20th Anniversary Scientific Symposium and Celebratory Dinner

Wednesday 28th September, 2011

Breakthroughs in the treatment of health issues from cancer to male infertility at the Monash Institute of Medical Research were celebrated on Wednesday 28th September to mark the Institutes 20th anniversary.

Chief Scientist for Australia, Professor Ian Chubb, together with current and former MIMR Directors, Professors Bryan Williams, David de Kretser AC and Alan Trounson honoured the Institute's research contributions at a special symposium, which was followed by a celebratory dinner. 

Founding Director of the Institute and current Research Fellow Professor de Kretser, said MIMR had progressed from modest beginnings to now be at the forefront of biomedical research.

"From a small, disparate group of researchers, MIMR has grown immensely and many Australians have benefited from its work. Today, the Institute continues the tradition of high-quality and relevant research and I am delighted to be once again contributing to this," said Professor de Kretser.

Current Director Professor Williams said visionary leadership had played an important role in the Institute's success.

"Over the last 20 years, under the direction of outstanding individuals such as David de Kretser and Alan Trounson, MIMR has made hugely important breakthroughs in medical research.

"We have discovered fundamental mechanisms involved in gastric cancer growth, derived pluripotent stem cells from adult cells, and made breakthroughs in treatment of inflammatory diseases, male infertility and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome," said Professor Williams.

"I am proud to say that all of these developments have produced tangible benefits to the community."

"Over the next two decades, MIMR will build on its research successes and maintain its presence as a world leader in medical research. Together, we will drive further advances in the areas of cancer, stem cells, inflammation, infectious diseases and men's, women's and children's health."

Founded in 1991 as the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, MIMR initially combined the research teams of Professor de Kretser in anatomy and Professor Trounson in human development.

Today, the research focus has broadened and more than 300 researchers, students and support personnel work across four research centres within MIMR: the Centre for Cancer Research, the Centre for Innate Immunity & Infectious Diseases, the Centre for Reproduction & Development and the Ritchie Centre.

The 20th Anniversary Celebrations were sponsored by
Life Technologies   and Pacific Laboratory Products