21 May 2009
Victorian stem cell scientists from, Monash University, the Australian Stem Cell Centre and the Florey Neuroscience Institutes are the first recipients of collaborative grants under the Victoria-California Stem Cell Alliance.
Four collaborative stem cell projects involving researchers from the Australian Stem Cell Centre, Monash University and the Florey Neuroscience Institutes are the first to be funded under the International Alliance between the State of Victoria and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
The projects were announced late last night (AEST) by Victoria 's Minister for Innovation, Gavin Jennings at BIO2009 in Atlanta , Georgia .
The Victorian collaborators represent some of the best stem cell scientists in the world. Their research focus varies from studying the immune system in conjunction with stem cells to prevent rejection, to harnessing the abilities of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and their potential for growth and differentiation into all the cells of the body.
The successful projects were submitted to the CIRM Early Translational Research Awards that are designed to move promising basic research in stem cell science toward the clinic for eventual patient benefit. A total of 72 applications were received at CIRM, with a total of 15 selected to receive funding at this time, of which four are Victorian collaborative projects.
The four successful projects are:
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Methods for detection and elimination of residual human embryonic stem cells in a differentiated cell product.
Andrew Elefanty and Ed Stanley, Monash University and Novocell Inc.
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Neural Stem Cells as a Developmental Candidate to Treat Alzheimer's Disease.
Richard Boyd, Australian Stem Cell Centre and Monash University and University of California, Irvine
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Ensuring the safety of cell therapy: a quality control pipeline for cell purification and validation
Andrew Laslett, Australian Stem Cell Centre and Scripps Research Institute
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Developmental Candidates for Cell-Based Therapies for Parkinson's Disease.
Clare Parish and Colin Pouton, Florey Neuroscience Institutes and Monash University and Burnham Institute for Medical Research
Quotes
"Considered in combination, these projects will accelerate the application of stem cell science to treating illnesses in patients, by addressing current safety issues and other hurdles to giving stem cells or their products to sick people and understanding the immune response to stem cell treatments." said Professor Graham Macdonald, Chair of the Australian Stem Cell Centre. He added "in addition, the projects stand to add to our understanding of the body's mechanisms for directing tissue development from stem cells and how stem cells themselves control the activities of surrounding cells. This will in turn lead us to new mechanisms for understanding and treating disease."
"Monash is an internationally focused university that supports intricate research programs on the most pressing biomedical issues. These exciting joint projects with California are a triumph of collaboration between the brightest experts in the world that will help to tackle a range of debilitating illnesses," said the University's Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Edwina Cornish.
"These projects bring together scientists who each have a special expertise within stem cell research and focuses on collaboration where each step undertaken fits together like a jigsaw puzzle. It will bring basic science much closer to treatments for debilitating neurological disorders," said Professor Malcolm Horne, Deputy Director, Florey Neuroscience Institutes.
For further information or to arrange an interview contact: Samantha Blair, Media & Communications +61 3 9903 4841 or 0439 013 951.
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