Cooperative research continues

Successful applicants for the latest round of cooperative research centre (CRC) funding will begin their collaborative partnerships on 1 July 2013.

These include the CRC for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders, which received $31 million for its three core research programs. Based in Brisbane, this national cooperative research effort will implement ‘whole-of-life’ research to deliver a continuum of support required for people with autism to participate in education, employment and all facets of the community. Participants in the Autism CRC include Autism Queensland, the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University, Mater Medical Research Institute, AEIOU Foundation, Department of Education, Training and Employment Queensland, LaTrobe University, University of NSW, Curtin University, University of Western Australia and Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT).

The CRC for Cell Therapy Manufacturing received $20 million for its cellular therapy research. The CRC will use cell-based therapy and smart materials to repair damaged organs and tissues. For example, the centre plans to run a trial of transplanted cells from human donors which might eliminate the need for people with type 1 diabetes to have daily insulin injections. Headquartered at the University of South Australia, the CRC will comprise local, national and global manufacturers, researchers from the Queensland University of Technology and Sydney University and from the Royal Adelaide Hospital, St Vincent’s and Westmead Hospitals and some key charities.

The CRC for Alertness, Safety and Productivity, which received $14.5 million, will bring together researchers from Monash, Sydney and Flinders Universities to focus on diagnosed sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, and the development of new medical devices to detect and prevent sleepiness. These new products and services include an alertness ‘breathalyser’ and individualised programs for better sleep health. Another focus for this CRC will be an extensive education and training program to support an average of 12 PhD students and 15 postdoctoral research fellows each year.

The Vision CRC, based in Sydney with international partners in Australia, US, China, India and Africa, received supplementary funding of $5 million to develop its Intelligent Retinal Camera System. The retinal camera accurately and rapidly detects sight-threatening conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. The camera is being designed so that it can be used by non-specialists and will give people in remote and underserved locations access to diagnosis for eye conditions.

The CRC program links researchers with industry and aims to focus and progress R&D efforts on use and commercialisation. The program also includes industry contribution to CRC education programs to produce industry-ready graduates.