Institute Update - February 2010
In this Update: ★ Robinson Foundation Launch ★ Announcement of our Patrons ★ Stem Cell for Stroke in Lumen ★ Research Support Update ★ Researcher Achievements
Launch of the Robinson Foundation The Robinson Foundation was officially launched at a Gala Dinner on the lawns of Government House on Saturday 13 February 2010. The Foundation will support the research of the Robinson Institute. By focusing on the earliest stages of life, we are looking at preventing disease and improving health with research covering fertility, pregnancy, stem cells and the origins of health living. The event was hosted by University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor and President Professor James McWha, in the presence of His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, Governor of South Australia, and Mrs Liz Scarce. At the dinner, Professor McWha announced the Governor and Mrs Scarce as joint patrons of the Robinson Foundation. The Foundation Board is currently being established and we will be introducing the founding members shortly. Ms Cherylee Harris was Master of Ceremonies for the inaugural event and Chris Jarmer catered to the 250 guests. The event marked the first fundraising activity for the newly created Foundation and aimed to raise awareness of the life-giving research undertaken at the University by the Robinson Institute. Further information: www.robinsonfoundation.org.au
Stem Cell Research for Stroke Researcher Update The Robinson Institute and Foundation is currently working with a remarkable man, Peter Couche. Peter is a University of Adelaide graduate and stroke victim who is working with the Foundation to raise important funds and awareness of research using stem cells to repair stroke damaged brains. To learn more about Peter Couche and the Stroke Research Program of the Institute’s Centre for Stem Cell Research please click here to download the Summer 2010 issue of Lumen.
Researcher Achievements The Institute would like to congratulate the following researchers on their recent achievements: • Louise Hull was awarded a Mid Career Practitioner Fellowship from SA Health. This fellowship provides up to $150,000 per year for 5 years. This fellowship is open to practicing early to mid career clinician researchers in any discipline working within the South Australian public health system whose research is directly linked with their clinical practice. • Alison Care has been accepted into the 2010 Frontiers in Reproduction course, held in Woods Hole Massachusetts. This is a 6 week intensive program where 20 partipants from around the world are taught by leading investigators in different areas of Reproductive Biology. • Lauren Sandeman was awarded the 2010 Jeffrey Robinson Honours Scholarship • Chin Ng, Nigel Farrow, Sowmya Cheruvu, Wing Ng, Kisha Sivanathan and Candice Houda were awarded the Petrucco Honours Scholarship by the Robinson Institute.
Centre for Stem Cell Research Collaborative Grant Scheme From 2009 the Centre for Stem Cell Research has allocated funds for a collaborative grant scheme. The aim to provide funds to seed high quality research projects which will be competitive for NHMRC Project Grant, ARC Discovery Grant or equivalent funding or attract international/ industry funding on a competitive basis; and encourage collaboration between Centre members as well as with others from outside the Centre. •
A/Prof Paul Thomas, University of Adelaide (CI1) and A/Prof Simon Barry, University of Adelaide and WCHRI (CI2) Project Title: In vitro and in vivo analysis of SOX3 function in neurodevelopment using lentivialmediated transduction technology
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A/Prof Simon Koblar, University of Adelaide (CI1) and A/Prof Stan Gronthos, IMVS/Hanson Institute/University of Adelaide (CI2) Project Title: Efficacy of intravenous versus interacerebral injection of stem cells for brain repair
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Researcher Update Staff Changes Julie Wood, the Research Support Officer at he Robinson Institute is leaving and moving onto another job on Friday 19 February. Jackson Jaensch will be replacing Julie in the Research Support Officer role as from Monday 22nd February 2010. Jackson’s details are: Jackson.jaensch@adelaide.edu.au Ph: 8313 1335 Goodbye and good luck to Julie and welcome to Jackson!
The committee of the XI International Congress of Reproductive Immunology are pleased to announce that abstract and registration submission is now open. The congress will be held in Palm Cove, near Cairns in Queensland, Australia, from August 15 to August 19, 2010. The committee has assembled a world-class scientific program that will highlight cutting-edge topics in basic and clinical reproductive immunology. The program will include immunology of pregnancy, the placenta and the fetus; female and male gamete development and embryogenesis, infectious disease and mucosal immunology; inflammation and autoimmunity; developmental immunology; and translational research in infertility and pathologies of pregnancy, and vaccines for STIs and fertility control. There are travel grants, and awards for best oral and poster presentations, for student and trainee delegates. To register and submit your abstract, please visit the web site:
www.icri2010.org Abstract and Registration – Closing Date 31st May 2010 We look forward to seeing you in Palm Cove. Sarah Robertson Chair, Local Organising Committee XI ICRI 2010
Upcoming Grant Opportunities Please click the links for further information on upcoming grant opportunities or contact Jackson Jaensch, Research Support Officer.
Research Opportunity
Internal Deadline
Grants Pfizer Australia: Research Grants
Various closing dates
NHMRC Project Grants
24 February
L.E.W Carty Charitable Fund: Research Grants
24 March
The ResMed Foundation: Research Grants
Ongoing
International Grants National Institutes of Health (NIH): Cognitive Remediation Approaches to Improve Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes (Letter of Intent)
26 February
US Department of Defense (DoD): Ovarian Cancer Research 4 March Program (OCRP) - Translational Pilot Award (Pre-Applications) March of Dimes Foundation: Prematurity Research Initiative (PRI) 2011 Program (Request for Proposals)
8 April
March of Dimes Foundation: Research Program (Request for Proposals) Consortium for Industrial Collaboration in Contraceptive Research (CICCR) - Call for Proposals
23 April Ongoing
Awards / Prizes The Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Scientific Research 2010 The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) - Rapid Response Innovation Awards
31 March Ongoing – no deadline
Don’t forget that PhD Top-up Scholarships are due Monday 1st March at 5.00 pm...don’t miss out!!
The Robinson Institute Research for Life For further information please contact: The Robinson Institute The University of Adelaide Ground Floor, Norwich Centre 55 King William Road North Adelaide SA 5006 Australia Telephone: +61 8 8303 8166 Fax: +61 8 8313 1355 Email: robinsoninstitute@adelaide.edu.au
http://robinsoninstitute.edu.au