WORK BEGINS ON ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST MEDICAL RESEARCH HUBS

Construction has begun on one of Australia’s largest clinical research hubs at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital campus, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said the $60 million University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research will house 320 medical researchers and significantly boost Queensland’s Smart State reputation in health and medicine.

The Minister highlighted the project and announced $9.45 million worth of State Government health innovation grants at the 6^th Queensland Health and Medical Research Conference in Brisbane today (Fri).

“The Beattie Government, University of Queensland and the Atlantic Philanthropies have each contributed $20 million to fund the research centre,” Mr Robertson said.

“The government’s $20 million investment comes from the latest round of funding from the Smart State Research Facilities Fund.

“When operational in late 2007, the new state-of-the-art facility will focus on world-class clinical research with the potential to improve the quality of life for people worldwide.

“The seven-storey research centre will be a lot more than bricks and mortar and its 320 researchers will include the best in their fields in Australia, if not the world.

“It will encourage collaboration between researchers and frontline medical practitioners, forging stronger links between research and health care outcomes,” he said.

RBWH Research Coordinator Professor Lawrie Powell said the centre would provide a focus for world-class clinical research in the areas of cancer, genetic diseases, infectious diseases, population health risks, critical care, clinical neuroscience and psychiatry, and other areas of chronic disease management, including renal, orthopaedic and vascular disorders.

“Opportunities to develop strengths in medical applications of research from areas such as engineering and laser technology will also be pursued,” Professor Powell said.

“As the Smart State, we will play our part in providing a world-class clinical research centre, bringing together research from the RBWH and the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Health Sciences to provide better treatment and outcomes for patients.

“The Centre for Clinical Research will focus on patient-oriented research in response to issues that arise from the bedside.

“The high quality research conducted by this centre will link directly to results and improved care for patients,” Professor Powell said.

Mr Robertson also announced the first allocation of grants awarded from Queensland Health’s new Innovation Fund totalling $9.45 million.

“These grants are designed to engage our clinicians, particularly clinical networks, more effectively in research and planning to deliver better health services for Queenslanders.

“Its about empowering our leading clinicians to guide best practice and find newer, smarter and more innovative ways to solve problems and deliver health care of the highest possible quality.”

Twenty five initiatives across clinical areas such as diabetes, cardiac, oncology, emergency medicine and intensive care have received funding ranging from $77,000 to $1.8 million.

All projects will be managed within established clinical networks throughout Queensland.

Projects include:

• $390,000 to Professor Robin Mortimer, chair of the Statewide Diabetes Clinical Network, to develop a new ambulatory pathway for diabetes patients with foot complications.

• The Diabetes Clinical Network will also receive $1.2 million to spearhead a project that aims to improve outcomes for women with diabetes in pregnancy.

• Dr Niall Small, chair of the Emergency Clinical Network in the Northern Health Area, will receive $940,000 to develop innovative ways of improving patient flow in the Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Mount Isa hospital emergency departments.

• Another $684,785 project will link via telemedicine the Intensive Care Unit at Mount Isa Hospital with ICU specialists at Townsville Hospital.

• $1.8 million will fund the development of a Chronic Disease Management Centre at Inala.

MEDIA: JOSHUA COONEY 3234 1185