Our immune system is designed to protect us - but sometimes, in the heat of battle, it can go too far. A new study led by researchers at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research has shown how a molecule called interferon lambda 3 (IFN-λ3), usually a front-line defender against viruses, bacteria, and fungi, can actually exacerbate inflammation when produced in excess.

Why does this matter? Because during infections like COVID-19, these runaway responses may worsen disease. The study found that IFN-λ3 amplifies inflammatory signals in macrophages, key immune cells that should protect us — and this may help explain why some people experience severe illness while others don’t.

I’m thrilled to share that The Westmead Institute for Medical Research is recruiting a PrecisionGo Bioinformatician to help build the future of how we understand and treat disease. If you’ve been looking for a chance to make an impact, this could be your moment.

🔬 Pushing the boundaries of translational research at Westmead

One of the strengths of PrecisionGo is our ability to connect world-leading facilities and research groups across the Westmead Health Precinct.

A great example is the Mucosal Immunology and HIV Research Group, led by Professor Andrew Harman. Their team partners with surgeons to access fresh human tissues - arriving in the lab within 15 minutes of surgery - providing the most physiologically relevant models possible for studying infection and immunity.

Last week, we were thrilled to host an engaging session on “Getting to the bottom of intestinal disease through genomics” with two leading researchers:

🔬 Dr Kylie James (Head, Gut Immunogenomics Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research) unpacked how environmental factors shape gut immune cells and microbial landscapes in health and disease - from inflammatory bowel disease to colorectal cancer.

🧬 Dr Jacqueline Tearle led a hands-on workshop exploring single-cell and multi-omic techniques, including RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. Her practical insights into rare IBD subtypes and early-onset colorectal cancer sparked lively discussion and real learning moments.

Imagine Anna, who spent years trying to manage persistent migraines. Each new medication brought fresh side-effects but little relief. Frustrated, she wondered if she’d ever find an answer.

Then came a precision medicine approach:
🔬 Genome sequencing revealed a genetic variant affecting how her body metabolises standard drugs.
🧬 Multi-omics and computational modelling identified a therapy better suited to her unique profile (including our very own Bioinformatician Brian Gloss!).
💊 With the right drug, dose, and timing, Anna’s migraines eased - and her quality of life returned.

lzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest health challenges of our generation, with devastating impacts on individuals, families, and communities. In Australia alone, it’s estimated that around 411,100 people are living with dementia in 2023, and this number is projected to more than double by 2058. To change this trajectory, we need not only deeper understanding of disease mechanisms, but also a way to bring discoveries swiftly to the clinical interface through precision medicine.

At The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Dr Caitlin Finney, Head of Neurodegeneration and Disease Modelling, is leading pioneering research into the biological drivers of Alzheimer’s. Her work is laying the foundations for next-generation therapies designed to slow, prevent, and ultimately stop disease progression.

👏 We’re proud to see Dr Maggie Wang representing PrecisionGo alongside Prof Denis C. Bauer, GAICD at the Westmead Research & Innovation Conference 2025!

They will showcase how PrecisionGo is driving the next generation of precision medicine by connecting cutting-edge science, bioinformatics, and clinical translation.
🗓️ 15–16 October 2025
📍 Westmead Innovation Centre

🌟 Upcoming Event: Getting to the bottom of intestinal disease through genomics 🌟

We’re excited to invite you to a special seminar and workshop as part of the WIMR Digital Research Skills Network.
🗓️ Tuesday 10th September
📍 Westmead Institute for Medical Research & online

A 10-year-old patient developed sudden, uncontrolled movements after a simple strep throat infection. To understand why, researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing - a tool that lets us zoom in on tens of thousands of individual immune cells to see which genes they’re switching on.

What did they find?

Last week, our team was proud to showcase PrecisionGo across the program with:
🖼️ Posters highlighting our integrated pipeline and collaborative projects
🎤 A presentation sharing the progress of our bioinformatics and core facility integration
🧩 A 3-hour symposium workshop bringing researchers, clinicians, and partners together to explore how precision medicine can transform patient outcomes

The energy in the room was inspiring—so many rich discussions, new connections, and a shared excitement about what’s possible when we bridge research and clinical care through cutting-edge infrastructure.

PrecisionGo is proud to celebrate the groundbreaking work of Dr Caitlin Finney and Dr Artur Shvetcov, whose new Nature Medicine paper brings precision medicine a step closer to the clinical interface for neurodegenerative disease.

Last Friday, we had the pleasure of welcoming the team from OurDNA - a national initiative working to build more inclusive genomic datasets by engaging underrepresented communities across Australia (https://ourdna.org.au/) - to the Westmead Biobank at the The Westmead Institute for Medical Research.

What makes this collaboration so meaningful isn’t just the science - it’s the shared values that underpin our work. Both OurDNA and Westmead Biobank are deeply committed to ensuring that advances in genomics and biobanking translate into equitable health outcomes, particularly in creating access for multicultural communities.

What makes a vaccine truly excellent, especially for people who don’t usually respond well to vaccines, like older adults? At WIMR, Dr Kerrie Sandgren, Prof Tony Cunningham and their team are tackling this question by applying precision medicine technologies in an innovative way - not to personalise treatments, but to understand deeply how vaccines work and how they can be made more effective for everyone.

We’re pleased to share that our second Cytek Biosciences Aurora full-spectrum flow cytometer is now installed and ready for use at Westmead Cytometry.

Join us at Westmead for the inaugural BD Biosciences FACSDiscover™ User Group Meeting!

Westmead Biobank is proud to partner with the Centre for Population Genomics (CPG) (a not-for-profit initiative established by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Sydney) and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Melbourne) - https://lnkd.in/dSGSTxaW) to support OurDNA - a national initiative working to build more inclusive genomic datasets by engaging underrepresented communities across Australia (https://ourdna.org.au/).

The BD S8 Spectral Cell Sorter with Imaging software upgrade has landed adding new functionality for researchers! Our BD FACSDiscover™ S8 is now running FACSChorus™ v6.1, unlocking new capabilities for high-parameter spectral sorting with imaging.

Today, four members of the PrecisionGo Consumer Advisory Committee attended the Sydney Health Partners ReConX2025 conference, with the theme 'Building Researcher and Consumer Connections'. It brought together consumers who are interested in research with researchers from our Clinical Academic Groups who are seeking to better understand how to effectively engage consumers in their projects.