Prof Chris Goodnow (Garvan), NSW Premier Mike Baird and Prof Michal Neeman (Weizmann)
New South Wales' leadership in scientific and medical research is set to get stronger as Australia’s first cellular genomics multidisciplinary centre will be established in Sydney.
The NSW Government will contribute $5 million towards the new Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics. The centre will combine the expertise of two innovative and world leading research bodies – Australia’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research and one of Israel’s leading research institutions, the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Cellular genomics refers to emerging technologies that examine differences in genetic sequence and gene expression between individual human cells, which are crucial to understanding the brain and immune system, and to diagnosing and treating disease, including cancer and autoimmune diseases.
The partnership will bring the Weizmann Institute’s experience in science education to NSW, including targeted programs that will help science teachers teach genomics to middle and high school students.
The centre will house a team of over 50 specialists who will detail how human genomes operate at the level of the individual cell in order to understand complex diseases such as cancer. The centre will be housed in the Kinghorn Cancer Centre in Darlinghurst, Sydney. Read more here.
The new partnership was announced during NSW Premier Mike Baird’s recent visit to Israel where he also discussed medicinal cannabis, cyber security and innovation. Mr Baird was accompanied on the trip by NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Professor Mary O'Kane, and NSW Police Force Commissioner Andrew Scipione.