Australia’s membership of EMBL to be renewed, your first hug and other news

In this month’s newsletter:

• Your first hug: How the early embryo changes shape – published in Nature Cell Biology
• Competitive advantage for Aussies at the EMBL PhD Symposium in Germany
• In other news
• Prime Minister Abbott attends SAHMRI grand opening
• Where there’s science, there’s maths – BioInfoSummer 2013 review
• Corals and koalas – sharing uniquely Australian genomic data through BRAEMBL
• Embryos, genetics, and heart disease all receive NHMRC funding at EMBL Australia

Posted on behalf of Nadia Rosenthal, Scientific Head, EMBL Australia

Australia’s new Education Minister, the Hon Chris Pyne, wrote to the chairman of the EMBL Council in November seeking renewal of Australia’s Associate Membership of EMBL for two years.

I am very happy to report that Australia’s application was unanimously adopted by the EMBL Council. Council also agreed that the renewal will be initially for two years but automatically prolonged after 2017 unless otherwise decided by the Australian Government or EMBL Council.

This vote of confidence by the both the Minister and the EMBL Council is particularly gratifying in light of the healthy development of EMBL Australia in 2013, the establishment of our South Australian node, the growth of SBI Australia, and plans for nodes in WA and the ACT.

Others around the world are also watching our success, with Argentina signing up as the second EMBL Associate Member State. Our experience in Australia has clearly shown the world how the model can work!

The Hon Chris Pyne has let us know that he is delighted with the renewal of Australia’s Associate Membership of EMBL.

In other news last month, the Prime Minister opened South Australia’s new medical research institute, SAHMRI, home to the new EMBL Australia South Australian node starting up in 2014. I look forward to introducing the first two research group leaders of the South Australian node in the New Year.

In the meantime, I am pleased to introduce:

• the latest research from our Victorian node on how early embryos form. It could help us improve IVF success rates; and,
• an initiative to integrate Australia’s genomic data and research globally – starting with coral and the koala.

Making new connections with researchers around the world has been a major focus of EMBL Australia’s events and activities this year. Visiting scientists from Japan, Europe, and the USA have helped Australian students, researchers and industry extend their knowledge and networks. In turn, Australian scientists and students have traveled to EMBL in Europe to develop their connections, gain an edge in their research careers, and bring home specialist skills to Australia.

I wish you all a happy holiday, and look forward to interacting with you again in the New Year.

Best wishes
Nadia
Professor Nadia Rosenthal
Scientific Head, EMBL Australia

Your first hug: How the early embryo changes shape, published in Nature Cell Biology

When you were an embryo, just 8-cells large, your eight roundish cells did something they had never done before – something that would determine whether you survived or failed. They changed their shape.

It may seem simple enough, but this re-shaping process allows the cells to compact, which is essential for embryo success. When compaction does not occur, embryos tend not to survive.

But how did these young, seemingly featureless cells undertake this vital shaping process?

This is the question that EMBL Australia research group leader Dr Nicholas (Nico) Plachta and his team have answered in their latest research paper published in Nature Cell Biology in November. And their findings also caught the attention of national news such as Nine MSN and the Herald Sun.

The research team used live imaging technology and microinjected fluorescent markers to capture the action in vivid images and video. The study used mouse embryos as a model for mammals including humans.

“Our images reveal  arm-like structures called filopodia appearing on the outer membrane of approximately half of the cells during the 8-cell stage, and it is these filopodia that are responsible for contorting cell shape, and forming the embryo’s first tissue-like layers,” says Dr Juan Carlos Fierro-González, who is co-lead author of the paper with Dr Melanie White.

“Our findings reveal a completely unanticipated mechanism regulating the earliest stages of embryo development,” says Dr Plachta. “And we can apply that knowledge to human IVF treatments.”

Read the full story and watch video of the cells in action.

Competitive advantage for Aussies at the EMBL PhD Symposium in Germany

Life is full of competition. From molecules to entire systems, all are in some form of race for survival. And the same goes for research.

In late November, 20 early career PhD students from universities around Australia travelled Germany for the 15^th Annual EMBL PhD symposium – a conference designed for students, organised by students.  This year’s theme was Competition in Biology.

The symposium was not only a chance for students to hear from experts and learn new skills, but also to gain a ‘competitive edge’ in their own research careers.

Joanna Kwiatek, a student at the University of New South Wales, went to the conference, and also took the opportunity to present as a ‘Short Talk’ speaker.

“Being a Short Talk speaker was a challenge! But I am really glad that I rose to that challenge, and I was really pleased with how it went. The great thing was that other students approached me afterwards, and we had interesting discussions about my research work.

“The keynote speakers also presented some interesting talks and were very open for discussion with students, which I personally found useful to open my mind to different kinds of science.

“I hope my adventure with EMBL has just started.”

Next year’s symposium will be held on 23-25 October 2014. EMBL Australia will offer travel grants again in April/May 2014, so keep an eye on our Facebook page or our students page for announcements.

In other news

Prime Minister Abbott attends SAHMRI grand opening

The unique building that will be home to SAHMRI, Adelaide’s new research institute, was officially opened on Friday 29 November. The $200 million building will also be home to the new South Australian node of EMBL Australia, launching in early 2014.

In the new year we look forward to introducing our first two South Australian node research group leaders, biomedical informaticians David Lynch from Teagasc, Ireland and Ville-Petteri Mäkinen from UCLA, USA.

The Prime Minister spoke at the event and highlighted that centre is not just an asset for South Australian medical research, but for the whole of humanity.

Read more about the SAHMRI opening 

Where there’s science, there’s maths – BioInfoSummer 2013 review

In June this year, Australia’s Chief Scientist highlighted that maths is “the only subject whose study consistently enhances performance across all fields of science”. And for proof of this, we need look no further than Terry Speed.

At 70, he has used maths and stats not only to write elegant theoretical papers, but to testify in court, help farmers and diamond miners, and give biologists the statistical tools to help them cope with the genomic revolution.

He was recently admitted into the Royal Society and in October this year, he was honoured for a lifetime’s work in statistics with the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.

Last week we were thrilled to see Terry give a talk at BioInfoSummer 2013 – on ‘Bioinformatics before, during and after the era of genomics’.

Having been involved in every BioInfoSummer to date, Terry saw this year’s gathering as a particular standout.

“In my opinion, this year was the most successful, not just in the large numbers that came along, but in the reach to different fields of science.

“It wasn’t  just the mathematically-inclined people from universities and research institutes who came along, but others from health, agriculture and other bio fields”

See the presentations from BioInfoSummer 2013 on the Australian Bioinformatics Network SlideShare.

See the photos from the event.