Major new institute to tackle the unsolved causes of illness

3 July 2006

The University of Sydney will officially launch a major new medical research facility with the inaugural meeting of the Bosch Institute, today (3 July 2006).

A joint venture between the University of Sydney and Sydney South West Areas Health Service, the Bosch Institute brings together basic and clinical research scientists in more than 60 laboratories.

The staff of the Bosch Institute, which includes many scientists with an international reputation for the high quality of their research, will tackle major unsolved questions about the human body and health, focussing on five major research themes. They are:

• Nervous system, senses & movement (brain, nerves, hearing, vision, muscles, bone)
• Circulation & respiration (heart, vessels, lungs)
• Cancer, cell biology & development (cellular physiology, developmental biology, malignancy)
• Infection, immunity & inflammation (infectious diseases, inflammatory disease, immunology)
• Organ & tissue replacement (transplantation, complications of diabetes, wound healing, growth factors, stem cell biology, bioengineering of tissues and organs, biomaterials)

The one day inaugural scientific meeting, entitled Basic research: the foundation for improving health brings together senior researchers from the Institute, with themes including vision and sensory systems, and the cardiovascular system. There will also be a 'meet the professor' session along with an opportunity to hear about the work of academics that have recently arrived at Sydney.

Further information about the work of the Bosch Institute is available online at:www.bosch.org.au

Notes to Editors:

• Another of the exciting new projects the will take place at the Bosch Institute will be in tissue engineering within the organ and tissue replacement research theme. This is the science that concerns itself with areas like transplantation, stem cell biology, wound healing, biomaterials, and other related approaches to the treatment of human diseases.
• Research within the Institute receives funding from a variety of sources, including the Australian Federal Government, the NSW State Government, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Australian Research Council, the National Heart Foundation, the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation, the Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation, other charities and granting bodies.

Contact: Jake O'Shaughnessy
Phone: Ph: +61 2 9351 4312 or M: 0421 617 861