1. science
2. medicine
3. medical research

05
ISSUE 58
MHTP FACILITY AWARDED
FOR OUTSTANDING
PERFORMANCE
The Monash Health Translation Precinct
(MHTP) Medical Genomics facility has
won the Outstanding Monash Technology
Research Platform Award.
Dr Rebecca Lim
By Dr Rebecca Lim, The Ritchie Centre
Parenthood comes with great responsibility, and for most parents, insuring
their baby’s health is worth every cent. Certainly, when one considers the
success of cord blood stem cells in the treatment of childhood leukaemia, it
makes absolute sense to bank your baby’s stem cells. If you can afford it.
The success of clinical trials around the
world attests to the safety and efficacy of
autologous cord blood stem cells for the
treatment of leukaemia, anaemia and some
autoimmune diseases. However, less is
known about the application of cord blood
stem cells and other stem cell types for the
treatment of non-haematological diseases.
Yet around the world, many cell banking
facilities market their service by promising
parents of scientific breakthroughs that are
unproven and unrealised.
In the United States, the average parent
at a public hospital is offered up to
half-a-dozen different cell banking options,
ranging from the banking of their baby’s
cord blood to mesenchymal stem
cells derived from the Wharton’s jelly
and/or placenta.
Expectant parents are sent a collection
kit, which they bring along with them to
the hospital, and the appropriate tissue is
placed in the kit and sent back to the cell
banking facility for processing.
This all seems like a rather benign exercise,
and if you can afford it, why not?
No-one wants to be in the regretful
position thinking, “… if only I had banked
my baby’s stem cells…”
Now, let’s delve a little deeper. Let’s take
a look into the nuts and bolts of cell
banking and its clinical potential for the
baby and its parents.
Private stem cell banks have made
autologous stem cell banking an option
for the wealthy. Even then, one needs to
be well-informed.
“
I PROPOSE A SIMILAR SYSTEM
WHERE STEM CELLS DERIVED FROM
THE AFTERBIRTH, IN ADDITION TO
THOSE OBTAINED FROM UMBILICAL
CORD BLOOD, CAN BE BANKED AND
REGISTERED FOR PUBLIC USE.
Cell Care Australia warns on its website
that they will not collect and bank cord
blood from babies that are born at less
than 34 weeks of gestation, because they
will not be able to collect enough blood
from these babies. Cell Care Australia is
also actively investing in research.
Most private cell banking facilities will bank
any amount of blood for whoever can
afford their service. Most do not care
how or if the banked cells will work.
Most do not account for babies who are
born so prematurely that their cord blood
volume is negligible.
Yet this is the population of babies who are
most likely to require cell therapy. In such
cases, an allogeneic donor would need to
be identified. With this in mind, isn’t it time
we pushed for a public stem cell registry?
Currently, there is an international registry
for cord blood. When a child with
leukaemia treatable by cord blood stem
cells is identified, a matching service
identifies a donor.
I propose a similar system where stem cells
derived from the afterbirth, in addition to
those obtained from umbilical cord blood,
can be banked and registered for public use.
”
Not just cord blood. Not just for babies.
After all, this stuff is going in the bin.
What can we, scientists, do?
Speak to industry. Work with them to
establish high standards for stem cell
isolation and define stem cell applications.
Increase public awareness of the limitations
of this supposed magic bullet and help to
debunk some of the myths surrounding
stem cell use.
This way, we can reduce some of the
dangerous (and very expensive) treatments
being sought overseas by desperate
Australians.
There is no question that we need to
translate our research findings to the
clinic and no doubt that cell therapies
need to be made more readily available
to the Australian public.
The increasing numbers of Australians
seeking stem cell treatments overseas are
a testament to this.
Through a combined effort between
scientists, clinicians and industry partners,
we can make cell therapies safer and
available for every Australian, regardless
of financial capacity.
From left to right: Monash University
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research
Infrastructure), Professor Ian Smith & MHTP
Medical Genomics Facility Manager, Ms Vivien Vasic.
Mrs
Ms
Dr
Prof
Operating as not-for-profit, the Facility
comprises four core Centres providing
research expertise, services and reagents.
These include the Gandel Charitable Trust
Sequencing Centre, The ACRF Centre for
Cancer Genomic Medicine, the MHTP High
Content Screening Centre and the MHTP
Microarray Centre.
“The achievements and levels of
excellence that these platforms have
accomplished is a direct reflection
of their high quality leadership and
management.”
MHTP Medical Genomics Facility manager
Vivien Vasic said the facility provides a range
of genomics services to MIMR and its three
MHTP research partners Monash Health,
Prince Henry’s Institute and Monash University
as well as external national institutes.
“Vivien has led the Medical genomics facility
to an outstanding level of quality assurance
by achieving NATA accreditation, she has
also secured funding to expand the facility
to offer a comprehensive suite of state of the
art clinical genomics services,” he said.
First NameSurname
Address
SuburbPostcode
INSIDE
02
02
Director’s Message
MIMR researcher
honoured as world-leader
in her field
03
Deputy Director elected
Chinese Academy of
Sciences Honorary
04
VIIN gathers top
scientists to showcase
research
05
Make cord blood banking
more accessible to
Australian families
$1 MILLION DONATION
LAUNCHES VITAL BRAIN
CANCER RESEARCH
COLLABORATION
Cure for Life Foundation (CFLF)
has provided MIMR’s Associate
Professor Terry Johns and his
collaborators with $1 million to
fund brain cancer research.
The funding was announced by high-profile
neurosurgeon and Founder of the CFLF,
Dr Charlie Teo, at a special event held in
Parliament House, Canberra, in March,
which was attended by the Minister for
Health, Tanya Plibersek.
Telephone I wish to make a donation of $
with
Visa
Mastercard
Amex
Diners
to be charged to my credit card
Monthly
Card Number
Expiry date
Card holder name
Signature
Please send donations to:
External Relations, Development & Alumni. Monash University.
PO Box 197, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145, Australia
Or fax this donation coupon to:
(03) 9903 4885
“Along with accelerating the research and
sharing core resources, the BCDC will
establish mentoring networks to encourage
young researchers into the area,” he said.
A/Prof Terry Johns is a senior scientist in
the Centre for Cancer Research at MIMR
and has worked in cancer research for
more than 15 years.
CONTACT US:
Monash Institute of Medical Research
Telephone (general enquiries): 1800 424 055
ABN: 12 377 614 012
Email: info@monashinstitute.org
PO Box 5418
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
CRICOS Provider: Monash University 00008C
Left to right: Dr Charlie Teo, A/Prof Terry Johns, Prof Andrew Boyd & Dr Kerrie McDonald.
www.monashinstitute.org
Each year about 1400 cases of malignant
brain cancer are diagnosed in Australia and
about 1100 people die from the disease.
“We believe this new approach will enable
us to move new therapies to clinical trials
within the next two years.
For office use: 2013TAX
Or to make a donation over the phone please call:
(03) 9903 1608
Sufferers only have a 22 per cent chance of
surviving for five years from diagnosis.
“The collaboration between the BCDC and
the CFLF brings together a diverse group of
researchers from all across Australia,” he said.
/
To make a donation online please visit:
https://community.monash.edu/givetomimr
Brain cancer kills more Australians under
40, including children, than any other
type of cancer.
The Director of the BCDC, A/Prof Terry
Johns, said this new funding will spearhead
exponential growth in discovery and speed
up clinical trials through collaborative efforts.
Annually
OR I would like my gift to remain anonymous
In publications or honour rolls, I wish my/our name to read as
The event launched the Brain Cancer
Discovery Collaborative (BCDC), founded
by key brain cancer researchers aiming to
improve brain cancer research collaboration
and streamline the path to a potential cure.
Sadly, significant risk factors associated with
malignant brain tumour remain elusive and
no screening procedures are in place.
Cheque (made payable to Monash University)
Donations over $2 are tax-deductible
OR I wish to make a regular gift of $
MAY 2013
Monash University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor
(Research and Research Infrastructure),
Professor Ian Smith, conferred the award
in early March 2013.
“This award recognises the importance
the Monash research technology platforms
play in driving research outcomes, talent
recruitment and industry engagement,”
Prof Smith said.
E-mail
ISSUE 58
Genomic technologies such as DNA
sequencing are critical for determining the
role genes play in disease development and
progression thereby assisting with possible
diagnosis, treatment and cure.
DONATION COUPON: I WANT TO FURTHER THE RESEARCH AT MIMR
Mr
06
!
MAKE CORD BLOOD BANKING
MORE ACCESSIBLE TO
AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
MAY 2013
Continued on page 2
02
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
MIMR has had a very positive start to the year with a highly
successful student intake, gaining more than 40 new students after
an effort to increase numbers late last year. This is a great step
forward, as our students play an important role in the Institute’s core
activity and make significant contributions to our research.
Since the announcement of the $71-million
funding from the Federal Government for
the new Monash Health Translation Precinct
(MHTP) Translation Research Facility (TRF) in
April last year, planning for this new building
has progressed quickly. The architects have
designed an innovative and colourful façade for
the TRF building, with a series of laboratories
and clinical research units to accommodate
more than 300 researchers.
We are now at the exciting stage of designing the
internal fit-out and selecting equipment for the
whole building. The TRF is on track to provide
medical research scientists and clinicians with
a building that will enable a continuum of basic
research through to cutting-edge clinical trial
facilities and expand the international reputation
of medical research conducted at the MHTP.
Several community groups have already visited
MIMR this year, including the Noble Park Rotary
Club and Inner Wheel Australia, who have a
particular interest in cord blood research and
recently donated $65,000 for research in this
area to The Ritchie Centre.
Our relationship has continued with The Science
Show on ABC Radio National, presented by
Robyn Williams. A total of nine of our PhD
students have now presented their research
in five-minute talks on the program. This has
been an excellent opportunity for the students
to gain media skills and boost their profiles
early in their careers. There is a link to each of
these talks in the media section of our website,
along with our other media clippings.
In this edition of MI News, we look at some
major achievements of our researchers over
the last few months, as well as some exciting
events in which the Institute has been involved.
The Centre for Cancer Research’s Associate
Professor Terry Johns is one of the founding
heads of the Brain Cancer Discovery
Collaborative which received a $1-million
donation from the Cure for Life Foundation (CFLF)
to initiate a long-term research collaboration.
The CFLF made the donation, which will support
Terry’s brain cancer research program, at a
major event in Parliament House, Canberra.
The Director of the Centre for Innate Immunity
and Infectious Diseases, Professor Paul Hertzog,
and his work has recently been recognised by
the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is a
fantastic achievement and a highly recognised
honour worldwide.
Deputy Director of The Ritchie Centre,
Associate Professor Caroline Gargett, has
also been recognised as a world authority
in her area, with a prestigious President’s
Achievement Award from the renowned
Society for Gynaecologic Investigation.
On behalf of all the staff and students at the
Institute, I would like to thank you for your
continued interest and support.
Professor Bryan Williams
Institute Director
MIMR RESEARCHER
HONOURED AS WORLDLEADER IN HER FIELD
One of MIMR’s scientists has been honoured as
a world-leader in her research field by one of the
largest international gynaecological organisations.
Associate Professor Caroline Gargett received
the President’s Achievement Award from the
Society for Gynaecologic Investigation (SGI) at
a ceremony during the society’s 60th Annual
Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida in March.
A/Prof Gargett is a Deputy Director of
The Ritchie Centre at MIMR, an NHMRC
Senior Research Fellow and President of the
Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research.
The President of SGI, Professor Sarah
Berga, said A/Prof Gargett was chosen
for her outstanding overall contribution
to scientific investigation.
“Her research is very highly regarded and
she and her team have made science’s
largest contribution in the area of
endometrial research,” Prof Berga said.
Continued from page 1
$1 MILLION DONATION
LAUNCHES VITAL BRAIN
CANCER RESEARCH
COLLABORATION
His work focuses on how the
signalling of a particular family of
cell-surface molecules [EGFR;
epidermal growth factor receptor]
promotes the survival of cancer
cells and on drugs that block the
activity of these receptors.
Dr Teo said there was no known cure
for brain cancer, yet it had the greatest
impact on society of all the cancers.
03
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ELECTED CHINESE
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES HONORARY
Deputy Director of MIMR and
Director of the Centre for Innate
Immunity and Infectious Diseases,
Professor Paul Hertzog, has
been honoured with the award
of Visiting Professorship for
Senior International Scientists
by the Chinese Academy of
Sciences (CAS).
“In the past 30 years, there have
been no significant breakthroughs in
brain cancer research,” said Dr Teo.
Professor Paul Hertzog and (to be advised)
Twenty-five per cent of all women have a pelvic
floor disorder. POP is the commonest (70 per cent)
of the pelvic floor disorders and encompasses a
range of conditions, including incontinence.
A/Prof Gargett is recognised for her early
work in the discovery and characterisation
of endometrial stem cells, a field in which she
published the first papers.
A/Prof Gargett said the award was a big surprise and
came out of the blue, as she had not applied for it.
“It significantly reduces the quality of life in
sufferers and an average sufferer will spend
10.8 hours away from work per week as a result
of this disease, which is an astounding figure.”
A/Prof Gargett has since expanded her research
to include tissue engineering for pelvic organ
prolapse (POP).
“I hope it will be the start of something that
lasts a long time. I’m very excited about it,”
he said.
As part of this honorary title, Prof Hertzog
will take on advisory duties as well as a
practical role as Visiting Professor.
“Research at the Wuhan Institute of
Virology is very closely aligned with, and
complementary to, that at the Centre for
Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases,”
said Prof Hertzog.
“Our audience has been inspired by Caroline’s
journey to achieve her PhD later in life, while
raising a family, and becoming internationally
referenced as a world-authority in her area.”
“Endometriosis alone affects 176 million
women worldwide.
Prof Hertzog said it was a great honour to
be selected for this appointment.
“I think it’s an opportunity for MIMR and
Monash University to form strategic links
between ourselves and CAS, particularly in
the area of Infection and Immunity.
“A new collaborative model like this
one provides us with the potential
to remove the barriers preventing
our researchers and clinicians from
finding a cure and to crea te a global
platform for brain cancer research
that brings people and opportunities
together for discoveries,” he said.
“This discovery and subsequent research has
led to major advances in our understanding
of many gynaecological diseases, such as
endometriosis,” said Prof Berga.
The award was presented to him at a
ceremony in Wuhan, China, in March.
“The possibilities are endless here,” he said.
“At this pace we can expect that a
cure will be 50 years away, will cost
$50 billion and that brain cancer will
claim another 3 million lives. CFLF’s
new research strategy is designed to
find treatments within 10 years not 50.
The CFLF is the largest fundraiser
for brain tumour research and
awareness in Australia.
ISSUE 58
“I feel very honoured, as this is the most
prestigious award I have received,” she said.
“I am humbled to be in the company of so many
past and future presidents of SGI who have
previously received this award.
“My major competitors, who are also colleagues,
are all part of the organisation, as it is the premier
society for Obstetrics and Gynaecological research.
“They have been extremely receptive to the work
we’ve done,” said A/Prof Gargett.
A/Prof Gargett travelled to the conference with
her PhD student, Daniela Ulrich, who won a
Pfizer President’s Presenter Award for a talk
that she gave at the meeting.
“I do plan to set up my own research,
which I hope will involve scientists
going back and forth between MIMR
and China, and intend to begin projects
in the areas of bioinformatics and
sexually transmitted infections, among
others,” he said.
From left to Right:
A/Prof Caroline Gargett
& Prof Sarah Berga.
His recent publication in the prestigious
journal Science relating to his work on
sexually transmitted diseases is part of
ongoing studies and he hopes to begin
Chinese collaborations in this area, due
to their interest in women’s health.
Prof Hertzog will receive more than
¥500,000 each year to support this
work and will live in Wuhan for parts of the
year, acting as a collaboration facilitator
between MIMR and CAS scientists.
Headquartered in Beijing with institutes all
over China, CAS is the national academy
for natural sciences in China.
The Academy belongs to the State Council
of China and acts as the national scientific
think tank.
Prof Hertzog will be based at the Wuhan
Institute of Virology, one of 117 CAS
institutes with legal entity and a state key
laboratory of virology, which demonstrates
the high calibre of its research.
Prof Hertzog has had a highly decorated
career in immunology and many of his
achievements link to ongoing projects that
he hopes to support using the resources
he has gained through CAS.
MAY 2013
04
MIMR DIRECTOR
ELECTED AS FELLOW
OF THE AUSTRALIAN
ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
MIMR’s Director Professor Bryan Williams
was one of 20 researchers to be made a
Fellow of the prestigious and influential
Australian Academy of Science (AAS).
Prof Williams was elected by his peers for his
outstanding contribution to science, in particular,
for his internationally renowned work on innate
immunity and mechanisms of interferon action,
advancing their therapeutic utility.
He has an accomplished career in innate
immunity, virology and cancer research, and
has published more than 300 peer-reviewed
journal articles and reviews.
The AAS promotes science through
education and awareness, contributions
to policy, international relations and
recognition of achievement.
“I look forward to engaging with the
Academy in its mission to promote science
through its education, public awareness,
policy and international initiatives,” he said.
A Fellowship is recognition of a “career
that has significantly advanced the world’s
store of scientific knowledge”.
Prof Williams will be admitted as a Fellow
on 29 May at ‘Science at the Shine Dome’,
the Academy’s annual celebration in
Canberra where he will present a summary
of his research achievements.
Prof Williams said his Fellowship was an
unexpected, but tremendous honour.
VIIN GATHERS TOP SCIENTISTS
TO SHOWCASE RESEARCH
More than 100 researchers and industry representatives attended the Infection
and Immunity research summit at the Australian Synchrotron on 1 May.
The Monash Infection and Immunity
Group hosted the Victorian Infection
and Immunity Network (VIIN) Industry
Alliance, together with business
partners Biota, Genera Biosystems,
CSL and Nexvet Biopharma, for talks
during the three hour summit.
The event showcased the research
of Monash scientists for industry
partners and identified projects
for research funding. In addition,
there were presentations from
industry representatives on the
commercialisation process and the
protection of intellectual property.
There were 12 presentations made
over three sessions, including one
from keynote speaker, Professor Richard
Boyd, on tackling immune disorders.
The VIIN Industry Alliance also hosted
further summits at Geelong on 9 May
and at Parkville on 10 May.
VIIN is jointly convened by Professor
Elizabeth Hartland from Melbourne University
and Professor Paul Hertzog, Deputy Director
of MIMR and Director of the Centre for
Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases.
VIIN was founded at Monash and has
more than 900 members. The Industry
Alliance is funded by the Department of
Development, Business and Innovation,
Victorian State Government.
VIIN will provide grants of up to $25,000
to support Industry-Driven Collaborative
Projects for Innovation in Infection and
Immunity. The purpose is to fund seed
projects to generate critical data to
enable longer scale applications, such
as ARC Linkage.
VIIN scientists have an outstanding record
of success, having won more than $35
million in recent funding announcements
by the NHMRC. Moreover, Victoria is
home to nearly half of Australia’s
biotechnology companies.
Top: Left to right: Dr Daniel Layton
(head of the Monash Antibody Technologies Facility),
Prof Richard Boyd (keynote speaker
“Tackling immune disorders - an awkward but
essential marriage between researchers, clinical
and commercial sectors), Dr Chris Vindurampulle
(Watermark Intellectual Asset Management)
Bottom: Left to right: Dr Michael De Veer
(Dept of Physiology “The use of sheep to investigate
parasites, allergy and vaccination”), Dr Rob Bischof
(Dept of Physiology), Dr Nicholas Wilson, CSL Ltd
02
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
MIMR has had a very positive start to the year with a highly
successful student intake, gaining more than 40 new students after
an effort to increase numbers late last year. This is a great step
forward, as our students play an important role in the Institute’s core
activity and make significant contributions to our research.
Since the announcement of the $71-million
funding from the Federal Government for
the new Monash Health Translation Precinct
(MHTP) Translation Research Facility (TRF) in
April last year, planning for this new building
has progressed quickly. The architects have
designed an innovative and colourful façade for
the TRF building, with a series of laboratories
and clinical research units to accommodate
more than 300 researchers.
We are now at the exciting stage of designing the
internal fit-out and selecting equipment for the
whole building. The TRF is on track to provide
medical research scientists and clinicians with
a building that will enable a continuum of basic
research through to cutting-edge clinical trial
facilities and expand the international reputation
of medical research conducted at the MHTP.
Several community groups have already visited
MIMR this year, including the Noble Park Rotary
Club and Inner Wheel Australia, who have a
particular interest in cord blood research and
recently donated $65,000 for research in this
area to The Ritchie Centre.
Our relationship has continued with The Science
Show on ABC Radio National, presented by
Robyn Williams. A total of nine of our PhD
students have now presented their research
in five-minute talks on the program. This has
been an excellent opportunity for the students
to gain media skills and boost their profiles
early in their careers. There is a link to each of
these talks in the media section of our website,
along with our other media clippings.
In this edition of MI News, we look at some
major achievements of our researchers over
the last few months, as well as some exciting
events in which the Institute has been involved.
The Centre for Cancer Research’s Associate
Professor Terry Johns is one of the founding
heads of the Brain Cancer Discovery
Collaborative which received a $1-million
donation from the Cure for Life Foundation (CFLF)
to initiate a long-term research collaboration.
The CFLF made the donation, which will support
Terry’s brain cancer research program, at a
major event in Parliament House, Canberra.
The Director of the Centre for Innate Immunity
and Infectious Diseases, Professor Paul Hertzog,
and his work has recently been recognised by
the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is a
fantastic achievement and a highly recognised
honour worldwide.
Deputy Director of The Ritchie Centre,
Associate Professor Caroline Gargett, has
also been recognised as a world authority
in her area, with a prestigious President’s
Achievement Award from the renowned
Society for Gynaecologic Investigation.
On behalf of all the staff and students at the
Institute, I would like to thank you for your
continued interest and support.
Professor Bryan Williams
Institute Director
MIMR RESEARCHER
HONOURED AS WORLDLEADER IN HER FIELD
One of MIMR’s scientists has been honoured as
a world-leader in her research field by one of the
largest international gynaecological organisations.
Associate Professor Caroline Gargett received
the President’s Achievement Award from the
Society for Gynaecologic Investigation (SGI) at
a ceremony during the society’s 60th Annual
Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida in March.
A/Prof Gargett is a Deputy Director of
The Ritchie Centre at MIMR, an NHMRC
Senior Research Fellow and President of the
Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research.
The President of SGI, Professor Sarah
Berga, said A/Prof Gargett was chosen
for her outstanding overall contribution
to scientific investigation.
“Her research is very highly regarded and
she and her team have made science’s
largest contribution in the area of
endometrial research,” Prof Berga said.
Continued from page 1
$1 MILLION DONATION
LAUNCHES VITAL BRAIN
CANCER RESEARCH
COLLABORATION
His work focuses on how the
signalling of a particular family of
cell-surface molecules [EGFR;
epidermal growth factor receptor]
promotes the survival of cancer
cells and on drugs that block the
activity of these receptors.
Dr Teo said there was no known cure
for brain cancer, yet it had the greatest
impact on society of all the cancers.
03
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ELECTED CHINESE
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES HONORARY
Deputy Director of MIMR and
Director of the Centre for Innate
Immunity and Infectious Diseases,
Professor Paul Hertzog, has
been honoured with the award
of Visiting Professorship for
Senior International Scientists
by the Chinese Academy of
Sciences (CAS).
“In the past 30 years, there have
been no significant breakthroughs in
brain cancer research,” said Dr Teo.
Prof Paul Hertzog, MIMR and Prof Hong Tang, CAS
Twenty-five per cent of all women have a pelvic
floor disorder. POP is the commonest (70 per cent)
of the pelvic floor disorders and encompasses a
range of conditions, including incontinence.
A/Prof Gargett is recognised for her early
work in the discovery and characterisation
of endometrial stem cells, a field in which she
published the first papers.
A/Prof Gargett said the award was a big surprise and
came out of the blue, as she had not applied for it.
“It significantly reduces the quality of life in
sufferers and an average sufferer will spend
10.8 hours away from work per week as a result
of this disease, which is an astounding figure.”
A/Prof Gargett has since expanded her research
to include tissue engineering for pelvic organ
prolapse (POP).
“I hope it will be the start of something that
lasts a long time. I’m very excited about it,”
he said.
As part of this honorary title, Prof Hertzog
will take on advisory duties as well as a
practical role as Visiting Professor.
“Research at the Wuhan Institute of
Virology is very closely aligned with, and
complementary to, that at the Centre for
Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases,”
said Prof Hertzog.
“Our audience has been inspired by Caroline’s
journey to achieve her PhD later in life, while
raising a family, and becoming internationally
referenced as a world-authority in her area.”
“Endometriosis alone affects 176 million
women worldwide.
Prof Hertzog said it was a great honour to
be selected for this appointment.
“I think it’s an opportunity for MIMR and
Monash University to form strategic links
between ourselves and CAS, particularly in
the area of Infection and Immunity.
“A new collaborative model like this
one provides us with the potential
to remove the barriers preventing
our researchers and clinicians from
finding a cure and to crea te a global
platform for brain cancer research
that brings people and opportunities
together for discoveries,” he said.
“This discovery and subsequent research has
led to major advances in our understanding
of many gynaecological diseases, such as
endometriosis,” said Prof Berga.
The award was presented to him at a
ceremony in Wuhan, China, in March.
“The possibilities are endless here,” he said.
“At this pace we can expect that a
cure will be 50 years away, will cost
$50 billion and that brain cancer will
claim another 3 million lives. CFLF’s
new research strategy is designed to
find treatments within 10 years not 50.
The CFLF is the largest fundraiser
for brain tumour research and
awareness in Australia.
ISSUE 58
“I feel very honoured, as this is the most
prestigious award I have received,” she said.
“I am humbled to be in the company of so many
past and future presidents of SGI who have
previously received this award.
“My major competitors, who are also colleagues,
are all part of the organisation, as it is the premier
society for Obstetrics and Gynaecological research.
“They have been extremely receptive to the work
we’ve done,” said A/Prof Gargett.
A/Prof Gargett travelled to the conference with
her PhD student, Daniela Ulrich, who won a
Pfizer President’s Presenter Award for a talk
that she gave at the meeting.
“I do plan to set up my own research,
which I hope will involve scientists
going back and forth between MIMR
and China, and intend to begin projects
in the areas of bioinformatics and
sexually transmitted infections, among
others,” he said.
From left to Right:
A/Prof Caroline Gargett
& Prof Sarah Berga.
His recent publication in the prestigious
journal Science relating to his work on
sexually transmitted diseases is part of
ongoing studies and he hopes to begin
Chinese collaborations in this area, due
to their interest in women’s health.
Prof Hertzog will receive more than
¥500,000 each year to support this
work and will live in Wuhan for parts of the
year, acting as a collaboration facilitator
between MIMR and CAS scientists.
Headquartered in Beijing with institutes all
over China, CAS is the national academy
for natural sciences in China.
The Academy belongs to the State Council
of China and acts as the national scientific
think tank.
Prof Hertzog will be based at the Wuhan
Institute of Virology, one of 117 CAS
institutes with legal entity and a state key
laboratory of virology, which demonstrates
the high calibre of its research.
Prof Hertzog has had a highly decorated
career in immunology and many of his
achievements link to ongoing projects that
he hopes to support using the resources
he has gained through CAS.
MAY 2013
04
MIMR DIRECTOR
ELECTED AS FELLOW
OF THE AUSTRALIAN
ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
MIMR’s Director Professor Bryan Williams
was one of 20 researchers to be made a
Fellow of the prestigious and influential
Australian Academy of Science (AAS).
Prof Williams was elected by his peers for his
outstanding contribution to science, in particular,
for his internationally renowned work on innate
immunity and mechanisms of interferon action,
advancing their therapeutic utility.
He has an accomplished career in innate
immunity, virology and cancer research, and
has published more than 300 peer-reviewed
journal articles and reviews.
The AAS promotes science through
education and awareness, contributions
to policy, international relations and
recognition of achievement.
“I look forward to engaging with the
Academy in its mission to promote science
through its education, public awareness,
policy and international initiatives,” he said.
A Fellowship is recognition of a “career
that has significantly advanced the world’s
store of scientific knowledge”.
Prof Williams will be admitted as a Fellow
on 29 May at ‘Science at the Shine Dome’,
the Academy’s annual celebration in
Canberra where he will present a summary
of his research achievements.
Prof Williams said his Fellowship was an
unexpected, but tremendous honour.
VIIN GATHERS TOP SCIENTISTS
TO SHOWCASE RESEARCH
More than 100 researchers and industry representatives attended the Infection
and Immunity research summit at the Australian Synchrotron on 1 May.
The Monash Infection and Immunity
Group hosted the Victorian Infection
and Immunity Network (VIIN) Industry
Alliance, together with business
partners Biota, Genera Biosystems,
CSL and Nexvet Biopharma, for talks
during the three hour summit.
The event showcased the research
of Monash scientists for industry
partners and identified projects
for research funding. In addition,
there were presentations from
industry representatives on the
commercialisation process and the
protection of intellectual property.
There were 12 presentations made
over three sessions, including one
from keynote speaker, Professor Richard
Boyd, on tackling immune disorders.
The VIIN Industry Alliance also hosted
further summits at Geelong on 9 May
and at Parkville on 10 May.
VIIN is jointly convened by Professor
Elizabeth Hartland from Melbourne University
and Professor Paul Hertzog, Deputy Director
of MIMR and Director of the Centre for
Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases.
VIIN was founded at Monash and has
more than 900 members. The Industry
Alliance is funded by the Department of
Development, Business and Innovation,
Victorian State Government.
VIIN will provide grants of up to $25,000
to support Industry-Driven Collaborative
Projects for Innovation in Infection and
Immunity. The purpose is to fund seed
projects to generate critical data to
enable longer scale applications, such
as ARC Linkage.
VIIN scientists have an outstanding record
of success, having won more than $35
million in recent funding announcements
by the NHMRC. Moreover, Victoria is
home to nearly half of Australia’s
biotechnology companies.
Top: Left to right: Dr Daniel Layton
(head of the Monash Antibody Technologies Facility),
Prof Richard Boyd (keynote speaker
“Tackling immune disorders - an awkward but
essential marriage between researchers, clinical
and commercial sectors), Dr Chris Vindurampulle
(Watermark Intellectual Asset Management)
Bottom: Left to right: Dr Michael De Veer
(Dept of Physiology “The use of sheep to investigate
parasites, allergy and vaccination”), Dr Rob Bischof
(Dept of Physiology), Dr Nicholas Wilson, CSL Ltd
02
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
MIMR has had a very positive start to the year with a highly
successful student intake, gaining more than 40 new students after
an effort to increase numbers late last year. This is a great step
forward, as our students play an important role in the Institute’s core
activity and make significant contributions to our research.
Since the announcement of the $71-million
funding from the Federal Government for
the new Monash Health Translation Precinct
(MHTP) Translation Research Facility (TRF) in
April last year, planning for this new building
has progressed quickly. The architects have
designed an innovative and colourful façade for
the TRF building, with a series of laboratories
and clinical research units to accommodate
more than 300 researchers.
We are now at the exciting stage of designing the
internal fit-out and selecting equipment for the
whole building. The TRF is on track to provide
medical research scientists and clinicians with
a building that will enable a continuum of basic
research through to cutting-edge clinical trial
facilities and expand the international reputation
of medical research conducted at the MHTP.
Several community groups have already visited
MIMR this year, including the Noble Park Rotary
Club and Inner Wheel Australia, who have a
particular interest in cord blood research and
recently donated $65,000 for research in this
area to The Ritchie Centre.
Our relationship has continued with The Science
Show on ABC Radio National, presented by
Robyn Williams. A total of nine of our PhD
students have now presented their research
in five-minute talks on the program. This has
been an excellent opportunity for the students
to gain media skills and boost their profiles
early in their careers. There is a link to each of
these talks in the media section of our website,
along with our other media clippings.
In this edition of MI News, we look at some
major achievements of our researchers over
the last few months, as well as some exciting
events in which the Institute has been involved.
The Centre for Cancer Research’s Associate
Professor Terry Johns is one of the founding
heads of the Brain Cancer Discovery
Collaborative which received a $1-million
donation from the Cure for Life Foundation (CFLF)
to initiate a long-term research collaboration.
The CFLF made the donation, which will support
Terry’s brain cancer research program, at a
major event in Parliament House, Canberra.
The Director of the Centre for Innate Immunity
and Infectious Diseases, Professor Paul Hertzog,
and his work has recently been recognised by
the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is a
fantastic achievement and a highly recognised
honour worldwide.
Deputy Director of The Ritchie Centre,
Associate Professor Caroline Gargett, has
also been recognised as a world authority
in her area, with a prestigious President’s
Achievement Award from the renowned
Society for Gynaecologic Investigation.
On behalf of all the staff and students at the
Institute, I would like to thank you for your
continued interest and support.
Professor Bryan Williams
Institute Director
MIMR RESEARCHER
HONOURED AS WORLDLEADER IN HER FIELD
One of MIMR’s scientists has been honoured as
a world-leader in her research field by one of the
largest international gynaecological organisations.
Associate Professor Caroline Gargett received
the President’s Achievement Award from the
Society for Gynaecologic Investigation (SGI) at
a ceremony during the society’s 60th Annual
Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida in March.
A/Prof Gargett is a Deputy Director of
The Ritchie Centre at MIMR, an NHMRC
Senior Research Fellow and President of the
Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research.
The President of SGI, Professor Sarah
Berga, said A/Prof Gargett was chosen
for her outstanding overall contribution
to scientific investigation.
“Her research is very highly regarded and
she and her team have made science’s
largest contribution in the area of
endometrial research,” Prof Berga said.
Continued from page 1
$1 MILLION DONATION
LAUNCHES VITAL BRAIN
CANCER RESEARCH
COLLABORATION
His work focuses on how the
signalling of a particular family of
cell-surface molecules [EGFR;
epidermal growth factor receptor]
promotes the survival of cancer
cells and on drugs that block the
activity of these receptors.
Dr Teo said there was no known cure
for brain cancer, yet it had the greatest
impact on society of all the cancers.
03
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ELECTED CHINESE
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES HONORARY
Deputy Director of MIMR and
Director of the Centre for Innate
Immunity and Infectious Diseases,
Professor Paul Hertzog, has
been honoured with the award
of Visiting Professorship for
Senior International Scientists
by the Chinese Academy of
Sciences (CAS).
“In the past 30 years, there have
been no significant breakthroughs in
brain cancer research,” said Dr Teo.
Prof Paul Hertzog, MIMR and Prof Hong Tang, CAS
Twenty-five per cent of all women have a pelvic
floor disorder. POP is the commonest (70 per cent)
of the pelvic floor disorders and encompasses a
range of conditions, including incontinence.
A/Prof Gargett is recognised for her early
work in the discovery and characterisation
of endometrial stem cells, a field in which she
published the first papers.
A/Prof Gargett said the award was a big surprise and
came out of the blue, as she had not applied for it.
“It significantly reduces the quality of life in
sufferers and an average sufferer will spend
10.8 hours away from work per week as a result
of this disease, which is an astounding figure.”
A/Prof Gargett has since expanded her research
to include tissue engineering for pelvic organ
prolapse (POP).
“I hope it will be the start of something that
lasts a long time. I’m very excited about it,”
he said.
As part of this honorary title, Prof Hertzog
will take on advisory duties as well as a
practical role as Visiting Professor.
“Research at the Wuhan Institute of
Virology is very closely aligned with, and
complementary to, that at the Centre for
Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases,”
said Prof Hertzog.
“Our audience has been inspired by Caroline’s
journey to achieve her PhD later in life, while
raising a family, and becoming internationally
referenced as a world-authority in her area.”
“Endometriosis alone affects 176 million
women worldwide.
Prof Hertzog said it was a great honour to
be selected for this appointment.
“I think it’s an opportunity for MIMR and
Monash University to form strategic links
between ourselves and CAS, particularly in
the area of Infection and Immunity.
“A new collaborative model like this
one provides us with the potential
to remove the barriers preventing
our researchers and clinicians from
finding a cure and to crea te a global
platform for brain cancer research
that brings people and opportunities
together for discoveries,” he said.
“This discovery and subsequent research has
led to major advances in our understanding
of many gynaecological diseases, such as
endometriosis,” said Prof Berga.
The award was presented to him at a
ceremony in Wuhan, China, in March.
“The possibilities are endless here,” he said.
“At this pace we can expect that a
cure will be 50 years away, will cost
$50 billion and that brain cancer will
claim another 3 million lives. CFLF’s
new research strategy is designed to
find treatments within 10 years not 50.
The CFLF is the largest fundraiser
for brain tumour research and
awareness in Australia.
ISSUE 58
“I feel very honoured, as this is the most
prestigious award I have received,” she said.
“I am humbled to be in the company of so many
past and future presidents of SGI who have
previously received this award.
“My major competitors, who are also colleagues,
are all part of the organisation, as it is the premier
society for Obstetrics and Gynaecological research.
“They have been extremely receptive to the work
we’ve done,” said A/Prof Gargett.
A/Prof Gargett travelled to the conference with
her PhD student, Daniela Ulrich, who won a
Pfizer President’s Presenter Award for a talk
that she gave at the meeting.
“I do plan to set up my own research,
which I hope will involve scientists
going back and forth between MIMR
and China, and intend to begin projects
in the areas of bioinformatics and
sexually transmitted infections, among
others,” he said.
From left to Right:
A/Prof Caroline Gargett
& Prof Sarah Berga.
His recent publication in the prestigious
journal Science relating to his work on
sexually transmitted diseases is part of
ongoing studies and he hopes to begin
Chinese collaborations in this area, due
to their interest in women’s health.
Prof Hertzog will receive more than
¥500,000 each year to support this
work and will live in Wuhan for parts of the
year, acting as a collaboration facilitator
between MIMR and CAS scientists.
Headquartered in Beijing with institutes all
over China, CAS is the national academy
for natural sciences in China.
The Academy belongs to the State Council
of China and acts as the national scientific
think tank.
Prof Hertzog will be based at the Wuhan
Institute of Virology, one of 117 CAS
institutes with legal entity and a state key
laboratory of virology, which demonstrates
the high calibre of its research.
Prof Hertzog has had a highly decorated
career in immunology and many of his
achievements link to ongoing projects that
he hopes to support using the resources
he has gained through CAS.
MAY 2013
04
MIMR DIRECTOR
ELECTED AS FELLOW
OF THE AUSTRALIAN
ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
MIMR’s Director Professor Bryan Williams
was one of 20 researchers to be made a
Fellow of the prestigious and influential
Australian Academy of Science (AAS).
Prof Williams was elected by his peers for his
outstanding contribution to science, in particular,
for his internationally renowned work on innate
immunity and mechanisms of interferon action,
advancing their therapeutic utility.
He has an accomplished career in innate
immunity, virology and cancer research, and
has published more than 300 peer-reviewed
journal articles and reviews.
The AAS promotes science through
education and awareness, contributions
to policy, international relations and
recognition of achievement.
“I look forward to engaging with the
Academy in its mission to promote science
through its education, public awareness,
policy and international initiatives,” he said.
A Fellowship is recognition of a “career
that has significantly advanced the world’s
store of scientific knowledge”.
Prof Williams will be admitted as a Fellow
on 29 May at ‘Science at the Shine Dome’,
the Academy’s annual celebration in
Canberra where he will present a summary
of his research achievements.
Prof Williams said his Fellowship was an
unexpected, but tremendous honour.
VIIN GATHERS TOP SCIENTISTS
TO SHOWCASE RESEARCH
More than 100 researchers and industry representatives attended the Infection
and Immunity research summit at the Australian Synchrotron on 1 May.
The Monash Infection and Immunity Group
hosted the Victorian Infection and Immunity
Network (VIIN) Industry Alliance, together
with business partners Biota, Genera
Biosystems, CSL and Nexvet Biopharma,
for talks during the three hour summit.
The event showcased the research of
Monash scientists for industry partners
and identified projects for research funding.
In addition, there were presentations
from industry representatives on the
commercialisation process and the
protection of intellectual property.
There were 12 presentations made over
three sessions, including one from keynote
speaker, Professor Richard Boyd who gave
an excellent presentation on how productive
collaborations among researchers, clinicians
and industry partners can lead to innovative
research and development. Prof Boyd is a
pioneer in stem cell research and his team
was the first to grow an organ from stem cells.
The VIIN Industry Alliance also hosted
further summits at Geelong on 9 May
and at Parkville on 10 May.
VIIN is jointly convened by Professor
Elizabeth Hartland from Melbourne
University and Professor Paul Hertzog,
Deputy Director of MIMR and Director
of the Centre for Innate Immunity and
Infectious Diseases. VIIN was founded at
Monash and has more than 900 members.
The Industry Alliance is funded by the
Department of Development, Business and
Innovation, Victorian State Government.
It will be providing grants of up to
$25,000 to support industry-driven
collaborative projects for innovation in
infection and immunity with the aim of
funding seed projects to create enough
data for large-scale research projects
between industry and academic
partners, which could be supported by
such funding as ARC Linkage grants.
VIIN scientists have an outstanding record
of success, having won more than $35
million in recent funding announcements
by the NHMRC. Moreover, Victoria is
home to nearly half of Australia’s
biotechnology companies.
Top: Left to right: Dr Daniel Layton
(head of the Monash Antibody Technologies Facility),
Prof Richard Boyd (keynote speaker
“Tackling immune disorders - an awkward but
essential marriage between researchers, clinical
and commercial sectors), Dr Chris Vindurampulle
(Watermark Intellectual Asset Management)
Bottom: Left to right: Dr Michael De Veer
(Dept of Physiology “The use of sheep to investigate
parasites, allergy and vaccination”), Dr Rob Bischof
(Dept of Physiology), Dr Nicholas Wilson, CSL Ltd
05
ISSUE 58
MHTP FACILITY AWARDED
FOR OUTSTANDING
PERFORMANCE
The Monash Health Translation Precinct
(MHTP) Medical Genomics facility has
won the Outstanding Monash Technology
Research Platform Award.
Dr Rebecca Lim
By Dr Rebecca Lim, The Ritchie Centre
Parenthood comes with great responsibility, and for most parents, insuring
their baby’s health is worth every cent. Certainly, when one considers the
success of cord blood stem cells in the treatment of childhood leukaemia, it
makes absolute sense to bank your baby’s stem cells, if you can afford it.
The success of clinical trials around the
world attests to the safety and efficacy of
autologous cord blood stem cells for the
treatment of leukaemia, anaemia and some
autoimmune diseases. However, less is
known about the application of cord blood
stem cells and other stem cell types for the
treatment of non-haematological diseases.
Yet around the world, many cell banking
facilities market their service by promising
parents of scientific breakthroughs that are
unproven and unrealised.
In the United States, the average parent
at a public hospital is offered up to
half-a-dozen different cell banking options,
ranging from the banking of their baby’s
cord blood to mesenchymal stem
cells derived from the Wharton’s jelly
and/or placenta.
Expectant parents are sent a collection
kit, which they bring along with them to
the hospital, and the appropriate tissue is
placed in the kit and sent back to the cell
banking facility for processing.
This all seems like a rather benign exercise,
and if you can afford it, why not?
No-one wants to be in the regretful
position thinking, “… if only I had banked
my baby’s stem cells…”
Now, let’s delve a little deeper. Let’s take
a look into the nuts and bolts of cell
banking and its clinical potential for the
baby and its parents.
Private stem cell banks have made
autologous stem cell banking an option
for the wealthy. Even then, one needs to
be well-informed.
“
I PROPOSE A SIMILAR SYSTEM
WHERE STEM CELLS DERIVED FROM
THE AFTERBIRTH, IN ADDITION TO
THOSE OBTAINED FROM UMBILICAL
CORD BLOOD, CAN BE BANKED AND
REGISTERED FOR PUBLIC USE.
Cell Care Australia warns on its website
that they will not collect and bank cord
blood from babies that are born at less
than 34 weeks of gestation, because they
will not be able to collect enough blood
from these babies. Cell Care Australia is
also actively investing in research.
Most private cell banking facilities will bank
any amount of blood for whoever can
afford their service. Most do not care
how or if the banked cells will work.
Most do not account for babies who are
born so prematurely that their cord blood
volume is negligible.
Yet this is the population of babies who are
most likely to require cell therapy. In such
cases, an allogeneic donor would need to
be identified. With this in mind, isn’t it time
we pushed for a public stem cell registry?
Currently, there is an international registry
for cord blood. When a child with
leukaemia treatable by cord blood stem
cells is identified, a matching service
identifies a donor.
I propose a similar system where stem cells
derived from the afterbirth, in addition to
those obtained from umbilical cord blood,
can be banked and registered for public use.
”
Not just cord blood. Not just for babies.
After all, this stuff is going in the bin.
What can we, scientists, do?
Speak to industry. Work with them to
establish high standards for stem cell
isolation and define stem cell applications.
Increase public awareness of the limitations
of this supposed magic bullet and help to
debunk some of the myths surrounding
stem cell use.
This way, we can reduce some of the
dangerous (and very expensive) treatments
being sought overseas by desperate
Australians.
There is no question that we need to
translate our research findings to the
clinic and no doubt that cell therapies
need to be made more readily available
to the Australian public.
The increasing numbers of Australians
seeking stem cell treatments overseas are
a testament to this.
Through a combined effort between
scientists, clinicians and industry partners,
we can make cell therapies safer and
available for every Australian, regardless
of financial capacity.
From left to right: Monash University
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research
Infrastructure), Professor Ian Smith & MHTP
Medical Genomics Facility Manager, Ms Vivien Vasic.
Mrs
Ms
Dr
Prof
Operating as not-for-profit, the Facility
comprises four core Centres providing
research expertise, services and reagents.
These include the Gandel Charitable Trust
Sequencing Centre, The ACRF Centre for
Cancer Genomic Medicine, the MHTP High
Content Screening Centre and the MHTP
Microarray Centre.
“The achievements and levels of
excellence that these platforms have
accomplished is a direct reflection
of their high quality leadership and
management.”
MHTP Medical Genomics Facility manager
Vivien Vasic said the facility provides a range
of genomics services to MIMR and its three
MHTP research partners Monash Health,
Prince Henry’s Institute and Monash University
as well as external national institutes.
“Vivien has led the Medical genomics facility
to an outstanding level of quality assurance
by achieving NATA accreditation, she has
also secured funding to expand the facility
to offer a comprehensive suite of state of the
art clinical genomics services,” he said.
First NameSurname
Address
SuburbPostcode
INSIDE
02
02
Director’s Message
MIMR researcher
honoured as world-leader
in her field
03
Deputy Director elected
Chinese Academy of
Sciences Honorary
04
VIIN gathers top
scientists to showcase
research
05
Make cord blood banking
more accessible to
Australian families
$1 MILLION DONATION
LAUNCHES VITAL BRAIN
CANCER RESEARCH
COLLABORATION
Cure for Life Foundation (CFLF)
has provided MIMR’s Associate
Professor Terry Johns and his
collaborators with $1 million to
fund brain cancer research.
The funding was announced by high-profile
neurosurgeon and Founder of the CFLF,
Dr Charlie Teo, at a special event held in
Parliament House, Canberra, in March,
which was attended by the Minister for
Health, Tanya Plibersek.
Telephone I wish to make a donation of $
with
Visa
Mastercard
Amex
Diners
to be charged to my credit card
Monthly
Card Number
Expiry date
Card holder name
Signature
Please send donations to:
External Relations, Development & Alumni. Monash University.
PO Box 197, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145, Australia
Or fax this donation coupon to:
(03) 9903 4885
“Along with accelerating the research and
sharing core resources, the BCDC will
establish mentoring networks to encourage
young researchers into the area,” he said.
A/Prof Terry Johns is a senior scientist in
the Centre for Cancer Research at MIMR
and has worked in cancer research for
more than 15 years.
CONTACT US:
Monash Institute of Medical Research
Telephone (general enquiries): 1800 424 055
ABN: 12 377 614 012
Email: info@monashinstitute.org
PO Box 5418
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
CRICOS Provider: Monash University 00008C
Left to right: Dr Charlie Teo, A/Prof Terry Johns, Prof Andrew Boyd & Dr Kerrie McDonald.
www.monashinstitute.org
Each year about 1400 cases of malignant
brain cancer are diagnosed in Australia and
about 1100 people die from the disease.
“We believe this new approach will enable
us to move new therapies to clinical trials
within the next two years.
For office use: 2013TAXNEWS
Or to make a donation over the phone please call:
(03) 9903 1608
Sufferers only have a 22 per cent chance of
surviving for five years from diagnosis.
“The collaboration between the BCDC and
the CFLF brings together a diverse group of
researchers from all across Australia,” he said.
/
To make a donation online please visit:
https://community.monash.edu/givetomimr
Brain cancer kills more Australians under
40, including children, than any other
type of cancer.
The Director of the BCDC, A/Prof Terry
Johns, said this new funding will spearhead
exponential growth in discovery and speed
up clinical trials through collaborative efforts.
Annually
OR I would like my gift to remain anonymous
In publications or honour rolls, I wish my/our name to read as
The event launched the Brain Cancer
Discovery Collaborative (BCDC), founded
by key brain cancer researchers aiming to
improve brain cancer research collaboration
and streamline the path to a potential cure.
Sadly, significant risk factors associated with
malignant brain tumour remain elusive and
no screening procedures are in place.
Cheque (made payable to Monash University)
Donations over $2 are tax-deductible
OR I wish to make a regular gift of $
MAY 2013
Monash University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor
(Research and Research Infrastructure),
Professor Ian Smith, conferred the award
in early March 2013.
“This award recognises the importance
the Monash research technology platforms
play in driving research outcomes, talent
recruitment and industry engagement,”
Prof Smith said.
E-mail
ISSUE 58
Genomic technologies such as DNA
sequencing are critical for determining the
role genes play in disease development and
progression thereby assisting with possible
diagnosis, treatment and cure.
DONATION COUPON: I WANT TO FURTHER THE RESEARCH AT MIMR
Mr
06
!
MAKE CORD BLOOD BANKING
MORE ACCESSIBLE TO
AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
MAY 2013
Continued on page 2
05
ISSUE 58
MHTP FACILITY AWARDED
FOR OUTSTANDING
PERFORMANCE
The Monash Health Translation Precinct
(MHTP) Medical Genomics facility has
won the Outstanding Monash Technology
Research Platform Award.
Dr Rebecca Lim
By Dr Rebecca Lim, The Ritchie Centre
Parenthood comes with great responsibility, and for most parents, insuring
their baby’s health is worth every cent. Certainly, when one considers the
success of cord blood stem cells in the treatment of childhood leukaemia, it
makes absolute sense to bank your baby’s stem cells. If you can afford it.
The success of clinical trials around the
world attests to the safety and efficacy of
autologous cord blood stem cells for the
treatment of leukaemia, anaemia and some
autoimmune diseases. However, less is
known about the application of cord blood
stem cells and other stem cell types for the
treatment of non-haematological diseases.
Yet around the world, many cell banking
facilities market their service by promising
parents of scientific breakthroughs that are
unproven and unrealised.
In the United States, the average parent
at a public hospital is offered up to
half-a-dozen different cell banking options,
ranging from the banking of their baby’s
cord blood to mesenchymal stem
cells derived from the Wharton’s jelly
and/or placenta.
Expectant parents are sent a collection
kit, which they bring along with them to
the hospital, and the appropriate tissue is
placed in the kit and sent back to the cell
banking facility for processing.
This all seems like a rather benign exercise,
and if you can afford it, why not?
No-one wants to be in the regretful
position thinking, “… if only I had banked
my baby’s stem cells…”
Now, let’s delve a little deeper. Let’s take
a look into the nuts and bolts of cell
banking and its clinical potential for the
baby and its parents.
Private stem cell banks have made
autologous stem cell banking an option
for the wealthy. Even then, one needs to
be well-informed.
“
I PROPOSE A SIMILAR SYSTEM
WHERE STEM CELLS DERIVED FROM
THE AFTERBIRTH, IN ADDITION TO
THOSE OBTAINED FROM UMBILICAL
CORD BLOOD, CAN BE BANKED AND
REGISTERED FOR PUBLIC USE.
Cell Care Australia warns on its website
that they will not collect and bank cord
blood from babies that are born at less
than 34 weeks of gestation, because they
will not be able to collect enough blood
from these babies. Cell Care Australia is
also actively investing in research.
Most private cell banking facilities will bank
any amount of blood for whoever can
afford their service. Most do not care
how or if the banked cells will work.
Most do not account for babies who are
born so prematurely that their cord blood
volume is negligible.
Yet this is the population of babies who are
most likely to require cell therapy. In such
cases, an allogeneic donor would need to
be identified. With this in mind, isn’t it time
we pushed for a public stem cell registry?
Currently, there is an international registry
for cord blood. When a child with
leukaemia treatable by cord blood stem
cells is identified, a matching service
identifies a donor.
I propose a similar system where stem cells
derived from the afterbirth, in addition to
those obtained from umbilical cord blood,
can be banked and registered for public use.
”
Not just cord blood. Not just for babies.
After all, this stuff is going in the bin.
What can we, scientists, do?
Speak to industry. Work with them to
establish high standards for stem cell
isolation and define stem cell applications.
Increase public awareness of the limitations
of this supposed magic bullet and help to
debunk some of the myths surrounding
stem cell use.
This way, we can reduce some of the
dangerous (and very expensive) treatments
being sought overseas by desperate
Australians.
There is no question that we need to
translate our research findings to the
clinic and no doubt that cell therapies
need to be made more readily available
to the Australian public.
The increasing numbers of Australians
seeking stem cell treatments overseas are
a testament to this.
Through a combined effort between
scientists, clinicians and industry partners,
we can make cell therapies safer and
available for every Australian, regardless
of financial capacity.
From left to right: Monash University
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research
Infrastructure), Professor Ian Smith & MHTP
Medical Genomics Facility Manager, Ms Vivien Vasic.
Mrs
Ms
Dr
Prof
Operating as not-for-profit, the Facility
comprises four core Centres providing
research expertise, services and reagents.
These include the Gandel Charitable Trust
Sequencing Centre, The ACRF Centre for
Cancer Genomic Medicine, the MHTP High
Content Screening Centre and the MHTP
Microarray Centre.
“The achievements and levels of
excellence that these platforms have
accomplished is a direct reflection
of their high quality leadership and
management.”
MHTP Medical Genomics Facility manager
Vivien Vasic said the facility provides a range
of genomics services to MIMR and its three
MHTP research partners Monash Health,
Prince Henry’s Institute and Monash University
as well as external national institutes.
“Vivien has led the Medical genomics facility
to an outstanding level of quality assurance
by achieving NATA accreditation, she has
also secured funding to expand the facility
to offer a comprehensive suite of state of the
art clinical genomics services,” he said.
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INSIDE
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Director’s Message
MIMR researcher
honoured as world-leader
in her field
03
Deputy Director elected
Chinese Academy of
Sciences Honorary
04
VIIN gathers top
scientists to showcase
research
05
Make cord blood banking
more accessible to
Australian families
$1 MILLION DONATION
LAUNCHES VITAL BRAIN
CANCER RESEARCH
COLLABORATION
Cure for Life Foundation (CFLF)
has provided MIMR’s Associate
Professor Terry Johns and his
collaborators with $1 million to
fund brain cancer research.
The funding was announced by high-profile
neurosurgeon and Founder of the CFLF,
Dr Charlie Teo, at a special event held in
Parliament House, Canberra, in March,
which was attended by the Minister for
Health, Tanya Plibersek.
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Please send donations to:
External Relations, Development & Alumni. Monash University.
PO Box 197, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145, Australia
Or fax this donation coupon to:
(03) 9903 4885
“Along with accelerating the research and
sharing core resources, the BCDC will
establish mentoring networks to encourage
young researchers into the area,” he said.
A/Prof Terry Johns is a senior scientist in
the Centre for Cancer Research at MIMR
and has worked in cancer research for
more than 15 years.
CONTACT US:
Monash Institute of Medical Research
Telephone (general enquiries): 1800 424 055
ABN: 12 377 614 012
Email: info@monashinstitute.org
PO Box 5418
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
CRICOS Provider: Monash University 00008C
Left to right: Dr Charlie Teo, A/Prof Terry Johns, Prof Andrew Boyd & Dr Kerrie McDonald.
www.monashinstitute.org
Each year about 1400 cases of malignant
brain cancer are diagnosed in Australia and
about 1100 people die from the disease.
“We believe this new approach will enable
us to move new therapies to clinical trials
within the next two years.
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Or to make a donation over the phone please call:
(03) 9903 1608
Sufferers only have a 22 per cent chance of
surviving for five years from diagnosis.
“The collaboration between the BCDC and
the CFLF brings together a diverse group of
researchers from all across Australia,” he said.
/
To make a donation online please visit:
https://community.monash.edu/givetomimr
Brain cancer kills more Australians under
40, including children, than any other
type of cancer.
The Director of the BCDC, A/Prof Terry
Johns, said this new funding will spearhead
exponential growth in discovery and speed
up clinical trials through collaborative efforts.
Annually
OR I would like my gift to remain anonymous
In publications or honour rolls, I wish my/our name to read as
The event launched the Brain Cancer
Discovery Collaborative (BCDC), founded
by key brain cancer researchers aiming to
improve brain cancer research collaboration
and streamline the path to a potential cure.
Sadly, significant risk factors associated with
malignant brain tumour remain elusive and
no screening procedures are in place.
Cheque (made payable to Monash University)
Donations over $2 are tax-deductible
OR I wish to make a regular gift of $
MAY 2013
Monash University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor
(Research and Research Infrastructure),
Professor Ian Smith, conferred the award
in early March 2013.
“This award recognises the importance
the Monash research technology platforms
play in driving research outcomes, talent
recruitment and industry engagement,”
Prof Smith said.
E-mail
ISSUE 58
Genomic technologies such as DNA
sequencing are critical for determining the
role genes play in disease development and
progression thereby assisting with possible
diagnosis, treatment and cure.
DONATION COUPON: I WANT TO FURTHER THE RESEARCH AT MIMR
Mr
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MAKE CORD BLOOD BANKING
MORE ACCESSIBLE TO
AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
MAY 2013
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