10 August 2009
MEDIA ALERT
Regenerative medicine: mending broken hearts
What can zebrafish do well that humans simply fail at? The answer lies in their capacity to repair or replace
their hearts. If you cut off the bottom half of a zebrafish heart, within a month the entire heart simply
regenerates and replaces itself.
So if they can do it, why can’t we?
Following on from a 16-year distinguished career in the USA, UK, and Europe, Professor Nadia Rosenthal
is now the Founding Director of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute in Victoria.
She will give an overview of her $4 million Australia Fellowship, from the National Health and Medical
Research Council, to look at how to enhance the heart’s regenerative capacity in ageing and disease.
The next few decades will unveil the true potential of this emerging specialty and will form the basis of
treatments for some of Australia’s most prominent health conditions, such as: neurodegenerative disorders,
diabetes, arthritis, musculo-skeletal and cardiovascular diseases.
WHO:
Professor Nadia Rosenthal
WHAT:
Parliamentary breakfast on regenerative medicine: mending broken hearts
Hosted by The Hon Mark Butler MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, and Professor
Warwick Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, National Health and Medical Research
Council
WHEN:
Tuesday 11 August 2009, 7.30am–9am
WHERE:
Senate Alcove, Level 2, Parliament House
MEDIA PLEASE NOTE:
Professor Rosenthal is available for interview on Tuesday morning.
Media contacts:
Lisa Sedgwick, Parliamentary Secretary’s office, 02 6277 4414
Carolyn Norrie, NHMRC, 02 6217 9190
NEWS 
