Stem cell medicine advancements showcased at reNEW’s scientific meeting

27 May 2024

Image: Melissa Little, reNEW CEO

Emerging treatments for muscle, kidney and heart diseases were among the stem cell projects showcased at the reNEW Annual Scientific Meeting of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine in Melbourne.

MCRI Director Professor Kathryn North AC opened the event, welcoming international researchers and stakeholders to Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI). Guests included Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator CEO Dr Thomas Carlsen, Novo Nordisk Foundation Scientific Manager Dr Isabella Samuelson, as well as San Francisco’s Gladstone Institutes President Professor Deepak Srivastava and NSW’s Children’s Medical Research Institute Deputy Director Professor Patrick Tam. The showcase highlighted the breadth and success of stem cell research being conducted at the Melbourne node of reNEW, based at MCRI.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, reNEW, is an international consortium that aims to harness human stem cells to improve drug development, develop regenerative therapies and advance gene editing to correct genetic errors that lead to disease.

reNEW’s annual scientific meetings aim to provide a platform for updates on research progress and opportunities for fostering collaborations. This year’s meeting, held in Melbourne on 27 May with Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), hosted international researchers and stakeholders. reNEW’s Scientific Advisory Committee, eminent scientists and clinicians from across the world with expertise in all aspects of stem cell medicine, including commercial development, clinical translation, ethics and policy also attended. The event showcased MCRI’s world leading stem cell medicine research, led by Professor Enzo Porrello, Director of the Melbourne node of reNEW.

Project highlights included:

• Professor Porrello’s research engineering stem cells into heart tissue to potentially delay or prevent the need for heart transplants
• Associate Richard Mills’ lab-grown muscle tissue to explore potential treatments for muscle weakness conditions
• Dr Jessica Vanslambrouck’s new method for growing models of kidney tissue in the lab which better resemble human kidneys

Many of the reNEW Melbourne research projects are underpinned by PREPARE, an interdisciplinary research team that bridges the gap between research, clinical practice, regulatory and commercial sectors and the general public.

reNEW CEO and MCRI Chief Scientist Professor Melissa Little AC said: “The showcase was an incredible opportunity to gather our international researchers and experts in one room and highlight the breadth and success of stem cell research being conducted at reNEW Melbourne, based at MCRI.

“The event also demonstrated the strength of our collaborations with The Royal Children's Hospital, which ensures that our research remains centered around the clinical needs of the children and adults who may one day benefit from stem cell based therapies.”

The audience also heard about reNEW’s Hope Springs Eternal project, which aims to start conversations about the future of stem cell-based therapies with the broader community.

The Annual Scientific Meeting continued offsite, to deep dive into reNEW's research projects and mission to deliver innovative stem cell-driven therapies to transform the lives of people suffering from incurable diseases.

Image: Enzo Porrello

About Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Murdoch Children's Research Institute is the largest child health research institute in Australia committed to making discoveries and developing treatments to improve child and adolescent health in Australia and around the world. They are pioneering new treatments, trialling better vaccines and improving ways of diagnosing and helping sick babies, children and adolescents. It is one of the only research institutes in Australia to offer genetic testing to find answers for families of children with previously undiagnosed conditions.

About Novo Nordisk Center for Stem Cell Medicine

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, reNEW, aims to pave the way for future stem cell-based treatments as well as stimulate a new wave of global investment in stem cell medicine and technologies, and create highly skilled jobs in this advancing medical field. The establishment of reNEW has been made possible by the €300 million investment from the Novo Nordisk Foundation in an international consortium of stem cell research. reNEW is a unique global collaboration focusing on stem cell research involving three leading research institutions: the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Australia.

reNEW is supported by a Novo Nordisk Foundation grant.