ASCC Reserach: Funding Excellence and Innovation
In 1998 stem cell research hit the headlines when the first paper was published in Science, describing the characteristics of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line. Since the discovery of hESCs and the following inception of the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) in 2002, stem cell science has become an extremely fast moving field of research around the world with new breakthroughs being reported almost daily.
The ASCC was founded to capitalise on Australia’s significant strengths in the general field of stem cell research. Together with its partnering organisations, the ASCC has supported a critical mass of internationally competitive Australian stem cell research across multiple states and various types of stem cells.
In its first seven years of operation the Centre has supported in excess of 200 researchers, more than 70 students in over 30 research projects.
From July 2009, the ASCC’s research strategy has it's focus on two new initiatives to support and grow Australia’s stem cell research effort – Collaborative Streams and the Strategic Development Fund. Both initiatives are grounded in the principles of stringent, competitive peer-review processes.
Collaborative Streams and Strategic Development Fund
The reorganisation of ASCC funded research into Collaborative Streams is an innovative, transforming and effective way of funding and enhancing stem cell research in Australia. Each Collaborative Stream comprises a network of high calibre scientists with internationally recognised leadership focussed on working collaboratively to address key areas that will allow significant acceleration of stem cell research. Each stream consists of ‘Modules’ or individual research projects representing the wide diversity of internationally competitive stem cell research across Australia.
Collaborative stem cell science will:
- operate synergistically to address more efficiently the key questions in multiple areas around a common theme of stem cell research
- identify and fill critical gaps in research
- respond to the fast-changing landscape of stem cell research
- extract maximum commercial advantage from the collective intellectual firepower and technical expertise of each Stream
- provide a port of entry and testing ground for new techniques
- create and sustain robust channels of collaboration and peer-to-peer communication across the spectrum of stem cell research
- engage the majority of Australian stem cell research teams in ASCC funded research
- position Australian stem cell research for future funding and hence realise long-term sustainability and international competitiveness.
To download an Overview of our Research and Collaborative Streams -
click here.
The four Collaborative Streams are:
1. Bioreactors and Smart Surfaces for Stem Cell Propagation
2. Reprogramming and Induction of Pluripotency
3. Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation
4. Adult Stem Cells
The Strategic Development Fund will provide financial support to develop and accelerate projects in stem cell research towards a well-defined goal. By awarding grants under this innovative new scheme, the ASCC aims to:
- identify and invest in early stage stand alone projects at the proof of concept stage or earlier for the delivery of a definitive outcome
- identify and invest in discrete projects that may have a short term commercial outcome or objective that would otherwise not be funded due to financial risk
- identify and invest in those projects that may fall within existing funding gaps for example the gaps that exist prior to the demonstration of proof of concept or the gap between demonstration of proof of concept and further commercial development
- identify and invest in projects that may currently fall outside of an existing Collaborative Stream
This fund will be launched in August 2009