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NSW Parliament approves embryonic stem cell research

The NSW Parliament passed legislation on 26 June that provides a legal framework for the use of embryonic stem cells in research that has the very real potential to unlock the cures for many causes of human suffering. Parliamentary approval of the Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Amendment Bill 2007 is an important step towards restoring national consistency in this important area of medical research, helping to keep scientists and their expertise in NSW.

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Science & Medical Research Minister opens Medical Research Week

Medical Research Week was celebrated across the country during 1-8 June with a series of events organised by the Australian Society for Medical Research. Opening the NSW Scientific Meeting on 4 June, Minister for Science and Medical Research Verity Firth expressed her admiration for the work being carried out in labs across NSW and encouraged young people to pursue a career in medical research.

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Nobel Laureate gives public lecture in Sydney

Nobel laureate Professor Peter Agre will speak about his life and career in science at a public lecture hosted by Brain Sciences UNSW on 11 July. Professor Agre is an eminent medical doctor and molecular biologist from Minnesota, USA. He was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2003 for his discovery of special water-channel proteins known as aquaporins, which regulate and facilitate water molecule transport through cell membranes.

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World leading scientists relocate to Sydney

The NSW Government has successfully attracted three of the world's leading scientists to Sydney to build international research teams. Minister for Science and Medical Research Verity Firth said the NSW Life Science Research Awards is a ‘brain gain’ program, helping to generate economic, health, environmental and social benefits. "These three scientists are recognised leaders in their fields of research, and their relocation to NSW will be a major scientific coup for this State,” Firth said.

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NSW Making Headlines

NSW Research News

Anti-depressants don't aid cancer cases (Sydney Morning Herald)
Cancer patients who are prescribed anti-depressants to overcome deep sadness and anxiety do not benefit from the drugs, Australian research shows.

Tomatoes help lungs (news.com.au)
Eating tomatoes could ease asthma but sufferers would need to munch a wheelbarrow-load each week to get results, new research shows.

Vacuuming doesn't help allergies: study (Sydney Morning Herald)
Vacuuming does practically nothing to relieve allergy sufferers from the irritations of carpet dust mites, new research reveals.

Aspirin may help reduce risk for pregnancy disorder (CBC News)
Taking low-dose Aspirin during pregnancy may help reduce a woman's risk of a sudden increase in blood pressure, say researchers who reviewed studies on the approach.

Dementia glass is half full (Science Alert)
Dementia may be avoidable and doctors should take a more optimistic approach to the condition, according to research involving two UNSW academics.

Scientist makes own oxygen under water (Sydney Morning Herald)
A scientist has emerged from an underwater capsule after spending almost two weeks generating his own oxygen and electricity.

NSW Clinical Trials Business Development Centre

Calendar of Events

NSW promotes its clinical trials credentials

Minister for Science and Medical Research Verity Firth has announced a major new initiative designed to encourage interstate and international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to spend more of their research dollars in NSW.

Ms Firth said the soon-to-be established Clinical Trials Business Development Centre represents the first salvo in a new, more aggressive strategy to promote NSW internationally as the ideal location for conducting clinical trials – an essential stage in all medical research.

“Researchers use clinical trials to evaluate new drugs, medical devices, and therapies on patients in strictly controlled scientific settings before taking them into the marketplace,” said Ms Firth.

Globally, the clinical trials industry is worth $10 billion and at present one in four clinical trials conducted in Australia are carried out in NSW. “From this solid foundation the Iemma Labor Government is determined to build NSW’s market share over coming years,” said Ms Firth.

“This new Centre represents a $1 million investment in the State’s rapidly maturing clinical trials sector, creating for the first time a single marketing entity and point-of-contact for overseas researchers and pharmaceutical companies. It will connect the world’s pharmaceutical companies and research centres to the full range of local clinical trials expertise – from the design and recruitment of clinical trials to their operation, management and statistical analysis," said Ms Firth.

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