Research at the ANZAC Research Institute
The ANZAC Research Institute consists of seven independent research laboratories – Andrology, Biogerontology, Bone Biology, Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, Vascular Biology, Cancer Pharmacology and the Burns Research Laboratory. It is also leads or provides support for two long term epidemiological studies – the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP) and the Australian Vietnam Veteran’s Health Study. Each research area is led by a scientist with an international reputation as a leader in their field.
The Institute now provides a scientific home to over 130 scientists including 40 graduate (PhD) students, many working closely with affiliated departments of Concord Hospital. Altogether we earn an annual external grant-based income of over $7 million and produce 150 scientific papers per year in top journals.
A major milestone in January 2009 was the opening the Bernie Banton Centre. Located next door to the ANZAC Research Institute, the Bernie Banton Centre houses the Asbestos Disease Research Institute (ADRI), a world’s first research facility dedicated to research into asbestos related diseases especially mesothelioma. This new facility has an extension to the ANZAC Research Institute laboratories on the upper floor and the two sibling institutes have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will smoothly integrate their scientific operations. The combined expansion triples the research capacity on the Concord campus.
Following is a brief description of our current research areas:
Andrology
The Andrology laboratory, headed by Professor David Handelsman, studies male reproductive health and biology at all phases of life. Their research has produced major studies of potential new forms of hormone treatment for male ageing to prevent frailty, falls and fractures as well as prostate disease.
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Neurobiology
Professor Garth Nicholson's heads the Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory and is an international leader in neurogenetic research. The Group continue to be highly successful in identifying the genetic causes, and the environmental triggers for, neurodegenerative diseases of the peripheral nervous system.
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Biogerontology
Biogeronotology, headed by Professor David Le Couteur of the Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, published in the Lancet their important new hypothesis on how functional ageing of the liver may accelerate the progression of cardiovascular disease. This novel approach could develop important new leads and targets for preventing or slowing down cardiovascular disease.
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Bone Biology
Bone Biology, headed by Professor Markus Seibel, pursues research in Basic Bone Biology, Applied Bone Metabolism and Clinical Research in Metabolic Bone Disease. In addition, our laboratory has a strong interest in the development and evaluation of transgenic models. We plan to further develop a comprehensive research program that makes use of the multidisciplinary opportunities provided the ANZAC Research Institute. Our goal is to intensify collaborations with both basic and clinical research groups on the ARI and Concord campus, and to extend our research efforts to other areas relevant to bone biology and disease.
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Vascular Biology
Vascular Biology, headed by Professor Len Kritharides, has been building up its presence in the ANZAC Research Institute over the past 3 years to now reach 14 people, primarily working in the laboratory, and another 5 with both clinical and laboratory responsibilities. This mix of basic and clinical science is a feature of the group, allowing us to conduct research into clinically important disorders of the heart and blood vessels both in experimental models and patients with coronary heart and other cardiovascular disease.
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Cancer Pharmacology Research
Cancer Pharmacology, headed by Professor Stephen Clarke, is the newest addition to the ANZAC Research Institute. With a team comprising of 11 research scientists and students in the laboratory, as well as 7 staff with clinical responsibilities it is expected that there will be a significant increase in cancer research activities on the Concord campus. Research will include clinical trials of new cancer treatments, nutritional and psycho-oncology research and the establishment of a molecular-based cancer pharmacology laboratory.
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Burns Research and Reconstructive Surgery
The group researches all aspects of Burn Care and specialises in tissue engineering of 3 dimensional skin substitutes for sever burns patients. Cultured Epithelium Autografts (CEA) is a well established technique to create large numbers of skin cell for resurfacing of wounds.Our laboratory is committed to improve the cultured skin autograft
technology by developing three-dimensional dermal substitutes and skin equivalents for treating deep burn wounds. Using technologies including tissue culture, cell biology, molecular biology and, cellular and tissue engineering, we have been trying to produce different biological scaffolds that are biologically compatible, safe and suitable for skin cells to attach and grow..
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The CHAMP Project
The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP), led by Professor bob Cumming, is a multidisciplinary epidemiological study designed to be the world’s most comprehensive study of the health of older men, with nearly 3000 participants. CHAMP will provide important new information on the role of reproductive hormones in ageing in men; risk factors for several age-related diseases, including osteoporotic fractures and Alzheimer’s disease; and prevalence, incidence and consequences of the major health problems affecting older men.
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The Australian Vietnam Veterans Health Study
The Australian Vietnam Veterans Health Study, headed by Dr Brian O’Toole, is an epidemiological cohort study of a random sample of 1,000 Australian Army Vietnam veterans, examining the long term health effects of war zone exposures and experiences in combat veterans. Based at Westmead and Concord Hospitals, the study began in the late 1980s and the first wave collected data from veterans from 1991-1993. This current wave interviewed veterans during 2005-06 right across Australia, with fieldwork completed in November 2006. The study is concerned with all aspects of health, and is using assessment instruments that are standardized and that have national norms to allow comparison of veterans with the background male population.
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