Stem Cell Therapies Expert Advisory Panel members Dan Grant, Mark Kendall, Melissa Little, Megan Munsie and Pritinder Kaur at the Melbourne consultation.

Congratulations to the head of the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute’s (CHIRI’s) Epithelial Stem Cell Biology Group Associate Professor Pritinder Kaur, who has been appointed one of 12 members nationally on the Federal Government’s Stem Cell Therapies Expert Advisory Panel.

Announced by Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt, the panel has been selected to guide a $150 million investment in the Stem Cell Therapies Mission.

Part of the Medical Research Future Fund, the mission aims to help world-class Australian researchers further investigate new medical treatments for many chronic and inherited diseases.

The panel has been applying its experience and expertise to a roadmap to guide this 10-year investment in medical research, the draft of which was released for public consultation last month.

“It’s been an honour to represent the interests of WA stem cell and regenerative medicine researchers on the panel and to have a say in how the $150 million awarded to stem cell therapies will be best spent,” Pritinder said.

Pritinder is also providing a voice as a member of the Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine – a collaboration of WA universities, hospitals and research institutes that facilitates collaborative research in the area of stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine through local, national and international research networks.

“CHIRI welcomes both the government’s considerable investment in stem cell therapies and Pritinder’s involvement on the panel, which is deserved recognition of her passion and considerable expertise in this important area of research,” said CHIRI Director Professor John Mamo.

“At CHIRI, Pritinder and her team provide insights into a range of health issues ranging from tissue renewal and wound repair, to the development of diseases, ageing and the formation of cancers.

“With Pritinder’s many years of research expertise in this area, the interests of all the parties she is representing on the panel are in great hands.”

Pritinder’s involvement on the panel has already seen her participate in several face-to-face meetings in Canberra, as well as teleconferences and a public consultation on the draft roadmap in Melbourne in late October.

The panel will meet one final time in early December in Canberra to revise the roadmap in light of the consultations and feedback received online.