Health Minister unveils new $25.65 million Smart State medical research strategy

Health Minister Stephen Robertson today unveiled the Bligh Government’s new $25 million Smart State medical research strategy in a further boost for local innovation.

Mr Robertson said the Research for a Healthier Future: 2020 Health and Medical Research and Development Strategy was part of the Bligh Government’s vision of a smarter, healthier and more prosperous Queensland.

“This strategy will send out a very clear message that Queensland is at the forefront of medical research and development,” he said.

“It will help to attract the best and brightest researchers to Queensland, enhancing local medical research capabilities.

“An improved medical research and development capacity will mean better diagnosis, better treatments and better health outcomes for Queenslanders.

“This is an integral part of our $3.4 billion Smart State Strategy and our Toward Q2 vision of making Queenslanders Australia’s healthiest people by 2020.”

Mr Robertson said the $25.65 million strategy included $20 million for Queensland’s Senior Clinical Research Fellowships – Australia’s most generous health research fellowships.

“These fellowships will attract clinical researchers with international reputations, helping to establish strong leadership within Queensland’s health and medical research community.”

Mr Robertson said one of the most important initiatives under the new strategy was the establishment of the Office of Health and Medical Research within Queensland Health.

“This office has been established to provide leadership and direction across the health and medical research sector, and I’m pleased to announce Professor Robin Mortimer has been appointed its Senior Director,” he said.

“It will promote Queensland’s research capability and opportunities, supporting health professionals to undertake research, and facilitating collaborations between clinicians, academia and industry.”

Mr Robertson said in the past 10 years the Queensland Government had invested more than $3.4 billion through the Smart State Strategy to support innovation in education, science and research.

“This is about building a knowledge-based Queensland and investing in world-class health and medical research facilities,” he said.

“It will complement the medical research and development which will take place in the major new tertiary hospitals we’re building.

“Our $6 billion building program is currently the biggest hospital expansion program of any State or Territory in Australia.

“In addition to major expansions of the Princess Alexandra, Prince Charles, Rockhampton, Townsville, Mackay, and Cairns hospitals, it will create three new world-class tertiary hospitals.

“From a research and development point of view, the three new tertiary hospitals – the university hospitals at the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast and the new Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane - will catapult Queensland’s health system onto a much higher plain.

“These facilities will play vital strategic and operational roles in health and medical research in Queensland for years to come.”

ENDS

MEDIA: Martin Philip 3225 2680