Science and Medical Research Minister opens Medical Research Week

Medical Research Week was celebrated across the country from 1-8 June 2007 with a series of events organised by the Australian Society for Medical Research. Opening the NSW Scientific Meeting on 4 June, Minister for Science and Medical Research Verity Firth expressed her admiration for the work being carried out in labs across NSW and encouraged young people to pursue a career in medical research.

“My recent visits to leading research institutes have brought me into contact with some of the most dedicated and truly life-changing individuals in this State,” said Minister Firth. “That is why organisations such as the Australian Society for Medical Research and events like Medical Research Week are so important, not only to the research sector but to the wider community.”

The Minister has been visiting the medical research sector, starting with the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research new premises in Randwick. The Institute’s new building will be constructed at the University of NSW as the first stage of a multi-stage development of the University’s biomedical campus.

At her subsequent visit to the Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, also in the process of a major upgrade, the Minister learned from Professor Chris Semsarian about the sudden death, often during sports, of otherwise healthy young people due to unexpected cardiac arrest.

With no warning signs or symptoms, many young people have no idea they have genetically-determined heart conditions. Professor Semsarian’s research group are investigating the causes of this genetic heart disorder and are trying to determine how to detect these conditions before it is too late.

The Minister has also visited and met with key staff of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

Photos: Associate Professor Barbara Fazekas and tech support Rob Salomon demonstrate flow cytometry to Minister Verity Firth at the Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology (top); Chris Semsarian shows Minister Firth the inside of a human heart (bottom).