Transforming organ-on-a-chip technology

A new research training centre will develop technology that will fast-track the development of life-saving drugs. 

The Morrison Government is providing $3.1 million for a new centre that will produce cutting-edge work on ‘organ-on-a-chip’ miniaturised devices that imitate the functions of entire organs. 

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies at the University of Melbourne was launched today. 

Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the centre would develop new technologies that removed long-standing barriers to drug discovery and development. 

“Organ-on-a-chip technology is making the development of life-saving drugs better and safer than ever before by replicating the function of organs, so researchers can test new drugs faster and in a personalised way,” Mr Tehan said. 

“The Morrison Government is keeping Australians safe by advancing the development of new technologies that will lead to better health outcomes. 

“These centres will also turn research into commercial opportunities for Australian businesses, creating jobs and a stronger economy.” 

The University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell said the centre will be an important resource for researchers and industry. 

“The centre will provide our most suitable PhD students with tailored mentoring to give them the best opportunity to become our entrepreneurs of the future. This experience will ensure our students become leaders in the emerging disruptive technology that is being developed to support personalised medicine in the post-genomics era,” Professor Maskell said. 

The ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres scheme fosters close partnerships between university-based researchers and other research end-users to provide innovative Higher Degree by Research (HDR) and postdoctoral training. For more information about the scheme, visit the ARC website.