Leading National Centre tackles global problems

23 February 2011

Leading National Centre tackles global problems

Global concerns about food security, the rapid escalation in metabolic disorders such as diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome, and their impacts on fertility and health are issues that demand solutions. At the Centre for Reproduction and Genomics’ (CRG) 3rd Annual Scientific Research Colloquium being held tomorrow at AgResearch’s Invermay Campus at  Mosgiel, a group of leading New Zealand and international scientists will present their latest research addressing these and other concerns.

Established in 2008, the CRG is a collaboration between the University of Otago and AgResearch, New Zealand’s leading primary industry research organisation.  The CRG focuses on providing new knowledge and tools for the enhancement or suppression of animal and human reproduction, improving our ability to predict susceptibility to disease and illness in livestock, humans and other animal systems, and advancing our basic knowledge of reproductive and genomic biology.

Professor Neil Gemmell, the Director of the CRG, says the Colloquium provides a much-needed opportunity to share research findings and look at ways to work collectively to address common problems. “If we are to find the crucial linkages between the various projects undertaken by Centre staff and colleagues, both locally and abroad, it is vital that we develop the means to enable our scientists and researchers to regularly meet and learn more of each other’s work”, he says.

One such collaboration, led by CRG scientists Peter Smith (AgResearch) and Peter Hurst (Otago), is on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).  PCOS affects 1 in 10 women and is the leading cause of female infertility problems globally, accounting for more than $4.36 billion in health care costs in the US alone. Thus far it has been difficult to study in a clinical setting, and effective treatments remain some way off. Working with colleagues in the US, the CRG team have developed an approach to induce PCOS in sheep that could be useful both for understanding the causative change that leads to the PCOS condition and the development of more appropriate treatment options. This year they hope to work with clinical colleagues at the University of Otago to develop this idea further.

Professor Gemmell is also particularly energised by the global challenge of food security, and the important role that New Zealand and the CRG could play in concert with international partners. “All predictions are that population growth is set to rapidly outstrip global food supply in a few years, unless we find some creative ways to generate more from the resources we have. Making livestock more efficient, both in terms of food conversion and reproductive output, while minimising the environmental and health concerns related to intensive farming of livestock, are important pieces of the food surety puzzle that the CRG is addressing.” Keynote talks by Professor Bruce Whitelaw and Professor Cheryl Ashworth, both of the world-renowned Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, together with presentations by Dr Jenny Juengel of the CRG will outline work undertaken to enhance reproductive efficiency and heighten disease resistance.

The 2011 Colloquium focuses on both animal and human health research covering three broad areas: Genomics, Reproduction and Development, Growth and Survival.

Professor Gemmell believes the dual focus on animal and human systems creates a unique opportunity for information exchange between scientists working in what are usually regarded as quite disparate areas, but such cross-disciplinary exchange is as a key strength of the CRG and this Colloquium. “Our Colloquium, perhaps uniquely in New Zealand science, brings together world experts in both spheres, and I am hopeful this meeting may generate a few eureka moments.”

Professor Gemmell says “the long-term goal of the CRG is to instigate a knowledge based revolution in the primary productive sectors, enhancement of human health outcomes, and the maintenance of the ecological and social firmament that we recognise as one of the key strengths of our nation.”

The Colloquium will be held at the Cullen Room, located on the Invermay Campus of AgResearch approximately 20 minutes out of Dunedin.
 
 
3rd Annual CRG Research Colloquium
Thursday, 24 February 2011

Speakers include:
·         Prof Bruce Whitelaw, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh
“Application of genetic engineering to reduce impact of disease in livestock”

·         Prof Cheryl Ashworth, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh
“Programming reproductive efficiency in livestock”

·         Dr Elinor Karlsson, Broad Institute, Harvard University, USA
“Finding signals of natural selection and recent evolution using whole genome datasets”

·         Prof Frank Griffin, University of Otago
"Genotypic and phenotypic markers for heritable resistance to mycobacteria in farmed deer"

·         Dr Stephanie Hughes, University of Otago
"Developing gene therapies in a sheep brain"

·         Mr Peter Smith, AgResearch
"The sheep model for human polycystic ovarian syndrome: advantages, phenotype and prospects"

·         Dr Jenny Juengel, AgResearch
"The role of optimising reproduction in increasing efficiency of lamb production."

·         Prof Dave Grattan, University of Otago
"Hormone induced adaptions in the maternal brain to facilitate reproduction"

·         Dr Shinichi Nakagawa, University of Otago
"Does dietary restriction extend lifespan in all species?"

·         Ms Kathryn McRae, AgResearch
“Signatures of selective sweeps in parasite selection flocks”

·         Dr Christine Jasoni, University of Otago
"Epigenetics and the timing of puberty"

·         Dr Björn Oback, AgResearch
"Capturing genotype in livestock: from cloning to stem cells”

http://www.crg.org.nz/colloquium/colloquium.aspx

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