News

From disease to aeronautics: Centre earns extra 9.8 million for Free Radical Research

Media Release, Wednesday 25 February 2009

In a recent announcement, the Australian Research Council (ARC) approved an extension to grant funding for the Free Radical Chemistry Centre that will enable it to continue its research to the end of 2013 and beyond.

“We are delighted at today’s announcement,” says Professor Schiesser, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology led by the University of Melbourne.

“This additional funding will provide us with an unrivalled opportunity to better understand and harness free radicals.”

Under the funding, new initiatives will include:
• establishing high tech equipment facilities not previously present in Australia that will complement supercomputer studies of radical chemistry reactions;
• developing pharmaceutical to treat pain and inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma;
• surface coating technologies to protect building, automotive, aeronautical and cultural materials from free radical damage;
• technology to address climate change and energy requirements, especially in the area of environmentally friendly fertiliser production.

The Centre has already made numerous significant discoveries over the past three and a half years, that range from identifying links between free radicals and asthma, to the development of fluorescent indicators to protect materials from radical damage and provide an early warning system for free radical exposure.

“Australia has been a world-leader in free radical chemistry research. This additional funding will allow us to continue to push the frontiers of free radical chemistry, with significant impact on good health and disease prevention, materials science and environmental best practice” adds Professor Schiesser.

The Centre consists of more than 140 researchers from five institutions across Australia (including the University of Melbourne, Australian National University, the University of Sydney, the Heart Research Institute, Monash University, and Queensland University of Technology) and was established in 2005 following a $12 million grant from the ARC.