The Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation

A/Prof Katie Ayers @MCRI_for_kids is uncovering the genetic causes of human reproductive development and Differences of Sex Development, with the goal of improving diagnosis and delivering personalised care for children living with these rare conditions. Learn more 👇

Most respiratory viruses lack effective vaccines or antivirals, and treatments often lose effectiveness due to viral mutations. @RhiannonWerder aims to identify new drug targets that enhancing the body’s immune defences, rather than attacking pathogens directly. Hear more 👇

Prof Eynon's research investigates mechanistic biomarkers that drive ageing and why men and women differ in biological ageing and frailty trajectories. He aims to advance precision interventions guided by biological rather than chronological age. Learn more👇. @nir_eynon

Professor Lorenzetti studies the neurobiology of substance use and addiction to identify those most vulnerable to brain and mental health harms, and develops brain-based interventions to reduce addiction-related harm. Learn more about her research 👇. @vale_addiction @HBMRC_ACU

What a wonderful evening with such passionate researchers. Congratulations to our new Fellows — @nir_eynon, Katie Ayers, Bingyang Shi, @Chantal_Donovan and @RhiannonWerder (and Alice Kane). Special recognition to Prof Mark Cooper for outstanding service to the Foundation.

Congrats to A/Prof Katie Ayers, #MCRI and @nir_eynon, @ARMI_Labs, on receiving 2026 Rebecca Cooper Fellowships. This outstanding achievement recognises them as leaders in their respective fields of Medical Research, whose work exemplifies excellence and innovation.👏👏👏

Big congratulations to our 2026 Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellows📷 @Chantal_Donovan @UTSEngage; @RhiannonWerder @MCRI_for_kids; and Dr Alice Kane, @Sydney_Uni who have demonstrated remarkable innovation and leadership in their respective fields.

A/Prof Reed aims to use genomics to transform the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune disease and has a particular focus on Sjogren’s syndrome. @WestmeadInst Find out more about her research here 👇

A/Prof Susanna Park's translational neurology research program is develop clinically relevant biomarkers to enable earlier diagnosis and targeted therapeutic interventions for patients with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN). @BrainMind_Usyd Find out more 👇

Big congrats to Maria Di Biase 👏👏, our Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellow, on being awarded the #MetcalfPrizes by the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia in recognition of her leadership in stem cell research. You can read more about Maria’s work at

Maria Di Biase @UniMelbMDHS and Lachlan Harris @QIMRB_Institute formally receive their #MetcalfPrizes from Foundation director @ngaire_elwood at #asscr2025

Prof Lazarou’s ground-breaking research aims to develop therapeutics that target mitochondrial dysfunction in diseases ranging from Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and beyond. @LazarouLab Find out more about his research here👇

Gang Liu aims to identify new therapies for Idiopathic Lung Fibrosis (IPF), a chronic and progressive disease which currently has a poor prognosis for those suffering the disease. Find out more about his research 👇

Dr Maria Di Biase @UniMelb discusses her novel research which aims to pioneer personalised treatment interventions for individuals with schizophrenia by incorporating their unique genetic, molecular, and functional illness profiles. 👇

Congratulations to A/Prof Susanna Park @BrainMind_Usyd on being awarded the 2025 Rebecca Cooper Fellowship! With $1.5 mil in support, A/Prof Park will propel her groundbreaking research to understand how chemotherapy produces nerve damage, to improve diagnosis and treatment.

Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellowships have been awarded to Dr Maria Di Biase, @UniMelb @MNC_Psychiatry ; @Dr_GangLiu , @UTSEngage and @JiaoJiaoLi_Syd, @UTSEngage . We are delighted to support these talented early-career researchers for the next five years!

Very proud of our Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellow, A/Prof Miguel Renteria, who has published a landmark paper in Nature Genetics which provides an insight into the intricate relationship between our genetic makeup and brain health.

Paper in Nature Genetics 👉 Read the full story 👉

RT @QIMRB_Institute: Brain Breakthrough 🧠 The world’s largest study of #brain volume published now in @NatureGenet has revealed genetic links to #ADHD and #Parkinson’s Disease. Read the full story 👉 #research #ENIGMA @USCLONI

RT @AndrewZalesky: Q&A about my journey from engineering to neuroscience/psychiatry + my thoughts on issues in psychiatry research: Thanks for the opportunity Natalia Gass, Senior Editor, Nature Mental Health - a fabulous journal with a smooth & fast editorial process.

A/Prof Tamsyn Van Rheenen chats about her research which aims to identify the cognitive profile of bipolar disorder and develop intervention strategies 👇

Prof Sylvia Gustin's research targets recovery from spinal cord injury and chronic pain. Hear more about her innovative research 👇