New appointments to Monash institutes

Leading international molecular biologist, Professor Nadia Rosenthal has been appointed head of Victoria's new Regenerative Medicine Institute in an announcement made by Minister for Innovation, John Brumby.

Rosenthal's husband, Alan Sawyer, had also been appointed to head Victoria's new Monoclonal Antibody Technologies facility, also at Monash.

"These top-level appointments will augment the leadership status Victoria already has in stem cell and regenerative medicine," Brumby said.

"Professor Rosenthal is internationally renowned for her work on the use of stem cells in muscle regeneration and heart repair, and Alan Sawyer is widely respected for his groundbreaking work in developing antibodies for basic medical research."

The couple will take up their appointments in 2008, with Rosenthal initially serving on a part-time basis to establish the institute and to help build European ties with Monash.

Rosenthal was the head of the mouse biology program at European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy and was involved in the discovery of the insulin gene while at Harvard Medical School.

The $138 million Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute was announced last year as part of the Victorian Government's $230 million life sciences statement, Healthy Futures with the state government providing $35 million towards the centre.