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New stem cells via identity theft and reprogramming

Jose Polo is unravelling the details of how stem cells can be produced from adult cells through a mix of identity theft and reprogramming. It is work that needs to be done before such stem cells can be used safely in medicine.

In recognition of his leadership in stem cell research, Associate Professor Polo of Monash University has received an inaugural $50,000 Metcalf Prize from the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.

The award is named for Australia’s pioneering stem cell researcher, Professor Donald Metcalf, AC, of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, who is an internationally renowned expert on haematopoiesis or blood cell formation.

Jose’s work is unveiling the development of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells —stem cells generated from skin, liver, blood or any other body cells. It is an important step along a path which could lead to treating degenerative diseases and understanding some cancers.

“When talking about my work, I often use the analogy of a library, where the genes in the cells are the books,” says Jose. “Every cell is a library which contains the same set of books, but they differ in terms of which ones are open and which are closed—in blood vessel cells the books on blood vessels will be open, and in pancreatic cells the books on the pancreas. I want to find the mechanism that opens and closes those books.”

Jose has already made two major strides forward. [Read more…] about New stem cells via identity theft and reprogramming

Worm spit heals then kills; sends Cairns scientist to the UK in search of fame

5am AEST, 28 May 2014

Vision: laboratories, close-up photos of the worms, footage of Michael’s talk

Cairns researchers have discovered a wound-healing and cancer-causing hormone in the spit of a liver worm that lives in over nine million people and infects adventurous Australian tourists. The Southeast Asian liver fluke munches through the liver repairing the damage as it goes. But after many years of infection it can cause liver cancer and kills 20,000 people each year in Thailand alone.

Now James Cook University researcher Dr Michael Smout has found that a protein in the spit also sends wound-healing messages.

In 2010 James Cook University researchers discovered that the worm spit was promoting cell growth and wound repair. Then in 2012 Dr Michael Smout discovered a growth hormone in the spit, showed it was responsible both for the repair and in part for the cancer, and that it promotes wound-healing. He hopes that the work will lead both to new wound-healing compounds, and to a vaccine against the worm.

The discovery received no public attention at the time. But now its discoverer, Dr Michael Smout, is presenting the work publically for the first time thanks to FameLab Australia. He won the Australian final two weeks ago in Perth using a teddy bear to assist in his talk. He flies to the International FameLab final in the UK on Friday to represent Australia. [Read more…] about Worm spit heals then kills; sends Cairns scientist to the UK in search of fame

Parasitic worm spit – heals wounds, causes cancer, wins FameLab Australia

Congratulations to Dr Michael Smout from James Cook University for taking out Australia’s first FameLab competition on Tuesday night in Fremantle, WA.

Michael and his research story on cancer-causing liver worms will be heading to the UK in June to represent Australia at the International FameLab competition held at the Times Cheltenham Science Festival.

He’ll be needing some extra luggage allowance to take his props with him.

Congratulations to all the finalists, and to the runner-up Tim Brennan from The University of Queensland.

You’ll be hearing more about Michael’s work and other Fresh Science stories in the coming weeks.

FameLab Australia 2014 (Top left: James Makinson, Vince Polito, Niraj Lal, Nick Roden, Prue Cormie, Robyn Williams (MC), His Excellency Malcolm McCusker AO, Francis Torres, Tim Brennan, James Aridas, Linden Servinis. Front left: Dr Ian McLeod (judge), Michael Smout, Lydia Tong, Lisa Schafranek, Prof Lyn Beazley (judge), Nick Marchand (judge). Photo: OK-White Lane. © International FameLab.

Understand my genome to understand yours; our take on the budget; and boosting bioinformatics

Posted on behalf of Nadia Rosenthal, Scientific Head, EMBL Australia

There’s exciting news for medical research in the first Abbott budget, but mixed news for science as a whole.

I’m looking forward to seeing the details of the new Medical Research Future Fund, and the research destined to come out of it. It’s also great to see the support for science infrastructure – with $150 million for the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

There’s some good news for mid-career researchers too with 100 more Future Fellowships. But unfortunately, some of our collaborators did not fare so well.

Overall, I look forward to exploring the implications of this budget for the future of EMBL Australia.

One thing I am certain about is that genomics will continue to play an important role in medical research. [Read more…] about Understand my genome to understand yours; our take on the budget; and boosting bioinformatics

Jetlag skin patch may prevent brain damage in newborns

A simple and affordable ‘jetlag’ skin patch could help prevent deaths and disabilities of two million babies worldwide each year by reducing brain damage caused by low oxygen during birth.

Monash University PhD student James Aridas and his colleagues at MIMR-PHI Institute’s Ritchie Centre have found that melatonin patches, commonly used to treat jetlag in the US, can reduce damaging free radicals and subsequent brain cell death when they are administered in the hours after birth asphyxia has occurred.

The discovery could help change the fate of around 300 Australian babies who develop disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders after birth asphyxia each year, as well as that of millions of babies in developing countries where treatment is almost non-existent.

We’re hiring: project manager/science publicist

We’re looking for a project manager and/or science publicist with 3 to 5 years’ experience to join our team at Science in Public.

Ideally, we’d like someone who’s got runs on the board getting science, health, or environment stories into the public domain. The more knowledge you have of the science world in Australia the better.

You must be able to write fluently and accurately, manage a number of projects at once, and work to tight deadlines. A solid grounding in tools such as WordPress, Twitter and MailChimp would also be useful.

The position is full-time or near full-time and hours are flexible. Pay will be negotiated based on experience and hours can be negotiated to be family-friendly.

Turning on our immune sentries

Melbourne, Monash, UQ and the synchrotron find what sends our MAITs into action to protect our gut from invaders.

T-cell-activation-by-transitory-antigens_small

Our guts, lungs and mouths are lined with mysterious immune cells that make up to ten per cent of the T cells in our immune system. Last year Australian researchers showed that these cells act as sentinels against invading bacteria and fungi. Now they’ve identified the precise biochemical key that wakes up these sentries and sends them into action.

[Read more…]

Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific: who’s top in Asia-Pacific science?

On Thursday 27 March 2014 (AEDT) Nature Publishing Group releases the Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific as a supplement to Nature. The Index measures the output of research articles from nations and institutes in terms of publications in the 18 Nature-branded primary research journals in 2013.

Here are links to the overview media release and the releases for Japan, China, Australia, South Korea and Singapore.

The supplement is available to download at http://www.natureasia.com/en/publishing-index/asia-pacific/supplement2013

Or click on the image on the image (it’s a 9MB file).

Overview media release for Asia-Pacific
Release for Japan
Release for China
Release for Australia
Release for South Korea
Release for Singapore

China and Japan battle for science lead in dynamic Asia-Pacific region

PRESS RELEASE FROM NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Thursday 27 March 2014

China and Japan continue to battle for the Asia-Pacific science crown as the region also boosts its contribution to global science, according to the Nature Publishing Index (NPI) 2013 Asia Pacific published today as a supplement to Nature.

Researchers from the Asia-Pacific contributed 31% (1,371) of papers in the 18 Nature-branded research journals in 2013, up from 28% (1,009) in 2012. Supplement editors say ‘the region will continue to be an engine of growth for quality research output for years to come.’

Last year, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) took the lead for the first time in NPI Asia-Pacific institutional rankings, knocking the traditional leader, the University of Tokyo, off its perch. China accomplished much in 2013, leading the region in chemistry. [Read more…] about China and Japan battle for science lead in dynamic Asia-Pacific region

Australia performs strongly in earth and environmental sciences

PRESS RELEASE FROM NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Thursday 27 March 2014

Australia retains third place in a dynamic Asia-Pacific region, with its greatest strengths still in earth and environmental sciences, according to the Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific released today as a supplement to Nature.

The country improved its NPI score by almost every measure, with the second highest level of international collaboration in the region. Its contribution to Nature journals grew by more than 50% in 2013.

In the life sciences, Australia ranks third in the NPI Asia-Pacific behind China and Japan. However, it is persistently strong in immunology. Four of the top five regional institutions contributing to Nature Immunology were Australian.

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