Royal Adelaide Hospital

Indigenous trailblazer Lowitja O'Donoghue dies aged 91

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 5, 2024
Policy, Native Title Act 1993, Instinct, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Legislation, Heart, National Native Title Tribunal, Courage, Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal title, Generator, Ageing, Missionary, Indigenous territory, High court, Human, Apology, Death, Lowitja O'Donoghue, Commonwealth, Health, Stolen Generations, Whaling

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name and images of a deceased person.

Key Points: 
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name and images of a deceased person.
  • One of Australia’s most highly-regarded Indigenous leaders, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue, has died aged 91.


Later she was the first woman to be a regional director of an Australian federal department.

  • She was involved in Indigenous causes ranging in scope from the 1967 referendum to the native title legislation of the 1990s.
  • She turned down Paul Keating’s offer of the governor-generalship.


Her family said in a statement announcing her death: “Aunty Lowitja dedicated her entire lifetime of work to the rights, health, and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.

‘A giant for our country’

  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described O'Donoghue as “a figure of grace, moral clarity, and extraordinary inner strength.
  • She provided courageous leadership during the Mabo debates and as chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission,” Albanese said.
  • She taught me how to be a good public servant and to operate ethically.” Noel Pearson said O'Donoghue was “a leaders’ leader”.
  • "Without Lowitja’s ATSIC we would never have defended Eddie Mabo’s great legacy and negotiated the Native Title Act and Indigenous Land Fund.”


Lowitja Institute patron Pat Anderson said she was “a national treasure”. “Courageous and fearless in leading change, Lowitja was continually striving for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She will remain in my heart as a true friend and an inspiration to Australians for years to come.”

Keating pays tribute

  • Keating said in a statement that O'Donoghue “led the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission with great power and
    ambition.
  • "The consultation which gave effect to an Aboriginal voice speaking and representing a national community in designing a law to recover their expropritated traditional lands.


Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Carina Biotech Doses First Patient in Phase 1/2a Clinical Trial of LGR5-Targeted CAR-T Cell Therapy

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 18, 2023
Colorectal cancer, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Immune system, Woman, Principal, Large intestine, Disease, Ageing, Recurrence, Clinical trial, Cancer, LGR5, Knowledge, Cell, Patient, Safety

The trial will enrol advanced colorectal cancer patients whose cancer expresses the cancer stem cell marker LGR5, and who have failed two prior lines of therapy.

Key Points: 
  • The trial will enrol advanced colorectal cancer patients whose cancer expresses the cancer stem cell marker LGR5, and who have failed two prior lines of therapy.
  • LGR5 is a stem cell marker expressed in most colorectal cancer cells and is a highly promising target for cell therapies.
  • ADELAIDE, Australia, Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carina Biotech Limited (Carina), a cell therapy immuno-oncology company, today announced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial of its LGR5-targeted CAR-T cell therapy candidate CNA3103 for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
  • CAR-T therapy is a personalised cell therapy that harnesses a patient’s immune system to fight their cancer.

Ferronova and Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) Sign Licensing Agreement for Use of Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) Inhibitor in Radiotherapy

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Clinical Trials, Philanthropy, Biotechnology, Radiology, Fund Raising, General Health, Pharmaceutical, Health, Foundation, Oncology, Proton, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Pancreatic cancer, Purdue Research Park, Glioblastoma, University, Partnership, Central nervous system, Drug discovery, SPION, SAHMRI, Survival, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, FAP, Heterotrimeric G protein, Attention, Cell, University of South Australia, CAF, Radiation therapy, Purdue University College of Pharmacy, Associate, PRF, MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging, Patient, RAH, Purdue University, Cancer, Proton therapy, SA, News, Fibroblast, Prostate cancer, Medical imaging, Pharmaceutical industry, Chemistry, Research

Australian biotech company Ferronova announced today that it has signed a licensing agreement with the Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) for the application of PRF’s patented Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) inhibitor in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI-guided therapies.

Key Points: 
  • Australian biotech company Ferronova announced today that it has signed a licensing agreement with the Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) for the application of PRF’s patented Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) inhibitor in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI-guided therapies.
  • The licensing agreement will bring together Ferronova’s patented FerroTrace® platform, a super-paramagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticle (SPION) formulation, and PRF’s patented FAP inhibitor in a combination to be applied in targeted radiotherapy of difficult cancers with complicated treatment margins such as glioblastoma, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer.
  • “Purdue researchers are the driving force behind world changing innovations, and our partnership with Ferronova serves as yet another testament to our dedication to partnering with companies that can improve the world and save lives with Purdue technologies,” said Brooke Beier, senior vice president of Purdue Innovates.
  • “We are hopeful that this collaboration will change that, and in future, have a positive impact on the management of patients with this tragic disease.”

Nacuity Pharmaceuticals Advances Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Evaluating NPI-002 Intravitreal Implant for the Delay of Cataract Progression

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Royal Adelaide Hospital, MBBS, Cataract, Clinical trial, Retinitis pigmentosa, Vitrectomy, Paratriathlon, Oxidative stress, Doctor of Philosophy, Eye, Patient, RAH, Growth, GLARE, Safety, Pharmaceutical industry, Honours degree

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nacuity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts and other ocular diseases caused by oxidative stress, today announced that a clinical trial site has been added to its Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating NPI-002, a proprietary antioxidant molecule delivered via a sustained release intravitreal implant, for the delay of cataract progression in patients undergoing vitrectomy.

Key Points: 
  • FORT WORTH, Texas, July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nacuity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts and other ocular diseases caused by oxidative stress, today announced that a clinical trial site has been added to its Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating NPI-002, a proprietary antioxidant molecule delivered via a sustained release intravitreal implant, for the delay of cataract progression in patients undergoing vitrectomy.
  • Promising safety signals have been observed in the initial subjects.
  • “With two of our lead candidates advancing through clinical proof-of-concept trials, this is a pivotal time of progress and growth for Nacuity,” said Halden Conner, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Nacuity Pharmaceuticals.
  • “Our clinical programs are focused on treating retinitis pigmentosa and other eye diseases in which oxidative stress plays a significant role, including cataracts.

Cuts in the state budget, a gallery on hold and millions on sports: the decline of arts support in South Australia

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 16, 2023
Royal Adelaide Hospital, Department, Liberal, Music, Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Adelaide Festival Centre, Fruit preserves, Culture, Indiana State Museum, Adelaide Film Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, Golf, Art Gallery of South Australia, Hope, Innovation, COVID, Government, Art gallery, Arts South Australia, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Cabinet, LIV Golf, Malinauskas government, Sydney Opera House, The Jam Factory, Lot Fourteen, New York State Education Department, Sydney Opera House Trust, Department of Premier and Cabinet (New South Wales), AFL, Entertainment, Drug, Tourism, Creative industries, Film industry, Hunting, Science, Labour

Opened in 1973, the building was completed before the Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Key Points: 
  • Opened in 1973, the building was completed before the Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
  • South Australia was regarded as a leader of the arts in Australia for around three decades from 1970 to the 1990s and dubbed internationally the “Athens of the South”.

Arts in the budget

    • In 2018, under the previous Liberal state government, the arts and cultural portfolio Arts South Australia was broken up and sent to different government departments.
    • Read more:
      Cuts and restructures send alarm through South Australia's arts sector

      The South Australian state budget was handed down this week.

    • The continued reductions in arts funding seem counter intuitive given the negative impact of COVID on the arts and cultural sector.

Adelaide’s stalled new gallery

    • The new gallery became an election issue in 2018, with the Liberal party running on a platform of developing a national Indigenous arts centre.
    • After the Liberal party won the election, the gallery was named Tarrkarri (“future” in Kaurna language) and was due to be completed in 2023.
    • Significantly, there is no additional money promised for the project in the 2023–24 state budget, although there is a forecast completion date of 2027.

A critical lack of infrastructure

    • There has been a critical lack of cultural infrastructure in South Australia for many years across all artform areas.
    • There has been a call for a dedicated concert hall in Adelaide for many years.

Sports are the big winners

    • While most other states have acquired new concert halls, new art galleries and theatre spaces over the past two decades, South Australia has remained culturally static.
    • When Labor was elected in 2022 there was hope there would be an immediate revival of a government entity focusing on the arts.
    • It was also hoped Labor would be proactive about increasing arts support and build much needed new cultural infrastructure.

Glyscend Therapeutics Announces Positive Topline Phase 2a Clinical Results and Progress with GLY-200, a First-in-Class Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Health, Diabetes, Other Health, Clinical Trials, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Exercise, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Parameter, Insulin, Obesity, Adelaide, University, Diet, MBBS, Endocrine system, Type 2 diabetes, Glucose, Novel, Duodenum, PYY, Appetite, Doctor of Philosophy, Phase 1, MD, Patient, Physician, American Diabetes Association, Metformin, Bariatric surgery, Therapy, T2D, Treatment, Safety, Disease, Human, Pharmaceutical industry, Medical device, Dietary supplement, Medicine

T2D and obesity are worldwide endemics with millions of people in need of more effective ways to manage their disease.

Key Points: 
  • T2D and obesity are worldwide endemics with millions of people in need of more effective ways to manage their disease.
  • “Type 2 diabetes and obesity are extremely common chronic diseases where the outcome of most therapeutic options is suboptimal.
  • “These Phase 2a data provide clinical evidence that duodenal exclusion may be possible with a non-invasive, orally administered, pharmaceutical treatment.
  • He will discuss therapeutic targets in the gut for the treatment of T2D and obesity.

Ferronova secures A$11 million to advance nanotech image-guided cancer therapy

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Proton, University, Proton therapy, University of Sydney, Primary tumor, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Environment, Cancer, Artesian, Element, Surgeon, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Research, Brain, Indocyanine green, Health, Patient, Lymph, University of South Australia, Pharmaceutical industry, Medical imaging, Renewal

Irish company Renew Pharmaceuticals Limited (Renew) led an A$8 million capital raise, with a further A$3 million secured via an Australian Government Co-operative Research Centers Project (CRC-P) grant.

Key Points: 
  • Irish company Renew Pharmaceuticals Limited (Renew) led an A$8 million capital raise, with a further A$3 million secured via an Australian Government Co-operative Research Centers Project (CRC-P) grant.
  • * Existing Ferronova shareholders, led by Uniseed with Artesian Venture Partners also participated.
  • The latest round of funding for the Adelaide, South Australian headquartered company builds on seed capital and Series A funding of $4.6 million.
  • Improvement in precision imaging, surgery, and therapy are now essential to improving long term outcomes.

Ferronova secures A$11 million to advance nanotech image-guided cancer therapy

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Proton, University, Proton therapy, University of Sydney, Primary tumor, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Environment, Cancer, Artesian, Element, Surgeon, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Research, Brain, Indocyanine green, Health, Patient, Lymph, University of South Australia, Pharmaceutical industry, Medical imaging, Renewal

Irish company Renew Pharmaceuticals Limited (Renew) led an A$8 million capital raise, with a further A$3 million secured via an Australian Government Co-operative Research Centers Project (CRC-P) grant.

Key Points: 
  • Irish company Renew Pharmaceuticals Limited (Renew) led an A$8 million capital raise, with a further A$3 million secured via an Australian Government Co-operative Research Centers Project (CRC-P) grant.
  • * Existing Ferronova shareholders, led by Uniseed with Artesian Venture Partners also participated.
  • The latest round of funding for the Adelaide, South Australian headquartered company builds on seed capital and Series A funding of $4.6 million.
  • Improvement in precision imaging, surgery, and therapy are now essential to improving long term outcomes.

Vial Announces the Addition of Dr. Christopher Sweeney of SAiGENCI and the University of Adelaide to their Oncology CRO Scientific Advisory Board

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Internal medicine, EDC, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, SAN, Harvard Medical School, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Gundersen Health System, Faculty, University, Indiana University School of Medicine, Neurology, Hematology, Associate, Multimedia, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, SAB, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, ESourcing Capability Model, MBBS, Clinical research, Fine chemical, Medicine, Vial, Oncology

Dr. Sweeney will work closely with the company's leadership team to shape the scientific strategy of Vial's Oncology CRO products and services.

Key Points: 
  • Dr. Sweeney will work closely with the company's leadership team to shape the scientific strategy of Vial's Oncology CRO products and services.
  • "We are beyond thrilled that an eminent scientist such as Dr. Sweeney has decided to join our CRO's Oncology SAB.
  • Dr. Sweeney is the inaugural Director of the South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI), and a professor of medicine at the University of Adelaide.
  • Vial operates across multiple Therapeutic Areas ( Dermatology CRO , Ophthalmology CRO , Oncology CRO , Gastroenterology CRO , Neurology CRO , and Cardiology CRO ).

SpineThera Announces Results for SX600 from its SALIENT Phase 2 Sciatica Pain Clinical Trial Supporting the Potential for Best-In-Class Therapy

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Physical Therapy, Surgery, General Health, Health, Clinical Trials, Other Health, Physician, Initiative, Patient, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Disability, QOL, Sciatica, Pain, Dexamethasone, WDLP, Quality of life, University, Safety, Oswestry Disability Index, Principal, Medical director, Risk, Pharmaceutical industry, Dentistry, Anesthesia

In total, 56 patients were randomized (17 [SX600 25 mg] 21 [SX600 12.5 mg], 18 [placebo]).

Key Points: 
  • In total, 56 patients were randomized (17 [SX600 25 mg] 21 [SX600 12.5 mg], 18 [placebo]).
  • SX600 has the potential to be a truly meaningful improvement in how we manage our patients suffering with radicular leg pain and the associated functional disability.
  • We are delighted with these exciting results and very appreciative of the SpineThera team and SALIENT trial Investigators passion and hard work.
  • The companys lead investigational drug product, SX600, is a novel formulation of dexamethasone being developed for the management of sciatica pain.