“Eyeing up Regenerative Medicine”

Media Release

19 October 2011

Auckland Medical Research Foundation Free Public Lecture

Thursday 27th October 2011, 6:30pm

“Eyeing up Regenerative Medicine” by Associate Professor Trevor Sherwin

The Auckland Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) is to hold a free public lecture on a topic of growing interest, regenerative medicine.

Foundation Executive Director Kim McWilliams says, “Regenerative medicine is a fast moving exciting field of research that holds huge potential, not only for treatment of brain disorders, but potentially for every organ in the human body. Auckland medical researchers are active participants of regenerative medical research, and have a strong presence within the international scientific community.”

Regenerative medicine aims to replace cells and tissues lost during disease progression, ultimately aiming to restore function back to pre-disease levels. Stem cell research is one of the main focal areas offering hope in the field of regenerative medicine and one area already using adult stem cells for repair is in the eye. A new study led by A/Prof Trevor Sherwin, funded by the Auckland Medical Research Foundation, involves human stem cell transplantation to restore vision in patients with stem cell deficiency in the eye. Achievement of this will not only correct the current defect for the patients but may also provide the eye with restored long term ability to heal itself.

A/Prof Trevor Sherwin gained a PhD in Cell Biology from the University of Kent at Canterbury, UK, in 1989. Trevor moved to the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland in 1998, where he now specialises in cornea with research interests varying from cell reprogramming, ocular stem cells and corneal engineering to the pathogenesis of corneal dystrophies. Trevor has published over 60 papers in top ranking journals including the premier journals Nature, Science and Cell and has presented his work at many international venues including a prestigious open lecture at the Natural History Museum, London.

Lecture flyer and further detail attached

The AMRF is a major independent funding agency and Charitable Trust that provides contestable funding for medical research based in the greater Auckland region. Over the past 55 years the AMRF has distributed over $40 million in funding to a wide range of research activities - $3.3million distributed in 2010 alone.

For further information see our website at www.medicalresearch.co.nz

ENDS