
Sally Smart, Darren Sylvester, Christian Thompson, Vexta,
Jake Walker, Judith Wright, Michael Zavros
contributing galleries Arc One Gallery, Blackartprojects,
Blockprojects, Breenspace, Fehily Contemporary, Gallery
Barry Keldoulis, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Gertrude
Contemporary, Grantpirrie, Haunch of Venison, Jan
Murphy Gallery, KalimanRawlins, Karen Brown Gallery,
Karen Woodbury Gallery, Liverpool Street Gallery, Martin
Browne Contemporary, Mossgreen Gallery, Murray White
Room, Nellie Castan Gallery, Neon Parc, Niagara Galleries,
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Scott Livesey Galleries, Sophie
Gannon Gallery, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sutton
Gallery, Tim Olsen Gallery, Tolarno Galleries, Tristian
Koenig, Victor Maitland Fine Art, Warlukurlangu Artists
Aboriginal Corporation

annual report 2011 > special events
55
1 2 3
1. Jim Craig, Jayne Hayman and Jason Yeap 2. Christina Redlich, Prue Brown and
Steven Casper 3. Teammates Michael Thomas, Paul Nichol, Jason Wilson and Michael Ward
big w kayak for kids
sponsors and major pro bono supporters ANZ Private,
Deloitte Private, Guinot, Kay & Burton, Maserati, ABL,
Icon, JR, River Capital, Chapman & Bailey, Hayman,
Heathcote Estate, Kailis Brothers, King & Wilson, Louis
Roederer, Luminare, Nellie Castan Gallery, Splitrock,
Spotlight Foundation, The Big Group, We are Digital,
Wodka, Yabby Lake
The inaugural Kayak for Kids challenge has raised more
than $50,000 to help children with life-threatening
heart conditions.
Four Melbourne friends paddled 440km from Port Fairy to
Melbourne over 12 days to raise money for heart research,
finishing the final leg of the event on January 22.
donors and pro bono supporters Daniel & Danielle
Besen, Blue Pyrenees, John & Janet Calvert-Jones, CHE,
Docklands Press Pty Ltd, DJ Dimension, The Greatest
Show on Earth, Harry the Hirer, Leaf, Linfox, Michael
Milstein, OMD, Orloff Family Charitable Trust,
Placesettings, Paul Sumner, Ion Teska, Red + White,
Wilson Security, Village Roadshow
art for science committee Lisa Bond, Prue Brown, Suzi
Carp (Chair), Steven Casper, Rohan Davis, Julian Dunne,
Mardi Foreman, Alexie Glass-Kantor, Tanya Hamersfeld,
Matthew Hannan, Jane Hayman, Alyssa Jones, Clark
Kirby, Sarah Murdoch, Christina Redlich, Lauren
Robertson and Lydia Schiavello
team members Jason Wilson, Michael Ward, Paul Nichol
and Michael Thomas
sponsors Big W, Anglesea Surf Lifesaving Club, Apollo Bay
Surf Lifesaving Club, Banana Boat, Boomaroo Nurseries,
Dans Plants, East Coast Kayaking, Energizer, Fitness
Lifestyle, Playgro, Point Lonsdale Surf Lifesaving Club, Port
Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club, Procter & Gamble, Rock Solid
Statues, Spot, Vodafone, Wilsons Security

4
5
discovery day
foxtel lap
The seventh annual Discovery day drew a crowd of more than
3000 to Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s Cruden Farm, raising
$150,000 for Murdoch Childrens.
Families were treated to a special performance by BABBA
as well as stage shows by The Kazoos, Magician Luigi Zucchini
and Dancing Queen Parties. Other activities included face
painting, an animal farm and Mini Jeep rides.
committee Fleur Arnold, Jackie Bursztyn, Matthew Hannan,
Kate Kavanagh, Eliza Mantello, Catherine Meddis, Jill Murray,
Susie O’Neill, Monique Rajch, Dahlia Sable (Co-Chair), Camille
Sunshine and Michelle Wenzel (Co-Chair)
sponsors Guinot, Herald Sun, Kay & Burton, Leader
Community Newspapers, Altitude Volvo, Anaconda,
A. Royale & Co Australia, BPM, Robert Mills & Architects,
Sportsbet, RBS Morgans
major pro bono supporters Blenheim Design Partners,
Bodycare Physiotherapy, Darling Park, Eastern Press,
Ed Dixon Food Design, Royce Hotel, SoccerWise, Splitrock,
Spotlight, Wacky Entertainment, Whole Kids
4. Girls at Discovery Day 5. Comedian Dave Hughes
with Holly Williams 6. Karl Stefanovic and Sarah
Murdoch at the Sydney FOXTEL Lap 7. Ed Howley was
the Wave in F1 History winner 8. Liz Jenson and
Gerald Delany with the Kay & Burton Polo team
CEOs and staff from 150 teams hit treadmills or spin bikes
across Australia for the 2011 FOXTEL Lap. Participants in
Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth clocked up more than
1449km. The event raised $490,000 for research into
conditions including childhood diabetes, obesity, premature
birth and cancer. We thank FOXTEL for making this national
event a success.
presenting partner FOXTEL
sponsors & supporters Alpha Zeta, The Australian,
Commonwealth Bank, Ernst & Young, Fitness First, Harvey
Norman, Nova, SCT Logistics
participating organisations Ace Radio Broadcasters P/L,
ACP Magazines, Alpha Zeta Event Productions, Amcom
Telecommunications, Avant Mutual Group, Bayside Group,
BDO Kendalls, Blake Dawson, Blue Star Group, BSA Limited,
CHAMP Private Equity Pty Limited, Citic Pacific Mining,
Clemenger BBDO, Clough Ltd, Commonwealth Bank of
Australia, Count Financial Limited, CPA, CSG Limited, Deloitte,
Downer EDI Engineering Pty Ltd, Dulux Group Limited,
Ernst & Young, Fitness First Australia, FOX SPORTS, FOXTEL,
GE Money, Grant Thornton, Hamton, Harvey Norman, Icon
Construction, iiNet, Investec Bank, Jem Health, Jetstar Airways,
Kailis Bros Pty Ltd, Kay & Burton, KordaMentha, KPMG,
Learning Seat, Leveraged Equities, LinkedIn, Macquarie
Group, Mandurah Baptist College, Microsoft, Moore Stephens,
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Multi Channel Network,

annual report 2011 > special events
57
6 7 8
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, News Limited, Nova,
oOh! Media Group Ltd, Parmalat, Partners Group, Piper
Alderman, Port of Brisbane, PPB Pty Ltd,
PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd,
RBS Group, Rio Tinto, River Capital, Rugby WA, SCT, Selleys
Yates, Sparke Helmore Lawyers, Sportsbet, Spotlight,
St George Bank, Steinepreis Paganin, Tatts Group, The
Australian, The Boston Consulting Group, The Herald & Weekly
Times, Travelex Global Business Payments, Treasury Casino &
Hotel, Turner & Townsend, Turner International Australia,
UBS Wealth Management Australia Pty Ltd, UXC Connect,
West Coast Hi Fi, Westfield, Westpac, Wilson Group
f1 qantas australian grand prix
Murdoch Childrens was the official charity of the 2011
Formula 1 Qantas Australian Grand Prix. Over the four-day
event, 300 volunteers helped sell raffle tickets for the Wave
in F1 History competition, which gave a lucky fan the
opportunity to be the first person to wave the flag at the
conclusion of the Grand Prix.
Murdoch Childrens also partnered with Lexus and OneHD
to offer one lucky fan the opportunity to drive in the Lexus
Celebrity Challenge.
most funds raised by company
Macquarie Group NSW Treadmill $40,541.00
Clough WA Treadmill $20,999.00
CBA/KordaMentha NSW Treadmill $19,597.95
Murdoch Childrens Research Inst NSW Treadmill $16,928.50
FOXTEL staff NSW Treadmill $16,070.00
The Wave in F1 History competition, proceeds from ticket
sales and other activities raised $50,000 for life-saving child
health research.
sponsors F1 Qantas Australian Grand Prix, Lexus, OneHD
most funds raised by individual
Andrew Gale Count Financial Limited $14,468.00
Peter Tonagh FOXTEL $11,550.00
Karl Stefanovic Murdoch Childrens $10,520.00
Holly Williams Murdoch Childrens $7,070.55
Bruce Phipson Macquarie Group $6,760.00
most laps run
city team overall individual laps
Brisbane Deloitte – 1303 Stephen Courtney, Deloitte 89.0
Sarah Crowley, Deloitte 83.0
Melbourne KPMG – 1239 Ared Mekonnen, Kailis Bros/Sealord 93.6
Bridgitte Burns, Grant Thornton 72.6
Perth Deloitte – 1365 Dean Menzies, Deloitte 85.6
Kristy McGrath, Clough 72.6
Sydney Fitness First – 1496 Jonathan Fenton, KPMG 96.6
Laura James, Macquarie Group 85.9
the stella artois portsea polo
Five thousand people flocked to the Mornington Peninsula
for a day of fashion, fine food and polo at the Stella Artois
Portsea Polo. The sold-out event raised more than $200,000
for the Institute through contributions from ticket sales, and
from corporate support and the sale of caps.
sponsors & donors Guinot, Kay & Burton, The Portsea
Polo Committee

our corporate partners provide significant financial
support for our research, as well as helping to promote
the Institute to new friends and supporters.
corporate partners
vaalia
kay & burton
Over the past year, our partnership with Vaalia – the
feel-good probiotic yoghurt – has made us feel happy on
the inside in more ways than one. Vaalia has contributed
$150,000 towards vital child health research to date, and
will contribute a further $300,000 over the next two years.
In addition to financial support, Vaalia has helped raise
awareness of Murdoch Childrens through its Facebook
page and the ‘Smile Tile’ Facebook application.
Vaalia’s passion, commitment and enthusiasm to the
partnership has also led to the partnership being featured
on packaging nationally, and to donating yoghurt for
various events including Discovery Day and the FOXTEL
Lap. We feel good about this partnership and we hope
you do too! Thanks Vaalia.
This past year marked Kay & Burton’s fourth year as our
corporate partner. Over that time, Kay & Burton has made
a financial investment of $600,000, helping us to address
child health conditions such as allergies, genetic conditions,
mental health and obesity.
Throughout the partnership, Kay & Burton has championed
us in many ways including encouraging clients and friends
to support fundraising initiatives such as Art for Science
and Discovery Day, and informing them of the Institute
and our latest research.
We are proud to call Kay & Burton a true friend of the
Institute, and thank them for helping us look after our
most loved assets – our children!

annual report 2011 > corporate partners
59
spc ardmona
Director of Kay & Burton
Peter Kudelka with his wife, Cathy
For the past year, SPC Ardmona, Australia’s premier
fruit and vegetable processing company, has contributed
to the health and happiness of Australian children in
more ways than providing Australian kids with beans
and healthy snack options. They have committed to a
three-year partnership, helping us to make important
discoveries to improve the health of children.
Thank you SPC Ardmona, for your financial commitment
and enthusiasm for our work.
It’s good food doing good!
Murdoch Childrens logo is on all
Vaalia yoghurt packs

donors
founding director inspiring
donations
In our 25th anniversary year it was heart warming to receive
some special donations inspired by the memory of our
founding Director, the late Professor David Danks.
The Institute received $2010, which was generated through
the sale of the book ‘Double Helix, Double Joy,’ which is the
biography of Professor David Danks, and was co-authored
by Carolyn Rasmussen and David Danks’ son, Alister.
Alister, together with his mother June Danks, donated the
proceeds from the sale of the book to help support the
continued work of our researchers. “We’re very pleased to
support the ongoing development of Murdoch Childrens.
The new facilities look superb and offers great potential for
another successful chapter in the Institute’s evolution,”
Alister said.
Another donation in 2011 was also inspired by Professor
Danks’ work at the Institute, with David Dewhurst selecting
Murdoch Childrens as the beneficiary of money raised in
support of his marathon run.
“The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute has a special
place in my heart as one of its original founders, the late
Professor David Danks, did all that he could to help Tim
Cassidy - my nephew Lachlan’s uncle - enjoy the best
possible life he could whilst dealing with the very rare
Rothmund–Thomson Read syndrome,” David explained.
The personal challenge David set himself was even more
impressive as he had only taken up running two years prior
to his marathon effort. David, along with support from his
family, friends and work colleagues raised $2700 for child
health research. The legacy of the great Professor David
Danks continues.
milestone fundraising
achievement for foundation
The Lions Cord Blood Foundation, a volunteer Lions Club
fundraising committee, was established in 1996 by the
late Laurie Denton, a former member of the Lions Club
of Waverley.
In a mammoth fundraising effort, the Lions Cord Blood
Foundation, in conjunction with the Fight Cancer
Foundation, have raised over $1 million for the BMDI
Cord Blood Bank, which is a joint partnership between
Murdoch Childrens, The Royal Children’s Hospital and
the Fight Cancer Foundation (formerly the Bone Marrow
Donor Institute).
Cord blood contains an abundant amount of stem cells
which can be used to treat many types of diseases and
conditions, including cancer. The cost of successful
collection, testing and storage of a single cord blood unit
is approximately $3000.
In addition to financial support, the Foundation also
raises awareness of the Institute and the Cord Blood
Bank through guest speaking, the Lion magazine, and
requests Lions Clubs throughout Australia to make
contributions.
Cord blood was once thought of as medical waste, but
with the advances in technology, it can now be used to
save lives. We appreciate the passionate members of the
Lions Cord Blood Foundation for their commitment and
dedication to raising funds to help improve the lives of
children affected by cancer and other disorders, and to
help fund vital research aimed at improving cord blood
transplant and outcome.

annual report 2011 > donors
61
pratt family’s long history
of giving
Murdoch Childrens was founded on major philanthropy. It
was not just the generosity of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and
her family, the Scobie and Claire Mackinnon Trust, the Miller
Family and others also gave life to a bold research enterprise.
In 1986, one of the inaugural donors to the new Institute was
Richard Pratt. This gift was the start of a long and highly valued
partnership in which the Institute has been privileged to have
had ongoing support of the Pratt family and Pratt Foundation
to a wide range of research projects. Currently, the Foundation
is supporting a very significant project examining the psychosocial
outcomes of children who suffer serious illness.
In 2011, Anthony and Jeanne Pratt, the Pratt Family and Pratt
Foundation also announced a $1 million gift, to the Institute’s
campaign for funds to support our move to the new building.
Acknowledging this gift, Director Terry Dwyer said, “Philanthropy
for the Institute is crucial and provides the seed funding so our
researchers can pursue innovative research ideas. The Pratt
family and Pratt Foundation’s contribution of $1 million will
ensure our researchers have access to state-of-the-art facilities,
which will be a critical factor in enabling us to find answers faster
for the most important child health problems.”
Jeanne Pratt, Rupert Murdoch,
Claudine & Anthony Pratt
major corporate philanthropy
Actelion Pharmaceuticals
ANZ Private
Arnold Bloch Leibler
Australian Grand Prix
Corporation
Big W
Channel Ten
Clough
Deloitte
Ernst & Young
FOXTEL
Guinot
Icon Construction
Ipsen
JR Group
KordaMentha
KPMG
Leader Community Newspapers
Linfox
Macquarie Group Foundation
Maserati
National Australia Bank
Novo Nordisk
Outdoor Council of Australia
Paediatric Integrated Cancer
Service
Pfizer
RACV
RBS Group
Reece Australia
Southbed
Village Roadshow
Westpac
major corporate pro bono
Alpha Zeta
Australian Institute of Company
Directors
Chapman & Bailey
Ernst & Young
FOXTEL
Fitness First
Hayman Design
Harvey Norman
Heathcote Estate
Inlink Media
King & Wilson
Nellie Castan Gallery
News Custom Publishing
News Limited
Nova
Paperlinx
SCT Logistics
Splitrock
The Big Group
We Are Digital
Yabby Lake
major & campaign donors
Aidan & Oliver Biggar Cystic
Fibrosis Fund
Australian Community
Foundation
Ariane Barker
Danielle Besen
David Briskin
CAF Community Fund
John & Janet Calvert-Jones
Calvert-Jones Foundation
Children’s Cancer Centre
Foundation
Suzi & Barry Carp
CIKA
Heather Cleland
Leigh & Sue Clifford
Collier Charitable Fund
Anthony & Melanie Coops
Count Charitable Foundation
James & Claudia Craig
Narelle Curtis & Nicholas
Tyshing
James & Robyn Davis
EW and LJ Seehusen Foundation
Fight Cancer Foundation
formerly Bone Marrow Donor
Institute
Lindsay & Paula Fox
Rochelle Gance
Michael & Helen Gannon
Philip & Louise Goodman
Leonard & Tanya Hamersfeld
Geoff & Helen Handbury
Foundation
George Castan Family Charitable
Foundation
Hugh Rogers PhD Scholarship
David Jenkins & Fran H Lefroy
KOALA Foundation
Milan & Anne Kantor
George & Joan Lefroy
Marj Lefroy
Lansdowne Foundation
Limb Family Foundation
Miller Foundation
Michael Milstein
Mark Moody-Stuart
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
Rupert & Wendi Murdoch
My Room
National Muscular Dystrophy
Research Centre
Andrew Nissen
Orloff Family Charitable Trust
Rowly and Judy Paterson
Sam Riggall & Nichola Lefroy
Rotary Club of North Brighton
Nathan & Dahlia Sable
Pamela Sargood
Andrew & Tracy Sisson
Peter & Catherine Strover
Thalassaemia Australia
Thalassaemia Society of New
South Wales
The Cameron Family Foundation
The Invergowrie Foundation
The Kimberley Foundation
The Ponting Foundation
The Pratt Foundation
The Scobie & Claire Mackinnon
Trust
The Smith Family
The Sunraysia Foundation
The Tasmanian Early Years
Foundation
Thyne Reid Foundation
David Williams
Ron & Joan Wilson
estates & bequests
Estate of Nance Elizabeth
Creaton
Estate of LI Roach
Estate of Edna Kingston

donors
thank you to our generous donors in 2011 *
a
A. Royale & Co
Stephen A’Beckett
David M. Abouav &
Stephanie T. Deeley
Ace Radio Broadcasters
ACP Magazines
Adamstown Cleaning
Services
Vivien Agosta
Robert Albert
Nicholas Alexander
Alphapharm
Amcom
Telecommunications
Andrew Alston
Altitude Volvo
Timothy Antonie
Christopher Archibald
Lachlan & Rebekah
Armstrong
Australian British
Chamber of Commerce
Australian Institute of
Company Directors
Australian Mitochondrial
Disease Foundation
Peter Austin
Tania Austin
Avant Mutual Group
b
Monique Baker-Mackie
Richard & Sophie
Balderstone
Ian & Joan Ball
John Ballantyne
Peter Barnett
Kim Barrie
Samantha Barrow
Martin & Anne Marie
Bartlett
Jason Bayliss
Bayside Group
BDO Kendalls
Richard Beal
Michael & Judy Begg
Luke Bentvelzen
Bligh Berry
Nancy Beshay
BGF Equities
Blake Dawson
Blue Star Group
Robin Bishop
BodyCare Physiotherapy
Lisa Bond & John
Caprioglio
Boxy Design
Camilla Boyd
Broadway Dental
Brecknock Insurance
Brokers
Malcolm & Janet Brodie
Nick & Prue Brown
Anthony Bruno
BSA Limited
Buzz Products
Peta Bydder
c
Michael & Creina Cadden
Sarah Callan
C. Cameron
Matthew & Melissa
Cameron
Caring Friends of CF
Auxiliary
Jessica Carr
Terence Casey
Russell & Louise Casper
Steven Casper & Ilana
Wald
George & Freda Castan
Richard & Sue Castan
Michael Cerny
Chain Reaction
CHAMP Private Equity
Mark Chapman
Chatterbox Child
Development & Care
Centres
CHE
Paul & Sarah Cherny
Brandon & Davina Chizik
Peter Cichello
Adam Cirillo
Citic Pacific Mining
Club Sales &
Merchandising
Trevor & Heather Cohen
Amanda Collins
Helen M. Collis
Commonwealth Bank of
Australia
Catherine Concannon
Mark & Georgie Coombe-
Tennant
Cooper Foundation
Philip & Caroline Cornish
Cornwall Stodart
Count Financial
Paul & Belinda Cowan
David Cowling
Andrew & Abby Cox
Cecily Cox
CPA
Penni Crawford
CSG
d
Alister & Heather Danks
June Danks
Andrew Davidson
Tony & Trisha Davies
Charles Day & Elise
Everest
David & Kristene Deague
Deloitte
Serrin Dewar
Diabetes Camp Auxillary
Dimmick Charitable Trust
Fiorella Di Santo
Dom DiMattina
Do-Bees Auxiliary
Kevin Dobry
Kate Dougherty
Downer EDI Engineering
Dulux
e
Eastern Australia
Agriculture
Ed Dixon Food Design
Kenay Edelsten
Eirene Lucas Foundation
Embelton
Matthew Evans
f
Darren & Carolyn Febey
Jaclyn Felton
Robert Fiani
Barry & Kaye Fink
First Light Racing
Fitness First Australia
Barry & Helen Fitzgerald
Flower and Hart Lawyers
Andrew & Sarah Foote
Fox Sports
Richard Freudenstein
John & Diana Frew
Simon & Mia Frid
FUJIFILM Australia
g
Jack & Evelynne Gance
Neilma Gantner
Ross & Judith Gardner
Mary Garnett
Gates Australia
Deepak Gaur
David Gay
Michele Gellatly & Nick
Pongho
Raphael & Fiona
Geminder
John & Susanna Gibson
Geoff Gishubl
Christopher Glebatsas
Simon Glendenning
G-Lux Enterprises
GoodStart Childcare
Gourlay Charitable Trust
Louise M Gourlay
Grant Thornton
Elaine Greenhall
Peter H Greenham
Bruce & Anne Grey
Simon Griffiths
h
Maurice E. Hall
Reg Hall
Geoffrey & Tracey
Hamilton
Hamton
Hart Charities
Harvey Norman
Thomastown
Karen Hayes
Hearts of Hope Australia
Heavy Mobile Equipment
Repairs
Geoffrey & Dorothy
Heeley
S Hendler
Hickory Developments
Lisa Hinrichsen
Elise Hinson
Jill Howard
Lisa Howells
Nigel & Nicole Hunt
Debra Hynd
i
I A C Robertson & Co
iiNet
Investec Bank
Silviu Itescu
j
Angus James
Samari Jayarajah
Jem Health
Jetstar Airways
Jinhui
Dean Joel
Alyssa Jones
k
Kailis Bros
Kailis Foundation
George & Rose Kailis
Julie Kantor
Geoffrey & Monica
Kempler
Ian Kennedy & Sandra
Hacker
Kilwinning Trust
Russell & Sue Knowles
Alan Kozica
KPMG
Meir & Rachel Kramer
l
Latin Transport
Learning Seat
Amy Lee
Rob Legge
Stanley Stavros & Marisa
Leone
Leveraged Equities
Bori & Helen Liberman
Ben Rozenes & Laini
Liberman
Lifestyle Technologie &
Design
John B. Little
Look Print
Paige Love
m
Maben Group
Christine Macgill
* Donations of $500 or more are listed. Government and competitive grants are listed on page 52-53, event sponsors, donors and pro bono
supporters are listed on page 54-57, major donors, major corporate philanthropy and major corporate pro bono are listed on page 61.

annual report 2011 > donors
63
Jeffrey Mahemoff & Helen
Mahemoff
Anthony Maher
Scott Mamson
Mandurah Baptist College
Karen Marks
Catherine Martin
Lauren Martin
John & Sue Matthies
Stewart May
Andy McConnell
Malcolm McCusker
Melaina McDonald
Rebecca McIntosh
Tina McKenzie
Neil McLennan
Alison McNab
Ian & Libby McNaughton
John & Julie McPhee
Julian McVilly
Merricks Capital
Lee Mickelburough
Microsoft
Andrew & Jean Miller
Harold Mitchell
John & Nellie Mitchell
Stanley & Helen Mohr
Julie Moon
Moore Stephens
Ryan Morgan
Sarah Morgan
Morgan Stanley Smith
Barney
Multi Channel Network
Ashley Murdoch
Sarah & Lachlan Murdoch
Simone Myers
n
NAB Staff Club
Kaylene Napoleone
Obaid Naqebullah
Justin Nesvanulica
News Limited
NewsNet
John Nolan
Nova 100
Nutricia
o
Oesophageal Atresia
Research Auxiliary
Officeworks
Patrick O’Hare
Timothy Olden
OMD
oOh! Media Group
Denise O’Reilly
Ray & Marylou Orloff
p
Peter & Helen Pagonis
Arthur & Heather Paikos
Esther Palmer
Partners Group
Ed Paton
Danny Pearson & Nicole
Marshall
Nunzio & Assunta
Pellicano
Despina Pereira
Peter Isaacson
Foundation
Bruce Phipson
Piper Alderman
Port of Brisbane
PPB
Grahame Pratt
PwC
q
Mehdi & Colleen Qerim
r
Fudge Raco
RACV Club
Donna Ravenscroft
RBS Group
Stephen & Bonnie
Redman
Anthony Reid
Glenn Reindel
Tristan Reis-Freeman
Reksio Industries
Andrew Rettig & Amanda
Briskin-Rettig
Angus & Lara Reynolds
Rio Tinto
Colin Ritchie
Sue Ritchie
River Capital
Lauren Robertson
Judith & Michael Robinson
James Roche & Stuart
Andrews
Mauro Romano
Julia Rosenthal
Rotary Club of Strathmore
Annette Rowlands
Elina Rozenblit
Rubin Partners
Rugby WA
Jean Ryter
s
Ian Saines
Salesfest Advertising
Haydn Sallmann
Vedrana Samardzic
Franz Samuel
Jose & Kylie Santa Maria
Brett Schraa
SCT Logistics
Seek.com
Selleys Yates
Kim Seymour
Susie Simic
Peter Skewes
Adam Ski
Joe Skrzynski
Andrew Slutzkin
Graham & Annette
Smorgon
Neil Spitzer
Sportsbet
Spotlight
David Stephenson
Grant & Terri Stephenson
Craig Stevens
Helen Stevenson
St George Bank
Steinepreis Paganin
Stephanie Summerfield
Swisse Vitamins
t
Peter & Mary Tallis
Ion Teska
The Baxter Family
Foundation
The Boston Consulting
Group
The Butterfly Foundation
The Flew Foundation
The Good Guys
Foundation
The Isabel & John
Gilbertson Charitable
Trust
The Lew Foundation
The Marble House
The Sunday Times
The Theofilou Family
Lauren Theos
Christopher Thomas
Wayne & Sue Thomas
W. John Tobin
Trailblazers Auxiliary
John Traficante
Treasury Casino & Hotel
Tresscox Lawyers
Con & Alex Tsakonis
Turner & Townsend
Turner International
Australia
u
UBS Foundation
United Way
Sylvia Urbach
UXC Connect
v
Garry & Rosie Van
Egmond
Alasdair Vance
w
Wacky Entertainment
Alex & Heloise Waislitz
Campbell & Elli Walker
Sam Walsh
Warracknabeal Country
Womens Association
Paul G. Webber
Renee & Albert Weisman
Richard Werren
West Coast Hi Fi
Westfield
Westpac
Whatever Industries
Kris & Emma Whitehead
Chris Whittle
Christine Wilcox
Andrew Willder & Elu
Brown
Jenna Willett
Chris Williams
Kim Williams
Yvette Williams
Mark Wilson
Jason & Glennis Winnett
Stuart Wood
y
Michael & Louise Yates
Jason Yeap & Min Lee
Wong
Gim Wah Yeo
Matt Young
in celebration of Max
Behr’s birthday
Meir Kramer
in celebration of Alyssa
Carp’s batmitzvah
Anne Phillips
in celebration of Angela
Pane’s birthday
Fran Chapman
Luisa Gigliotti
Natale Gigliotti
in celebration of Barry
Bloom’s 70th birthday
Rosslyn Bancroft
Barry Levy
G.S. Lubransky
David Rose
Merv Rubenstein
in celebration of Clark
Kirby & Sarah Groen
Nicholas Alexander
Timothy Antonie
Kate Cookes
Marilyn Cotter
Penelope Cross
Erica Ford
Stephen Hall
Henrik Lassen
Patricia Moran
Sharmila Normington
Romy Page
Helene Pappas
Nick Sims
Nick Troedson
Francis Wales
Read Project Services
in celebration of Dame
Elisabeth Murdoch’s
102nd birthday
Barry Novy
in celebration of Helen &
Cons birthday
Peter Alexopoulos
Bruce Anderson
Kara Athans
Sara Baigent
Kathy Bossinakis
Joseph Daggian
John-Paul Daggian
Peter Doukakaros
Jim Dounias
Suzi Forster
Coula Georgopoulos
Angelo Giannakopoulos
Harry Heretakis
Judith Jay
Bill Kalliontzis
Vicky Kazanoti
Dimetri Kazazis
Nick Kellis
Con Kocolis
Jim Kocolis
James Konstantaras
Stelios Milonas
Magnus Ohlson
Peter Paras
Paul Poliviou
Lisa Poliviou
Helen Poliviou
Marianna Stylianou
Arash Taji
Kris Tcheupdjian
Henry The
Sam Tsakiridis
Thomas Tsirogiannis
Nick Tsirogiannis
Maria Vadolas
Filitsa Vagiatis
Nicholas Zafiropoulos
Maxine Zouros
South Melbourne Cellars
in celebration of Annabel
Banks’ birthday
Penelope Horton-
Stephens

in celebration of
Ben Casper & Asher
Hamersfeld’s birthday
Steven Casper
Natalie Siegel
in celebration of
Cara Davies’ batmitzvah
Jacob Allen
Rosemary Barnett
Saul Berman
Marcus Godinho
Niv and Kim Harizman
Matthew Lally
Christina Redlich
Benjamin Samuels
Will & Maddy Stewart
Niv Tadmore
Tim Wilkinson
in celebration of Caroline
Dowling’s 40th birthday
Christie Freeman
M E J Groves
Uri Hanegbi
Nathan Keating
John Kourambas
Chris MacIsaac
Jodi McCord
Jenny Nicolopoulos
Marinis Pirpiris
Caroline Redman
Sally Stansmore
in celebration of
David Smorgon &
Kathie Rosner’s wedding
Judy Berger
Barry Bloom
Bernard Carp
Michael Casper
George Castan
Brandon Chizik
Jeremy Davis
Ian Davis
Ron Dodge
Kate Edelsten
Barbara Efron
Barry Fink
Carrie Flinkier
Stephney Florence
Jonathan Gelfand
Michael Gibson
Peter H Greenham
Ian Hicks
Aviva Hyman
Alan Johnstone
Stephen Jolson
Barbara Le Maitre
Solomon Lew
Bori Liberman
Keren Ludski
Jeffrey Mahemoff
Victor Pack
George Pappas
Lynne Samuel
Viv Serry
Gita Smorgon
Joanne Star
Lynn Trayer
Alex Waislitz
Jason Wrobel
Morry Wrobel
The Lew Foundation
in celebration of
Jade Carp’s birthday
Harvey Kalman
Mark Gerstel
in celebration of Joey
Moshinsky’s barmitzvah
Damian Abrahams
Liliane Aisenberg
Andrew Bassat
Kate Beaconsfield
Andrew Blode
Harry Burmeister
Brandon Carp
Steven Casper
Grant Cohen
Richard Davies
William Duncan
Romi Elsass
Mark Engel
Lissa Franke
Leonard Hamersfeld
Brian Hamersfeld
Kyles Hilton
R Ichlov
Jane Jackson
Shellie Jelinek
Dean Joel
Steven Kleytman
T Koman
Roz Lawrence
Mark McCoach
Danielle McKeown
Montag Family
Nathan Moshinsky
G Nankin
Philip Neri
Kerry Robinson
Emma Rosenberg
Gwen Schwarz
Lisa Stevens
Richard Swansonn
Stewart Telford
Jacob Weinmann
Morry Wrobel
Chris Ziguras
in celebration of Josh
Kramer’s 2nd birthday
Ryan Behr
Debbie Cohen
Mireille Davidson
Candice Davidson
Yvonne Feil
Meir Kramer
Marc Lewinsohn
Jarrad Pyke
Link Financial Services
in celebration of Justin
Liberman & Lisa Farber’s
40th birthday
Dion Appel
Sharon Bassat
Nicole Carew
Suzi Carp
Steven Casper
Russell Casper
Avi Cohen
Simon Donath
Mitchell Faiman
Steven Goldberg
Josh Goldhirsch
Martin Halphen
Brenda Heideman
Monica Kempler
Sandra Klibansky
Jodi Klooger
Rachel Kramer
Suzanne Levin
Darren Levy
Susan Lichtenstein
Kerryn Miltz
Simon Morris
Dean Poswell
Lior Rauchberger
Susan Rosenthal
Ilan Rubin
Daniel Sable
Nicole Sharp
Dean Sheezel
Adam Slade-Jacobson
Ricky Smorgon
in celebration of Jyoti
Haikerwal’s 15th birthday
Josefina Gray
Anjali Haikerwal
Susan Walpole
in celebration of Lynne
Frid’s 59th birthday
Jean Ryter
in celebration of Rodney
Smorgon’s 60th birthday
Susan Auster
Selwyn Auster
J Bialylew
Paula Booth
F Bottari
George Castan
J Chrapot
Rosa Clarke
T Danos
Ian Davis
B Dudakov
Lynne Frid
Z Friedman
Leigh Goldbloom
David Grace
Denise Isaacs
D Jackman
Geoffrey Kliger
Helen Landau
Philip Lewis
B Lichocki
Jeffrey Mahemoff
Henry Mohr
Stanley Mohr
R Mond
Diane Musson
Maxwell Olenski
Hedy Ritterman
J Rochman
Phillip Rose
Michael Rozenes
L Rutman
Nathan Serry
M Strownix
M Stub
in celebration of the birth
of Victoria Feetham
Fiona Evans
Elisha Rickward
in celebration of
Brad Allan’s 50th birthday
Steven Casper
in memory of
Charlotte Ruby Nunan
Alison McNab
in memory of
Dominic Santa Maria
Jose Santa Maria
Latin Transport
in memory of
Shaun Nicholas Martin
Ken Redman
Stephen Redman
in memory of
Emma Ritchie
Sue Ritchie
Colin Ritchie
in memory of
Amelia Fuller
Scott Ginnivan
in memory of
Caitlin Rose Thomas
Mark Hamley
Sue Thomas
in memory of
Dr Denise Kirby
Elizabeth Swanton
in memory of
Jake Bond
Kerrie County
Linda Faralla
in memory of
Joshua Timothy Brabazon
Elizabeth Capp
Moriann Fee
Chris Harvey
Jin Huang
Kim & Shabana Jack
Emily Mackay
Cherubini Parnee
Carly Prendergast
Maggy Samaan
Mark & Jennifer Sykes
Michelle Towers
in memory of
Shaun Nicholas Martin
Ken Redman
in memory of
Indiana Orlando
Ross & Judith Gardner
in memory of
Janet Handley
Huskisson RSL Club
Limited
Vietnam Veterans’ Assoc
of Australia, Jervis Bay
branch
in memory of
Kristen Potts
D Price
in memory of
Mary Nicol
Andrew Blair
E Hutchieson
in memory of
Suzanne T Brown
Jack Brown
in memory of
Matthew Paikos
Arthur Paikos
In memory of
Robert Mohr
Danielle Suss
Daniel Shrimski
Mark Shaw
Richard Shaw
Lauren Norich
Jeremy Morris
Benjamin Kohn
Elise Cook
in memory of
Ruth Collison
Beth Faulkner
in memory of
Stuart Groen
Wendy Thompson
pro bono
Asian Pacific Building
Corporation
Peter Rowland Catering
Village Roadshow
My Child Magazine
Akarba
Foster’s Group
Bonds
Charlotte Coote
Royce Hotel
Rockpool Bar & Grill
Trunk
Healthy Aussie Kids
FizzKids
Castaways Resort and Spa
DDB Group
Banks Rowing Club
Phil & Ted
Bayside Eyes
Little Nest Australia
Kings Swim School
Love & Lustre
Comme
Food & Desire
Antler
ISC Sports
Liberty Catering Concept

TOMORROW’S CURES NEED YOUR DONATIONS TODAY
You have the power to help the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
save kids’ lives. With your support, our researchers can continue to
discover cures for conditions including diabetes, cancer, allergies,
premature birth, obesity and genetic conditions. Donate today.
Phone 1300 766 439 or visit www.mcri.edu.au
Thank you to the following organisations who generously assisted in the production of this report.
Production & Design Printing Paper stock
Edited by Simone Myers & Alex Furman (pr@mcri.edu.au)
The text of this Annual Report is printed on Spicers 1 gsm Alpine Laser and the cover on Spicers 250gsm Alpine Systems Board