New blood: Monash researchers unlock the cells
Monash's Prof Peter Currie and his team won this year's Eureka Prize for Scientific Research for their work on a breakthrough that could lead to the artificial production of blood in a lab.
By NICOLA McCASKILL and TIM NEWPORT
Researchers from Monash University have uncovered the process through which stem cells are produced in blood.
The breakthrough could eventually lead to the artificial production of blood in the lab, reducing the enormous pressure on blood banks and our reliance on donors.
Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) Professor Peter Currie, PhD student Phong Nguyen and Garvan Institute of Medical Research’s Dr Georgina Hollway were recently awarded the 2015 Eureka Prize for Scientific Research for their work in this field.
ARMI deputy director Prof Currie – a developmental biologist specialising in muscle cells – said the finding was a serendipitous discovery.
“We were really interested, and isolated the mutation, to study muscle stem cells,” he said.
“In reality, what we found was a wholly new mechanism to study blood stem cells, and the relationship between those stem cell populations.
“This was a fairly big leap, in terms of our understanding of embryonic induction, made even more exciting and interesting because we weren’t really looking for it.”
The researchers discovered a new type of cell, called endotomal cells, which send signals resulting in the production of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) – the precursor to all blood cells. But this important step is only the first in unlocking our further understanding of the development of blood cells.
Prof Currie’s team were studying muscle stem cells in zebrafish when they came across their findings. The zebrafish, along with other marine animals such as axolotls and epaulette sharks, are kept at the FishCore facility, located at Monash University’s Clayton Campus along with ARMI.
Zebrafish are often used by developmental biologists and regenerative medicine researchers, as their embryos are transparent, making it easy to see each cell being formed – including HSCs. They also share 70 per cent of their genes with humans, making them a good experimental model.
Prof Currie said that the recognition of the Eureka Prize would help bring more attention and funding for the work done at ARMI.
“It shows that this is an institute that has been highly productive in the area of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, and this is a place that excellent science is done,” he said.
ARMI was established in 2009 as a joint venture between Monash University and the Victorian Government. Its research focuses include incurable diseases, and unlocking regeneration.
