May 25, 2021
New Fellows
The Australian inventor of 3D-printed bone substitutes is among a group of scientists being acknowledged today for their outstanding contributions to science.
Professor Hala Zreiqat and her team developed world-first techniques for 3D-printing strong, bio-compatible ceramic materials that can bond to and help repair bones. This is leading to the development of new orthopaedic implants, including the world’s first synthetic material for healing large areas of bone while supporting weight.
The Jordanian migrant who came to Australia in 1991 to pursue her dream of medical research is one of 22 scientists newly elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
A vaxxing problem: why arenât more Australian companies producing vaccines?
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In Melbourne, a manufacturing facility that could potentially be repurposed to help produce a COVID-19 vaccine sits idle. The facility â owned by pharmaceutical company IDT Australia â was opened in 2008 by then-premier John Brumby, and among the types of products made on its production line were antibiotics. But the facility fell into disuse as it became cheaper to manufacture medicines offshore.
In March, the federal Health Department asked IDT to conduct a feasibility assessment to determine if its facility could be used âto supplement the production capacity for a COVID-19 vaccineâ. The answer was yes. IDT facilities could be used to produce a vaccine, including an mRNA vaccine.
For months, leading scientists have been calling on the government to establish the manufacture of mRNA vaccines in Australia. Pfizer and Moderna both use this technology, which is more effective at addressing variant strains of COVID-19.
The time capsule was constructed from spare copper plates. Image: Australian Academy of Science.
A time capsule containing Fellows’ messages to the future has been placed under the copper roof of the Shine Dome
The capsule contains a letter from the President of the Academy, Professor John Shine, reflections of Fellows and staff of the Academy, newspaper front pages documenting the tumultuous events of 2020 and other historical documents, including the complete genome of SARS-CoV-2.
The Shine Dome was heavily damaged in January 2020 in a massive hailstorm. Restoration began in November 2020, with a new copper layer being laid over a timber frame, with waterproofing materials between. The original copper remains beneath these layers.
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