Green light for genomics

Genomics research in Queensland is about to kick up a gear with the first call for applications for genomic project funding being announced today.   

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said the Palaszczuk Government’s $25 million five year commitment to the Queensland Genomics Health Alliance (QGHA) is heading into exciting territory. 

“The first round of funding is open to teams of researchers and clinicians and will cover four disease specific projects and five projects that relate to capability and skills,” Mr Dick said.

“Disease specific projects will research how best to use genomic medicine to diagnose or manage patients with specific conditions or diseases.

“As we look towards integrating genomics into everyday healthcare, the remaining projects will seek to build the capacity of the state’s health services to use clinical genomics for improving the health of Queenslanders.

“Key to this is also considering ethical issues and engaging the community in discussing the implications of genomics in healthcare.”

Mr Dick said genomics is at the cutting edge of technology and clinicians are starting to rely on information about a patient’s genes to inform decisions about patient care and disease prevention.

“Studying the genome is essential to discovering precise solutions for human disease."

In recent years, advances in genomic technology have resulted in 4,000 genes being identified as causing disease or affecting how a person responds to treatment, and a further 6,500 have been implicated.

“Queensland has been building a reputation for its work in the developing field of genomics and the QGHA projects will further develop Queensland’s skill base to work in the genomics research space,” he said.

QGHA is a 5-year project funded under the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland initiative, which aims to position Queensland as a world leader in the translation of genomics research into healthcare practice.

It is an alliance between Queensland’s health service and its clinicians and the research and academic community. There are 27 member organisations of the Alliance, including some of Queensland’s largest universities, research institutes and health service providers.

“We are very pleased to see the Alliance take this important next step in its journey to building a stronger health system for Queenslanders,” UQ Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research Professor Robyn Ward said.

Applications close on 16 December 2016. Templates and guidelines, along with the evaluation criteria and other relevant information, are available at www.qgha.org

ENDS

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