Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

A discovery of how thick mucus forms in sufferers of chronic respiratory illnesses could lead to new forms of treatment

Medical

Mucus discovery could clear the air for respiratory illness patients

People with chronic respiratory disease tend to produce thicker forms of mucus and scientists have now uncovered one of the key reasons why, raising new treatment possibilities for conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD.

Medical

New research into CAR-T cell therapy could extend its use to solid cancers

New research into CAR-T cell therapy has revealed crucial mechanisms that could help the immunotherapy technique, which is currently only effective against blood cancers, be adapted for the treatment of brain tumors and other forms of solid cancers.

This new perspective on cancer could have a number of implications for treatment

Medical

Cancer cells caught playing tag with chemotherapy on "cellular CCTV"

Using an advanced imaging technique, scientists have watched as treatment-resistant leukemia cells teased chemotherapy into a high-stakes game of tag, an observation that opens up new ways in which we may be able to stop the deadly disease in its tracks.

The cone snail uses insulin to stun its predators

Medical

Insulin found in snail venom is no slouch

Scientists have discovered a fast-acting insulin from a notoriously slow-moving source, finding the insulin in a certain type of snail venom can begin working in a third of the time of the fastest insulins currently on the market.

Scientists have identified a protein that facilitates the spread of acute myeloid leukaemia cells

Medical

Blocking key protein puts the brakes on leukaemia

Australian researchers have discovered a protein that facilitates the spread of acute myeloid leukaemia cells, and have shown that by blocking its activity they can stop the deadly form of cancer in its tracks.

A new drug-like molecule developed at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute shows promise in stopping the progression of multiple sclerosis (Photo: Shutterstock)

Medical

Drug-like molecule halts inflammation, could prevent progression of MS

Scientists have developed a new drug-like molecule with the ability to inhibit a key signal that triggers inflammation in the body. The scientists say the molecule has already shown promise for putting the brakes on the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Images showing insulin (blue) molecules binding with insulin receptors (yellow) could help in the development of new diabetes treatments

Health & Wellbeing

Insulin “docking“ breakthrough could lead to better diabetes treatments

Researchers have solved the mystery as to how insulin binds to the insulin receptor on the surface of cells, offering the potential for the development of new and improved insulin medications to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes.