World leading researchers from Murdoch University will join health practitioners, nurses, scientists and consumer representatives in Perth to share the latest research into healthy ageing at the 2019 Science on the Swan conference

Professor Jeremy Nicholson, Executive Director of the Murdoch-led Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC), will speak on the potential for phenomes to predict those at risk of serious diseases and to develop tailored treatment plans.

“A person’s phenome is a complex combination of their genes and their particular lifestyle and environmental factors, which generate a snapshot of their unique biology,” said Professor Nicholson, Murdoch University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences.

“Researchers at the ANPC will use sophisticated biological analysis technology to map the phenomes of Western Australians and gain insight into the environmental and social factors influencing the state of our population’s health. With this, we will be able to forecast future health risks for generations.”

Enabling healthy ageing

Professor Elaine Holmes, Premier’s Fellow in Phenomics and Professor of Computational Medicine at Murdoch University, will continue discussions at the conference on the use of phenomes to better enable healthy ageing.

“The ANPC will progress research into metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, and help doctors to deliver precise treatment plans tailored to a patient’s phenome,” said Professor Holmes.

The conference will also hear from fellow Murdoch representatives Sue Fletcher, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comparative Genomics and Principal Research Fellow, Jessica Cale, researcher at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Brittany Rurak, researcher at the College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education and will be co-chaired by Professor Steve Wilton, Director of the Perron Institute.

The 2019 Science on the Swan conference runs 5-7 June.