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| Professor Bill Sievert |
Innovations in stem cell and
regenerative medicine research and women’s and children’s health was the focus
of this year's Ritchie Centre Colloquium and Public Forum last week at the
Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP).
Stem
cells and regenerative medicine have been identified by the National Institutes
of Health in the USA as the next pillar in modern medicine, and according to a
recent Academy of Science ‘Think Tank’, stem cell science is poised to revolutionise the field of medicine. The Asia-Pacific stem cell market
alone is projected to increase to $US18.7 billion by 2018, from $US7.10 billion
in 2014.
“The Ritchie Centre (Monash University and Hudson Institute of Medical
Research) is a leading centre for stem cell and regenerative medicine research and
clinical translation in Australia,” said Colloquium organiser Professor Graham Jenkin from
Monash University’s Department of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Deputy
Director of The Ritchie Centre.
The Ritchie Centre hosts the
annual Colloquium and Public Forum to inform and educate the general public and
scientific community on women’s and children’s health issues.
“This year’s forum explored
stem cell treatments and trials as well as the regulatory environment in which
clinicians currently operate in this rapidly growing area,” said Professor
Stuart Hooper, Director of The Ritchie Centre.
Keynote invited speakers at
the event included Professor John Rasko, Associate Professor Jerry Chan,
Professor David Gardner, and Professor William Sievert.
An Australian pioneer in the
application of adult stem cells and genetic therapy, Professor Rasko delivered
the plenary lecture on progress in gene therapy for genetic diseases, including
evidence of improved outcomes in haemophilia B, immune deficiencies,
haemoglobinopathies, immunotherapies and blindness. He also participated in
this year’s Public Forum.
Clinician scientist Associate
Professor Chan from Duke-NUS Medical School presented his research on deriving
novel biomarkers for endometriosis.
“Endometriosis is an
estrogen dependent disease affecting 6-10% of women (up to half of infertile
women), and is associated with both pain and infertility,” said Associate
Professor Chan.
“Current biomarkers for this disease have limited clinical
utility and novel biomarkers reflecting disease pathophysiology are needed.”
Associate Professor Chan said that a biobank repository of
serum, peritoneal fluid, eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues has been set
up at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital to facilitate their biomarker
discovery program.
This year’s Public Forum was chaired by Dr Susan Hawes, a
researcher and policy advisor on science and innovation policy for the
Australian Government, and who also manages programs to support the Australian
medical technologies and bio-pharmaceutical sector.
The topic, ‘Stem Cell
Therapies: Where are we now, and where are we heading’ gave members of the public an opportunity to
hear about and discuss cutting edge developments in stem cell therapies.
With a panel of experts
including Professor Euan Wallace, Professor John Rasko, and Professor Iona
Novak, Head of Research for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, the forum explored topics
including current and potential stem cell treatments and trials as well as the
regulatory environment in which clinicians currently operate in this growing,
but sometimes controversial area.
Leading Ritchie Centre
researchers also presented their ground-breaking research during the Colloquium
on topics including clinical applications of stem cells and biomatrices,
fertility and infertility and the use of stem cells in women’s and paediatric
health.
“Our scientists are pioneering a number of Phase I and Phase II clinical
trials, including using mesenchymal stem cells in paediatrics, neurosurgery,
multiple sclerosis and liver fibrosis,” said Professor Jenkin, who is also Research
Group Head, Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine at the Ritchie Centre.
