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Dr. Rhiannon Werder has today been awarded the Metcalf Prize for Stem Cell Research in recognition of her leadership in stem cell research and her efforts to develop new treatments for respiratory infections.
Dr Rhiannon Werder, an Associate Investigator at reNEW Melbourne and Team Leader at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), has been awarded one of two $60,000 Metcalf Prizes for Stem Cell Research from the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.
Lung diseases and respiratory infections rank among the top causes of morbidity and mortality in children globally.
Dr Werder has already used stem cell-derived lung cells to create models of human genetic diseases, like cystic fibrosis, and acquired lung diseases and infections, such as the common cold.
Now she plans to grow 3 dimensional models of human lung tissue in a dish to better investigate respiratory infections and drive new treatment discoveries.
“Our models of human lung tissue are complex and can show us how the cells in our lungs communicate to identify and fight infections,” said Dr Werder.
“We will use single-cell RNA-sequencing to understand how this happens, opening doors to broader applications in studying infections and other lung diseases.”
Each year, the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia awards and celebrates two exceptional mid-career stem cell researchers with the Metcalf Prizes. The initiative aims to recognise and reward scientists who are conducting excellent and sustained work focused on stem cell research.
