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Can stem cells make drugs to stop osteoarthritis?

Dr Jiao Jiao Li

Dr Jiao Jiao Li plans to use stem cells as biofactories to make drugs to reduce inflammation and encourage repair in painful osteoarthritic joints.

Osteoarthritis is a hugely debilitating joint disease with few treatment options.  Injecting stem cells to repair damaged joints has shown inconsistent and poor long-term results and the potential for adverse side effects.

“I believe it would be safer and more effective to use stem cells to create healing biomolecules and inject those instead,” says Jiao Jiao, a bioengineer at University of Technology Sydney.

Jiao Jiao works across disciplines, using artificial intelligence, bioengineering, nanotechnology and stem cell science to develop new stem cell-derived treatments – initially for osteoarthritis but potentially for a wide range of other diseases.

She has a track record in bone repair, having developed a ceramic-based scaffold that becomes populated by the patient’s own stem cells to regrow sections of bone.

In recognition of her leadership in the field, Jiao Jiao has received one of two 2023 $60,000 Metcalf Prizes from the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.

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Stomach stem cells behaving badly

Dr Dustin Flanagan

People diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer have a less than 10 per cent chance of surviving more than 5 years.

Dr Dustin Flanagan wants to boost that survival rate by understanding why some deviant stomach stem cells turn cancerous. This knowledge will help in the development of drugs to bring these misbehaving cells back to normal, healthy function.

Dustin’s past research has led to the development of treatments for Crohn’s disease, bowel cancer, and other gastrointestinal conditions.

He’s now at Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute turning his attention to stomach cancer, which is less common than bowel cancer but just as lethal.

In recognition of his leadership in the field, Dustin has received one of two 2023 $60,000 Metcalf Prizes from the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.

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How cancer’s similarities to embryonic cell development could lead to a life-saving vaccine

Dr Ankur Sharma, Laboratory Head at Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, 2024 CSL Centenary Fellow

Dr Ankur Sharma has discovered how liver cancer cells work together in a similar way to the rapidly dividing cells in a human embryo. He is now trialling ways to identify which liver cancers may respond to immunotherapy.

The 2024 $1.25 million CSL Centenary Fellowship will support his next bold step at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Perth. His vision is for vaccines against cancer, which could one day allow us to manage it as a chronic disease.

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Training T-cells for a marathon against cancer

Daniel Utzschneider, The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, 2024 CSL Centenary Fellow

Immunotherapy is transforming cancer outcomes but only for about a third of patients.

Dr Daniel Utzschneider believes the reason for this may lie with T cells, white blood cells that are a key component of our adaptive immune system, which can become exhausted from the constant fight against cancer.

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A heat-wave warning signal; Blade Runner; raising the dead; and a giant inflatable poo palace

Friday 18 August

Highlights from day seven of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

NSW: Climate solutions: a heat-wave warning signal; carbon capturing seaweed.

NSW: Newcastle’s giant inflatable Poo Palace recreates the journey of food, from lips to loo.

ACT: Blade Runner: what do neuroscientists and bioethics experts think?

VIC: Software, sunscreen and STEM Sisters: pop-up science talks outside the State Library

SA: First Nations perspectives of earth, air, fire and water at SA Museum’s Night Lab.

QLD: Street Science on the farm at the Ekka.

TAS: Racing robots, seed bombs, an augmented reality sandpit: Schools Day at the Festival of Bright Ideas.

WA: Bringing the dead back to life: Ask a palaeontologist and archaeologist how.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
Coming up tomorrow:

Bird brains; an Aussie astronaut; humans’ animal nature; and learning from 60,000+ years of Indigenous knowledge – see a preview of Saturday’s highlights.National Science Week 2023 runs from 12 to 22 August.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

General Science Week media enquiries: Tanya Ha: tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863

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Black holes; bull shark bandits; satirical science music; and is AI the next Shakespeare?

Sunday 20 August: highlights from the final day of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

NSW: Dr Karl, furry friends, and First Nations bush food walks at the Sydney Science Trail.

VIC: Shedding light on Black Holes with Melbourne Planetarium astronomer Dr Tanya Hill.

VIC: Is AI the next Shakespeare? See a play written by ChatGPT.

QLD: Meet human and marine stars of National Geographic’s SHARKFEST and Bull Shark Bandits.

QLD: Satirical science music ‘Road to Reason’: album launch at Planetarium.

NSW: Become a poo, race a solar car, explore the moon at the Hunter Science Festival.

NSW: Who makes the ‘laws’ in space? When do you need a space lawyer? Who can mine the moon? – Newcastle.

NT: Paint with a UV torch at ‘Sea of Light’, a light installation at MAGNT.

VIC: Solving great spider crab mysteries, without getting wet, sandy or bitten.

ACT: Keeping brains young with creative computing for seniors.

ACT: Space, robotics, and engineering with LEGO: science while you shop in Canberra’s malls.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
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Bird brains; an Aussie astronaut; humans’ animal nature; and learning from 60,000+ years of Indigenous knowledge

Saturday 19 August: highlights from the second last day of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

NSW: Lessons from 60,000+ years of continuous culture at Redfern’s Indigenous Science Experience.

NSW: Find out how Aussie engineer Meganne Christian became a reserve astronaut.

VIC: Should we embrace our animal nature? Sci fight Science Comedy Debate.

NSW: Newcastle’s giant inflatable Poo Palace recreates the journey of food, from lips to loo.

TAS: Racing robots, seed bombs, an augmented reality sandpit, and more at Festival of Bright Ideas.

WA: Why it’s good to have a bird brain.

NT: A health lab on wheels and AI ‘time machine’ shows impact of disease.

QLD: How butterflies inspire technology.

SA: Tree scientist encourages gardeners to grow the urban forest.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
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Beer science; dog happiness; psychedelics; animal sounds; and the battle of the drag scientists

Thursday 17 August

Highlights from day six of National Science Week

Researchers, experts, and other interesting people available for interview around the country.

TAS: Experimental beers with three independent breweries and two thirsty scientists.

NSW: The Drag Experiment: meet the people who are scientists by day and drag performers by night.

NSW: Could psychedelics unlock the answers to managing complex mental health issues? Ask the experts.

Online (VIC talent): Is your pet stressed, bored, or lonely? Dog happiness and mental health.

SA: Can we innovate creativity?

SA: Archaeology in space and on Earth in a changing climate.

QLD: A science fair for sick kids in Brisbane’s Children’s Hospital.

NSW: Marshmallow bazookas, a leaf-blower levitated basketball, and explosive liquid nitrogen in Goulburn.

TAS: Citizen scientists wanted to investigate microplastics.

NT: Young Territorians compete to take the best micro-photos.

National: Squawk versus croak! Last day to vote in the search for Australia’s Favourite Animal Sound.

Read on for more on these, including direct event contact details.

Also today:
Coming up tomorrow:

A heat-wave warning signal; Blade Runner; raising the dead; and a giant inflatable poo palace – see a preview of Friday’s highlights.

National Science Week 2023 runs from 12 to 22 August.

Visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

General Science Week media enquiries: Tanya Ha: tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863

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Meet a dinosaur; whale poo; dog happiness; scabby microbiology cartoons; and a Festival of Bright Ideas

Great National Science Week stories up for grabs now around Australia

  • Whales, poo, Antarctica, and onboard a Southern Ocea research ship with Vanessa Pirotta.
  • Sky Country, bush food, and technology at Redfern’s Indigenous Science Experience.
  • Meet a dinosaur and native animals, and try your hand at science.
  • Street Science on the farm at the Ekka.
  • A science fair for sick kids in The Children’s Hospital.
  • Is your pet stressed, bored, or lonely? Dog happiness and mental health.
  • Racing robots, seed bombs, an augmented reality sandpit, and more at Festival of Bright Ideas.
  • Tree scientist encourages gardeners to grow the urban forest.
  • Paint with a UV torch at ‘Sea of Light’, a light installation at MAGNT.
  • Space, robotics, and engineering with LEGO: science while you shop in Canberra’s malls.
  • ‘Scab’: MicroToons animation brings microbiology to people with autism.

More on these below and visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Scientists, experts, performers and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

Direct contact details for each event are below or contact Tanya Ha on tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

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An Aussie astronaut, a whale scientist, 3D-printed animal bits, and microbiology for neurodiversity

National Science Week offers dozens of stories featuring powerhouses of Women in Science

  • Meganne Christian: an evening with an Aussie engineer turned future astronaut.
  • Meet the female curators, artists and scientists behind the DARK MATTERS exhibition.
  • Whales, poo, Antarctica, and onboard a Southern Ocean research ship with Dr Vanessa Pirotta.
  • Rethink gender stereotypes by exploring the world of female reproduction in the animal kingdom, with science communicator Tiana Pirtle.
  • Should we embrace our animal nature? Science comedian Alanta Colley moderates the Sci fight Science Comedy Debate.
  • Software, sunscreen and STEM Sisters: pop-up science talks outside the State Library.
  • Black Holes: Journey into the unknown with Dr Tanya Hill.
  • ‘Scab’: MicroToons animation brings microbiology to people with autism, lead by scientist and author Dr Rina Fu.

More on these below and visit ScienceWeek.net.au/events to find more stories in your area.

Scientists, experts, performers and event organisers are available for interview throughout National Science Week.

Direct contact details for each event are below or contact Tanya Ha on tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au or 0404 083 863.

Media centre here. Images for media here.

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