Young Garvan Postdoctoral Fellowship - a history of achievement in medical research

The Young Garvan Postdoctoral Fellowship is an investment in the future of a young scientist to deliver breakthrough medical research. The Fellowship enables the scientist to gain valuable professional experience on key projects at the Institute and learn advanced research skills in their discipline.

Since 2003, Young Garvan has held a range of events to raise funds for the Fellowship. In 2010, we are delighted to host the inaugural All Ribbons Ball, which is set to become our main fundraising event for the Fellowship.

About Garvan

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research was founded in 1963. Initially a research department of St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, it is now one of Australia's largest medical research institutions with nearly 500 scientists, students and support staff. The Garvan’s mission is to make significant contributions to medical science that will change the directions of science and medicine and have major impacts on human health. The outcome of Garvan’s discoveries is the development of better methods of diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, prevention of disease.

Further information: www.garvan.org.au

Dr Liz Caldon (2010)

Dr Caldon is dedicated to making a real difference to breast cancer survivors by making discoveries that translate into better therapies. Through the Fellowship, Dr Caldon investigated new ideas about the role of cyclin E1 and cylcin E2 in breast cancer biology. Women with high levels of these proteins generally have worse disease and are less likely to respond to therapy. Liz aims to understand how these proteins change a cancer cell and contribute to tumour development.

Dr Matt Prior (2010)

Dr Prior’s work tackles one of the most significant health issues of contemporary society – type 2 diabetes, a disease effecting 800,000 Australians. His research is focused on the molecular causes of insulin resistance at a cellular level, in particular how insulin promotes the transport of glucose into the cell and why this is impaired in people with type 2 diabetes. Dr Prior used the Fellowship to increase his lab time in Garvan’s Diabetes and Obesity program and purchase reagents and equipment to further his research.

Dr Alison Gosby (2005)

Dr Gosby worked in Garvan’s Diabetes & Obesity research program under the leadership of Professor David James and researched how traditional Chinese medicines work in the treatment of diabetes. Dr Gosby investigated the mechanisms involved in the insulin sensitising effects of Berberine, a compound from the Chinese herb Huanglian. Her findings were published in the Diabetes Journal (2008). Today, Dr Gosby is at the University of Sydney where she is testing the protein leverage hypothesis (PLH) in humans. The results are very promising and have important implications in the treatment of obesity.

Dr Julie Wheway (2007)

Dr Wheway conducted her research in Garvan's Immunology and Inflammation Research Program and explored how the stress hormone Neuropeptide Y (NPY) affects the immune system. She investigated how stress can dampen down our immune defences, making us vulnerable to getting sick. Dr Wheway used genetic technology to gain insight into the sophisticated molecular mechanism triggered by the stress hormone to induce immunosuppression. Today, Dr Wheway works in the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Sydney where she is investigating immunological aspects of cerebral malaria.