The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute has been recognised by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for its contributions to innovative medical research that is used to improve patient care.
The institute is a supporting partner in the Melbourne Healthcare Partners Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre, one of four Australian health centres recognised by the NHRMC as being amongst the world’s best for using medical research to improve patient care, and announced by Minister for Health The Hon. Sussan Ley MP.
Melbourne Healthcare Partners is a collaboration between some of Australia’s best medical and healthcare institutions – together with supporting institutes, commercial and university partners – to foster research translation. Each one of the centres was judged to be on par with the world’s best research and translation centres by a panel of international experts.
The Melbourne Healthcare Partners are The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Austin Health, The Royal Children’s Hospital, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Western Health, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Northern Health, St Vincent’s Melbourne, and Mercy Health.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is a supporting partner in the initiative, along with The University of Melbourne, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, St Vincent’s Institute for Medical Research, Bionics Institute, Centre for Eye Research Australia and CSL Ltd.
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute director Professor Doug Hilton said the institute was proud to be recognised for its commitment to improving patient outcomes.
“The institute has a long history of building and fostering collaborations that support our fundamental discoveries being translated into new and better treatments and diagnostics for patients,” Professor Hilton said.
“In the past, as an example, this collaboration has seen the development of treatments that have helped more than 20 million cancer patients worldwide. We are pleased to see these collaborations and contributions further secured and acknowledged as being on par with the world’s best centres.”
Melbourne Health chief executive and institute board member Dr Gareth Goodier said the establishment of the Advanced Health Research and Translational Centre further supported Melbourne as the epicentre of health and medical research in Australia.
“This recognition reinforces the leading role the partners in Melbourne’s Biomedical Precinct, based in Parkville, have in the investment and development of medical research to its translation to patient care,” Dr Goodier said.
The Melbourne Healthcare Partners is now part of a strong set of Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres around Australia with the potential to provide a more powerful base for clinical trials as well as provide much greater efficiency in the use of clinical, research and community resources.
NHMRC chief executive officer Professor Warwick Anderson said the centres were producing first class research, and succeeding in turning those research outcomes into improved patient care.
“Being recognised as an NHMRC Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre acknowledges that their work is up there with the very best in the world,” Professor Anderson said.
More information
Liz Williams
Media and Publications Manager
M: 0428 034 089
E: williams@wehi.edu.au
