Stem cell research in Australia
Stem cell research is a new area of science and a lot more basic information on their growth and behaviour is needed before they can be used to develop new treatments.
Researchers around the world are focusing on investigating the molecular characteristics of all stem cell types and improving the methods for culturing them. This includes growing cells without using animal products, such as mouse feeder cells. These animal products may be a source of new viruses and infections that may limit the use of the cells in transplants.
Australian Stem Cell Centre
Scientists are now beginning to have success in making cells differentiate into particular types of cells and identifying whether these specialised cells function normally. Australian scientists have been at the forefront of this research. For example, scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne and at the University of Queensland are looking at brain stem cells, with a long-term view of treating patients with brain injury or a degenerative disease.
Others are looking at whether stem cells could be used to make a complex organ, by trying to make a type of scaffolding for cells to grow on or around.
In 2000 a group of scientists from the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development first reported the development of nerve stem cells from embryonic stem cells. This even made the front page of the scientific journal Nature, which is the science equivalent to having your photo on the cover of the Rolling Stone magazine!
Today, much of the research in Australia on stem cells is directed through the newly-established Australian Stem Cell Centre, a Biotechnology Centre of Excellence established by the Australian Government in 2003. This Centre brings together stem cell researchers from around Australia to do research on both embryonic and adult stem cells.
The main areas of research for new therapies are:
finding ways of regenerating damaged cardiac (heart) tissue,
investigating stem cell technologies for blood and bone marrow regeneration to improve bone marrow transplantation techniques and to generate safer blood cell products for patients needing transfusion,
investigation of the use of stem cell therapies in lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
For more information, go to:
Australian Stem Cell Centre: http://www.stemcellcentre.edu.au
University of Queensland: http://www.qbi.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=13987
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research: http://www.wehi.edu.au/research/overview/dnb.html