Annual Report Report 20132012 / 2013 stemcellsaustralia.edu.au 2 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2013 “STEM CELL SCIENCE IS AN EXTREMELY FAST MOVING FIELD WITH NEW APPLICATIONS BEING REPORTED WORLDWIDE ON A DAILY BASIS” Professor David de Kretser Chairman Supported by: Our Partners: Cover image: Neuronal precursor cells (Lincon Stamp, UoM) stemcellsaustralia.edu.au 3 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2013 Vision statement: To discover how to regulate stem cells in order to harness their potential for therapeutic purposes and to generate economically valuable biotechnologies. Contents Chairman’s Report 4 Program Leader’s Report 5 Highlights 6 Research Programs 8 Education, Ethics, Law and Community Awareness Unit 13 Research Support 16 Leadership and Governance 18 Our People 22 Management Report 31 Performance 32 Awards and Scholarships 35 Publications 36 Conference Participation 44 Participation in Community Events 49 Media Coverage 50 Pei Er and Xaoli Chen networking at the Annual Retreat Financial Statement 51 stemcellsaustralia.edu.au 4 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2013 Chairman’s Report Stem Cells Australia is a Special Research Initiative in Stem Cells Australia core researchers are building international Stem Cell Science launched in 2011 and funded by the collaboration supported by: Australian Research Council that brings together expert • a Department of Foreign Affairs researchers in this field from across the country and and Trade grant to foster encourages international collaboration. collaborative workshops with Kyoto University’s Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), and • the Fondation Leducq Transatlantic Networks of Excellence grant was awarded for research into adult cardiac stem cells In 2013, Stem Cells Australia established a strategic fund to foster further collaboration between partners and provide the opportunity to bring in new collaborators to join our research community. The first round of strategic funding was This collaboration includes researchers and participating awarded to four new projects that scientists from The University members, Stem Cells Australia has fit within our existing research of Melbourne, The University of established a website and quarterly themes. Further information can Queensland, University of New newsletter, facilitating access to the be found on our website. South Wales, Victor Chang Cardiac most recent findings and upcoming Research Institute, Walter and Eliza conferences and workshops. In 2013 we announced four new Hall Institute of Medical Research, affiliate memberships, and we look 2013 also saw the establishment Florey Institute of Neuroscience and forward to announcing new affiliate of our core facilities, providing Mental Health, Monash University, memberships over the coming year, support to the scientific research and the CSIRO Material Science and as well as welcoming more visiting community. These include: Engineering Division. international fellows. • Stemformatics - a collaboration During 2013, our interdisciplinary Stem cell science is an extremely between the stem cell and research into stem cell science fast moving field of research with bioinformatics communities based developed an understanding of the new applications being reported at the University of Queensland. potential roles of stem cells in a on an almost daily basis increasing Stemformatics provides a fast range of diseases arising from cell the likelihood of therapeutic way for biologists to find and damage. These included Multiple visualise interesting genes. developments. Our 2013 research Sclerosis, (damage of insulating publications have provided impact covers of nerve cells in the brain and • StemCore laboratories - based to the broader community through spinal cord ); heart attack (death at the University of Queensland knowledge transfer in a number of cardiac muscle cells), and Down and The University of Melbourne, of key areas as we gain further Syndrome as well as a host of other provides support for pluripotent understanding of cell differentiation. very real and debilitating diseases stem cell culture for our The collaborative effort of scientists such as bone marrow and blood Queensland, NSW and Victorian- in Stem Cells Australia places the disorders. Our results have also based researchers. Australian scientific community at contributed to the understanding • Flow Cytometry - the Melbourne the world’s leading edge of research of how an artificial scaffold may be Brain Centre at The University of in this important field. I commend the used to grow a new kidney. Melbourne - provides purpose- work of Stem Cells Australia to you. To promote interactions and built core facilities for use by our information sharing between members and other interested researchers. Professor David de Kretser stemcellsaustralia.edu.au 5 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2013 Program Leader’s Report Stem cell research and regenerative medicine is a rapidly growing field that is now reaching application in the clinic, as new cell therapies enter early stage trials. Human stem cells are also coming During our first years of operation, into wide use as a key research our researchers have contributed to platform for disease modeling, major scientific studies published functional genomics, and drug in Cell, Cell Stem Cell, Nature discovery. Stem Cells Australia Biotechnology, Immunity, Nature aims to keep Australian science on Cell Biology, and the Journal of Cell the forefront of this revolution in Biology. Some of the key advances biomedicine. include the characterisation of genetic and epigenetic stability Research in the Stem Cells Australia of human pluripotent stem consortium focuses on four areas of cells, molecular mechanisms of stem cell biology: cell reprogramming, efficient • pluripotent stem cells, or stem methodology for differentiation of cells that can turn into any tissue human pluripotent stem cells into in the body neural cells, discovery of stem cells in the heart, novel pathways for • regeneration and repair in the regulation of blood cell formation, brain and production of kidney cells • regeneration and repair in the from embryonic stem cells. Inside Public outreach is also a significant heart this annual report you will find part of Stem Cells Australia’s work. • the hematopoietic system, which more detailed information on our In 2013, Stem Cells Australia has generates the cells of the blood publications in peer-reviewed increased its activities in analysing journals, and presentations at and commenting on regulatory Interwoven throughout these four international meetings. policy related to the operation of biological themes are platform In addition to research, we clinics offering unproven stem cell technologies in bioengineering, have organised and sponsored therapies, a major area of concern nanotechnology and material workshops to promote education for the field. We have developed sciences, and bioinformatics. and collaboration, including theme resources on stem cell therapies for This multidisciplinary capability workshops within our consortium. Medical Practitioners, and worked provides our researchers with We have established a formal with the National Health and powerful new tools to tackle both collaboration with iCeMS at the Medical Research Council (NHMRC) the fundamental and practical University of Kyoto and have held in their production of informational challenges that we face in this scientific exchanges with scientists material on stem cell treatments. field. We are now expanding our there. Our Annual Retreat in 2013 Although stem cell research network of scientists through the highlighted the excellent science and regenerative medicine is appointment of Affiliate Members, across the network, and our more competitive than ever, renowned experts who are currently outstanding Scientific Advisory our network of interdisciplinary collaborating with our investigators, Committee members attended researchers is well placed to or working in closely related fields. to present talks and to provide make the breakthroughs that will This year we established a Strategic us with important feedback on raise Australia’s profile to one of Fund to promote collaborative our activities. Along with industry international leaders in the field. interdisciplinary work on highly and academic partners, we have We are looking forward to a very innovative new projects throughout sponsored a number of key exciting year in stem cell science. the network. scientific international meetings, including The Abcam Conference on Cancer and Stem Cells, and the Professor Martin Pera Bio21 cluster/ SCA conference on the Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells, both held in Melbourne. stemcellsaustralia.edu.au 6 STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2013 Highlights During 2013 members of Stem Cells Australia continued to make a substantial contribution to stem cell science. Research Performance Research Outputs International Exposure Other highlights Members contributed to over Members were invited speakers at Members were part of research 130 publications including book numerous international meetings teams awarded NHMRC Project chapters, conference proceedings including: grants; ARC Discovery Grants and articles in peer-reviewed and funding to establish a High • Cardiac Biology: From journals including: Throughput Cell Genomics Centre. Development to Regenerative • Cell Stem Cell Medicine conference at EMBL Researchers also received Heidelberg, Germany, prestigious awards including: