The Garvan Institute of Medical Research will open its doors to the public on Sunday 17^th August, giving a glimpse into the future of science and medicine, and the chance to meet world-renowned scientists tackling major diseases like cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, asthma, arthritis and eating disorders.

The future is a very exciting one for medical research. A growing emphasis on “personalised” medicine and a better understanding of the role of genes and environment in disorders as diverse as cancer and Alzheimer’s means that research is progressing at a rapid rate. Open Day will give an insight into current and future directions in medical research.

Special guest presenters Mikey Robins (Good News Week, Vega FM Breakfast Host) and Robyn Williams (ABC Radio National, The Science Show Host) will join some of the sharpest minds in Australia including Professor John Shine, Garvan Executive Director and Associate Professor Phillip Stricker, Director, St Vincent’s Prostate Cancer Centre to discuss “The Future of Science and Medicine”. This panel discussion will complement research updates by leading Garvan researchers on cancer and diabetes.

An interactive Expo offers the chance to talk to leading scientists about their breakthrough research and specific diseases. Visitors can see live human cells through the microscope, witness cancer cells growing, determine their individual risk of bone fracture, understand why dieters hit weight loss plateaus and how to overcome them, experience what it feels like to lose or gain 14 kilos of fat, and what effect it has on the brain, hunger and energy levels.

Tours of Garvan’s state-of-the-art research facility will take in some of the amazing technology used to ensure Garvan remains at the cutting edge of medical research. For example, visitors will see the Mass Array Sequenom Analyser, which can test up to 768 DNA samples at once, effectively enabling what used to take eight months in cancer research to be completed in one day.

 
Garvan’s FREE Open Day is on 17^th August, from 10am to 1pm at 384 Victoria St Darlinghurst. Getting there is easy: by train to Kings Cross Station (and 10 min walk towards St Vincent’s Hospital) or bus to Oxford or Burton Sts. For more information about Garvan Open Day call (02) 9295 8110.