Latest news with #Sydney-based
Hans India
16 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
New AI tool to revolutionise personalised cancer treatment
New Delhi: An international team of scientists has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that could revolutionise cancer treatment by mapping cellular diversity within tumours. The innovation tackles tumour heterogeneity in oncology, where varied cell populations cause treatment resistance and recurrence, Xinhua news agency reported. The AAnet AI tool, developed by the Sydney-based Garvan Institute of Medical Research in collaboration with the Yale School of Medicine in the US, uses deep learning to study gene activity in single cancer cells. It finds five different cell types within tumours, each with its own behaviour and risk of spreading. This helps doctors understand cancer better than older methods, which treated all tumour cells the same, said the multinational research team. 'Heterogeneity is a problem because currently, we treat tumors as if they are made up of the same cell. This means we give one therapy that kills most cells in the tumor by targeting a particular mechanism. But not all cancer cells may share that mechanism,' said the study's co-senior author, Associate Professor Christine Chaffer from the Garvan Institute. As a result, some cancer cells survive, and the disease can return, Chaffer said. She added that AAnet provides a way to biologically characterise tumour diversity, enabling the design of combination therapies that target all cell groups at once. Associate Professor Smita Krishnaswamy of Yale University, a co-developer of the AI, indicated that this is the first method to distill cellular complexity into practical archetypes, potentially transforming precision oncology. The technology is ready for clinical use, with plans to combine AI analysis and traditional diagnostics to create treatments tailored to each tumour's cell type. Validated in breast cancer, it also shows promise for other cancers and autoimmune diseases, marking a shift toward personalised medicine, revealed the study published in the journal Cancer Discovery.
The Age
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Josh Parr pulls right rein on Elamaz to cap winning treble at Rosehill
Back-up Baker set for return Bjorn Baker was considering a seven-day back-up for Thunderlips into the listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill after he gave the Warwick Farm trainer a double on Saturday at the track. Baker, who earlier won with Puntin, went to 86 Sydney winners for the season as he chases a first century in town. He is second only to Chris Waller (145) and went past 150 winners nationwide for the first time. Zoustar four-year-old Thunderlips, $450,000 yearling, backed up a Randwick win on June 7 with a fighting effort to catch Zouatica by a long neck in the 1500m benchmark 88. 'He's hard to catch at times but he's going very well,' Baker said. 'He loves it wet, too, and there's a bit of rain this week. Maybe back-up Baker could return for the back-end of the season.' Asked if he would nominate Thunderlips for the Winter Stakes, he said, 'Why not?' Penza gives Waller a peach Veteran jockey Jeff Penza repaid the faith of premier trainer Chris Waller with a perfect ride to break a run of placings for Changing Colours. Waller called on the 55-year-old, who rides mostly on the provincial and country circuits, to fill the void for him at Rosehill with seven bookings, three of which were later scratched. Changing Colours had two wins and six placings in eight career starts, all in Victoria, including seconds at her past three runs, before tackling the 1400m benchmark 78 for fillies and mares on Saturday. Penza had the four-year-old near last on the turn before negotiating a path through the field. He found clear air at the 250m and Changing Colours charged to a one-and-three-quarter lengths win over Fairway Star. Penza, who rode Summer Flame to victory for Waller in the listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone last month, has come back from serious falls at Taree in 2023 (broken ribs, concussion and damaged lungs) and Queanbeyan (leg fractures, broken wrist and shoulder) in 2018. 'That was a good ride, he was patient and he took his gaps and used angles to safely get her into the clear,' Waller said. 'He's a great rider and horseman, and it's a pleasure to have him aboard. He's very fit and keen, and he really is a credit to himself, the way he's stayed fit and mobile. 'He doesn't ride work for us but when we get stuck, I call him. I called him yesterday, and he was 'yeah, no worries'. If you want him there, he'll be there.' Misterkipchoge later broke a 17-month, 18-start drought to give Waller a double. The four-year-old, with Jean Van Overmiere aboard, edged out stablemate Pure Alpha in the 1800m benchmark 78 for a first win since saluting on debut in Australia in January last year. He had eight placings in between the victories. At Eagle Farm, Sydney-based Irishman Tom Sherry rode his first group 1 winner, taking Tashi to victory for Randwick trainer Peter Snowden in the Tattersall's Tiara. Veteran mare lifts for Curtis Trainer Lee Curtis said he may have to put back retirement plans for Bacio Del Mist after she was strong late to win the 2400m Stayers Cup on her home track at Rosehill on Saturday. Jockey Alysha Collett weaved a path through the small field from near last and the seven-year-old lifted to hit the lead 50 m out and beat Mormona by a neck. Collett finished with a double after winning the last on Lady Extreme. 'She's had horrible luck,' said Curtis, who trains a team of 19 with his wife, Cherie. 'The plan was just to go through this prep then wind it up, but these old blokes that own it, they'll probably say we'll race her another 12 months. 'She's been in work a long time. She's had just a little let-up. She's a marvel, for a $30,000 yearling out of Zoustar.' Bacio Del Mist has seven wins and eight placings from 44 starts, with $356,505 in stakes. Super result for Seth's mates The owners of Puntin savoured a special first Saturday win for the talented three-year-old at Rosehill, and trainer Bjorn Baker is confident bigger victories are to come. A $60,000 son of Super Seth, Puntin led the benchmark 72 handicap (1400m) for three- and four-year-olds under Ash Morgan and was strong late to hold out Don't Forget Jack by a short neck. Loading It was a fourth win in six starts for Puntin, which was named after Seth Puntin. 'He died of cancer about two or three years ago and when we bought the Super Seth, it kind of made sense to name him after Seth,' part-owner Cameron Sinclair said. 'They are all his really good mates, so it's a good story and a bloody good horse. We're in Disneck as well, and some of them are first-time owners, so it's really good.'
Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Josh Parr pulls right rein on Elamaz to cap winning treble at Rosehill
Back-up Baker set for return Bjorn Baker was considering a seven-day back-up for Thunderlips into the listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill after he gave the Warwick Farm trainer a double on Saturday at the track. Baker, who earlier won with Puntin, went to 86 Sydney winners for the season as he chases a first century in town. He is second only to Chris Waller (145) and went past 150 winners nationwide for the first time. Zoustar four-year-old Thunderlips, $450,000 yearling, backed up a Randwick win on June 7 with a fighting effort to catch Zouatica by a long neck in the 1500m benchmark 88. 'He's hard to catch at times but he's going very well,' Baker said. 'He loves it wet, too, and there's a bit of rain this week. Maybe back-up Baker could return for the back-end of the season.' Asked if he would nominate Thunderlips for the Winter Stakes, he said, 'Why not?' Penza gives Waller a peach Veteran jockey Jeff Penza repaid the faith of premier trainer Chris Waller with a perfect ride to break a run of placings for Changing Colours. Waller called on the 55-year-old, who rides mostly on the provincial and country circuits, to fill the void for him at Rosehill with seven bookings, three of which were later scratched. Changing Colours had two wins and six placings in eight career starts, all in Victoria, including seconds at her past three runs, before tackling the 1400m benchmark 78 for fillies and mares on Saturday. Penza had the four-year-old near last on the turn before negotiating a path through the field. He found clear air at the 250m and Changing Colours charged to a one-and-three-quarter lengths win over Fairway Star. Penza, who rode Summer Flame to victory for Waller in the listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone last month, has come back from serious falls at Taree in 2023 (broken ribs, concussion and damaged lungs) and Queanbeyan (leg fractures, broken wrist and shoulder) in 2018. 'That was a good ride, he was patient and he took his gaps and used angles to safely get her into the clear,' Waller said. 'He's a great rider and horseman, and it's a pleasure to have him aboard. He's very fit and keen, and he really is a credit to himself, the way he's stayed fit and mobile. 'He doesn't ride work for us but when we get stuck, I call him. I called him yesterday, and he was 'yeah, no worries'. If you want him there, he'll be there.' Misterkipchoge later broke a 17-month, 18-start drought to give Waller a double. The four-year-old, with Jean Van Overmiere aboard, edged out stablemate Pure Alpha in the 1800m benchmark 78 for a first win since saluting on debut in Australia in January last year. He had eight placings in between the victories. At Eagle Farm, Sydney-based Irishman Tom Sherry rode his first group 1 winner, taking Tashi to victory for Randwick trainer Peter Snowden in the Tattersall's Tiara. Veteran mare lifts for Curtis Trainer Lee Curtis said he may have to put back retirement plans for Bacio Del Mist after she was strong late to win the 2400m Stayers Cup on her home track at Rosehill on Saturday. Jockey Alysha Collett weaved a path through the small field from near last and the seven-year-old lifted to hit the lead 50 m out and beat Mormona by a neck. Collett finished with a double after winning the last on Lady Extreme. 'She's had horrible luck,' said Curtis, who trains a team of 19 with his wife, Cherie. 'The plan was just to go through this prep then wind it up, but these old blokes that own it, they'll probably say we'll race her another 12 months. 'She's been in work a long time. She's had just a little let-up. She's a marvel, for a $30,000 yearling out of Zoustar.' Bacio Del Mist has seven wins and eight placings from 44 starts, with $356,505 in stakes. Super result for Seth's mates The owners of Puntin savoured a special first Saturday win for the talented three-year-old at Rosehill, and trainer Bjorn Baker is confident bigger victories are to come. A $60,000 son of Super Seth, Puntin led the benchmark 72 handicap (1400m) for three- and four-year-olds under Ash Morgan and was strong late to hold out Don't Forget Jack by a short neck. Loading It was a fourth win in six starts for Puntin, which was named after Seth Puntin. 'He died of cancer about two or three years ago and when we bought the Super Seth, it kind of made sense to name him after Seth,' part-owner Cameron Sinclair said. 'They are all his really good mates, so it's a good story and a bloody good horse. We're in Disneck as well, and some of them are first-time owners, so it's really good.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
EFG's Shaw and Partners to pick 75% stake in New Zealand's ISG
Sydney-based Shaw and Partners Financial Services, a fully owned subsidiary of EFG International, has agreed to acquire a 75% stake in Investment Services Group (ISG) for NZ67.5m ($40.8m). The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. ISG, an Auckland-based investment firm, manages over NZ7bn ($4.2bn) in assets across its wealth management, funds management, and investment platform divisions. ISG operates two main offices in Auckland's CBD and Takapuna, alongside several regional offices across New Zealand's North and South Islands. ISG's diversified model is expected to complement Shaw and Partners' existing offerings. The acquisition represents a significant step in Shaw and Partners' growth strategy, marking its formal entry into the New Zealand market and enhancing its presence across the Trans-Tasman region. Following the acquisition, ISG's business will report to Shaw and Partners' Australian CEO, Earl Evans. 'Shaw and Partners and ISG share a client-first approach, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a clear strategic vision,' the company stated. EFG International, headquartered in Zurich, is a global private banking group providing private banking and asset management services, with operations in over 40 locations worldwide. In February this year, EFG announced the acquisition of Swiss private bank Cité Gestion, which specialises in serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) from Switzerland, Western Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. In April this year, EFG (Middle East) Limited in Dubai (EFG Dubai), part of EFG International, appointed Soha Nashaat as its new executive chair. She works with EFG International's senior management to align with the group's strategic goals. "EFG's Shaw and Partners to pick 75% stake in New Zealand's ISG" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Herald Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Herald Sun
Australian HIV self-testing kits now in vending machines in universities, nightclubs from Atomo Diagnostics
More Australians are getting access to free, lifesaving HIV self-testing kits through a national rollout of vending machines across the country in universities and nightclubs. In a groundbreaking move to help break down barriers to testing and address the issue of social stigma, Sydney-based Atomo Diagnostics is now supplying thousands of self-test kits to sexual health programs across the nation. The concept of the HIV test is similar to that of a Covid-19 rapid antigen test — but this test works with a finger prick test to get a blood sample. The national rollout program continues to expand, with more vending machines to be installed in Australian universities, in NSW, South Australia and Victoria. Vending machines have also been rolled out in Queensland, with a particular focus on those living in remote communities. In universities, the Federal Government-funded tests are free for all users, John Kelly, CEO of Atomo Diagnostics said. 'The reason for that is that the government has recognised that cost, particularly for young people, could be a barrier to use and they want to make sure that there's more testing and cost isn't a kind of barrier to uptake of testing,' he said. 'So it is subsidised and free to the user and funded through the government.' At the end of 2023, it was estimated that there were 30,010 people with HIV in Australia, according to Health Equity Matters. Mr Kelly said one of the benefits of the tests is that they are 'quick, pretty simple, easy to do and can be done at home, you can do it pretty much anywhere immediately'. He said the feedback from venues where the tests are available was positive, with the vending machines program proving popular with young people, particularly overseas-born migrants in Australia on student visas. '(Many) young people don't have a GP. It's a much more transactional service now with healthcare,' he said. 'And I think for a lot of people, they don't have that doctor to go see or that clinic that they can call. So I think having a discreet, easy to use test in the university that they can access for free has been a game changer.' In NSW, the Ministry of Health's 'My Test' vending machines, branded in distinctive purple, are placed in night-life venues, sexual health clinics, community centres, universities and even a public library. In Victoria and South Australia, the 'CONNECT' program, co-ordinated by Dr Nikki Sullivan, is preparing for its national rollout, expanding from successful trials in South Australia and Victoria to all states and territories. Vending machines will be installed at the University of Melbourne next month, when students return from their semester holidays. It comes after researchers at Melbourne's Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity made a huge step towards an HIV cure by devising a method to deliver an mRNA-based therapy direct to cells, killing the virus as it circulates in the body. Renowned HIV researcher Sharon Lewin, director of the Doherty Institute, said earlier this month that the breakthrough was made when the team was working on a therapy for Covid-19. Meanwhile, Atomo Diagnostics has also called for the Federal Government to run a trial program in Australia, similar to ones currently being held in Spain and US, for at-home testing to be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP. PrEP involves HIV negative people taking antiretroviral medication to protect them and prevent HIV infection. Mr Kelly said the rates of HIV transmission had been falling but challenges remained as people on PrEP had to test negative every 12 weeks, meaning the health system was getting clogged up with thousands of appointments for routine testing. 'In Barcelona, they have adopted an alternative approach where twice a year you can do a self-test at home and show your negative status to stay on PrEP and you then come into the clinic two times a year instead of four times a year,' he said. Mr Kelly said the trial program showed major benefits. 'We think it's the way forward for PrEP testing, to make it more flexible, reduce the burden on clinics and get people the opportunity to do occasional tests at home so they don't have to take a half day off to go into a clinic and queue for three hours to get a test that they could easily do at home.' Read related topics: Wellness
