Mutant fish could hold key to new disease treatments

From the Minister for Innovation
18 November 2008
Sourced from: http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/component/content/article/5368.html

Their names are Candyfloss, Piggy tail, Snow White, Speed Bump, Zombie and Uncle Freddy.

They are zebrafish with amazing regenerative properties and they could hold the key to finding better treatments for , muscular dystrophy and heart disease.

Research on these fish will be used in the fight against incurable diseases thanks to a new $5 million facility developed by the Brumby Government and Monash University.

Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings opened the custom-built Zebrafish Core Research Facility at Monash University’s Clayton Campus today.

“The Zebrafish Core Research Facility is part of the $153 million Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) which is a partnership between Monash University and the Brumby Government,” Mr Jennings said.

“This new internationally significant research facility will enable Victorian scientists to better understand how genes control normal development and to characterise the actions of mutations responsible for conditions such as muscular dystrophy and heart disease.

“This is an important investment for Victoria and will position the state as a world-leader in regenerative medicine, helping Melbourne to become one of the top five centres in the world for biotechnology by 2010 leading to better treatment or prevention of these diseases.”

These 6cm fish are good models for human disease as they have muscle development similar to humans but also have regenerative properties far greater than in humans, enabling them to repair damaged muscle.

Deputy Director of ARMI Professor Peter Currie said: “The zebrafish offers researchers an insight into a range of things that we haven’t been able to investigate before.

“Its transparent embryo and rapid development allow us to see in great detail how it grows and develops.”

The Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute Zebrafish Core Research Facility builds on the Brumby Government’s ongoing commitment to Victoria’s life sciences, which includes funding of $300 million from the recently announced innovation statement, Innovation: Victoria’s Future.

With the injection of more than $1 billion into Victoria’s innovation program, the Government aims to further the state’s leadership in innovation and underpin a healthy, sustainable and productive future for all Victorians.

The Victorian Government provided $35 million towards the construction and fit out costs of ARMI and Monash University spent $103 million. The Federal Government provided an additional $15 million for specialised equipment.

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