A new research centre in Brisbane will save lives by training the next generation of Queensland scientists in the detection and treatment of diseases.
The Morrison Government is providing $4.7 million over five years towards the centre that will use new technologies and innovations to improve healthcare.
Member for Ryan Jane Prentice today officially opened the Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology at the University of Queensland.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said biomedical imaging was an integral part of modern health care.
"The new ARC Training Centre will save lives by undertaking research that will improve the detection and treatment of disease," Mr Tehan said.
"It will also support the next generation of scientists who will lead the medical industry into the future and help Australia meet its future health challenges with new innovations and applications in medical technology."
Ms Prentice said the new centre would build links between university researchers and industry experts to develop ‘smart’ devices and techniques to improve healthcare.
"The centre will train ‘industry-ready’ scientists who will undertake research to develop new imaging methods to diagnose and treat important diseases, like cancer," Ms Prentice said.
"An important role of ARC Training Centres is to provide the opportunity for early career researchers to gain research experience in a commercial setting."
University of Queensland Vice Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said the centre would make an important contribution to the Australian biomedical and health research industry
"It will deliver ground-breaking innovation in biomedical imaging and tackle key health problems," Professor Høj said.
"It brings together industry and academic leaders to train a new generation of scientists who will help contribute to important advances in diagnostic methods and technologies.
"Now that we have a critical mass of researchers and equipment, we are at the forefront of a field that is advancing swiftly – and it’s essential that we seize this opportunity to pass knowledge on to the next generation of leading scientists."
The ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology will be led by the University of Queensland in collaboration with Siemens Healthcare; BGI International; Inter-K Peptide Therapeutics; Clarity Pharmaceuticals; Minomic International; Theranostics (Australia); Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre; Uniting Care Medical Imaging; and Red Radiology.
