OSMR E-Newsletter

Tuesday, 24th November 2009

OSMR E-Newsletter

Welcome

Issue No. 6 - December 2007

In this issue:

World's best and brightest head to NSW
13 young scientists recognised for their diverse research
Christopher Reeve inspires network for spinal cord injury research
Submissions sought for review of NSW spinal injury grants program
Vascular biologist wins $10,000 Eureka Award
Designing and Conducting Clinical Trials Course offered
NSW Government establishes chair in traditional chinese medicine
Science Communications Initiative launched
Conference and event funding offered
NSW Making Headlines
NSW Research News
Students solve murder in Parliament House
Calendar of Events

Minister's Message

Welcome to the final issue of the NSW Office for Science and Medical Research e-newsletter for 2007.

Since becoming Minister in March this year, I have visited a large number of science and medical research facilities across NSW. This has fuelled my commitment to advocate within Government and to the business sector and broader community on the importance and value of the scientific endeavour.

I am proud to say that the NSW Government has delivered some impressive outcomes during 2007 that will benefit the science and medical research sectors as well as industry and innovation sectors in NSW in years to come.

The State's $500,000 contribution helped establish a multiple sclerosis (MS) brain bank, one of only a few dedicated MS banks worldwide - media release (pdf).
$500,000 in NSW grant funding to encourage the State's scientists to expand stem cell research following the passing of NSW legislation which will allow therapeutic cloning and other techniques to address infertility and major diseases - media release (pdf).
Operation of the $40 million NSW Science Leveraging Fund (SLF) to help NSW researchers attract national and international investment to NSW. The first investments from the SLF will see over $125 million in Commonwealth funding flow to NSW through Commonwealth research programs and will increase capability in areas such as biofuels, advanced materials research and fabrication, genomics, proteomics, microscopy, manufacturing, biotechnology and renewable energy, as well as finance and insurance sector research and development - media release (pdf).
$600,000 to accelerate the establishment of the National Institute of Complementary Medicine based at the University of Western Sydney in addition to the establishment of a Joint Chair in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Universities of Sydney and Western Sydney - media release (pdf)
A $1 million investment in the NSW Clinical Trials Business Development Centre to enable further growth of the State's rapidly maturing clinical trials sector
$600,000 towards the establishment of the Australia New Zealand Spinal Cord Injury Network to accelerate and internationalise research into spinal cord injury and related neurological conditions - media release (pdf).

I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you that the NSW Government has initiated a Parliamentary Inquiry into nanotechnology (pdf) in order to better understand its potential risks and benefits. The Inquiry will be conducted by the Legislative Council Committee for State Development and will conclude on 31 October 2008. The Inquiry represents the Government's strong commitment to informed, educated and balanced debate on issues of importance to the Community.

I look forward to continuing my work with the science and medical research communities in 2008.

Verity Firth
Minister for Science and Medical Research


News		Announcements

World's best and brightest head to NSW

The State Government has successfully encouraged some of the world’s ‘best and brightest’ minds to relocate to NSW, build international research teams and continue their promising research. NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, Verity Firth, said the Life Science Research Awards, a NSW Government ‘brain gain’ program, is fulfilling its mission of attracting leading international researchers to the State.

From the planets to the seas: 13 young scientists recognised for their diverse research

NSW'S best best young scientists were honoured in the annual NSW/ACT Young Tall Poppy Science Awards on 18 October, which recognised the achievements of 13 outstanding young scientists who are making world class progress in their chosen fields. Minister for Science and Medical Research, Verity Firth, announced this year's awards, stating that the purpose of the awards is to recognise some of the brilliant, young “intellectual stars” behind the success of leading research institutes, hospitals, and universities in NSW.

Christopher Reeve inspires network for spinal cord injury research

The Australia New Zealand Spinal Cord Injury Network (ANZSCIN) was officially launched by Verity Firth, Minister for Science and Medical Research, in November 2007. The Network aims to build on the earlier work championed by the late Christopher Reeve during his visit to Making Connections, the NSW Premier’s Forum on Spinal Cord Injury and Conditions, held in Sydney in 2003. A further $11 million has also been committed over the next four years commencing in 2007/08, bringing the NSW Government's total commitment to research in spinal cord injury and neurological conditions to $22 million.

Submissions sought for review of NSW spinal injury grants program

OSMR is calling for submissions as part of a review of the NSW Spinal Cord Injury and Related Neurological Conditions Research Grants Program which provides competitive research funding to NSW researchers in the area of spinal cord injury and related neurological conditions. The review will examine program objectives, funding guidelines, eligibility and selection criteria in the context of the NSW Medical Research Plan (pdf) and the NSW State Plan.

Vascular biologist wins $10,000 Eureka Award

The 2007 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes saw Professor Levon Khachigian take out the NSW Office for Science and Medical Research Jamie Callachor Eureka Prize for Medical Research. Professor Khachigian’s work involved the development of DNAzymes and other small molecule inhibitors, potential drugs which may have far reaching therapeutic effects on the treatment of cardiovascular disease and other conditions involving abnormal growth and inflammation.

Designing and Conducting Clinical Trials Course offered

A 3 to 5 day intensive course on Designing and Conducting Clinical Trials will be held in Sydney in February 2008. Presented by Professor James Talcott from the Harvard Medical School in collaboration with the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre and experts from NSW research institutes, the course will provide an intensive introduction to the theoretical and practical issues facing clinical researchers who will learn how to conceptualise, plan, develop and execute effective clinical trials.

NSW Government Initatives

NSW Government establishes Joint Chair in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Premier Morris Iemma has announced the establishment of a Joint Chair in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) [link to press release] during a trade mission to Guangdong, China in November 2007. The Joint Chair, to be held by the Universities of Sydney and Western Sydney, will help build the scientific evidence base for TCM. It will also strategically position NSW to attract national and international funds for research and clinical trials in complementary and integrative medicine and associated manufacturing opportunities.

The Premier also announced a new partnership between NSW and China to research and develop traditional Chinese medicines for the multi-billion dollar complementary medicine market. The Australia-China Centre for Research in Chinese Medicines, a joint collaboration between the University of Sydney and Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, will undertake research in Chinese medicines, with a focus on treating major diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Science Communications Initiative launched

A new initiative which aims to increase recognition of the contribution science makes to our everyday life was launched in October 2007 by Verity Firth, Minister for Science and Medical Research. The Science Communications Initiative will support the State Plan and Innovation Statement, helping to create links between schools, business, TAFE, and Universities to provide students with information about their future career opportunities. Announced at the same time, the new NSW Scientist of the Year Award will recognise outstanding NSW scientists undertaking research that addresses state-significant challenges or problems.

Conference and event funding offered

OSMR makes available each year a small amount of funds to support conferences and events. Assessed against key selection criteria, applications are considered in rounds during the course of the financial year. To be considered in future rounds in 2008, applications need to be lodged by 18 January 2008 and 18 April 2008.

NSW Making Headlines

NSW Research News

Guerilla bees cheat their way to royalty (ABC News Online)
The revolutionary-style activity of a type of honey bee has dealt a blow to the image of insects working co-operatively to benefit the colony.

Aussies make infant cancer breakthrough (news.com.au)
Australian researchers have pinpointed proteins that lead to the development of a cancer found mainly in infants, the New South Wales Government says.

Seahorses released into Sydney Harbour (ABC News Online)
The Sydney Aquarium has released 30 seahorses bred in captivity into Sydney Harbour as part of an Australian-first study to try to boost their numbers, but it is concerned poachers may intervene.

Found: switch to turn off hunger (Sydney Morning Herald)
Sydney researchers have discovered how to switch on and off a molecule which controls hunger. It could produce rapid weight loss in the morbidly obese and prevent the extreme weight loss that weakens and kills patients with end-stage cancer.

Drink milk to 'prevent cancer spread' (Sydney Morning Herald)
Milk could be the secret weapon in stopping cancer spreading throughout the body, researchers from Anzac Research Institute believe.

CSIRO & Royal North Shore Hospital
Biological markers that identify aggressive brain tumours discovered

Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute
Premier opens new schizophrenia research laboratory as part of $11 million research partnership (pdf)

Southern Cross University
Researcher finds that birds are learning how to eat cane toads

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
Internal organs and tissues able to be viewed in 3-D without cutting open organisms

Science EXPOsed

Calendar of Events

Students learn to solve murders in Parliament House

High school students visit exhibitors during Science Exposed at Hyde Park Barracks A forensics workshop was one of over 25 exhibitions, shows and activities that took place at this year's enormously popular Science EXPOsed, where more than 1,600 students from 64 high schools in NSW became immersed in discovering the array of career opportunities available in science.

Minister Verity Firth, Minister for Science and Medical Research, called on our nation to "encourage young people to follow a scientific career" to enable their generation to "cope with the challenges of the future" when she launched the 2007 two-day festival of science, engineering and technology at Hyde Park Barracks on 18 October.

Sydney's earliest colonial buildings on Macquarie Street, Sydney – Parliament House, the Mint, and Hyde Park Barracks – were venues for some of the newest ideas and technologies available. Science Expo exhibits from New South Wales' leading science and medical research institutions included hands-on displays of heart research, sport and science, astrobiology, food science technology, police forensics, physics and photonics.

The Young Tall Poppy Science Awards were also presented to thirteen outstanding, young scientists at an event at NSW Parliament House on 18 October 2007.

22–25 Jan 2008
Australasian Computer Science Week 2008

7-12 Feb 2008
Designing & Conducting Clinical Trials Course (pdf)

10–13 Feb 2008
Australia and New Zealand Biocontrol Conference 2008

13 Feb 2008
The Aging Brain Public Seminar

25–29 Feb 2008
International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2008 (ICONN 2008)

29–31 Mar 2008
3rd International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research

21-23 May 2008
Cooperative Research Centres Association Annual Conference 2008

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