A major medical research base to test and produce new drugs and vaccines in Brisbane has received Federal Government backing.
The $100 million commitment in last night’s federal budget, means the proposed Translational Research Institute (TRI) at the Princess Alexandra Hospital at Woolloongabba will go ahead.
The TRI, brainchild of 2006 Australian of the Year UQ Professor Ian Frazer, will combine some of Queensland’s leading research groups into a flagship medical research facility.
Professor Frazer said the TRI would be a one-stop shop for medical research and health care, catering for medical discoveries, clinical trials and drug manufacture.
Consortium chairman Dr David Watson said the TRI was expected to house about 500 scientists who would work on translating science into better patient outcomes for those with cancer, infection, diabetes and inflammatory disease.
Dr Watson said building was expected to start in 2008 with the TRI taking shape on the existing PA Hospital helipad.
UQ Vice Chancellor Professor John Hay AC said the TRI would help make Australia the powerhouse of biopharmaceutical development in South East Asia.
“I am delighted at this significant commitment by the Federal Government to biomedical research,” Professor Hay said.
“This Institute will be an Australian first and only one of a handful in the world.”
The TRI is a joint project for the Queensland Government, UQ and its Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine, Mater Medical Research Institute (MMRI), Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queensland University of Technology.
The Diamantina, MMRI and other research groups will move to the Institute which will also tenant to other groups such as BioPharmaceuticals Australia.
Professor Frazer, whose work lead to a vaccine that could eradicate cervical cancer, said the Institute was a major step forward to grow Australia’s research capacity and showed how collaboration could expand medical research through efficient use of research funds.
“Building this Australian facility for small and medium scale production and testing of biopharmaceuticals to the highest international standards will make our growing biopharmaceuticals industry world competitive,” Professor Frazer said.
“It will also bring significant social and economic benefits to Australia.
“Co-locating the production facility with state of the art basic and clinical research facilities and a world class hospital will accelerate the development of exciting new therapeutics.”
The Federal money matches the $100 million from the Queensland Government while more money needs to be raised from philanthropists and other sources.
Professor Frazer said Australia had missed hundreds of millions of dollars in pharmaceutical revenue because of the lack of local drug making and testing facilities.
He estimated Australia missed out on up to $300 million a year from his vaccine which could not be developed locally.
MEDIA: Anton Sanker (for interviews with Professor Frazer) 3240 5938, 0412 057 512 or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619).
