Introduction Health through Discovery Commitment to research, to our students and to serving the community. The John Curtin School of Medical Research The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) is part of The Australian National University (ANU). It was created in 1948 as a result of the vision of Australian Nobel Laureate Howard Florey and Prime Minister John Curtin. Within 60 years JCSMR scientists have made major discoveries and contributions to world health and won two of Australia’s Nobel Prizes. JCSMR researchers continue to strive towards Florey’s vision of a national medical research school undertaking superlative medical research in fundamental areas. The School is organised into three major research divisions, Molecular Bioscience, Immunology and Genetics, and Neuroscience, each comprised of independent research groups and laboratories. The High Blood Pressure Research Unit is headed by the School’s Director. A unique feature and major strength of JCSMR is the diverse nature of the research programs, including genomics, immunity, gene regulation and cell signalling, neuroscience and integrative physiology. These areas benefit enormously from the potential for mutual interaction and collaboration across Divisions, enabling the School to make important contributions to the understanding of many diseases, including diabetes, cancer, asthma and high blood pressure, infectious disease, hearing, vision and memory. The School is committed to carrying out fundamental research in the sciences that underpin the practice of medicine and to bring clinically useful discoveries into application as soon as possible. In addition, we continue our commitment to training medical researchers of the future, from Australia and overseas. The goals of JCSMR are to: • conduct research of the highest international standard into fundamental life processes and the pathologies of these processes which cause human disease • play a leadership role in medical research in Australia • provide outstanding training in medical research for young scientists and health professionals • apply new knowledge for better health outcomes. The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 1 Table of Contents Introduction to The John Curtin School of Medical Research From the Director. .3 Highlights . 4 JCSMR Structure. 6 Boards and Committees . 7 Research Programs . .9 Division of Immunology and Genetics. .10 Division of Molecular Bioscience. .16 Division of Neuroscience. 24 High Blood Pressure Research Unit. .28 Staff & Student Achievements . 29 Research Collaborations & Visitors . .33 Research Collaborations. 34 Visitors to JCSMR. 43 Staff, Students & Presentations . .45 Division of Immunology and Genetics. .46 Division of Molecular Bioscience. .52 Division of Neuroscience. 56 High Blood Pressure Research Unit. .58 Students. .59 School Administration and Services . 61 Publications. 63 Contact with our Community. .73 Service to Organisations outside JCSMR. .78 Support. 83 Grants. .84 Statistics. .89 Donors. .90 2 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 From the Director I hope you will enjoy the 2007 Annual Review from The John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU which details some of the highlights of the past year. With approximately one third of our staff now settled into new laboratories, construction has begun on Stage II of the new JCSMR building. We continue to attract national and international peer reviewed funding and to mentor and guide postgraduate students through their Honours, Masters and PhD studies. In 2007 many staff and students received significant honours and awards. These included the Ramaciotti Research Award to Professor Chris Goodnow and Dr Anselm Enders, a NSW/ACT Young Tall Poppy award to Dr Carola Vinuesa and the Alan and Elizabeth Finkel Prize to Dr Charani Ranasinghe. A more extensive list of highlights from 2007 can be found on pages four and five of this review. We were delighted to welcome Professor Bruce Stillman back to JCSMR in March to receive the Curtin Medal for Excellence in Medical Research. Professor Stillman was a student at the school in the 1970s, carrying out his PhD studies in the Department of Microbiology with Dr Alan Bellett. He is now the Director and President of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, USA. In November, we celebrated the life, work and retirement of Emeritus Professor Frank Fenner, with the 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference in his honour. Professor Fenner has been with the School since its inception, when he was appointed Professor of Microbiology in 1949. He was Director of The John Curtin School from 1967 to 1973, during which time he was also Chairman of the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication. Included amongst his many honours are the Japan Prize (1988), the Albert Einstein World Award for Science (2000) and the Prime Minsters Prize for Science (2002). He will maintain close ties with the School through our Alumni and Friends Association, and through the annual presentation of The Fenner Medal for the most outstanding thesis submitted in JCSMR each year. Our staff and students will continue to strive towards Howard Florey’s vision of a national medical research institute carrying out basic fundamental research, excellence in research, and training the medical researchers of the future. Judith A Whitworth The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 3 Selected Highlights 2007 Building Progress • Stage I of the new JCSMR building, now complete and occupied, received a National Royal Institute of Architects Public Building Award. Following demolition of Wing C of the original building, work began on construction of Stage II. Currently progressing on time, Stage II is expected to be completed late in 2008 for occupation in February 2009. Stage II will house research laboratories and school scientific support units, including histology, microscopy and multimedia facilities. Chair of WHO Global ACHR reappointed • Director of JCSMR, Professor Judith Whitworth was reappointed Chair of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Health Research (ACHR). Mathison Oration Medal • Professor Judith Whitworth was invited to present the 23rd Mathison Oration at The University of Melbourne, in which she outlined some of the key health research discoveries of the 20th century. Eccles Institute established • During the year, JCSMR scientists were closely involved with the establishment of the Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, an ANU campus-wide virtual neuroscience consortium. Frank Fenner retirement conference • In November, the 12th Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference celebrated the life, work and retirement of Emeritus Professor Frank Fenner. Professor Fenner was appointed Professor of Microbiology at JCSMR in 1949. He was Director of the School from 1967 to 1973, during which time he was also Chairman of the Global Commission for the Certification of the Eradication of Smallpox. The conference was attended by many of Professor Fenner’s former colleagues, including Nobel Laureates Professor Peter Doherty and Professor Rolf Zinkernagel. Understanding the ageing process • Professor Chris Goodnow and his Oxford University collaborator Professor Richard Cornall were able to demonstrate that ageing results from progressive incorporation of DNA errors into the body’s stem cells, causing these stem cells to gradually lose their regenerative capacity. The study emerged from the team’s discovery of a unique mouse model for a human childhood disorder that causes stunted growth and defects in the immune and blood systems. Neuroscience research receives a boost • Research in the Division of Neuroscience will be significantly boosted by the purchase of a $300,000 long wavelength ‘pulsed’ laser for a new two-photon facility for both in vitro and in vivo live cell imaging. Investigation of genetic mechanisms regulating immunity • JCSMR investigators Professor Chris Goodnow, Dr Carola Vinuesa, Dr Edward Bertram and Associate Professor Guna Karupiah received major five year international grants from the Wellcome Trust and the National Institutes of Health to lead international consortia revealing new mechanisms and genes regulating immunity to infection and autoimmunity. They will employ strategies for genetic analysis of the immune system pioneered at JCSMR in the last 10 years. 4 The John Curtin School of Medical Research Annual Review 2007 Highlights 2007 National Centre for Biosecurity expands • The National Centre for Biosecurity, led by JCSMR researcher Professor Ian Ramshaw, and administered in collaboration with University of NSW, expanded to include 45 members. Ramaciotti Major Research Award • In November, Dr Anselm Enders and Professor Chris Goodnow won a Ramaciotti Foundation Major Research Award of $1M to establish a new Ramaciotti Immunisation Genomics Laboratory which will research genetic issues around vaccines. JDRF Special Program Grant • Professor Christopher Parish and his JCSMR Colleagues Dr Charmaine Simeonovic, Dr Gerard Hoyne, Dr Craig Freeman and Dr Sudha Rao were awarded a $3M Special Program Grant from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the NHMRC. This five year award enables a new line of research into the cause and possible treatment of diabetes. Curtin Medal • The Curtin Medal was presented to Professor Bruce Stillman. Professor Stillman, who completed his PhD studies at JCSMR in 1979, is currently the Director and President of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, USA. His research