Victor Chang specialist appointed to Monash

Monash Memo, 11 June 2008

http://www.monash.edu.au/news/monashmemo/stories/20080611/victor-chang-specialist.html

World leading medical scientist Peter Currie has been appointed the Deputy Director of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute.

Professor Currie is currently laboratory head of the Developmental Biology Program at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney and previously worked in the Medical Research Council's Human Genetics Unit in the United Kingdom.

Director of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute Professor Nadia Rosenthal said the appointment would provide a significant boost to what is already an exciting project.

"Professor Currie has an outstanding record in carrying out high-quality research," Professor Rosenthal said.

"He has been published in the leading journals of developmental biology and regenerative medicine and has a strong desire to mentor young scientists."

In addition to assuming a key role as deputy director, Professor Currie will head the Regenerative Biology Unit of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI).

He will also continue an active research program focusing on zebra fish muscle disease models. This research offers clues to the treatment of human genetic diseases like muscular dystrophy.

ARMI is currently in the process of developing a zebra fish aquarium at the Clayton campus.

When completed, the $A3.8m core facility will contain 5000 zebra fish tanks, a 1000 tank quarantine room, and a self-contained phenotyping room.

"I am convinced that this appointment will provide a significant boost to what is already an extremely exciting project, and I look forward to working closely with Peter over the coming years as we build this unique Australian institute," Professor Rosenthal said.

Professor Currie's appointment follows an international search to identify a deputy director for the new institute. More than 100 people will be recruited over the next two years to join researchers already involved in regenerative medicine research within the Monash biosciences precinct.

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