Several senior scientists from Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) were invited to present at the recent Westmead Research and Innovation Conference while a couple of young researchers also came away with awards.

The conference is an opportunity to showcase the leading international research and development occurring in the Westmead Health Precinct.

On both days of the conference, there were CMRI presenters on both clinical research and innovation, as well as preclinical research. Director Professor Roger Reddel talked about the latest advances at ProCan, Professor Robyn Jamieson shared innovations in retinal genetic therapies and Dr Anai Gonzalez Cordero spoke about her work using stem cells and retinal organoids to develop advanced cell therapies for blindness.

Professor Ian Alexander spoke about his latest gene therapy research and its success.

“We have lived through the hard yards and now we are seeing our dreams coming true,’’ Professor Alexander said. “What we’re trying to do in Westmead is build a bench to bed, back to bench, pathway. We’ve now developed an international reputation for world class trials.

“We are living in extraordinarily exciting times, and I think our campus at Westmead has an excellent international reputation.’’

There were also presentations by several students and awards were given to CMRI researchers Vivienne Kaiser and Katharine Zhang.