24 October 2007
Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories has been awarded a prestigious Federal Government grant to establish a joint Australia-China Centre for Excellence in Stem Cell Sciences with Peking University.
More than $1 million will be invested in a joint three-year funding arrangement, matched by the Chinese Government which funds the Peking node.
Researchers will apply their collective skills at not only developing ways of fighting major degenerative diseases, infections and cancer but also integrate stem cell-based therapies for the replacement of cells and tissues destroyed by disease.
The project is part of the Federal Government's International Science Linkages program. With matching funds from Monash, the centre will bring together outstanding scientists from Monash and Peking Universities.
The fusion of these two highly complementary groups will thus create a world-class research environment, which will have enormous mutual benefit to both countries.
Project manager from Monash University, Professor Richard Boyd, said MISCL and the Stem Cell Research Centre at Peking University were leaders in the rapidly-expanding area of stem cell research.
"The new centre will have a major impact on fostering the education of medical research students and postdoctoral fellows and creating greater opportunities for their career development nationally and internationally," Professor Boyd said.
"It again re-enforces Monash's international leadership position in stem cells and provides us with a unique opportunity to integrate at the scientific, clinical and commercial levels with one of the most exciting regions globally for medical research and development."
The centre will capitalise on the skills of MISCL and study ways in which stem cell biology can be applied to the improvement of immune defence mechanisms, the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes, the recovery of cancer patients particularly following chemotherapy and the study of chronic liver disease including cirrhosis.
Stem cells are the foundation of normal growth and development of any organism and serve as a biological repair system for the body. Stem cells are found in the early embryo, foetus, placenta and umbilical cord as well as in mature tissues and organs.
For further information and photos, please contact Steve Pogonowski, Media Communications, on 9905 1253 or 0417 568 781.
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