Posted 22 May 2025
On Wednesday 21 May, SVI hosted its annual Equipped for Impact event, a celebration of donor generosity and the vital role equipment plays in pioneering medical research. The event brought together donors and researchers in a shared mission to accelerate advancement in life-changing medical breakthroughs.
Associate Professor Elaine Sanij, Head of the DNA Damage and Cancer Therapy Lab, underscored how access to state-of-the-art equipment fast-tracks her team’s discoveries. She demonstrated how precision technology helps her lab investigate how targeting the ribosome can help create treatments for multiple myeloma and ovarian cancer.
“Support from these donations has been instrumental in accelerating our research,” said Associate Professor Sanij.
“It allows us to develop innovative technologies more rapidly, strengthening our competitiveness for funding and enabling further investment in discovery. Importantly, this support helps drive research that will ultimately improve outcomes for patients.”
Guests were immersed in behind-the-scenes experiences of SVI’s laboratories, exploring different medical research technologies and interacting with scientists at the forefront of scientific innovation.
Virtual reality headsets and crystal displays delivered insights into protein engineering and genome stability research, led by Dr Chris Langendorf and Dr Sarah Henrikus. Dr Langendorf demonstrated how protein crystal technology guides the development of treatments for metabolic diseases and cancer. Dr Henrikus explained how she uses various technologies to develop therapies for DNA repair pathways that contribute to familial cancer syndromes.
Dr Sebastian Bass-Stringer of the Cardiac Regeneration Lab provided attendees with a glimpse at a lab-grown beating heart. Dr Bass-Stringer uses this technology to model heart disease to better understand aging and heart failure.
Dr Martha Blank of the Bone Cell Biology and Disease Lab demonstrated how the IncuCyte live-cell analysis system enhances the efficiency of her research into bone material quality and the functions of mineral and collagen. These insights help shape treatments for bone diseases like osteoporosis.
Guests observed how flow cytometry measures the physical characteristics of cells at rapid speed using a laser beam. Dr Astrid Glaser of the Genome Stability Lab demonstrated how this technology accelerates her work developing gene editing techniques to cure inherited blood disorders.
“Access to cutting-edge equipment has a significant and tangible impact for SVI’s researchers,” said Rhonda Barro, Catalyst Circle Chair.
“Your donation helps create the high-tech environment they need to excel, make groundbreaking discoveries, and transform lives.”
From new-generation flow cytometers to essential lab tools like incubators and centrifuges, each gift to the Catalyst Circle directly supports the technology that enables life-changing research. Equipped for Impact is a powerful reminder that together, we can drive discoveries and deliver real-world impact for those affected by cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and more.
Help shape a healthier tomorrow