Science, Technology and Engineering

Former graduate returns to Department for 2nd teaching post (23 Feb 2006)
Dr Peter Cartwright, former PhD student of the Hoogenraad lab, returns to the Department after successful postdocs in Milan (Italy) and Adelaide. He will take up the post of 2nd year practical coordinator in Biochemistry and Immunology.

New Directions in Multiple Sclerosis Research
Congratulations to Dr Jacqueline Orian who has received a research grant of $493,000 for three years from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of America.  The money will go towards Dr Orian's research into cells known as astrocytes, and whether their deterioration can be an early indication of multiple sclerosis.

Department success at annual ComBio2005 conference (29 October 2005)
The department was well represented at the conference with poster (see photos) and oral (Michael Ryan, David Dougan, Sue Herd, Fung Lay) presentations. Congratulations to Damian Spencer (Phillips lab) for receiving an ASBMB student poster prize and Nicole van der Weerden (Anderson lab) for best student poster at the conference, unanimously judged by the three Societies in attendance.

Refurbishments, Level 3 Progress Report  (after 12 weeks)
Refurbishment of 4 research laboratories, tissue culture facility, seminar room and cold room commenced on the 2nd of May for completion in late October.  At this date (1 August, 2005) work is on schedule.

Department success at the 4th Melbourne Protein Group Symposium (20 July 2005)
The 4th MPG Symposium was held at the Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute this year where several postgraduate students from the department presented their work in poster sessions. Congratulations to Diana Stojanovski who was selected to give an oral presentation and to Ross Weston who won a best student poster prize.

Refurbishments, Level 3 Progress Report  (after 8 weeks)
Refurbishment of 4 research laboratories, tissue culture facility, seminar room and cold room commenced on the 2nd of May for completion in late October.  At this date (5 July, 2005) work is on schedule.

Department Researchers involved in $9m ARC Centre of Excellence
Prof. Leann Tilley and Dr Mike Ryan are investigators on an Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science that has recently received funding for the next 5 years. The ARC has contributed $9m over 5 years and along with funds from the State Government and various institutions, researchers from Physics, Biochemistry and Chemistry aim to develop fundamentally new approaches to probing biological structures and processes. The Centre will combine world-class expertise in imaging, structural biology, laser science and molecular theory to develop novel high-resolution imaging and probing using the Australian Synchrotron and, ultimately, x-ray lasers. An overarching scientific aim will be to determine the structure of membrane proteins. The grant is headed by Federation Fellow Prof Keith Nugent (Melbourne University) and involves the collaboration of individuals from a number of Victorian Institutions. Congratulations Leann and Mike.

David Vaux to join Department as Federation Fellow
Congratulations to Prof David Vaux from the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute who will join the Department as a Federation Fellow. Federation Fellowships are prestigious awards designed to develop and retain highly skilled researchers within Australia and attract such researchers from overseas. Fellows receive a salary of about $246,000 a year for each of five years, totaling more than $1.2 million over the five-year period. Host institutions provide support for Fellows which at least matches the salary. Professor Vaux’s research focuses on apoptosis, the process by which most animal cells kill themselves. Apoptosis of the wrong cells, or failure of cells to die when they should, has been observed in practically every disease. David, together with his group, will join the Department in 2006.

Ann Frazier awarded Human Frontiers Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr Ann Frazier who was recently awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the Human Frontiers Science Program. The goal of the Fellowship is to promote the development of a global network of talented young scientists by enabling postdoctoral fellows to obtain training in a new area of research in a laboratory in another country. Ann completed her PhD in Germany and has joined Mike Ryan’s laboratory. Her research will focus on the way in which mitochondria organize themselves within cells. As well as the HSFP grant, Ann has also won a La Trobe University postdoctoral fellowship. ‘The La Trobe fellowship scheme is an excellent initiative by the University and I am very grateful for the award’ Dr Frazier said. A combination of these grants will extend her work in the Department to at least four years.