Queensland medical research received a massive boost with chronic kidney disease researchers from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) based at The University of Queensland, forming part of the successful Biotechnology Centre of Excellence (COE) announced late last week.
IMB’s Associate Professor Melissa Little is one of the winning COE`s key personnel and a member of its Scientific Management Team along with other prominent Australian scientists based at universities and research institutes in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and the ACT.
Associate Professor Little said the IMB`s involvement in the COE recognises Queensland`s role in cutting edge research and application – a timely reminder in the lead up to Queensland Day and as part of Medical Research Week.
"End stage renal failure currently affects more than 60,000 Australians, of which 11,000 depend on dialysis and a further 4,000 new cases are reported each year. Research in this area improves the quality of life for kidney disease patients and eases the current $3 billion annual bill on the Australian health care system," Associate Professor Little said.
"The IMB`s involvement in the Centre for Stem Cells and Tissue Repair is two-fold and consists of acknowledged research excellence coupled with state-of-the-art infrastructural support.
"This truly national COE will also access cutting edge facilities of the Australian Genome Research Facility and the ARC`s Special Research Centre for Functional and Applied Genomics located at the IMB."
The IMB`s SRC Microarray Facility will be used to screen large numbers of genes in the search for the ones involved in normal kidney development and will power the platform screening of novel molecules for their ability to drive renal stem cells. This research will assist in establishing the vital link from genomic information to biological function in animal model systems.
IMB research team involved in the COE includes Associate Professor Little, Dr Sean Grimmond, Dr Rohan Teasdale and Professor David Hume, along with Professors Gordon and Julie Campbell from UQ`s Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences. This group has the long-term aim of developing alternative treatment options for chronic kidney disease using stem cell technologies.
The IMB, based at the University of Queensland, is committed to translating its fundamental research discoveries into practical applications improving health care, diagnostics, pharmaceutical and nanotechnologies for global benefit.
Media: for more information, please contact Russell Griggs (telephone 07 3365 1805) or Helen Weatherley (mobile 0421 056 980).
