Fed grants back European links

Thirty Australian scientists will be going to Europe to undertake collaborative research, courtesy of the Federal government.

The successful grantees of the Innovation Access Program (IAP) -- International Science and Technology Networks -- Fellowships and International Exchanges, were announced last week by Federal Science Minister Peter McGauran.

Among the recipients were several from the biosciences, including Dr David Miller from James Cook University, who will be using his grant to pursue collaborations with Prof Walter Gehring and Prof Heinrich Reichert at Biozentrum in Basel, Switzerland, and Prof Gerd Technau at the Institute of Genetics in Mainz, Germany.

Miller's research is focused on the evolutionary similarities in homeobox genes -- developmental genes responsible for patterning in the development of the nervous system of flies and vertebrates. The project involves rescuing a mutated Drosophila homeobox gene with the equivalent gene from the coral genome and using microarray technology to analyse the activity of the genes.

"We're interested to know whether a gene from one of the simplest animals [coral] will work in a more complex organism," Miller said.

He said it was important to spend time with collaborators, noting that the visit would also allow him to make new connections with other scientists. "It would be very hard to do without the fellowship," he said.

Another recipient is Dr Edeline Wentrup-Byrne, from Queensland University of Technology, who will use the grant to visit the laboratory of Dr Francois Schue at the University of Montpellier in France to learn new ways of synthesising polymers for use as biomaterials.

Wentrup-Byrne is studying chemical-biological interfaces with a view to developing bioadsorbable, biocompatible membrane scaffolds for tissue engineering. Her contribution to the project has developed from earlier studies into the molecular structure of gallstones, bones and other tissues.

"If you want to make a material to replace tissues such as skin or teeth or bones, then you have to understand the structure and function of the natural tissue material first," she explained.

The goal of Wentrup-Byrne's research is to develop scaffolds that can be activated with cells and growth factors to replace a tissue structure in the body such as bone or skin. Once implanted the scaffold would gradually be adsorbed as the newly formed tissue became established.

Wentrup-Byrne said that tissue engineering projects tended to be huge team efforts requiring collaboration between biomedical engineers, chemists and cell biologists to solve the problems in designing replacement tissues.

Her collaboration with Schue began earlier this year after he visited QUT, and the two research groups are now sharing a PhD student. She said that the grant would not only allow her to visit him in France next year, but also meant that Schue was more likely to come back to Australia -- especially as there is a biopolymer conference in Queensland next year.

Sydney University proteomics researcher Dr Kevin Downard is heading to the University of Warwick in the UK to work with Prof Peter Derrick at the Institute of Mass Spectrometry. The trip is planned for the second half of next year.

Downard's laboratory is using mass spectrometry to develop high-throughput methods for analysis of protein and other large macromolecular complexes. The purpose of the visit is to access state-of-the-art mass spectrometry equipment not available in Australia, namely a 9.4 Tesla FT-ICR mass spectrometer which offers high mass accuracies, large mass ranges and efficient ion storage capabilities, he explained.

"The collaboration is very important and will enable research to be performed that cannot be conducted in Australia through lack of instrumentation," Downard said. He noted that without government support, the four-week trip would not be able to take place.

The trip would also provide opportunities for future exchange visits by staff and students, Downard said.

McGauran said the grants would stimulate Australia's involvement in leading-edge science and research. "They will increase Australian access to global research and technologies and bring demonstrated benefits to Australian researchers and organisations," he said.

The Federal government plans to announce further grants for travel to North America and Asia shortly.