Australia's first personalised medicine clinic for immune diseases has opened in Canberra, with the Centre for Personalised Medicine at Canberra Hospital transforming the way patients are diagnosed and treated.
The Centre is a partnership between the Australian National University and Canberra Health Services and uses advanced technology to shape targeted treatment plans that reflect the genetic, immunological and environmental drivers behind complex immune conditions.
The Centre supports patients with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatological disorders and kidney disease that are challenging to diagnose and treat.
Built on more than 20 years of research, the Centre for Personalised Medicine is Canberra Health Services' first quaternary-level clinical service and delivers a dedicated frontline treatment space for patients.
Led by Associate Professor Simon Jiang, the Centre's collaborative approach means faster diagnosis, better health outcomes and fewer unnecessary side effects for patients.
For local Canberra resident Marilyn, who lives with the rare condition antisynthetase syndrome, working with the Centre's team of specialists has changed her life.
"The Centre for Personalised Medicine has been extremely beneficial in supporting my health. Together, the team works out the best treatment and management plan for my rare condition," Marilyn says.
"Rather than just treat the symptoms, my treating team has been able to identify the most appropriate medicines targeted to my condition. This has helped to improve my standard of living and reduce the number of my medical appointments and hospitalisations.
"It has been wonderful to be able to be treated by such exceptional specialists, who care about you as a person and support your holistic health."
In addition to treating patients from the ACT and surrounding areas, the Centre also works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia to identify new treatments to combat kidney disease.
The work of the Centre has been made possible by donations from the Hindmarsh Family, the Ferguson Family, the Anderson Pender Foundation, Nobel Laureate Professor Rolf Zinkernagel and the McCusker Charitable Foundation.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA:
"The Centre for Personalised Medicine is an Australian first – built on cutting-edge science that's already changing lives.
"Understanding that every patient is unique, the Centre combines the clinical excellence of Canberra Health Services with world-leading research at the Australian National University to deliver innovative and targeted treatment plans.
"It's the future of medicine happening here and now in Canberra."
Quotes attributable to Associate Professor Simon Jiang, Director of the Centre for Personalised Medicine:
"The launch of the Centre for Personalised Medicine is a defining moment for Canberra and a significant step forward for healthcare in Australia. It reflects a shift towards a new model of care that seeks to understand the root causes of disease in each patient and use that knowledge to guide the most effective treatment options.
"For many patients, this means moving away from trial and error towards care that is more targeted, more precise and ultimately more effective. Our vision is to connect patients, clinicians and researchers across Australia so more people can benefit from this approach, no matter where they live, and to help ensure research is translated into real improvements in patient outcomes."
