Neuroscience - Australia's Global Partnerships

Disorders of the brain and mind affect approximately 1.5bn people worldwide, a number that is steadily increasing as life expectancy increases. According to World Health Organisation and World Bank estimates, no less than 25% of the total burden of disease in established economies, Australia and Japan included, is attributable to neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Populations all over the world are ageing, resulting in an increased incidence of degenerative disorders. Combined with increasing rates of mental health disorders and addiction, these disorders are creating a huge impact on societies around the world.

In Australia, diseases of the nervous system affect more than 40% of people admitted to hospitals, and 75% of Australians will suffer from a disorder affecting the brain or mind at some point in their lives. Drug and alcohol addiction, depression and dementia are ongoing social issues.

Advances in neuroscience research are the key to lessening the burden of these degenerative and neuro-psychiatric disorders.

New developments

Neuroscience research has entered a very exciting decade because of two major developments.

First, there is now compelling evidence that psychiatric disorders involve abnormalities in the brain itself, due to the influences of genetics, past experience and the environment. This has dispelled the traditional division between neuroscience and psychiatry, opening an immense opportunity for science to improve the understanding and treatment of mental health disorders worldwide.

The second development has been the explosion of technology in the fields of neuroscience and biotechnology in general.

New technologies include:

• new imaging technologies allowing non-invasive observation of brain function in real time;
• the emergence of cellular and molecular neuroscience;
• the growth of genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics;
• stem-cell sciences and gene therapy;
• the ability to create animal models of disease through gene manipulation; and
• rational drug design.

These new technologies enable more effective observation and research, improving the quality of research outcomes: disease understanding and improved treatments.

Australia’s achievements

Although Australia has only a small population, it is fast emerging as a world-class centre for neuroscience research.

Australia’s high quality research in the field, together with first-class medical and scientific infrastructure, collaborative research initiatives, commercial focus and science-industry partnerships – all are being fostered within a stable political and economic environment, enabling strong future growth and success.

Australia’s neuroscience research capability spans more than 20 research institutes or centres with a primary focus on neuroscience, in addition to several state-based major research consortia, such as Neurosciences Victoria and the South Australian Institute for Neuroscience.

A concerted effort at creating a truly national focus is being led by Neurosciences Australia, a non-profit organisation focused on developing neuroscience infrastructure and re-search outcomes, utilising the immense scientific talent from all the states of Australia.

Neurosciences Australia has established and governs the National Neuroscience Facility (see p165), a major national research facility offering nationwide access to prohibitively expensive technology and expertise.

It is also a significant contributor to the Addiction Neuroscience Network of Australia and has a major strategic alliance with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), under the banner of CSIRO’s Preventative Health National Research Flagship program.

Another important piece of the Australian scientific endeavour is the National Stem Cell Centre (>> p146). We anticipate that close collaboration between the National Neuroscience Facility and the National Stem Cell Centre will result in new understanding of neural stem-cell production and utilisation.

Commercialising through partnerships

Over recent years, an increasing focus on commercialisation of research outcomes in the neuroscience field has developed, and producing new treatments depends on partnerships between academic, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The importance of global networks and industry agreements are issues that have come to the forefront of neuroscience.

Neurosciences Victoria (NSV), for example, has entered into long-term strategic relationships with companies such as Schering AG and Berlex Biosciences in the fields of neuro-regeneration and neural imaging. These partnerships bring into collaboration scientists working in academic and commercial settings in Melbourne, Kobe, Richmond (California) and Berlin.

There is also a co-development agreement with major neurological drug company Nhwa Pharmaceutical Group of XuZhou City, China, and in Japan, an agreement with Sojitz Corp. In this way, Australian neuroscience is having an increasing impact on global developments.

Japan a key partner

As one of the world’s most scientifically advanced countries, as well as Australia’s second largest trading partner, Japan is a key partner for Australian researchers developing collaborations in neuroscience.

By capitalising on the unique mix of skills, expertise and technology in both countries, such collaborations reach beyond the immediate effects of investment in either country, to the lessening of the burden of neurological and psychiatric diseases on both economies.

The Hon. Dr Michael Wooldridge,
Chairman,
Neurosciences Australia Ltd.

>> www.nnf.com.au