| Chairman's Report |
These past twelve months have been a busy period as we continually plan the final phase of our Centre’s activities. A great deal of effort has gone into these plans so as to achieve the maximum, in terms of outcomes, from the CRC-CGF in every respect. This has entailed concentration of much of our research endeavour to areas that are likely to yield viable commercial partnerships or at least outcomes which could be of value to industry in the future. We have sought to ensure continuity of our research and educational efforts within the group of institutions who are our members. This is achieved by seeking to secure a continuing collaborative environment so that our participating institutions, and the very able individuals who make up our CRC, continue to share resources and to collaborate constructively.
The Centre has now completed the sixth year of the second seven-year funding period of its existence. We have completed the Fifth Year Review process and gained agreement on all the plans to complete our work, including the plans for any relocation of staff and resources. Our scientific staff already work in the laboratories of our members, and therefore we do not anticipate any difficulties with the very few planned terminations later in 2004.
The Director’s Report already covers the work of the Centre during the past year in considerable detail and the Centre’s many achievements do not need duplication. One particularly high-point for this year has been the 23 June 2003 announcement by Amrad of their agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme to develop commercially one aspect of the work originating in the CRC-CGF. This Centre project has the potential to lead to new asthma treatments and possibly treatment for some forms of cancer. It is splendid recognition of the value of the CRC Program as a whole, of the investment by Government and our member institutes, and the hard work of our team of outstanding scientists. Clearly, our efforts have demonstrated the value of pursuing basic research with possible commercial potential. It is worth emphasising the long lead-time from the early work in this field to the earliest phases of commercial development represented by Amrad securing a contract potentially valued at $US112m in the first instance. The CRC-CGF partners will benefit significantly from this success, not just financially but also as a validation of the scientific endeavour undertaken. The technology of interest was discovered by the CRC-CGF in 1995, arising out of innovative and original research that commenced several years earlier. The project has yet some distance to travel before Phase 1 Clinical Trials can begin, however, it is a point of great pride to know that our Centre has contributed to the process of the development of possible new medicines in this way.
Work of this kind represents the type of success that provides strong endorsement for governments in their investment in science as central to the long- term future of the country. Our future depends so much on maximising our capacities for innovation in general terms and in basic and applied research in particular. Biomedical research is one of Australia’s internationally competitive strengths and the long lead times to success so often deter the providers of commercial capital from seeing projects of this kind through to successful completion without government assistance.
Attracting able young people into careers in scientific research is vital to our future and the CRC-CGF has itself made major efforts in this respect, working with both undergraduates and graduate students.
This has been yet another successful year for our highly productive CRC. Recognition of our achievements continues. Several senior CRC-CGF members were awarded Centenary Medals during the year. These were awarded to Professor Antony Burgess, Professor Peter Colman, Professor Suzanne Cory, Professor Don Metcalf, Professor Nick Nicola, Dr Colin Ward and myself. Professor Suzanne Cory was also awarded the Royal Medal of the Royal Society, London in November 2002. Dr Andrew Roberts received one of four 2002 Best of Health Medical Awards that the Royal Melbourne Hospital presents at its annual ‘Best of Health’ event.
Our UROP undergraduate students continue their record of achievement. Former UROP student, Sally Gras, received a national Australian Cambridge Gates scholarship and Kylie Greig graduated on the Dean’s Honours List from the University of Melbourne. We currently have 17 PhD candidates within the CRC-CGF and a further 3 Honours students committed to research. This is evidence of the major contribution the Centre has been making to strengthening the research capability of Australia, as well as to contributing so successfully in the science itself and in its commercialisation.
David Penington