From the Chairman On behalf of the Board, I am proud to share with you the 2020 Annual Report, which recognises and acknowledges the world-leading research of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the remarkable role we are playing during this global pandemic. Our Annual Report is a chance to reflect on our past year’s achievements and acknowledge the enormous contribution made by so many inspiring individuals who make Murdoch Children’s the pre-eminent child health research institute in the country – and one of the top three globally. COVID-19 has demonstrated what we have always known to be true; that science really does matter. It has the power to transform and save lives. Over this past year, we have witnessed an unprecedented and co-ordinated scientific effort on a global scale. We also saw a recognition and appreciation of our frontline healthcare workers. In this report, we share some of our work and outline the impact it’s having, particularly around COVID-19. You will read about our world-first BCG vaccine trial led by Nigel Curtis, our COVID-19 research programs and the work we undertook to get students back to school. In my role, it has been a privilege to be part of new and ongoing philanthropic relationships with the Macquarie Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation, Minderoo Foundation and globally with the Milken Institute and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I am thrilled to be able to continue my involvement and connection with the Institute as a Global Ambassador, working with Sarah Murdoch on strategic relationships here and around the world. This year marks Sarah’s 20th anniversary with the Institute and we are so grateful for her insight and ongoing commitment. She has always understood the importance and significance of philanthropic leadership.
Director’s message the long and wonderful journey I would end up sharing with this extraordinary organisation. More than two decades later, I write to you as outgoing Chairman – deeply humbled and grateful for this incredible opportunity.
“I have witnessed the power of adaptability, agility, creativity and genius in a way that is unlike anything I have seen before.” SUZI CARP Last year, Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch generously endowed a $5 million Fellowship to the Institute. This gift is a stunning example of the long-term vision, impact and unconditional support of Sarah and Lachlan and their family. As Chairman, I have never felt more pride in this remarkable Institute than in this past year. All of us at the Institute – whether it be our Directors, Committee and Council members, Council of Ambassadors, supporters or friends – are committed to creating a world where every child can grow to reach their full potential. Children really are at the heart of everything we do. It is the invisible thread that connects us all. Despite the physical distance that separated us in 2020 – and our inability to hold board and committee meetings, directors forums and events – we remained close and connected. To my fellow directors, thank you to each of you for your commitment and dedication to MCRI. I would also like to acknowledge our remarkable director, Professor Kathryn North. Kathryn used this pandemic as an opportunity for real impact and transformation in child health. She navigated the impossibly challenging times of COVID-19 with skill, empathy and vision. When I joined the Development Board nearly 20 years ago, I never would have imagined
4
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
I have witnessed first-hand the transformation of MCRI from a great child health research institute in Australia to becoming one of the best in the world. I leave at a time when the deep relationships on Campus have never been stronger. I would like to thank and recognise our Campus Council members and partners the University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics, The Royal Children’s Hospital and The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. I have always said that MCRI and the Children’s Campus fills me with hope. Watching how we worked together and the way our Campus responded and supported one another is another shining example of how hope permeates our corridors and now our virtual spaces. I am delighted to welcome Pat Houlihan as the next Chairman of this Institute. He has been an invaluable director over the past seven years and reminds us always to focus on what really matters. I am also thrilled that Sarah Murdoch is joining him as Co-Chair and Global Ambassador. It is a role reflecting Sarah’s deep commitment, passion and leadership in global development, strategy and philanthropy. I would like to finish by honouring and paying tribute to the MCRI team. Your brilliant minds, your enormous contribution to society and children’s health, and your continued curiosity and drive for discovery and impact have been inspiring beyond measure. Thank you for trusting me, supporting me, allowing me to walk alongside you and for filling my life everyday with hope. Sharing my life with all of you has been one of my greatest privileges.
Suzi Carp 2020 Chairman
2020 will forever be defined by COVID-19. The agility and resourcefulness with which everyone at the Institute responded went above and beyond. It is a source of great pride for me. And so, I am excited and honoured to present this year’s Annual Report as a record of all that we achieved. Our shared passion to improve the health and wellbeing of every child saw us make a truly gigantic contribution to the global effort to address COVID-19. During the past year, I witnessed an unwavering resolve and determination to contribute to the COVID-19 response. This was coupled with an unshakable commitment to ensure that our vital research continued across genomic medicine, stem cell technologies and improving the lives of children and families in Victoria, Australia and around the globe. Our collective efforts ensured our continued standing as one of the top three children’s medical research institutes in the world. Early in the pandemic, we were bracing for huge income falls. There was uncertainty around whether government grants would continue and a precarious funding environment. Once again, the institute resolutely saw off any potential crisis and attracted $16 million in dedicated COVID-19 research funding. This was on top of significant levels of federal funding secured for projects unrelated to COVID-19. Immediately, the Institute’s researchers initiated numerous COVID-19 research projects, spanning every one of our research strengths. The first COVID-19 project was the BRACE trial investigating whether the BCG tuberculosis vaccine could enhance healthcare workers’ immune systems to protect them against severe COVID-19. That trial has recruited more than 6000 healthcare workers at nearly 40 sites in five countries. After studying hospital admissions of children with COVID-19, we showed that, thankfully, children were spared the worst effects.
GenV will partner with all Victorian birthing hospitals over two years. Given the timing, GenV is also in a unique position to investigate, understand and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and families. Despite the limitations imposed by COVID-19, we made great progress across all of our major strategic research areas. Our people have shown great ingenuity and rapidly adapted to maintain our momentum. Following that, we examined household transmission dynamics and families’ immune responses to infection. This work has shown how children’s immune systems protect them from the virus. Other COVID-19 research projects assessed the safety of keeping face-to-face school learning onsite in the midst of pandemic lockdowns, families’ preferences for pregnancy-care and cystic fibrosis telehealth consultations. Our teams worked to understand broader effects on children and families during this time, such as inequities in accessing health services, how children with neurodevelopmental disorders fared during lockdown and the risk of violence and substance abuse. Our Victorian Clinical Genetics Service ensured families and referring clinicians received the same high standard of care as always. Working COVID-safe shifts, they didn’t miss a beat in providing preconception and prenatal genetic testing. VCGS also continued genome sequencing for the sickest babies to ensure as many families as possible received a diagnosis and access to precision medicine. MCRI has continued its membership of a number of strategic national and international partnerships such as the Centre for Population Genomics with the Garvan Institute, the Australian Strep A Vaccine Alliance with the Telethon Kids Institute and, of course, our leading roles in the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health and the Genomics in Health Implementation Forum. At the end of 2020, our Generation Victoria (GenV) project recruited its very first family. Baby Eliana was born on Christmas Day and will become the first of thousands of Victorian children who will, over the course of their lifetimes, help reduce the burden of allergy, asthma, obesity and mental ill health.
We were so mindful of not only the physical danger to our staff and students during 2020, but also the anxiety and stress caused by the constant barrage of bad news, homeschooling and lack of contact with family, friends and colleagues. To counter this, we introduced measures to allow staff time to look after themselves and loved ones. We held a number of staff health and wellness initiatives, which received excellent feedback in our regular staff wellbeing surveys. 2020 saw leadership changes at the Board level. All of us give our sincerest thanks, best wishes and fondest farewell to outgoing Chairman Suzi Carp. Suzi has contributed so much and brought such great strategic vision to the Institute. The five-year strategic review, established in 2019, has set us up for ongoing success. Patrick Houlihan takes over the reins as Chairman from Suzi and is joined by Co-Chair Sarah Murdoch, who has represented MCRI on the global stage for 20 years. 2020’s incredible achievements were only made possible by our staff, students, supporters, Board, Committees and Executive working together. I remain so humbled and grateful for the continuing drive and passion shown by everyone, often under the hardest of circumstances. Despite the myriad difficulties experienced by all of our supporters over the previous year, they have continued to place their trust and hope in our work. We are proud and honoured to repay that trust and hope by continuing our mission to make profound improvements to children’s lives everywhere. Thank you.
Professor Kathryn North AC
Annual Report 2020
5
