Highlights
New Otago biotech startup targets cancer
Amaroq Therapeutics, a new biotech startup company with the goal of developing targeted drugs for cancer, has been awarded significant investment funds in 2021.
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Chasing a cancer suspect to cytokinesis
A potential new way to target aggressive cancers has been identified through a MWC project as part of the research programme investigating genomic approaches to cancer diagnosis an
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MWC continues to lead the way in NZ cancer vaccine research
Immune therapy is one of the most exciting and promising areas of cancer research. Around New Zealand, teams of Maurice Wilkins Centre investigators – amongst them postgraduate stu
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New imaging improves our understanding of the immune system
Maurice Wilkins Centre researchers have used novel imaging technology to reveal the structure and inner workings of entire lymph nodes, core components of the body’s immune system.
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Building blocks for new medicines
The MWC uses New Zealand’s outstanding medicinal chemistry expertise to discover new medicines. A particular kind of chemistry that uses natural building blocks is now being used t
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One cancer gene – but several different proteins
Cancer arises due to changes in DNA in a single cell. Many changes are needed over time to a cell’s DNA to make it cancerous – which is why cancer is usually a disease of later li
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Turning the tables on cancer
Tumours often contain areas with less oxygen than is found in normal tissues. These areas are less vulnerable to many forms of cancer therapy and often drive development of a more
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Mid-term review sets future direction
A comprehensive independent assessment found the Centre to be performing at a high level, producing distinct and positive benefits for New Zealand. It also enabled re-configuration
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Smarter drug design
An advanced experimental technique linked to high powered computation is becoming an increasingly important tool for MWC researchers developing new drugs.
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MWC welcomes landmark results for lung cancer drug
A novel lung cancer drug with strong development links to the MWC has shown impressive results in a large-scale international trial. Currently under review by the European Medicine
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Newly funded research highlights MWC collaborations
A five-year research programme aims to develop nontoxic vaccine technologies to complement existing cancer immunotherapies.
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The tumour-promoting activities of a famous protein
Developing new cancer therapies and a more reliable test for prostate cancer are just some of the potential outcomes of Maurice Wilkins Centre research into the cellular mechanisms
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MWC leads cancer immune therapy conversation
The Maurice Wilkins Centre continues to be part of an international drive to develop and improve immune therapy for cancer. In 2015 the Centre organised a symposium that brought to
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Cancer drug advances to phase II clinical trials
A New Zealand cancer drug developed by two Maurice Wilkins Centre investigators has reached the second phase of clinical trials with patients.
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New therapies - from a new generation (2013)
Nurturing the next generation of scientists is an important part of the Maurice Wilkins Centre’s work – and senior students contribute an enormous amount to research success.
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New chemistry transforms cancer vaccine (2013)
A new kind of chemistry that dramatically simplifies the manufacture of cancer vaccines was created this year by Honours student Tom Wright.
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Major new cancer vaccine programme (2010)
Maurice Wilkins Centre investigators are involved in a major new research programme that aims to develop and trial anti-cancer vaccines in New Zealand.
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The future of vaccines (2012)
Maurice Wilkins Centre investigator Professor Sarah Hook from the University of Otago is developing new vaccine formulations – including needle-free vaccines and vaccines for cance
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A licence to manufacture medicines (2012)
A licence to manufacture medicines has been granted to a University of Auckland facility that will produce the active ingredients of cancer vaccines to be tested in humans. The fac
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Exquisite networks (2011)
Innovative technology developed to study the heart has been adapted for a unique study of the immune system – and will now be applied to cancer, through cross-disciplinary links fo
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Mapping cellular networks (2010)
Maurice Wilkins Centre PhD student Daniel Hurley and colleagues are mapping signalling networks in cancer and have identified “master regulators” associated with patient survival.
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Drug selection a milestone for spin-out (2010)
In 2010 Maurice Wilkins Centre investigators Professors Bill Denny and Peter Shepherd selected a new anticancer drug candidate for clinical development, triggering US $4.5 million
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Doctoral students win international recognition (2010)
Two medicinal chemistry PhD students supervised by Maurice Wilkins Centre investigator Professor Margaret Brimble have won prestigious international postdoctoral fellowships.
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Lighting up lymph nodes (2009)
Maurice Wilkins Centre researchers have made exciting new discoveries about how human lymph nodes work.
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Kidney cancer researcher scores a first for New Zealand (2009)
In December 2009, Maurice Wilkins Centre investigator Associate Professor Michael Hay became the first New Zealand scientist to receive a grant from a leading international charity
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Cancer stealth drug enters clinical development (2010)
The first of an exciting new class of anticancer drugs will proceed to clinical development under an international deal announced in early 2011.
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New Zealand patients trial local cancer drug (2012)
Cancer patients in Auckland, Waikato and the United States are participating in the first clinical trial of an exciting new drug invented in New Zealand.
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New drug targets treatment-resistant cancer (2011)
A new drug targeting an important group of cancer cells attracted international funding in 2011 and will soon enter clinical trials.
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