Biotechnology

WA's agricultural sector contributes more than A$4.5billion in exports to the State's economy. The strength of this sector has led to an emergence of companies in agricultural biotechnology, with capabilities extending to agri-food, biological testing, algal biotechnology, therapeutics, and drug discovery.

Agricultural biotechnology research in WA focuses on a range of areas including molecular biology, genomics, proteomics for research on plants, animals and microorganisms, floriculture, plant molecular markers, gene technology, crop biotechnology, rumen biotechnology, agricultural bioinformatics, animal breeding and microbial pathogens. WA's researchers are also playing a significant role in sequencing the wheat genome.

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At the cutting edge of bioinformatics are WA's genetic statisticians, genetic epidemiologists, mathematicians, bioinformaticists, molecular biologists, and social scientists committed to developing new ways of using genetic information to improve human health.

WA is also developing novel bioinformatics tools, databases and integrated systems for agricultural and biomedical comparative genomic analysis.

WA has a set of unique, linked human health databases and Biobanks that have underpinned a large number of epidemiological advances. No other state in Australia, and very few countries in the world, has this capacity.

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WA's world class research in the biomedical sector is attracting significant levels of investment from pharmaceutical and other companies in the biotechnology arena.

WA is home to leading edge research into the molecular basis of disease control, targeting diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, malaria, Alzheimer's and respiratory and cardiac disease. Research is also being conducted into childhood diseases such as leukaemia, asthma, allergic diseases, birth defects, cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis; eye diseases; human genetics; neuromuscular and neurological disorders and trauma; aging and mental health.

The state is also very active in the development of diagnostics, biomedical applications of nanotechnology, medical devices and drug screening techniques.

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Environmental biotechnology research and development in WA concentrates on biological processes for environmental waste management and waste disposal, including wastewater and sludge treatments, remediation of contaminated land and groundwater; renewable energy biomass systems and organic waste conversion using biodigestion, bio-fertilisers and research into the development and conservation of WA's natural marine resources.

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WA has key capabilities in bio-mining, specifically in bioleaching and improving hydrometallurigical processes for the extraction of metals and metallic compounds such as alumina, gold, nickel, copper and zinc from minerals using aqueous solutions.

The State also has emerging strengths in biofuels, particularly focussing on waste to fuel and biodiesel feedstock production from crop and food waste streams.

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Nanotechnology research is focused on developing nanotechnology products in areas including nanomaterial products such as transparent SPF 30+ sunscreens, anti-aging solutions and nanosensors for a variety of uses from military and water monitoring applications to medical environments.

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To download a video without waiting for it to open, do the following:

• PC - right click document title and choose "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As" (Firefox)
• MAC - control-click document title and choose an option

 English [mpg 59.3MB]
 Mandarin [mpg 59.3MB]
 Korean [mpg 59.3MB]
 German [mpg 59.3MB]
 Italian [mpg 60.5MB]
 French [mpg 59.3MB]
 Indonesian [mpg 59.3MB]
 Arabic [mpg 59.3MB]

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To download a video without waiting for it to open, do the following:

• PC - right click document title and choose "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As" (Firefox)
• MAC - control-click document title and choose an option

 English [mpg 57.1MB]
 Mandarin [mpg 57.1MB]
 Korean [mpg 57.1MB]
 German [mpg 57.1MB]
 Italian [mpg 60.5MB]
 French [mpg 57.1MB]
 Indonesian [mpg 57.1MB]
 Arabic [mpg 57.1MB]

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The Business and Industry section of this website provides a wealth of information on biotechnology including:

• Industry Capabilities Directory
• Biotechnology Industry Development Strategy
• Our services and Government initiatives
• Building partnerships and going global including Memoranda of Understanding with BayBio and the University of California
• Programs, awards and grants
• Biotech West newsletter - a monthly biotechnology update

Please refer to Business and Industry - Biotechnology.

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