Centre to Tackle Big Issues in 2010 Research gathe

Centre to Tackle Big Issues in 2010 Research gathering

A range of internationally recognised scientists, including Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will address a range of cutting edge issues in reproductive and genetic science at the second Annual Scientific Research Colloquium held by the Centre for Reproduction and Genomics (CRG) a collaboration between the University of Otago and AgResearch, New Zealand’s leading primary industry research organisation.

The colloquium seeks to showcase the wide spectrum of science being undertaken in and around the CRG through a series of invited presentations that span reproduction, health and disease in humans, livestock and other systems.

Work in the Centre focuses on providing new knowledge and tools for the enhancement or suppression of animal and human reproduction, improving our ability to predict susceptibility to disease and illness in livestock, humans and other animal systems, and advancing our basic knowledge of reproductive and genomic biology.

Professor Gemmell says that “Global shortages of key resources such as food and water, the heightened pressure on natural eco-systems, and the ongoing challenges from emerging new diseases and the constant evolution of established diseases mean our work has direct and relevant impact on our productive sectors and people. Our goal is to instigate a knowledge based revolution in the primary productive sectors, enhancement of human health outcomes, and the maintenance of the ecological and social firmament that we recognise as one of the key strengths of our nation.”

Professor Neil Gemmell - the Director of the CRG, says the colloquium, provides those individuals working or interested in these spheres a much needed opportunity to share research findings and look at ways they may work collectively to address common problems. “If we are to find the crucial linkages between the various projects undertaken by Centre staff and colleagues, both locally and abroad, it is vital that we develop the means to enable our scientists and researchers to regularly meet and learn more of each other’s work,” he says.

The 2010 colloquium focuses on both animal and human health research covering three broad areas: Genomics, Reproduction, and Development, Growth and Survival.

The dual focus on animal and human systems is a departure from many such specialist meetings and creates a unique opportunity for information exchange between scientists working in these areas. Professor Gemmell sees such cross-disciplinary exchange is as a key strength of the CRG and this colloquium. “The increasingly refined knowledge of animal productive systems is improving our knowledge of the human condition, enhancing health outcomes, while knowledge derived from work on human health conditions is leading to the identification of similar syndromes in livestock and with these new models of human disease. Our colloquium brings together world experts in both spheres, which is a rare occurrence, and I am hopeful this meeting may generate a few eureka moments.”

“We have several luminaries in this area speaking at the colloquium, but we’re particularly pleased to have the New Zealand Prime Ministers’ Chief Science Adviser Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, attending to speak on his research on how the environment affects the transmission and development of genetic material,” said Professor Neil Gemmell.

The Colloquium will be held at the Cullen Room, located on the Invermay Campus of AgResearch, approximately 20 minutes out of Dunedin.

Second Annual CRG Research Colloquium

Tuesday, 23 February 2010

Speakers include

Professor Sir Peter Gluckman (Auckland) Maternal and transgenerational effects - the role of epigenetics and developmental plasticity in phenotypic development

Professor Marilyn Renfree (Melbourne) Marsupials: Placental mammals?

Professor David Hulme (Roslin) Transcriptional networks and macrophage biology

http://www.crg.org.nz/colloquium/colloquium.aspx

ENDS

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