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First patients recruited as Snow Centre for Immune Health research clinics tackle immune disease head-on

Snow Centre for Immune Health

The first patients have been recruited into a landmark study at the newly launched Snow Centre Research Clinics, a bold initiative designed to accelerate the translation of discoveries in immune disease from the laboratory to the clinic.

The clinics will enable patients to participate in cutting-edge research, while giving scientists access to clinical data and biosamples – including blood tests – that will drive faster development of new therapies and diagnostics.

The clinics are part of the Snow Centre for Immune Health, a partnership between WEHI and the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) and supported by $100 million over 10 years from the Snow Medical Research Foundation.

Based at the RMH, the clinics will initially focus on four major disease areas: primary immune deficiencies, allergies and asthma, autoimmunity, and kidney transplantation.

The team is also looking to recruit healthy participants to the study to analyse samples from people with healthy immune systems.

“Recruiting the first patients into the Snow Research Clinics is a great milestone,” Professor Jo Douglass AO, Co-Director of the Snow Centre for Immune Health and Director of Research at the RMH, said.

“We’re grateful to the patients for giving Snow Centre researchers access to rich data and providing us this opportunity to better understand immune health. This first key step is a wonderful achievement for people with immune diseases in Australia.”

Prof Douglass said immune diseases were common, with many taking years to properly diagnose and many resulting in debilitating effects or requiring life-long treatment.

“Overall, one-in-five people experience an allergic disease and one-in-ten may develop an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus,” she said.

“Patients with immune disorders often endure a long diagnostic journey – in the case of immune deficiencies often lasting up to eight years.

"While symptoms may appear similar across individuals, treatment responses can vary significantly. This uncertainty can delay effective care, sometimes causing further health complications, and it also takes a heavy emotional and mental toll.”

Melbourne woman Christine Bell was one of the first patients at the RMH to be recruited into the Snow Research Clinics. Christine has lived with polycystic kidney disease her entire life. Her mother tragically died as a result of the disease at age 35, and her sons live with the condition too.

Twenty years ago, the genetic condition led her to her first kidney transplant – a gift generously donated by her husband. But with that kidney now declining, she began dialysis three years ago and may soon require a second transplant.

She said any research that could improve her outcomes – or those of others – was worthwhile.

“I have had 20 years of a normal life that I wouldn’t otherwise have had,” Christine said.

“That’s what motivated me to say yes. If doing this research helps other people, take my blood!”

Clinician-scientist Dr Stephanie Kuo, Renal Fellow at the Snow Centre for Immune Health and a doctor under the RMH’s Nephrology service, is leading research to explore if there are better ways to assess the immune system in kidney transplant patients.

“We're also keen to know if the immune system changes as we age,” she said.

“The clinics enable us to bridge clinical nephrology and biomedical science to advance precision medicine.”

Tom Snow, Chair of the Snow Medical Research Foundation, said the organisation’s goal is to empower transformational change.

“Our family looks to empower bold, transformative research across Australia by backing the best and brightest researchers and resourcing them with the tools they need to be world-class,” he said.

"Our ultimate goal is to support research that will help transform the lives of so many Australians with immune disease. With nearly one-in-five affected by allergic disease and one-in-ten living with autoimmunity, the need has never been greater.

“Our family believes the Snow Centre for Immune Health will truly change the way we treat disease, and we are proud to be part of it.”

We are seeking patients undergoing treatment for primary immune deficiencies, allergies and asthma, autoimmunity, and kidney transplantation, as well as healthy donors to participate in the Snow Centre study. 

For more information and to find out if you’re eligible, visit: https://www.thermh.org.au/about/community-partnerships/snow-centre-for-immune-health

About us:

About the Snow Centre for Immune Health

The Snow Centre for Immune Health is tackling the major global health challenge of immune health. The Snow Centre has a bold and ambitious global mission to improve the lives of people with immune diseases, using a unique approach to immune health.

Co-led by WEHI and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, in partnership with the Snow Medical Research Foundation, the Snow Centre brings together leading Australian and international researchers with a shared mission to transform how we research and treat the immune system. The Snow Centre is funded by an initial commitment of up to $100 million over 10 years – one of the largest and longest-running philanthropic partnerships in Australian history.

About the Royal Melbourne Hospital 

The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) began in 1848 as Victoria’s first public hospital, and today it is one of the largest healthcare providers in Australia.

The RMH provides a comprehensive range of medical specialist, emergency, surgical and mental health services, as well as rehabilitation, aged care, specialist clinics and community programs.  RMH is also one of two major trauma centres in Victoria.

Since those early years, the RMH has remained at the forefront, leading the way in advancing health for everyone, every day.

About Snow Medical Research Foundation 

Established in 2019, the Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) is the creation of Canberra’s Snow family and is a vision of the late businessman and philanthropist, Terry Snow AM.

Snow Medical is committed to fast-tracking medical research discoveries by supporting high-risk, high-reward science that addresses global health challenges. To date, Snow Medical has committed over $260 million through its Snow Fellowship program, the Snow Centre for Immune Health collaboration with WEHI, BEAT Covid, and the Snow Vision Accelerator collaboration with the University of Sydney.

Contact details:

Main media contact
RMH On Call Media Adviser – 03 9342 7000

Snow Centre for Immune Health media enquiries
Inga Feitsma - Snow Centre for Immune Health – 0408 657 741

Snow Medical Research Foundation and Tom Snow enquiries
Chris Wagner – Snow Medical –
0434 378 939