Parasite network aims to focus research efforts

A new, federally-funded Research Network for Parasitology met for the first time in Melbourne last week, bringing together more than 200 researchers in a bid to focus research efforts in the area.

Network convenor Assoc Prof Nick Smith, of the University of Technology, Sydney, said the Melbourne conference was just the beginning, "Our goal is to bring the parasitology research community together to ensure that we are working on the same projects," he said.

In the past, Australian research had been relatively fragmented, Smith said. "The distances separating the large number of institutions and laboratories means that logistically we have been unable to have the best of everything in every city. Through the network, we plan to make sure the research effort is focused and it allows us to work together more readily."

The network has 300 members. Participating organisations include two large medical institutes -- the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research -- as well as the Institute for the Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Technology, Sydney and the Victorian Bioinformatics Consortium.

Also included are a number of strong parasitology research groups in universities around the country, including Murdoch, Melbourne, Monash, La Trobe, Sydney and Queensland, and the Australian National Univerisity. In total, 60 research laboratories from 26 different universities and other research organistaions around Australia are collaborating to form the Research Network for Parasitology.

The Network of Parasitology currently receives AUD$300,000 annually from federal government agencies, the Australian Research Council (ARC) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Another $170,000 to $180,000 in grants is funded by network partner organisations. International relationships are also being forged. "The funding enables us to send young Australian scientists on exchange programs with top universities overseas including McGill University in Canada and Rockefeller University in New York", said Smith.

The network is already planning its next conference to be held on the Gold Coast in July 2006, in association with the Australian Society of Parasitology.