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Stem-cell funding boost

24 September 2008

Dr Jun Liu and Dr Huseyin Sume from the Monash Institute of Medical Research with Minister Gavin Jennings (centre).

Scientists from the Monash Institute of Medical Research (MIMR) and colleagues from New South Wales are collaborating on a new stem-cell research project.

The project, announced recently by Victorian Innovation Minister and Monash alumnus Gavin Jennings, and NSW Minister for Education and Training Verity Firth, will compare two different methods of creating patient-specific stem cells: somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS).

SCNT, or therapeutic cloning, is one method used to produce a source of individually-tailored stem cells. Researchers will source immature egg cells to generate SCNT embryos from which embryonic stem cells are harvested.

Unlike SCNT, iPS cells are derived from adult cells, such as skin, which are reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells.

Program Leader of MIMR's Stem Cell Biology Program Dr Paul Verma will create type 1 diabetes iPS cell lines, which will aid research into the causes of the disease as well as potential therapies. These iPS cell lines will be the first human iPS cells created in Australia.

"Creating clinically human iPS cells is cutting-edge stem cell research," Dr Verma said.

"While this technology appears to be an alternative to working with embryonic stem cells, there are still several hurdles we need to overcome.

"Once our team produces the iPS cells, we will compare the properties of iPS versus cells developed through SCNT. Both methods need to be investigated further so we can determine which will produce the most robust cell lines."

The NSW project team, led by Professor Bernie Tuch, will investigate another method of obtaining immature eggs -- from consenting adult cancer patients who have had their ovaries removed.

Mr Jennings said changes to the Victorian Infertility Treatment Act and the NSW Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act had opened up new opportunities for stem cell research in Australia.

"Australia is already a global leader in overall stem-cell research and this new and clear regulatory framework gives us an opportunity to extend our leadership into SCNT which could transform how we treat diabetes, heart diseases and Parkinson's," Mr Jennings said.

Minister Jennings used his visit to MIMR to announce the State Government's annual funding to Victoria's major medical research institutes with MIMR receiving a ten per cent funding increase from last year.

MIMR Director Professor Bryan Williams said this funding increase reflected the institute's expanded capacity particularly in translational cancer research and its growing reputation in biomedical research.