Stem cell research gains momentum in Queensland

Stem Cells Ltd, based at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at the University of Queensland, is set to receive $470,000 in Queensland government science funding to advance cutting-edge stem cell research into diseases such as schizophrenia, Down syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and heart disease.

“Stem cell research is an exciting and rapidly expanding field that is vital for basic research and understanding of diseases,” said Stem Cells Ltd Queensland Manager Victoria Turner.

“Stem cells are set to have a major impact on healthcare and innovation, offering novel scientific insights that can be used to direct the treatment of a multitude of diseases and, ultimately, in the future development of cell-based therapies when cells become damaged by illness or injury.”

Stem Cells Ltd is a not-for-profit company established to grow the capacity of stem cell research in Australia and provide researchers in the field with specialised stem cell products, services and training and enable scientists to access valuable stem cell strategies for modelling human diseases.

Stem Cells Ltd is also expected to break down the barriers for new stem cell scientists to enter the field.

“The operation of this local state-of-the-art core facility in Queensland, with concentrated expertise in this area and dedicated stem cell support services, facilitates entry for new Queensland scientists into this exciting area of research,” Turner said.

“The promise of stem cell research is yet to be fully appreciated but Stem Cells Ltd is providing the necessary infrastructure to ensure the true potential of this field is realised.”

Stem Cells Ltd services to researchers will include cell line characterisation, custom generation of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell lines, multiple stem cell types, management of a stem cell bioinformatics database, called Stemformatics, and training in exemplar methodological approaches to stem cell biology.