mimr-phi institute MIMR-PHI Institute has been renamed Hudson Institute of Medical Research
winter | 2015
hudson institute of medical research new institute name honours the late bryan hudson
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES & INCREASED HIV RISK PAGE 6
RESEARCHER’S CONCERN OVER three PARENT ivf PAGE 8
3d BIO PRINTER to revolutionise hudson research PAGE 10
10th anniversary of ride for research PAGE 12
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director’s message
S ”
I am very pleased to announce that as of 14 May, the Institute will be named Hudson Institute of Medical Research. This name was chosen to honour the late Professor Bryan Hudson, a worldclass medical researcher who was instrumental to the early origins of both of the Institute’s founding partners, MIMR and PHI.
”
©2015 HUDSON News articles may be reproduced, acknowledging the source. Editor: Claire Dellora; Design: Sue Panckridge Hudson Institute of Medical Research
ince Prince Henry’s
and Founder of Prince Henry’s
recently been awarded high
Institute (PHI) and the
Institute. His legacy exemplifies
honours. Professor Euan
Monash Institute of
the values to which the Institute
Wallace, co-head of The Ritchie
Medical Research (MIMR) joined
aspires. An article about Professor
Centre, has
forces in January 2014, we have
Hudson’s esteemed career can be
been awarded
been known by the interim
found within this newsletter.
a fellowship of
name ‘MIMR-PHI Institute’,
I would like to thank you
the Australian
which allowed time to establish
for responses to last year’s
Academy
the vision and strategy for
donor survey. Your feedback is
the organisation. We have
invaluable at this crucial stage in
and Medical Sciences, a
been working closely with our
the Institute’s history, as we plan
council established in 2014
staff to identify a new name
for the next five years and review
by leading health experts to
and branding identity for the
how we allocate our resources
provide independent advice to
Institute to reflect this vision.
and communicate our research
government, industry and the
I am very pleased to
with our supporters. I was very
community
announce that as of 14 May, the
pleased to hear that so many
on medical
Institute will be named Hudson
of you care deeply about the
practice and
Institute of Medical Research.
Institute’s research. You asked
research.
This name was chosen to
for more cancer stories and to
Professors
honour the late Professor Bryan
support specific research projects,
John Funder
Hudson, who was instrumental
and we will endeavour to ensure
and Peter
to the early origins of both
that we bring you the most
Fuller received
PHI and MIMR. As a world-
relevant information to best meet
2015 Australia
class medical researcher and
your needs. We will now be able
Day honours.
educational leader, he was a
to find more people like you who
Professor
respected mentor to the early
are motivated to support medical
Fuller,
founders of both organisations.
research.
Associate Director of the
Professor Hudson was Chair
I would also like to
Institute and Head of its
of the Monash University
acknowledge three of the
Centre for Endocrinology
Department of Medicine
Institute’s leaders who have
and Metabolism, has been
of Health
recognised with an AM for significant service to medicine as an endocrinologist, through contributions to medical
tel: +61 3 9902 4700 email: info@hudson.org.au web: www.hudson.org.au
research. Professor Funder, a
Front cover photo: MHTP Translation Research Facility, due for completion in October 2015.
eminent service to medicine,
Distinguished Scientist of the Institute, was awarded an AC for particularly to cardiovascular endocrinology, as a renowned researcher, author and educator, to the development of academic health science centres.
^ MIMR-PHI’s Professor Terry Johns has received $2.8M from the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation in support of the Brain Cancer Discovery Collaborative (BCDC).
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The Federal Government’s annual National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding distribution was announced in late 2014. The Institute performed very well, despite a drop in project grant funding to just 14.9 per cent of applications, the lowest in our history. The Institute ranked third among all independent medical research institutes in project grants awarded. Deputy Head of The Ritchie Centre, Associate Professor Caroline Gargett, has received significant funding for her project focusing on the clinical translation of a cell-based therapy for pelvic organ prolapse. Associate Professor Tim Moss was awarded a grant supporting his project ‘Human amnion epithelial cell therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia’. You
National health & medical research council - Project Grants Ashley Mansell and Julie McAuley: “PB1-F2 is critical to Influenza A virus pathogenicity through activation of the inflammasome” Brendan Jenkins, Gary Anderson and Stefan Rose-John: “The molecular basis by which the interleukin-6 cytokine promotes emphysema” Caroline Gargett and James Deane:“Progenitor origin and regulation in endometrial regeneration” Caroline Gargett, Jerome Werkmeister, John Arkwright and Anna Rosamilia: “Towards clinical translation of a cell-based therapy for pelvic organ prolapse” Craig Harrison, Paul Gregorevic, David Roberston and Matthew Gillespie: “Physiological consequences of the loss of inhibin activity” Flora Wong, Rosemary Horne and Stephanie Yiallourou: “In what position should we be sleeping preterm infants in the NICU?”
can review all our successful grants in this story. Additionally, the Institute’s outstanding research has been rewarded with three grants from the Cancer Council Victoria, as well as funding from the National Heart Foundation, US Department of Defense, Cerebral Palsy Alliance and the Victorian Cancer Agency. The Cure Brain Cancer Foundation has provided Professor Terry Johns with a further $2.8 million, which will transform the translational research in his Brain Cancer Discovery Collaborative. This funding solidifies our position as one of Melbourne’s top medical research institutes.
Professor Bryan Williams Institute Director
Graeme Polglase, Suzanne Miller, Arvind Sehgal, Beth Allison and Atul Malhotra: “Reducing morbidities in preterm growth restricted neonates” John Hirst (The University of Newcastle) and David Walker: “Perinatal stress leads to neurosteroid deficits and adverse behavioural outcomes” Julian Rood (Monash University) and Paul Hertzog: “Host-pathogen interactions in clostridial myonecrosis” Karla Hutt and Richard Anderson: “The role of Bid in apoptosis within the ovary” Katherine Loveland and Patrick Western: “Activin control of the male germline for reproductive health” Michael Gantier and Richard Ferrero: “Defining a role for TLR7/8 in Helicobacter pylori infection”
Paul Hertzog and Timothy Ravasi: “Regulatory systems in the innate immune response” Rebecca Lim, Euan Wallace, Daniel Chambers and James Pearson: “Bronchopulmonary dysplasia – a regenerative medicine approach” Richard Ferrero and Ivo Boneca: “NOD1 sensing of H. pylori peptidoglycan promotes cell survival and bacterial persistence” Suzanne Miller, Graham Jenkin and Michael Fahey: “Cord blood stem cells for cerebral palsy” Timothy Moss, Rebecca Lim, Graeme Polglase and Jane Pillow: “Human amnion epithelial cell therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia” Research and Career Fellowships Alison West: “Toll-like receptor 2 signalling as a potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer” Katherine Loveland: “Developmental switches in spermatogenesis” Richard Ferrero: “Dissecting the role of NODlike receptors (NLRs) in Helicobacter pylori disease” Samuel Forster: “Integrated system wide characterization of microbiota and host factors influencing intestinal colonization resistance to the healthcare pathogen Clostridium difficile” Post Graduate Research Fellowships Moya Vandeleur: “The impact of sleep disturbance on daytime functioning, mood and quality of life in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis” Yao Wang: “HtrA4-induced endothelial dysfunction in early-onset preeclampsia”
Paul Gregorevic (Baker IDI), Craig Harrison and David de Kretser: “Targeting activin to combat life threatening cancer cachexia”
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New Institute name honours the late Bryan Hudson
M
IMR-PHI Institute
ensuring its direct impact on
He was also an internationally
born worldwide. Trounson
has been renamed
the community,” said Professor
renowned endocrinologist;
went on to lead the team that
‘Hudson Institute of
Williams.
serving as the President of
discovered human embryonic
the International Endocrine
stem cells and to pioneer their
Society (1980-1984) and
applications in human medicine.
becoming President of the
Hudson eventually went on to
Royal Australasian College of
join the company founded by
Physicians (1982-1984).
Trounson and Wood, Monash
Medical Research’ to honour the late Professor Bryan Hudson, and to recognise the shared histories of its two founding partners, the Monash Institute of Medical Research (MIMR) and Prince Henry’s Institute (PHI).
He was a respected mentor to some of the early founders of MIMR and PHI. He recruited key medical and scientific staff, integral to the histories of the two Institutes, including: Professor Henry Burger,
IVF, as the Chief Scientific Hudson was a key member
Officer. Trounson says that the
of a World Health Organisation
team worked closely through
Task Force exploring the
the wise leadership of Hudson.
Hudson Institute Director,
Director of MRC/PHI (1969-
Professor Bryan Williams says
1998); Professors David de
Bryan Hudson was instrumental
Kretser and Alan Trounson,
to the early origins of both
founders of the Monash
MIMR and PHI. He was the first
Institute of Reproduction and
Professor of Medicine at Monash
Development (subsequently
University and the Founding
MIMR); and respected
Chair of the University’s
respiratory physician, the
Department of Medicine,
late Associate Professor Blair
MIMR’s home until 2014.
Ritchie, who was involved in
Beginning with the Ford
He was also appointed as
Hudson was a key driver in
the establishment of what is
Foundation grant, Trounson and
Founding Director of Prince
the ground-breaking search
now The Ritchie Centre, one
Wood developed the methods
Henry’s Hospital Medical
for inhibin, a hormone that
of the Institute’s six research-
for IVF that have resulted in
Research Centre (MRC,
inhibits the production of
themed Centres.
more than seven million babies
follicle-stimulating hormone
subsequently Prince Henry’s
possibilities of a reversible male steroid contraceptive. Together with Professors David de Kretser, Henry Burger, Jock Findlay and Carl Wood, he was instrumental in obtaining a major grant from the Ford Foundation.
“Bryan was a gruff, demanding scientist, but he had a soft and supportive core that made you want to perform well. His mentoring brought out the best in all of us,” said Professor Trounson.
Institute). As Foundation Professor of Medicine, he established Prince Henry’s Hospital as a key Monash University academic teaching hospital, with the first Monash MBBS medical cohort of 29 students graduating in 1966. “Bryan Hudson has been widely touted as a world-class medical researcher and a revolutionary leader. Professor Hudson’s legacy exemplifies the values to which the Institute aspires – excellence in cutting-edge research and
4 | hudson news - issue 1 2015
“Bryan Hudson was a world-class medical researcher and a visionary leader. His legacy exemplifies the values to which the Institute aspires - excellence in cutting edge research and ensuring its direct impact on the community” said Professor Williams.
and prevents overproduction
Professor Burger, Hudson’s
in the Endocrinology Clinic at
of eggs and sperm. The team
long-time friend and colleague,
Prince Henry’s Hospital and
gathered evidence supporting
says Hudson also worked with
says Hudson was an excellent
its existence and presence
Professor John Coghlan at
teacher and researcher.
in testicular extracts. Inhibin
the Howard Florey Institute
was finally isolated and
to establish methods for
“Bryan was a brilliant leader,
characterised by a group led
measuring the major male sex
innovator, visionary and an
by Burger and de Kretser.
hormone testosterone, and
iconoclast. My hope is that our
The discovery has had major
other related hormones.
Institute’s vision, in his image,
implications in endocrinology and reproductive biology. Its measurement has led to a test to determine whether a woman is carrying a fetus with Down Syndrome (as inhibin-A is elevated in their blood serum)
“These methods provided the basis for a renaissance in androgen physiology in which he was an acknowledged international authority for many
^ L - R: David de Kretser, Bryan Hudson and Henry Burger
will attract and nurture more researchers of his calibre who will go on to impact the fields of medicine and science the way he did”.
years”.
and our ability to diagnose and
Professor Peter Fuller, now
monitor one type of ovarian
Associate Director of the
cancer.
Hudson Institute, worked closely with Professor Hudson
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Do certain contraceptives increase HIV susceptibility? The Hudson Institute has received $1M AUD from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to investigate the relationship between some oral contraceptives and an increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
I
n 2013, a team of
for future studies into the
researchers at the Hudson
prevention of diseases of the
Institute’s Centre for Innate
female reproductive tract,
Immunity and Infectious
including STIs.
Diseases, led by Centre Head Professor Paul Hertzog,
Progesterone-based
characterised an important,
contraceptives have been
naturally occurring immune
linked to an increased
cytokine in the female
susceptibility to STIs,
reproductive tract, which
which Professor Hertzog
regulates immunity to sexually
hypothesises is caused by
transmitted infections.
progesterone suppressing the expression of IFN-epsilon in
They had previously
the female reproductive tract,
discovered and named it
rendering women taking
Interferon Epsilon (IFN-
progesterone-containing
epsilon). This world-first
contraceptives more
discovery was published in the
susceptible to infections.
prestigious journal Science and it has many implications
6 | hudson news - issue 1 2015
be considered. For this reason, the Gates Foundation has funded Professor Hertzog’s study as a step to determining the most safe and effective contraceptive solutions for women globally. To do this, Professor Hertzog will lead a team
“Certain progesteronebased contraceptive formulations are among the cheapest, most widely used contraceptives globally. Our study is the first of its kind aimed at characterising how progesterone is linked to suppressing IFN-epsilon expression. If we can achieve this, then we can investigate potential solutions and potentially contribute to the reduction of the high global incidence of HIV infection,” said Professor Hertzog. In recent years, the Gates Foundation has initiated a strong program of familyplanning activities, which has included a significant investment in making contraceptives available to 220 million women in western Africa, India and Indonesia. Providing women in developing countries with hormone-based contraceptives is aimed at helping mothers plan their pregnancies and reduce high infant mortality rates. If progesterone-based contraceptives are linked to increased HIV susceptibility, however, then alternative contraceptive options need to
of international research collaborators, including scientist Professor Sam
IVF pioneer returns to the institute where it all began IVF pioneer, Professor Alan Trounson has returned to Australia to re-join the Institute he founded with Professor David de Kretser, now known as the Hudson Institute of Medical Research.
Mesiano from Case Western
will use a diversity of patient samples to screen for selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) to determine if they can maintain contraceptive efficacy without repressing IFN-epsilon expression. Currently more than 33 million people are living with HIV and, while huge progress has been made in increasing access to HIV treatment in the past decade, the pandemic continues to outpace efforts to control it, with the number of newly infected people each year outnumbering those who gain access to treatment by two to one. Children are being born with HIV at a rate of 300,000 per year and half of them won’t reach their second birthday.
funded, $84 million Translational Research Facility currently being
world-leading
from the $3 billion California
stem cell
Institute for Regenerative
scientist best
Medicine (CIRM), where he spent
known for
the last 6 years driving stem
the successful development of
cell research and translation
human IVF with Professor Carl
studies. He joined CIRM after
Wood in 1977, has made major
serving as Professor of Stem Cell
contributions to the reproductive
Sciences, Founding Director of
field. This includes increasing
the Monash Immunology and
our understanding of genes
Stem Cell Laboratories at Monash
regulating early development and
University, and was the Founder
improved methods of conception,
of the Australian Stem Cell Centre.
identification of genetic mutations
In 2000 Professor Trounson
in embryos as a new diagnostic
and his colleagues confirmed the
technique (known as pre-
discovery of human embryonic
implantation genetic diagnosis),
stem cells and showed that
the use of a fertility drug to induce
fully functional nerve and other
multiple ova, and the freezing of
types of progenitor cells could
embryos for future use.
be derived from these cells,
These procedures have enabled
which led to a dramatic increase
more than 5 million women
in interest in the potential of
worldwide to conceive successfully
pluripotent stem cells to treat
through IVF and related
a range of previously incurable
technologies.
diseases.
In 1991 Professor Trounson
Hudson Institute Director,
merged his research Centre with the
Professor Bryan Williams says
research of Professor de Kretser’s
Professor Trounson will bring
male reproductive physiology
a great wealth of knowledge
group to form the Monash Institute
and outstanding leadership
of Reproduction and Development,
capabilities to the Institute.
now the Hudson Institute.
“We are honoured and very
In his new role as a Distinguished
pleased to have such a highly
Scientist of the Institute, Professor
regarded scientist and a vital
Trounson will mentor the
piece of our history back at the
development of an active research
Institute,” he said.
18-month investigation
activity in women. The team
established in the new, Federally-
He returns to the Institute
conduct a comprehensive
for monitoring IFN-epsilon
translational platform becomes
Trounson, a
University of Pittsburgh, to
identification of biomarkers
Cell Therapies Platform as this
Trounson said.
Sharon Achilles from the
of IFN-epsilon and the
in the development of the
Professor
clinician-researcher Professor
progesterone regulation
“I also hope to participate
constructed on the site,” Professor
Reserve University and
into the mechanism behind
cell therapy research.
program in the area of translational hudson hudson news news - issue - issue 1 12015 2015 | 7| 7
hu d s o n n ew s | i ssue 1 2015
success in the fight against deadly inflammation
I
nflammation is an important response to infection or injury
but, if not carefully controlled, too much inflammation can cause serious diseases.
Professor St. John urges caution over threeparent IVF “I support the use of mitochondrial replacement therapy but believe the technique needs further testing before it can be deemed safe”
Hudson Institute Director and inflammation expert, Professor Bryan Williams says that, for many Institute researchers, a better understanding of the causes of excessive inflammation overproduction and how to bring it back under control is a priority as this will ultimately reduce the incidence of a whole host of diseases including myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and Crohn’s and Alzheimer’s
P
diseases. rofessor Justin St. John,
When someone’s
“The reason for this is that
Head of the Centre for
mitochondria do not function
the defective mitochondrial
Genetic Diseases at the
properly, it can cause many life-
DNA can be carried over into
threatening problems.
the donor egg and, if it persists
Professor St. John has been
in the early embryo, it can be
Hudson Institute, has played a key role in the debate over the UK’s recent decision to become the first country in the world to allow the controversial ‘Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy’ technique, which has taken on the name ‘three-
a mitochondria researcher for 20 years and, while he supports the technique, he has voiced his concerns that this decision may have come too early as
inherited by the children. This is something that we need to eradicate to ensure the very dangers we’re trying to avoid are not still passed on to the
he believes further testing is
child”.
required to confirm its safety.
“By using large animal
Babies that result from the
“I support the use of the
models where gestation is
technique — which uses a
mitochondria replacement
donated egg from a third party
technologies and I believe that
to cut out the risk of certain
these will become very useful
genetic disorders that the
technologies to prevent the
mother might pass on — can
inheritance of mitochondrial
only attribute around 0.1 per
disease. However, before the
cent of their DNA to the third
technique is used to produce
party. The donors provide only
children, I think there should
their mitochondria, which are
be additional testing carried
the ‘power plants’ of the cell,
out,” he said.
parent IVF’.
converting food into energy to power a cell.
8 | hudson news - issue 1 2015
longer and more similar to the human, we will be able to determine the real effects of mitochondrial DNA carry over. This needs to be undertaken with sufficient animals to ensure that the data can be tested with rigorous statistical methods. Until we have this information, we should proceed with caution”. n
“Inflammation is at the root of so many diseases that you will find Hudson researchers from all six of our research-themed centres investigating this highly dangerous activity,” Professor Williams said. Paediatric clinician and researcher, Associate Professor Marcel Nold, says that rampant inflammation is harmful and leads to tissue damage, resulting in many side effects including pain, fatigue, and even organ failure and death. ”The current drugs that treat inflammation have proved limited in many situations, but and a better understanding of what keeps the process under control in the body could improve both the development of new therapies and existing treatments,” he said. >
Overriding the body’s inflammatory response
Dr Claudia Nold said the study is
Husband-and-wife research team,
ages, in conditions ranging from
Associate Professor Marcel Nold
the common cold to serious life-
and Dr Claudia Nold from the
threatening illnesses.
Hudson Institute’s Ritchie Centre,
“IL-37 is able to override the
have discovered the mechanism
body’s own destructive responses
of a protein that suppresses
to injury and disease, harnessing
inflammation in the body, and say
its fundamental mechanisms of
the information could be used
action,” she said.
to develop new drugs to control
To unravel the mechanistic
inflammation.
details of IL-37’s powerful effects,
The international study led by
the research team used the Nobel
them focused on interleukin 37
Prize winning technique, Super
(IL-37), a powerful inhibitor of
Resolution Microscopy, at Monash
inflammation that is generated by
Micro Imaging and the Monash
the body.
Institute of Pharmaceutical
universally applicable to all types of inflammation in patients of all
Discovering new pathways controlling deadly inflammation Hudson Institute researchers in the Centre for Cancer Research have discovered a protein that acts as a brake on inflammation.
“When bacteria or viruses contact macrophages they are detected by specific receptors called Toll-like receptors. These receptors have evolved to become the first line of defence against viruses and bacteria,”
Claudia and Marcel Nold
Professor Williams said.
Previous research by the same
Sciences. The advanced
team identified that IL-37, one of the
instruments allowed the scientists
rare anti-inflammatory mediators,
to see visualise single molecules
acts much more broadly than others
of IL-37 and its receptors, showing
to regulate the immune response
how IL-37 positions itself on the
and protect the body from damage.
surface of target cells - something
The new study, published in
that had never been done before
Nature Immunology, deciphers the
in previous studies in this field.
mechanisms of how the body uses IL- Dr Claudia Nold said the new 37 as a molecular signal to regulate
findings make the vast potential
and control inflammation. The team
of IL-37 accessible to drug
found that to achieve its protective
development.
effects, IL-37 utilises a set pair of
“Now that we have deciphered
very specific receptors on target
these mechanisms, we can pursue
cells. By binding to these receptors,
the medical potential of IL-37.
IL-37 instructs those target cells to
This can be done by mimicking
execute a cascade of events, which
its effects when there is too much
temper several of the molecular
inflammation, or by blocking it
pathways by which the body mounts when there is too little, like in inflammatory responses.
cancer,” Dr Nold said.
The team, led by Drs Tony
The team found that the
Sadler and Dakang Xu, and
triggering of Toll-like receptors
Professor Bryan Williams, has
by bacteria, or bacterial or
discovered that the protein,
viral products instructs PLZF
PLZF, previously found to
to dampen but not block the
be involved in a rare form of
inflammatory response. In
childhood leukaemia, actually
the absence of PLZF, higher
plays an important role in
levels of potent inflammatory
controlling the incidence of
cytokines are produced
inflammation.
and there are exaggerated
In papers published in
inflammatory responses to
the prestigious journals
infections, which can be
Proceedings of the National
dangerous.
Academy of Sciences USA and
“The precision of a drug
Nature Communications, the
comes from understanding
team has described how PLZF
the pathways. That’s what we
is vital to the important process
have done here, unravelled
of dampening inflammation,
the pathways that control
by restricting the expression of
inflammation,” Professor
inflammatory gene products. In
Williams said.
these new studies, they found
The next step will be to
that PLZF regulated the activity
investigate ways to use
of protective cells called
this protein to control
macrophages, controlling
inflammation.
their ability to produce protein mediators of inflammation termed cytokines.
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A 3D bio-printer with the capability to produce human tissue, and even new body parts, features in a dynamic new collaboration fostering industry links in biomedicine.
Printable body parts: new 3D bio-printer to revolutionise HUDSON research
I
n 2014 almost 1,200 Australians were on the waiting list to receive a working kidney. Sadly, many people on this
list will die during the 3 - 7 year wait for a transplant. In fact, the total rate of kidney-disease related deaths is about 56 people per day and even those who do receive a transplant face the risk of organ rejection by their body’s own immune
Researchers are working to harness the printing capability to give doctors and surgeons the ability to create replacement organs, tissue, skin and even new body parts, using a combination of stem cells and biomatrices.
system. But what if we could build these types
Image: 3D bio-printer printing kidney prototype
10 | hudson news - issue 1 2015
In a linkage project led by the Hudson Institute, the Monash Health Translation Precinct will gain a 3D bio-printer in the Cell Therapies Platform of its Translational Research Facility.
in Clayton, by collaborative teams of clinicians and researchers. Regular 3D printing technology has already been available to the mass market since 2005, giving everyday consumers the ability to create anything from chairs and shoes to hearing aids and musical instruments, by printing layer upon layer of each object using a variety of printing materials.
of organs artificially using the patient’s
Now, the technology is being adapted
own cells, with no waiting period and
by the brave new world of biomedicine
a reduced risk of rejection? Scientists
to revolutionise healthcare worldwide.
say this may be possible within the next
Researchers are working to harness the
decade, using similar technology to that
printing capability to give doctors and
found in our regular home and office
surgeons the ability to create replacement
printers. It is called 3D bio-printing, and
organs, tissue, skin and even new body
it will soon be tested at the Monash
parts, using a combination of stem cells
Health Translation Precinct (MHTP)
and biomatrices.
In a linkage project led by the
will then be able to produce and
Hudson Institute of Medical Research,
replicate; as well as state-of-the-art
the MHTP will gain a 3D bio-printer
dual PET/MRI imaging equipment,
in the Cell Therapies Platform of its
which will provide real-time,
Translational Research Facility (due
comprehensive diagnostic imaging
for completion in October 2015).
of tissues to be replaced and new
The bio-printer will be one of three
tissue in the body to monitor its
technological platforms associated
effectiveness,” said Professor Jenkin.
with the new $30 million Biomedical Materials Translational Facility (BMTF), which was established as the result of a partnership between Monash University and the CSIRO with $10 million from the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF).
Hudson Institute’s Professor Graham Jenkin led the charge to seek funding for the 3D bioprinter, which was matched with $800,000 in-kind funding from the Hudson Institute and the School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University. He says the bio-printer has the capacity to harness new business opportunities by offering a onestop shop when combined with the other technologies funded by the SIEF Grant.
Professor Jenkin says transplantable organs are still close to a decade away from widespread application. However, simpler organs, such as skin and trachea, will be the first to reach patients. “The 3D bio-printer has the capability to directly drop real skin cells, stabilised in a matrix, over wounded areas of the body to assist in the healing process. Director of the Hudson Institute, Professor Bryan Williams says researchers at the MHTP will now have the facilities to produce tissue to repair damaged organs, or even new printed body parts for cancer patients designed specifically to fit
SO HOW DOES IT WORK? The 3D bio-printer is loaded with a ‘bio-ink’ made up of biodegradable gel and human stem cells. The printer then deposits tiny droplets of the bio-ink onto a biocompatible scaffold, layer upon layer, which gradually builds up to make the structure. The cells anchor onto the scaffold and begin making tissue. As this occurs, the scaffold disintegrates, leaving a living body part ready to transplant into the person whose own cells created it. Therefore the body is unlikely to reject the implanted part as it will not be registered as a foreign object, as in the higher-risk case of transplanting parts from another person’s body.
them. “The bio-printer will allow our researchers to rapidly translate their discoveries into clinical trials. This technology will enable us to take the first crucial steps towards a revolution in healthcare practices”.
“In addition to the 3D bio-printer, the BMTF features two technology platforms located at Monash
IMAGE: BIOCOMPATIBLE SCAFFOLD
University and the CSIRO, comprising clean rooms purpose-built for biomaterial development and characterisation, which the printer
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Ride for Research celebrates its 10th anniversary with the most successful event yet This year, the Hudson Institute’s annual fundraising event ‘Ride for Research’ has raised a record $35,700 for vital research equipment for the Institute.
T
he 2015 Ride for Research, held on 28-29 March, was the
10th anniversary of the event, which is run through the wider ‘Murray to Moyne’ cycle relay, an event that supports hospitals and health services throughout Victoria. The Institute’s 16-person team, comprising researchers, volunteers and sponsors, began the gruelling 520 km, relay-style ride in Echuca and finished up in Port Fairy 24 hours later, after very little sleep. Event veteran and key organiser, Andrew McCallum, from the Institute said that the team escaped with no injuries and only one flat tyre this year.
Funds raised from this year’s event will support the purchase of an xCELLigence System, which will expand the Institute’s research capability, as the advanced technology will allow researchers to monitor cell behaviour in real time. This will accelerate research into infertility, placental insufficiency, immunological diseases such as septic shock, hypertension and influenza A
to cover gaps in funding
show of support for the event
created by a drop in project
to have been so successful in its
grant funding from the
10th year. The Ride for Research
Federal Government to just
has now raised more than
14.9 per cent of applications
$235,000 towards much-needed
in the last round.
research equipment since it
“Fundraising events such
began and we are very lucky to
as this are crucial to our
have such committed, long-
sustained success. We will
term supporters,” said Professor
rely on a mix of funding
Williams.
from government, industry,
The Ride for Research began in
philanthropic organisations
2006 at Prince Henry’s Institute
and the public to ensure our
and has become a reliable source
research continues through
of funds for the Institute as it
these tough times,” said
looks to fundraising activities
Professor Williams.
infections, as well as cancer, as researchers will be able to track the cellular movement of cancer growths. Hudson Institute Director,
“There were some very tired
Professor Bryan Williams, said
bodies laid out in Port Fairy
the success of the event was
after the team reached the
only possible thanks to the
finish line. The whole team
efforts of the tenacious Ride
performed extremely well and
for Research Team, supporters,
they should be very proud of
and sponsors BankVic, VicSuper,
themselves,” said Mr McCallum.
Davies Collison Cave and Zouki.
12 | hudson news - issue 1 2015
“It has been a phenomenal
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