Professor Christine Wells recognised as part of 2016 Scopus Eureka Prize for Excellence in International Scientific Collaboration

Professor Christine Wells – Director of the University of Melbourne Centre for Stem Cell Systems – has received recognition for her contribution to the international research consortium FANTOM5 at the 2016 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.

Awarded the 2016 Scopus Eureka Prize for Excellence in International Scientific Collaboration, the FANTOM5 project maps the sets of genes expressed in each of our cell types, which can be used to interpret genetic diseases and engineer new cells for therapeutic use.

FANTOM5 involves 260 specialists from 20 countries – including 22 Australian researchers – and is led by the University of Melbourne and partner organisations Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Telethon Kids Institute and RIKEN Japan.

Professor Wells is a genome biologist at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience. Her work focuses on the differentiation and activation of mammalian cells, particularly the intersection between innate immunity and stem cell biology in tissue injury and repair.

Professor Wells directs the Stemformatics collaboration resource, leads the Multiomics Stem Cell study for Bioplatforms Australia/Stem Cells Australia and is a lead participant in several major international consortia including FAMTOM5.  

The annual Australian Museum Eureka Prizes reward excellence in the fields of research and innovation, leadership, science communication and school science.