State Treasurer Launches Landmark Tissue Engineering Centre
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Are you one of the millions of Australian’s affected by a long-term debilitating illness?
The Australian Tissue Engineering Centre Limited (ATEC) is set to deliver pioneering work developing new materials and methods in the field of tissue engineering. John Brumby, State Treasurer and Minister for Innovation, opened the Centre today.
The Centre will bring together some of the best of Victoria’s research institutions: the Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery, the Australian Stem Cell Centre Limited, The University of Melbourne and St Vincent’s Hospital.
Under the Chairmanship of Mr Hugh Morgan AC, the Centre will harness leading edge research into tissue engineering. With superb facilities located in the heart of Melbourne, ATEC is expected to be Australia’s leading provider of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) services to the pre-clinical market and will produce data that will meet rigorous standards for mutual international acceptance.
Mr Morgan said with the work to be undertaken at the Australian Tissue Engineering Centre, the day grows nearer when surgeons will routinely repair or replace body parts using our own tissue, improving the quality of life for all Australians.
“The consequences of the landmark research and development programs, in human and economic terms, will be enormous. The capacity to create organs has huge ramifications for the thousands of people worldwide whose survival depends on transplants”
Opening the Centre, Mr Brumby said the Australian Tissue Engineering Centre brings together our world-class stem cells, biomedical engineering and microsurgery research bodies to form a critical mass to drive further commercialisation of our world-class tissue engineering research.
“Furthermore, since it will operate to international Good Laboratory Practice standards, it will be very well placed to form international linkages with other leading research bodies, projects and companies around the world.”
“And it will do all this in a sector, biotechnology that will deliver immense benefits for our quality of life while generating more high skilled jobs and international opportunities for Victoria.”
The research and development of the Australian Tissue Engineering Centre will bring new hope, confidence, identity and dignity into the future for millions of people of Australia and the world.
All media enquiries to:
Sorel Old, Public Relations, Australian Tissue Engineering Centre
P: 03 9288 4018 Email enquiries: Contact us