Clinical Research Fellowships to attract best & brightest to Queensland

The Bligh Government has delivered a $20 million boost to medical innovation with the launch today of a clinical research fellowship scheme aimed at attracting the best and brightest researchers to Queensland.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson launched the Senior Clinical Research Fellowships at the Australian Health and Medical Research Congress in Brisbane.

“These senior clinical research fellowships are worth more than $20 million, making them Australia’s most generous health research fellowship program,” he said.

“They’re designed to attract elite clinical researchers to Queensland, with the six fellowships each worth up to $850,000 a year over five years.

“Our innovative Smart State strategy has already resulted in some of the world’s leading researchers coming to Queensland.

“It has resulted in 36 new research institutes and more than 230 research fellowships and scholarships being awarded.

“We’re confident this flow of elite clinical researchers will continue to grow in the coming years.”

Mr Robertson said the new clinical research fellowships would be funded via the Smart State Health and Medical Research Program.

“This is a further sign of the Bligh Government’s commitment to medical innovation and research,” he said.

“We need to provide incentives for researchers to work in areas of Australia’s most urgent health and medical needs so their results produce maximum benefits for Queenslanders.

“That’s what we’re doing with these fellowships, which will position us at the forefront of cutting edge research, development and innovation, further stimulating Queensland’s research potential.”

Mr Robertson said fellowship recipients would also be required to deliver clinical care in addition to undertaking research.

“These fellowships will deliver a number of important benefits to Queensland, including:

• Raising Queensland’s health, medical and research profile;
• Increasing the appeal of careers in health and medical research;
• Attracting and retaining more clinicians and researchers beyond the fellowship recipients themselves;
• Stimulating research which will ultimately lead to improvements in patient care and the health of Queenslanders; and
• Creating links with industry to stimulate investment, generating economic benefits and knowledge jobs for Queenslanders.”

MEDIA: Martin Philip 3225 2680