From left to right: Mr. Yosi Tal, Dr. Tohsak Mahaworasillpa, Dr. Ora Dar, Dr. Eli Opper, Dr. Galina Kaseko and Mr. Robin Millner.

Drs. Galina Kaseko and Tohsak Mahaworasilpa are focusing on developing their Cell Manipulation & Expression Technology. This requires combined knowledge of physics, biophysics, biology, immunology, molecular biology and biochemistry and allows them to study, manipulate and modify biological cells, especially the cells involved in the human immune system. Preliminary results from their research work showed that under appropriate conditions the technology could be used to create new human cell lines that can be cultured in the laboratory and have the potential to express and produce biopharmaceutical materials. These have the potential to be used for diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of infectious diseases, cancer, or inflammatory diseases.

Meningococcal is an acute bacterial infection that can result in death within hours, or permanent disability, if not recognised and treated in time. In Australia, some 700 people are infected each year, most often children and young adults, resulting in 10-15 % death. Most survivors experience problems including visual or hearing loss, learning disabilities and mental retardation, seizures, and amputation of limbs. With the strong support of the Stephen Sanig Foundation and the Faculty of Science, the two scientists have included meningococcal study and research in laboratory core programs. Consequently, the Stephen Sanig Research Institute (SSRI) was set up within the Department of Biophysics toward the end of 2004. This initiative provides an opportunity to apply this unique technology to develop new biopharmaceutical products targeting meningococcal disease.

Also this year the two scientists took an initial step towards the establishment of a research collaboration with a group led by Professor David Naor from the Hebrew University, Israel, to develop a new product for rheumatoid arthritis. This is an autoimmune disease affecting millions of people world wide. Characterized by joint swelling and pain, it causes the body’s immune system to attack joints and the lining of internal organs resulting in permanent disability over a period of time. There is no cure, and existing treatment methods focus on relieving pain, reducing inflammation, stopping and slowing joint damage. Prof. Naor’s group has identified a critical element in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis, which enables a new approach to a management of the disease. A memorandum of understanding was signed on behalf of Prof. Naor by Dr. Eli Opper, the Chief Scientist of Israel’s Ministry of Industry and Trade during his visit to Australia in September. The partnership’s aim is to combine Prof. Naor’s insight with SSRI’s unique human protein development technology to create a new biopharmaceutical compound delivering superior treatment.

Galina Kaseko and Tohsak Mahaworasilpa

From left to right: Mrs. Sue-anne Sanig (President of the Stephen Sanig Foundation), Dr. Galina Kaseko, Kimberley Sculli (a survivor of meningococcal meningitis), Mr. Suraphan Boonyamanop and Mrs. Naiyana Boonyamanop (H.E. Thai Consul General and his wife) and Dr. Tohsak Mahaworasilpa.