Annual Report Report 2012 / 2013 2018 stemcellsaustralia.edu.au Contents Message from the Chairman 4 Message from the Program Leader 5 Positioning Australian Stem Cell Research for the Future 6 Stem Cells Australia Highlights 7 Research Performance 8 Postgraduate Completions 9 Patents 10 Research Training and Capacity Building 11 Extending the Network 13 Knowledge Transfer 14 Sharing our Stem Cell Stories 15 Research Program 16 Regenerative Medicine 17 Disease Modelling 18 Designer Cells 19 Research Services 20 Engagement, Ethics and Policy Program 21 Leadership and Governance 22 Our People 26 Performance Tables 37 Appendices 39 Finance 74 stemcellsaustralia.edu.au 3 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA BRINGS TOGETHER AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER LIFE SCIENTISTS TO TACKLE THE BIG QUESTIONS IN STEM CELL SCIENCE. Vision Statement To apply our understanding of stem cells to harness their potential for diagnostic, therapeutic and biotechnological purposes. stemcellsaustralia.edu.au 4 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Message from the Chairman In the short space of two decades, stem cell science has become a tool used universally and applied in hundreds of clinical, scientific and practical ways. We are proud of the contributions made by Stem Cells Australia’s researchers in these advances. This will be the final annual Many of the articles from SCA have appeared in leading report from Stem Cells peer reviewed journals. Eight postgraduate students Australia (SCA). It has completed their studies and we wish them well as they been a privilege to get embark on the next stage of their careers. The newly to know the leadership formed Early Career Researcher (ECR) committee team of SCA for the past grew in 2018, emphasised the value of mentoring, year, working on two and created the successful ECR Exchange Platform fronts: to ensure that to enable PhD students and post-docs to exchange there is a clear legacy of between laboratories to learn new methods and research excellence and promote networking and career development. public involvement at the 2018 also saw the International Society for Stem Cell highest level, and that Research Annual Meeting in Melbourne, and SCA this is transformed into a research was well represented in the plenary and invited commitment to stem cell speakers. In partnership with the National Stem Cell science by Government Foundation of Australia (NSCFA) and the Australasian and the community. Can I, from the start, thank Melissa Society for Stem Cell Research, SCA ran a successful Little, Christine Wells and Megan Munsie for their Public Forum with over 350 attendees, providing a inspired leadership of SCA, and also thank Graeme unique opportunity for 20 ECR Ambassadors to share Blackman, Jane Halton and Michelle Haber for joining their stem cell research with the public. the Independent Board with me to work for a future vision of active, well supported and relevant stem cell SCA also played a major role in community education, research in Australia. where Megan Munsie hosted community forums and created tailored resources for healthcare professionals For SCA, 2018 was a year of repositioning and growing. and their patients about potential stem cell treatments. Through additional funding from the Australian SCA has also provided expertise and commentary on Research Council, SCA was able to shift the research policies about advancing stem cell research into clinical focus from discovering how to regulate stem cells to practice and continued to be a leading innovator in applying our knowledge to harness their potential for patient advocacy, something that I believe is essential in diagnostic, therapeutic and biotechnological purposes. the future. The strong scientific leadership shown by Melissa Little and Christine Wells was integral in securing allocated As this will be the final report, it is appropriate that funding from the Federal Department of Health to we congratulate every person associated with Stem create national teams of experts for specific diseases Cells Australia. It has been a privilege to be the Chair in 2018 and beyond. Looking to the future, SCA also of the new Independent Board, but the honours go to grew its network nationally and internationally and now every scientist and clinician, every helper, and every includes ten universities and eight medical research patient who has aided SCA in taking the field forward. institutes, with more than 330 researchers across I hope that we will see yet more support for stem cell Australia. science over the coming decade, to ensure Australia can continue to be a major player internationally for The importance of SCA rests on the quality of its the benefit of our academics, our industries and our science. This report shows that during 2018, SCA patients. researchers were recognised by prestigious awards and invitations to present their work at numerous national Professor Bob Williamson and international meetings. Chairman, Independent Board stemcellsaustralia.edu.au 5 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Message from the Program Leader After eight years of support from the Australian Research Council, and after another great year of outcomes, I am pleased to present this final Annual Report from Stem Cells Australia. Across the duration of our I commend Jose Polo, who was awarded an ARC Future funding from the ARC, Fellowship, Richard Harvey on his NSW’s Premier Prize we have graduated in and Enzo Porrello and Heather Lee on their Metcalf excess of 50 PhD students, Prizes, which recognise exceptional mid-career stem published more than 950 cell researchers. stem cell manuscripts and In 2018 we welcomed 23 new Investigators to the secured more than $120 network, bringing in leading experts in bioengineering, million in research funding. nanotechnology, stem cell biology, advanced molecular This year we welcomed analysis and clinical research into the initiative. $3 million funding from Within the network itself, there has been considerable the Federal Department effort put in around networking, communication and of Health via the Medical scientific strategy. Helen Braybrook has brilliantly Research Future Fund managed SCA’s website and social media content, as Accelerated Research well as provided sound support to events that highlight Program, to build national our science. This year we welcomed Verity McDonald teams of experts to take stem cell research from the and Lauren Hill to the SCA Management Team, and laboratory into the clinic. farewelled Sandani Udabage, thanking her for her The network prepared for future horizons both valuable work since joining the initiative in 2014. I thank around stem cell-based synthetic biology, with the the members of the National Steering Committee for development of a Centre of Excellence bid, and their input and our Independent Board for their insight around stem cell medicine, with a recent application and support. I would particularly note the enthusiasm for national funding from the Australian Government and engagement of the early career researchers, ably Frontiers in Health and Medicine Program. represented by Aude Dorison. Nationally, the past year has been a big one for stem I cannot end without thanking the tireless and cell research in Australia. Melbourne hosted the 2018 dedicated efforts of Christine Wells and Megan Munsie. International Society for Stem Cell Research Annual Christine, as Deputy Program Leader, not only led Meeting and Stem Cells Australia research was very the thinking, planning and execution of the Centre of well represented; Jane Visvader and Patrick Tam were Excellence proposal but has always had my back for on the Plenary podium, and Andrew Elefanty, Peter everything that has needed to be achieved. Megan has Currie, Enzo Porrello and Jose Polo were invited to continued to lead internationally in ethics, engagement speak during the meeting. Over 20 of our members and policy and constantly managed the outward face of were also selected to present their research, following Stem Cells Australia. a competitive application process. We were honoured As we approach the end of this Special Research to see our very own Megan Munsie awarded the 2018 Initiative, I am proud to be able to say that the ISSCR Public Service Award, in recognition of her investment of the ARC has prepared the field of stem outstanding contributions of public service to the fields cells for a future in regenerative medicine, disease of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. modelling and designer cells both in Australia and Indeed, SCA members continue to be the recipients of internationally. As such, Stem Cells Australia will have a many prestigious awards, and I offer my congratulations lasting impact on the future of medicine. to them all. Professor Melissa Little Program Leader stemcellsaustralia.edu.au 6 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Positioning Australian Stem Cell Research for the Future Stem Cells Australia welcomed $3 million from the Medical Research Future Fund Accelerated Research Program, to build national teams of experts to take stem cell research from the laboratory into the clinic. Stem cell science has now advanced to the stage where Two initial projects will focus on using stem cells to test it can impact future medical treatments. We can now new ways to save the sight of children with rare genetic start to use stem cells to assess whether a new drug or defects that slowly cause blindness, and to pioneer gene therapy is safe and effective, as well as explore how new approaches for the treatment of congenital heart to repair parts of the body through stem cell therapy. disease. Stem Cells Australia’s expert teams of clinicians and scientists will be supported by partnerships with key Australian charities including Genetic Cures Australia and HeartKids. Receiving this funding was possible through the one- year extension of ARC funding granted in 2017, which has enabled Stem Cells Australia to reposition its research portfolio to be ready for medical applications. Additional research teams will be announced in 2019.