Making cancer treatment worth it; stem cells as art; scientist success stories
Cancer treatments, like blood stem cell transplants, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy are saving more lives than ever. But they are expensive for government and sometimes for patients, and may have cost, such as harsh side effects during treatment, ongoing health challenges.
Join us to explore these challenges at a free forum – Making cancer treatment worth it – in Adelaide on 10 November, hosted by ABC’s Natasha Mitchell. Hear about the latest research from clinicians and experts and ask your own questions. The event will be livestreamed online. More details below.
Scientists from reNEW are showcasing their cell images in an art exhibition to give people insights into their work and the diseases they are working to understand, treat and cure. More below.
Scientists we’ve backed have been in the news, winning accolades and major funding:
- Sydney cardiologist James Chong and Brisbane bioengineer James Hudson are the two Jian Zhou Medallists for their work using stem cells to treat and repair hearts
- For working to repair joints with stem cells, Sydney biomedical engineer Jiao Jiao Li has won a Eureka Prize.
- Melbourne researchers Lincon Stamp and Marlene Hao are restoring gut nerve cells. They have won $6.5 million from the Australian government.
Further details below.
The continued success of researchers we’ve supported shows our investment strategy is working. We’ve been able to identify emerging talent with the help of our Board, its Science and Ethics Committee, and the high-calibre scientists serving on our Metcalf Prizes jury. And we’ve been able to fund their research, thanks to generous donations by our supporters.
Please consider donating to help us continue our work: www.stemcellfoundation.net.au/donate.
Also in the news this month: Melbourne researchers have created blood stem cells in the lab, scientists have turned giant panda skin cells into stem cells, and one of our directors – endometrial stem cell pioneer Caroline Gargett – has been profiled in The Scientist magazine. These stories and more feature in our regular news roundup.
Kind regards,
Dr Graeme L Blackman AO
Chairman, National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia
In this bulletin:
- EVENT: Join us in Adelaide to find out about making cancer treatment worth it
- See stem cell science turned into art
- Foundation supported scientists studying heart, joint and swallowing disorders score major wins
- Stem cell news from around the world
EVENT: Join us in Adelaide to find out about making cancer treatment worth it
Bring your questions to a free public event at 3.00pm Sunday 10 November at the University of Adelaide.
Cancer treatment can save or extend lives, BUT sometimes it doesn’t.
- How do we make sure we’re not giving people aggressive therapy that is ultimately futile?
- Is saving a life enough – what about the treatments that result in serious side effects?
- How is personalised medicine improving outcomes and patient treatment experiences?
- How do we help people who are suffering (and their loved ones) have reasonable expectations and make informed choices?
- What is the cost (personal, health, financial) of a treatment versus the benefit and how is this changing?
Join us at Making cancer treatment worth it – a panel event that brings top cancer and stem cell scientists to the public so they can hear the latest science and ask their own questions. The event will also be livestreamed.
When: Sunday, 10 November, 3pm - 4:30pm ACDT.
Where: Ground floor lecture theatre (G030), Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences building - The University of Adelaide, 4 North Terrace, Adelaide.
Register: events.humanitix.com/making-cancer-treatment-worth-it
On the panel:
- Professor Mark Dawson: a haematologist and clinician-scientist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre who has revolutionised the understanding and treatment of blood cancers, such as leukaemia.
- Associate Professor David Elliott: a cardiac stem cell researcher at Murdoch Children's Research Institute. He is working to reduce the damaging side effects of anti-cancer drugs on the hearts of children undergoing life-saving chemotherapy.
- Professor Megan Munsie: a stem cell ethics and education expert at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne, with deep knowledge of the extent and risks of unproven stem cell treatments and medical tourism.
ABC Radio National Big Ideas presenter Natasha Mitchell will host the conversation, recorded for national broadcast.
This event is hosted by the Australasian Society of Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) and the University of Adelaide/South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute, and supported by the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia as part of its mission to provide community education. The public event is held in conjunction with the ASSCR 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting.
See stem cell science made into art
Stem cell scientists have turned their research into works of art in a competition and exhibition to celebrate Global Stem Cell Awareness Day 2024 (October 9).
Visit reNEW's #ARTxSCIENCE virtual gallery to see a beautiful, colourful exhibition of cell and scientific photographs taken by the people who study them. It’s a clever initiative that raises awareness of the life-saving potential of stem cell research and the researchers behind it.
The public has voted, and 12 finalists have been chosen. An international jury will select the winner to be revealed on Global Stem Cell Awareness Day.
Visit: https://renew.science/artxscience/
Foundation supported scientists studying heart, joint and swallowing disorders score major wins
Health academy medallists get to the heart of it: accolades for past Metcalf Prize winners
Two past Metcalf Prize winners – cardiologist and researcher Professor James Chong and bioengineer Professor James Hudson – have been announced as the two winners of the 2024 Jian Zhou Medal from the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS).
The Foundation created the Metcalf Prizes to support promising researchers at the pivotal mid-career research stage. James Chong and James Hudson have gone on to achieve great success. For example, James Chong was awarded $4.9 million by the Medical Research Future Fund 2020 Stem Cell Mission to continue his work and James Hudson was awarded an $8 million fellowship from the Snow Medical Research Foundation.
Read the full story and find out more about their research online.
Targeting osteoarthritis and more: 2023 Metcalf Prize alumna wins 2024 Eureka Prize
University of Technology Sydney biomedical engineer Dr Jiao Jiao Li plans to use stem cells as biofactories to make drugs to reduce inflammation and encourage repair in painful osteoarthritic joints.
Jiao Jiao works across disciplines, using artificial intelligence, bioengineering, nanotechnology and stem cell science to develop new stem cell-derived treatments – initially for osteoarthritis, then potentially a wide range of other diseases.
Last year, she won one of two $60,000 Metcalf Prizes in recognition of her research achievements and leadership.
Last month, she won the 2024 Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science for her work in regenerative medicine. Dubbed the ‘Oscars of Science’, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes is an award program recognising excellence in innovation, research, leadership, science engagement and sustainability.
We’re delighted to see Jiao Jiao’s continued success.
Read her Metcalf Prizes profile.
Read Eureka Prizes story on the UTS website.
Government funding offers a lifeline to children suffering from gut disorders
Rare but extremely debilitating gut disorders, like paediatric achalasia and Hirschsprung’s disease, can affect the fundamental ability to swallow and digest food and pass stools. Children with these conditions endure a lifetime of potentially life-threatening symptoms that severely impact their daily lives, require repeat hospitalisation, surgery and ongoing care.
The Foundation has previously backed research into a potential stem cell therapy for achalasia. We supported the researchers Dr Lincon Stamp and Dr Marlene Hao at the University of Melbourne through our Matched Funding Program, which targets projects bringing potential treatments closer to clinical trials.
Lincon and Marlene have been awarded $6.5 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund to combat paediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders, including achalasia.
“We believe that our novel approach of restoring the gut nerves using stem cell therapy will transform the treatment of these diseases,” said Lincon and Marlene in the University’s announcement of the funding.
A glimmer of hope for patients who can’t swallow: read about Lincon and Marlene’s Foundation-supported research.
Read about their MRFF funding at the University of Melbourne website.
Stem cell news from around the world
Between newsletters, we share stem cell news on social media:
Here are a few stories we’ve shared recently:
Nature: Children with Down’s syndrome are more likely to get leukaemia: stem-cells hint at why.
ScienceNews: Scientists have just turned giant panda skin cells into stem cells. Paper.
The Scientist: An endometrial stem cell pioneer.
Two decades ago, Caroline Gargett identified adult stem cells in the endometrium. Now, she explores their functions to improve women’s health.
Cornell Chronicle: Study reveals how COVID-19 infection can cause or worsen diabetes. Paper.
SMH: Birth injury ‘no one talks about’: Why marathon runner Sally couldn’t jog across a car park.
Herald Sun: MCRI team create blood stem cells in lab in world-first. Paper.
SBS (listen): Engineered stem cells breakthrough could save lives.
New Atlas: Fasting's effects on stem cells linked to increased cancer risk.
Washington Post: Diabetes took over her life, until a stem cell therapy freed her.
The Age: How silkworms and zebrafish are being used to heal wounds, and even regrow a human heart.
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