Curing blindness through training

A simple eye examination leading to increased use of glasses can wipe out an estimated 12 per cent of the world's blindness and over half of the problems associated with poor vision.

The chronic shortage of eyecare personnel in developing countries is the major cause of blindness and poor vision. It is estimated that half the children in Africa's blind institutions are there because they have never been examined properly and given glasses.

The International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) was established by the CRC for Eye Research and Technology with collaborators from India and Canada to deliver vision care services and glasses to all those in need. Training courses have been delivered in Malawi and South Africa and are starting in Botswana, Tanzania, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

For interview: Professor Brien Holden, Director of the CRC for Eye Research and Technology
Mobile: 0419 950 295

Professor Brien Holden, Director of the CRC for Eye Research and Technology

Professor Holden is Professor of Optometry at the University of New South Wales, the founder and Director of the Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit (CCLRU) at the School of Optometry, University of New South Wales, and Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology (CRCERT).

Professor Holden graduated Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Melbourne in 1964 and gained his PhD from City University (London) in 1971. Professor Holden was instrumental in the conception of the Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology, and in 1991, was appointed foundation Director of CRCERT.

Two major Australian awards (the HB Collin Research Medal and the Kenneth W Bell Medal), and three prestigious international awards, (the Ruben Gold Medal, the Glenn A Fry Award, and the British Contact Lens Association Medal), have been conferred on Professor Holden for his outstanding contribution to optometry research and education. He received the Fulbright Senior Scholar Award in 1982 and was a Foundation Member of the Australian Fulbright Association. Professor Holden received the Medal of the Order of Australia form the Australian Government for contributions to eyecare research and education in 1997.

Electrode array a major technological breakthrough

The Nucleus 24 Contour electrode array recently won the Australian Design Awards of the Year which was presented on 16 March by the Hon. Warren Entsch, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources.

The electrode array is a major technological breakthrough in cochlear implants resulting from five years of painstaking evaluation of a number of electrode designs. CRC research enabled Cochlear Limited to develop this novel technology employing a pre-curved electrode array designed to curl close to the hearing nerves in the cochlea.

The collaborative efforts of a multi-centre team in creating the Nucleus 24 Contour electrode array will help Australia to maintain its competitive edge in the global market. CRC research has enabled Cochlear Limited to be the first implant company to solve the complex problems of improving electrode technology with demonstrated safety and benefits for the patients.

For interview: Dr Robert Cowan, Director/CEO for CRC for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation
Mobile: 0413 374 3116

Hearing aid software reaches award finals

The NAL-NL1 software, a new method designed to determine how a hearing aid should be prescribed and adjusted to suit any individual's particular hearing loss, has recently been selected as a finalist in the Australian Technology Awards.

The method is based on extensive research into how hearing-impaired people understand speech, undertaken by the CRC and the Australian Hearing Services Research Division, National Acoustics Laboratories. Instead of concentrating on loudness, as the traditional procedures do, the new method aims to maximise the hearing-impaired person's ability to understand speech while making a large range of sounds audible and comfortable. The procedure is suitable for any type of hearing loss and all hearing aids.

The NAL-N1 procedure is provided as stand-alone software that can be used by individual clinicians, and as software plug-ins plus additional information that can be used by hearing aid manufacturers. Additional information is provided to manufacturers who license the software.

For interview: Dr Robert Cowan, Director/CEO for CRC for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation
Mobile: 0413 374 3116

Dr Robert Cowan, Director/CEO for CRC for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation

Dr Cowan has been working in the Audiology field since 1982 and has undergraduate training in Physiology (BScHons), post graduate training in Kinesiology (MSc) and Audiology (PhD), as well as graduate courses in Health Economics (GradCert) and Business Management (MBA) from universities in Melbourne and Canada.

Dr Cowan has been involved in the CRC Programme since 1992 as Deputy Director for the CRC for Cochlear Implant, Speech and Hearing Research and then as its Director from 1996. The application for a new Centre to continue the innovative research outcomes of the first was successful and Dr Cowan now heads this Centre bringing together the research, educational, clinical and commercial skills of internationally-recognised Australian hearing research groups and leading biomedical companies to develop communication devices to enhance communication benefits for the millions of hearing impaired adults and children in Australia and world-wide, and to enable our commercial partners to develop new devices and expand markets.

Vaccines: the potential for investment

Through CRC research, significant advances in public health can be achieved in the areas of infectious disease, cancer and HIV/AIDS. There is also great potential for investment and ultimately, economic benefits for Australia. The CRC for Vaccine Technology is internationally recognised as Australia's premier vaccine research organisation.

For interview: Dr Jan Tennent, Acting Director for the CRC for Vaccine Technology, Phone: 3362 0404
Mobile: 0418 637 613

Enhancing the immune response

One of the strengths of CRC for Vaccine Technology CRC-VT research is the development of generic technologies which promise to improve vaccine delivery and enhance the immune response. Examples include improved vaccine formulations and targeting DNA vaccines.

For interview: Dr Jan Tennent, Acting Director for the CRC for Vaccine Technology, Phone: 3362 0404, Mobile: 0418 637 613

Dr Jan Tennent, Acting Director for the CRC for Vaccine Technology

The CRC for Vaccine Technology develops the science and technology needed to improve current vaccines and assist in the design and construction of the next generation of medical and veterinary vaccines. Dr Tennent has considerable expertise in the area of the mechanisms that induce immune responses. Over the past decade she has developed a keen interest in veterinary vaccines, most recently as senior research scientist at CSIRO Division of Animal Health in Parkville, VIC. However Dr Tennent is also able to comment on the broad range of activities conducted by the CRC-VT.

Faster and more efficient detection of human genetic diseases

The CRC for Diagnostic Technologies has developed a technique that makes it possible to more effectively detect human genetic diseases and traits. The have recently sold the patent for this discovery to a major US Company, Affymetrix Inc, in a deal worth millions of dollars to Australia.

The new technology, known as First Nucleotide Change (FNC), is expected to have significant impact on the health of humans through better disease diagnosis and drug development. It also has applications in animal and plant breeding.

Affymetrix developed and markets GeneChip technology which facilitates the analysis of thousands of genes in a single test. Their partnership with the CRC makes the FNC technology available on a global scale.

For interview: Professor Tony Evans, Director, CRC for Diagnostic Technologies
Phone 07 3864 4015
Mobile: 0414 539 136

Professor Tony Evans, Director of the CRC for Diagnostic Technologies

Professor Evans has been the Director of the CRC for Diagnostic Technologies, since mid 1997. He has been Director of Business Development and Project Management for Onyx Pharmaceuticals for a number of years prior to this appointment.

Over the last two years he has rationalised the Centres Research portfolio so as to achieve enhanced focus and also strategically shifted to the long term development of enabling technologies rather than a specific diagnostic product focus. As a result of this the CRC is currently involved in discussions with several US and European Biotechnology companies about licensing opportunities.

Gene therapy - treating or cheating?

Students from three Australian states will take centre stage at Parliament House in Melbourne on 21 August at 3.30pm, to compete in the Grand Final of Genethics 2000, to be chaired by Australian of the Year, Professor Sir Gustav Nossal.

An initiative of the Cooperative Research Centre for Discovery of Genes for Common Human Diseases (the Gene CRC), Genethics provides students with a platform for stimulating high level of public debate on issues surrounding genetic technologies.

The theme for the 2000 competition centres around a hypothetical scenario using a gene related therapy. Should approval be given to allow research on a potential new treatment for a muscle wasting disease, given that it may also be used by athletes to build up muscle bulk?

The competition, open to all secondary students in Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland, requires students write an essay on the scenario. Closing date for entries is 19 May 2000. Six finalists from each state will then be asked to present their arguments to an audience of students and scientists in late July. Two of these will be selected to represent their state in the Grand Final to be hosted by Adam Spencer and Bernie Hobbs, both of ABC science fame, in Parliament House on August 21. Students may win prizes of up to $750 and the schools of all Grand Finalists will receive genetics resources to the value of $400.

For interview: Fiona Cunningham, CRC for Genes for Common Human Diseases
Phone 03 8341 6319

New endometriosis trials

Researchers in the CRC for the Discovery of Genes to Common Human Diseases are aiming to find genes that predispose women to endometriosis. They are currently looking for about 1,000 pairs of sisters across Australia who have both had endometriosis diagnosed.

Endometriosis is a serious gynaecological condition that affects around 10 per cent of women and causes up to 40 per cent of female infertility.

The study involves answering a few questions over the phone about health history and family structure. After that participants are asked to donate a small blood sample so we can analyse their DNA. It doesn't matter where participants live in Australia, it can all be done at their convenience in your local area.

For interview: Dr Susan Treloar, Epidemilogy and Population Health Unit, CRC for Genes for Common Human Diseases
Phone: 07 3362 0229

Genetics goes "e": find it at http://www.genecrc.org

To keep people abreast of the latest developments in the dynamic world of genetics and biotechnology, the Gene CRC has developed an informative and educational website.

Packed with information for the science community, industry, students and the general public alike, the Gene CRC's website is an effective and useful information resource and access point to all things genetic in the world today.

This web-based initiative will provide information and easy access to much of the current material on genetics including research and information on current issues. The site will be reviewed regularly by genetics experts and is based on the latest research.

For interview: Dr Andrea Douglas, Business Manager for the CRC for Discovery of Genes for Common Human Disease ('Gene CRC')
Tel: (03) 9208 4342
Mob: 0418 520 013

Dr Andrea Douglas, Business Manager for the CRC for Discovery of Genes for Common Human Disease ('Gene CRC')

Dr Douglas is the Business Manager of the Gene CRC, a cooperative venture bringing together biomedical researchers and industry for the advancement of human genetics. In this position Dr Douglas is responsible for managing the research, financial and administrative business of the CRC, in addition to overseeing external relationships with the relevant government, industry and academic organisations. Dr Douglas was previously a senior research officer at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research where she studied the molecular biology of breast cancer for 4 years. Prior to this Dr Douglas spent 4.5 years in the field of Forensic Medicine researching DNA-based methods of personal identification. Dr Douglas holds a Bachelor of Science degree with first class honours and a PhD degree in genetics from Monash University. She also holds a Masters degree in Health Administration from LaTrobe University.

Dr Susan Treloar, Epidemilogy and Population Health Unit, CRC for Genes for Common Human Diseases

Dr Treloar's research contributions have spanned the fields of epidemiology, genetic epidemiology and health services evaluation. She has collaborated with both clinicians and other scientists. The focus of her doctorate and much previous research was on gynaecological and reproductive aspects of women's health, with an emphasis on the interface with psychological and social factors. Postdoctoral research activity has centred on establishing collaborative epidemiological and genetic studies of gynaecological and reproductive health.

Leaner, faster growing and more efficient pigs

The CRC for Tissue Growth and Repair has developed a simple blood test that allows pig breeders to select for pigs that are leaner, grow faster and use their food more efficiently.

The CRC discovered a special blood marker in pig's blood that can be used to select superior breeding stock. The genetic selection tool developed through this patented discovery is known as the PrimeGRO Livestock Selection Method.

Further research is underway to apply this discovery to other commercially important livestock including the cattle, sheep and aquaculture industries through the Adelaide-based biotechnology company, PrimeGRO Pty Ltd.

For interview: Mr Sean Clearkin, CEO of PrimeGRO Pty Ltd
Mobile: 0414 677 326

Mr Sean Clearkin, CEO of PrimeGRO Pty Ltd

Mr Clearkin completed an honours degree in Agricultural Science and post-graduate Business diploma at Massey University, NZ. He has worked much of his career in technology transfer and commercialisation from research to industry. He spent nine years with the NZ Forest Research Institute, one of the government's Crown Research Institutes formed during a restructuring of the NZ science sector in the 80s and 90s. This was a very dynamic environment as these new research companies sought to find new and long term sources of non-government revenue. More recently he has managed two of Forest Research's technology-based subsidiary companies, both charged with taking a patented innovation to the market. He moved to Adelaide in Dec 98 to take up role as CEO of PrimeGRO Pty Ltd.

Media assistance: Jenni Metcalfe, ph 07 3846 7111 (w), 07 3878 4173 (h), 040 855 1866 (mob)