Genetic research joins centre of excellence roster

Genetic research will occupy the focus of two of eight new centres of excellence which together will share almost $90 million in Federal funding over the next five years.

The eight successful centres emerged from nearly 60 applications nationwide to the Australian Research Council.

Of the two related to genome and phenome research, one is a $10 million centre for integrative legume research which will be set up at the University of Queensland to pursue research into genes which control plant design. Its spin-off applications could lead to legume-related human health products such as alternatives to hormone replacement therapy. Among its leading researchers will be Prof Peter Gresshoff, of the University of Queensland's School of Life Sciences, whose work over the last 20 years has given him insights into the genetic key to plant architecture.

The other centre, funded to the tune of $9.46 million, is associated with the University of Newcastle and will delve into the genetic mechanisms controlling the formation of spermatozoa. It will help in understanding testicular cancer, male infertility and non-surgical sterilisation of pets. One of its 11 principal investigators will be Prof Peter Koopman, a developmental biologist at the Institute for Molecular Biology in Queensland who is a specialist in male germ cell lines.

A $14 million Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology, administered by the UNSW, and a $12.2 million centre to create photonic chips for the next generation of ultra-high bandwidth optical telecomms systems are among the other winning applications.