Hope

Hope is a radical research program to understand autoimmune disease. Our researchers think that somatic mutations in individual cells, which accumulate from birth, may be a common cause underlying type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. More than 100 incurable diseases result from autoimmunity, and their incidence in the community is growing. Without a cure, everyone with an autoimmune disease endures a difficult diagnostic journey with GPs and specialists. Even once a diagnosis is made, the root cause remains unsolved. The combined efforts of the Garvan Institute, UNSW, Westmead Hospital and many collaborating clinicians are using cellular genomics to identify the root cause of autoimmune diseases, and from that devise curative treatment options.