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Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel AO, opened the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI)’s new electrophysiology laboratory last week, which will aim to significantly improve the rate of drug discovery.

Associate Professor Enzo Porrello of the University of Melbourne and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Dr Heather Lee of the University of Newcastle have both received $50,000 Metcalf Prizes from the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia in recognition of their leadership in stem cell research.

The Designed to Order Interdisciplinary workshop, hosted by University of Melbourne’s Centre for Stem Cell Systems and the Melbourne Law School, was held at the end of October and sought to begin a conversation around mammalian cell synthetic biology.