Mission
To sustain and enhance Australia’s excellence and capabilities in stem cell research and to generate innovative solutions for meeting human health challenges.
Objectives
- Position Australian stem cell research for long term sustainability and international competitiveness.
- Facilitate and participate in the translation and commercialisation of stem cell research outcomes for Australian economic benefit and public good.
- Disseminate technical expertise and resources to realise the value of stem cells to the broader research and biotechnology sectors.
- Enhance public understanding of stem cells and their potential.
The ASCC’s current achievements and the role of Innovation
The ASCC is Australia’s Biotechnology Centre of Excellence. Innovation and the Australian Research Council jointly administer funding to the ASCC of $98.55 million over the nine years to 2011. The Department is responsible for an ongoing government coordination role with respect to the operation of the ASCC.
The Centre is focused on funding cutting-edge collaborative research and assisting researchers and their institutes to capitalise on translational and commercial opportunities.
By providing stem cell specific funding, the ASCC has supported in excess of 200 researchers and more than 70 students in over 30 research projects across Australia. This focused approach to fostering an emerging scientific field has ensured that Australia has retained a significant intellectual mass and international presence in the stem cell arena. The research portfolio is structured into four Collaborative Streams focusing on four key areas of stem cell research:
• Bioreactors and smart surfaces for stem cell propagation;
• Reprogramming and induction of pluripotency;
• Pluripotent stem cell differentiation; and
• An adult stem cell program
The ASCC is headquartered in Melbourne with two nodes based at Monash University and the University of Queensland. The two nodes are establishing a critical mass of leading national and international researchers that will support the organisation in achieving its mission and objectives.
The Centre supports researchers, working within its Collaborative Streams, based at universities and institutes around Australia including; Monash University, the University of Queensland, Griffith University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Adelaide, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, the University of Sydney and the Mater Medical Research Institute.
The ASCC is actively involved in international stem cell forums including: the International Society for Stem Research (ISSCR), the Stem Cell Network Asia Pacific (SNAP), the International Consortium of Stem Cell Networks (ICSCN) and the International Stem Cell Forum (ISCF). Additional activities within this international network involves the ASCC as co-chair of the International Consortium of Stem Cell Networks, which builds links with the RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology, the Californian Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the Scottish Stem Cell Network and the Stem Cell Network North Rhine Westphalia (Germany).
Targets for 2009-10
- Ongoing monitoring of the performance of the ASCC against the 2009/10 ASCC Business Plan.
For further information
Phone: + 61 2 6213 6285
Email: gillian.gregory@innovation.gov.au