Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week, I was honoured to be joined by the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae, whose unwavering commitment to advancing the wellbeing of older Australians is inspiring. We visited the Florey in Melbourne to see firsthand the institute's remarkable achievements in dementia research and to witness firsthand the passion driving innovation in brain health and therapeutics. The Florey institute stands as a beacon of excellence in medical research, recognised globally for its scale, expertise and collaborative spirit. With over 600 scientists and staff, the institute is one of the largest brain research centres in the Southern Hemisphere.

Their work centres around collaboration and spans a broad spectrum of neurological disorders, with a special focus on dementia, Alzheimer's disease and the development of mRNA therapies. Partnerships with leading universities, hospitals and industry stakeholders ensure the discoveries they are making translate rapidly from their laboratory to real-world impact. What sets the Florey apart is not only the scientific expertise but the deep personal motivation that drives the researchers. Many of these scientists and researchers have experienced the heartbreak of dementia and Alzheimer's within their own families. These stories are more than just anecdotes; they are the fuel powering their relentless pursuit of solutions.

I spoke with Professor Scott Ayton, who is the director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Enhanced Dementia Diagnosis and head of the Dementia Mission and Translational Neurodegeneration Group. Scott's research encompasses both laboratory and clinical research relating to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, to investigate disease mechanisms, discover new biomarkers and develop therapeutics. He is particularly interested in iron neurochemistry, cellular metabolism and the regulated cell death pathway called ferroptosis. Professor Ayton also has a strong interest in vascular physiology and pharmacology, especially in discovering new vascular control mechanisms and how these are distributed in Alzheimer's disease. His research has been translated into clinical trials that he has led. There are some exciting advances that are going to come to fruition in the next couple of months.

The Florey is, as I said, a stand-out when it comes to brain health and research into Alzheimer's and dementia. They've recently secured awards from the National Health and Medical Research Council and international bodies. The grants that they attract set us apart in Australia in leading this research. The minister was particularly impressed with the institute's expertise in mRNA therapeutics, which has positioned the Florey at the forefront of developing new treatments and potential vaccines for Alzheimer's disease, paving the way for more effective and accessible healthcare solutions. This is groundbreaking work that is being done in Melbourne, here in Australia.

Researchers like Professor Mark Lewis and Dr Aisha Patel are leading teams to develop mRNA based therapies aimed at slowing and perhaps one day reversing the progression of dementia. These innovative approaches not only are promising for Alzheimer's but may unlock new possibilities for other neurodegenerative diseases. The Florey's collaborative projects with biotech partners and government agencies are accelerating these breakthroughs, ensuring Australia remains a global leader in brain research. The message is that you have to look after the brain from cradle to grave. If you look after your brain—you exercise and you eat well—then there's a better chance that you're going to, hopefully, avoid Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. This research is so incredibly important, and the collaboration both within Australia and internationally sets us in good stead for some exciting news that will come, I believe, in the next couple of months in relation to early detection and diagnosis of dementia in this country.