The Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) was founded to capitalise on Australia’s significant strengths in the general field of stem cell research.
The ASCC was selected in 2002, in a competitive bid process, as Australia’s Biotechnology Centre of Excellence (BCE), an initiative of the Australian Government as part of its Backing Australia’s Ability policy. The Centre provides a unique opportunity for stem cell researchers to deliver outcomes that will benefit the wider Australian biotechnology industry and ultimately contribute innovative solutions to human health challenges.
The Centre was established with the financial and in-kind support of institutions (‘Stakeholders’). The current voting Members, who retain ultimate oversight of the Centre, are: Monash University, University of Queensland, Howard Florey Institute and University of Adelaide. The additional Stakeholder institutes are: University of Melbourne, Baker IDI, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and Mater Medical Research Institute.
The ASCC is governed by a Board of Directors with independent scientific oversight and support from an eminent Scientific Advisory Board.
Total funding of $100 million has been awarded to the ASCC by the Australian Government and is administered by the Australian Research Council and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. The funding is provided in instalments from 2002 to 2011. To complement Australian Government funding, the State Government of Victoria's Science Technology and Innovation program awarded the Australian Stem Cell Centre a further $11 million to support some key infrastructure in Victoria.
Together the ASCC and partnering organisations support a critical mass of Australian stem cell research that is internationally competitive. The ASCC currently funds research at leading institutes and universities in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales with the major hubs of activity centred in Victoria and Queensland. By providing stem cell specific funding, the Centre in its first seven years of operation has supported in excess of 200 researchers and more than 70 students in over 30 research projects across Australia. This focused approach to fostering an emerging scientific field has ensured that Australia has retained a significant intellectual mass and international presence in the stem cell arena.
The international standing of ASCC funded research is demonstrated by the growing research outputs in terms of publications and invitations to present their work at international and national meetings. The Australian research environment is seen as an incubator of talented individuals, as demonstrated by international research collaborations and overseas institutes and research organisations recruiting Australian stem cell scientists.
Through strategic relationships with the broad scientific community, industry, government, media and the general public, the ASCC has enhanced public understanding of stem cells and their uses. This has contributed to Australia’s standing as one of the most effectively regulated locations to conduct stem cell research in the world. The ASCC played a significant part in catalysing debate through the provision of factual scientific information to the public, federal and state governments and media during the development of legislation covering the creation of human embryonic stem cells.
The ASCC will seek to consolidate these achievements with a comprehensive strategy to sustain and enhance Australia’s excellence in stem cell research well beyond the life of the BCE funding. Future endeavours will focus on partnering and networking to fulfil the ASCC Objectives and ultimately to realise the ASCC’s mission of employing stem cells and related technologies to meet human health challenges.