News Archive

The University of Western Australia has welcomed the Western Australian Government’s decision to inject a further $4.17 million into the State’s burgeoning biotechnology sector.

Premier Alan Carpenter, making the announcement today at the UWA-based ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, said the funding would assist the development of existing and emerging biotechnology infrastructure and precincts, support school age scientists and facilitate investment opportunities overseas and locally.

UWA Acting Vice-Chancellor Margaret Seares said the funding, which builds on the WA Biotechnology Strategy released last year and provides for a total investment pool of more than $82 million, gave local scientists the chance to make Western Australia an international force in the biotechnology field.

“UWA – as a university committed to achieving international excellence – is intimately involved with the push to make Western Australia a vibrant biotechnology hub,” Professor Seares said.

“The State Government’s strategy will fund two new biomedical and health research facilities at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the planned Fiona Stanley Hospital, a new Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine, research and development in crop biotechnology and animal/pest diagnostics as well as funding UWA’s Nobel Laureates Barry Marshall and Robin Warren to act as roving ambassadors for biotechnology in WA.”

The University has also welcomed the State Government’s commitment to secure a place for Western Australian science students at the renowned biotechnology competition – the
sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge.

Three students from Shenton College, which has a special relationship with the University through the Learning Links program, are currently working with the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology at UWA on an exciting new study to further explore the health benefits of table grapes.

The students will work closely with scientific mentor Dr Aneta Ivanova to complete their project for entry next year at BIO 2008.

Media references

Professor Margaret Seares    61 8  6488 2801

Simone Hewett / Francesca Robb 61 8  6488 7977
(UWA Public Affairs)    0420 790 097 / 0420 790 098