Blogs

As we embark on the Christmas holiday period, where gifts are given and shared, it is good to reflect on the gifts we have been given, sometimes without our knowledge. The building in which we work – the Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology - was made possible through such a gift given by Chuck Feeney, through Atlantic Philanthropies.

Recently I had the pleasure of attending the Graeme Clarke Oration, 30 October. As a sponsor, the Bio21 Institute benefitted from the profile we received as an institute, were invited to the gala dinner and to showcase our research to high school students as part of the Biomedical Innovation Showcase.

It has been an exciting couple of weeks for awards and prizes, with the Prime Minster’s Prizes for Science, NHMRC Development grants and Early Career Fellowships, NHMRC $2.5 million Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in Malaria Elimination, commercialisation agreements and, not least, the Nobel Prizes!

​For biomedical scientists interested in research commercialisation, these are heady times in which we live.

While the Director is taking some well deserved leave, there have been lots of activity around the institute, particularly around the new Stage 2B building and the platforms. 

In the past fortnight, arguably the most significant event that occurred at Bio21 and for me personally, was the visit of the President of Croatia, Ms Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

One of the questions that many PhD students have is what happens after their PhD. In the course of a PhD, students become experts on their topic and can come to know more than anyone else about their chosen protein, molecule or other object of study. But many fear that this may not prepare them for a research career, or for any other career path.

Last week, seven copies of a 59-page document were couriered to Sydney and a digital copy sent to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

Last week, in a matter of a few days of each other, Bio21 was honoured with the visit of two different ambassadorial delegations: The Australian Ambassador to Mexico and Cuba, and the Croatian Ambassador and Croatian Consul for Victoria.

A little over a week ago, 9 May 2017, the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison MP announced the Federal Budget 2017-2018.