As of 1 July 2011 the ASCC is closed. This page is archived.
ASCC Strategic Development Fund – Innovation in Australian Stem Cell Research
In November 2009 the ASCC announced that six projects that had been selected for support from the Strategic Development Fund
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| MSC growing in conventional plastic flasks - Prof Atkinson |
(SDF), a fund that aims to develop and accelerate stem cell projects towards well-defined commercial, medical or academic goals. The ASCC received more than 60 high quality applications from investigators in over 50 organisations, in six states, reflecting the diversity and depth of Australian stem cell research. The successful applications were chosen by a panel of scientific and commercial experts led by Professor Patrick Tam, Chair of the ASCC’s independent Scientific Advisory Board.
The six successful projects are:
Development of a Scalable, Automated, Closed System Device for Manufacturing Clinical Grade Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Professor Kerry Atkinson, Mater Health Services, Dr Nicholas Timmins, University of Queensland, Associate Professor Gary Brooke, Mater Medical Research Institute
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found in many tissues of the adult body, including bone marrow and the placenta and can give rise to a number of tissue types such as bone, cartilage, fat tissue, and connective tissue. MSCs have shown promise for treatment for a number of diseases. However, there is currently no efficient means for growing the cells in large enough numbers for transplant purposes. The aim of this project is to develop a device for isolation and expansion of placental mesenchymal stem cells that are of a clinical quality.
Unravelling Stem Cell Fate Genes Using Predictive Sparse Methods
Dr David Winkler, CSIRO
Pluripotency, that is the ability for a stem cell to become any other cell of the body, is the characteristic that makes embryonic stem cells and the newer induced pluripotent stem cells so valuable in research. However, relatively little is still understood about the genes for maintenance of pluripotency. Utilising sophisticated and novel mathematical modelling and bioinformatics techniques, this project aims to identify a common set of genes in five pluripotent stem cell lines including three human embryonic and two induced pluripotent stem cell lines. By identifying such genes the researchers will then be able to investigate the role those genes play in pluripotent cells and determining their value in regenerative medicine.
The Australian Stem Cell Database Initiative
Dr Christine Wells, Griffith University, Professor Doug Hilton, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Professor Sean Grimmond, University of Queensland
The Australian Stem Cell Database Initiative will build on existing Australian resources, infrastructure and bioinformatics expertise to create a powerful web based database containing multiple datasets of genetic data across adult, embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell lines. Such a database will help Australian scientists to better compare the characteristics of different types of stem cells and ask a myriad of biological questions critical to the advancement of stem cell research. SDF funding will provide the first steps towards developing a single web based portal that will encompass existing databases, making these essential research tools available through one streamlined system.
Determination of the Most Promising Strategy for Cell Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease Following Transplantation of Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Neural Stem Cells or Neural Progenitors into the Hippocampus, Using Two Mouse Models of Alzheimer’s Disease
Professor Colin Pouton, Dr John Haynes, Dr Jennifer Short and Dr Joe Nicolazzo, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University
Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects over 500,000 Australians with no effective therapy. This project aims to establish whether restoration of cognitive function, using cell therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, is dependent on provision of cholinergic neurons. Using mouse models of Alzheimer’s and mouse embryonic stem cells, the investigators will turn the stem cells into neurons at various stages of development and implant them into mice to test their effectiveness in treating the disease.
Adult Stem Cells from Human Uterus and Novel Biomaterials for Pelvic Floor Regeneration
Dr Caroline Gargett, Monash Institute of Medical Research and Dr Keith McLean, CSIRO
Pelvic organ prolapse, caused by injury to pelvic floor tissues during childbirth, is a debilitating disorder affecting millions of women, with the only current treatment being reconstructive surgery augmented with biological and synthetic materials, which often fail to repair the damage. This project will investigate the possibility for regeneration using endometrial stem cells found in the highly regenerative lining of the uterus.
A Novel Autologous Contact-Lens Based Stem Cell Transfer Technique for Corneal Reconstruction and Vision Restoration in Patients with Blinding Corneal Disease
Associate Professor Nick Di Girolamo, University of New South Wales and Dr Stephanie Watson, Prince of Wales Hospital
This pioneering technique to treat corneal blindness, which affects approximately 10 million persons worldwide, has already been trialled to establish safety and efficacy in a small pilot study of three patients. SDF funding will allow the investigators to expand to a larger trial of 33 patients. In addition, research will be conducted to optimise the technique, which involves taking stem cells from a healthy part of the patient’s eye, culturing them on a normal contact lens and then transferring to the diseased cornea, restoring sight.
A short clip outlining this procedure if available below: