VISION
The vision of the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) is to undertake research of the highest quality in the stem cell field in order to discover and ultimately commercialise new therapies for human disease.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR AUSTRALIA
Biotechnology is an increasingly important driver of economic growth, wealth creation, high value jobs and supporting industries. Australia has strong capability in biotechnology research, but the Australian biotechnology industry is comparatively young and small.
The Biotechnology Centre of Excellence aims to increase Australia’s international competitiveness by increasing capacity in areas such as the creation and application of technology, and fostering the creation of spin-off companies and networks of commercial biotechnology activity. The Centre attracts outstanding researchers from within Australia and overseas; assists in the development of an entrepreneurial culture; helps develop Australia’s biotechnology skills base in research, education and training, and key business skills; and will ensure that the intellectual property it develops is used for the maximum benefit of Australia.
departmental role and current achievements
The Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) is Australia’s Biotechnology Centre of Excellence. The Department and the Australian Research Council jointly administer funding to the ASCC of $98.55 million over the nine years to 2011. The Department is responsible for an ongoing government coordination role with respect to the operation of the ASCC.
The ASCC is undertaking cutting-edge, product-based research and focusing on a drive towards the delivery of human therapeutics. It is committed to a vision that is aimed at developing and delivering patient benefits, principally in the area of haematology.
The basic research structure, which comprises a number of platform technologies: adult stem cell research; human embryonic stem cell research and tissue repair, currently plays a role in the haematology program, whilst also contributing vital knowledge to a number of therapeutic areas.
The ASCC is headquartered in Melbourne with two nodes based at Monash University and the University of Queensland. The two nodes are establishing a critical mass of leading national and international researchers that will support the organisation in achieving its vision.
The Centre has links to universities and institutes around Australia including; Monash University, the University of Queensland, the University of New South Wales, the University of Melbourne, the University of Adelaide, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, the Howard Florey Institute, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, the Mater Medical Research Institute, the Baker Medical Research Institute, and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
The ASCC also has a number of commercial collaborations with national and international groups, such as Dairy Collaborative Research Centre (CRC), CRC for Polymers, Millipore, and ES Cell International, Centre for Green Chemistry, Life Cell and Nephrogenix, which allow the centre to access expertise in discrete areas of research as well as provide access to key intellectual property (IP) through licensing agreements.
The ASCC undertakes a range of activities in the international stem cell community: as co-chair of the International Consortium of Stem Cell Networks, which involves building links with the RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology, the Californian Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the Scottish Stem Cell Network and the Stem Cell Network North Rhine Westphalia (Germany). In addition, the ASCC was the premier sponsor for the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting held in Cairns in June 2007, the first time the event has been held outside of North America.
targets for 2007-08
- Ongoing monitoring of the activities and performance of the ASCC
For further information
Phone: + 61 2 6276 1022
Email
May 2008