Bio21 Inst to host CSL scientists
[ UniNews Vol. 15, No. 17
18 September - 2 October 2006 ] By Rebecca Scott
The University of Melbourne and the Victorian Government have announced a research innovation partnership between the University’s Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute and Australia’s biggest biopharmaceutical company, CSL Limited.
CSL is relocating up to 50 scientists to the University’s $120 million Bio21 Institute, in Parkville, Melbourne.
University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glyn Davis, says the University is delighted to have CSL as a part of its Bio21 Institute, creating exciting opportunities for substantial research collaboration.
“This partnership – made possible in part through seed funding from the Victorian Government – will benefit both the University’s capacity to innovate and CSL’s capability in R&D.”
CSL Chief Scientist and R&D Director, Dr Andrew Cuthbertson, says the world leading company was attracted to the Institute by the quality of its multidisciplinary research environment, its multiple-award winning building and state-of-the-art platform technologies.
“The move to Bio21 reflects a significant expansion in our research capacity, and will enable some of our top scientists to access a spectacular array of modern equipment in a stimulating work environment.”
Bio21 Institute Director, Professor Dick Wettenhall, says that in attracting CSL, the Institute is making a strong statement that it is serious about getting involved in industry.
“We are committed to fostering biotechnology innovation in the state of Victoria. From the outset, we have worked to bring industry scientists together with our own outstanding researchers through our visitors’ laboratory and business incubator activities.
“The CSL move reinforces the primary aim of the Bio21 Institute to improve human health and the environment through innovation in biotechnology, driven by research and dynamic interactions with industry,” he says.
“This will be the beginning of the innovation pipeline between our scientists and CSL R&D. It means better and faster translation of our research into industry outcomes.”
The Bio21 Institute boasts specialist expertise in the research areas of focus for CSL collaboration, including general vaccines, new diagnostics for early detection of Alzheimer’s and Mad Cow-causing prion diseases, and research involving proteins with potential as therapeutics for treatment of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The move to the Institute is intended to enhance CSL’s innovation pipeline for plasma protein-related proteins, vaccines and immuno-stimulating adjuvants, with therapeutic potential for the treatment of various diseases including infectious disease and cancer.
Professor Wettenhall says the link with CSL brands the Bio21 Institute as an industry-friendly place – essential for effective translation of research into community benefits and for attracting top students with interests in pursuing careers in industry.
“Young scientists are very interested in interacting with industry and finding out how industry operates. This will further enhance the Institute’s ability to generate leading Australian scientists of the future.
“With a serious pharmaceutical R&D group here we are able to plan experiments for better therapeutic outcomes. We have the technology and knowledge of emerging areas at the frontiers of science and they have the industry knowledge. It will be a dynamic relationship,” he says.
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