Respiratory specialist Professor Geoff Laurent, currently Director of the Centre for Respiratory Research and Head of Department of Internal Medicine at University College London, will return to Australia later this year will lead a new Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine to be established at The University of Western Australia.

 

Professor Laurent currently directs a team of scientists and physicians conducting research into basic aspects of lung inflammation and mechanisms of tissue repair.  New therapeutic approaches developed by his team are now being tested in patients suffering with chronic lung diseases.

 

He has published more than 200 articles in international journals of biomedical research.  He was recently awarded the European Respiratory Societies Presidential Award for his contribution to lung science and is currently its Director of Science.  He has also edited several books including a four-volume Encyclopaedia of Respiratory Medicine and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and President of the British Association for Lung Research.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson said UWA had significant internationally-recognised stem cell expertise and the new centre would help the University take a leading global position in relation to stem cell research.