The Allan Labor Government is backing the next generation of life-changing medical breakthroughs.
Minister for Health Harriet Shing, representing the Deputy Premier and Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll, today announced the opening of the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), co-located at St Vincent's Hospital in Fitzroy.
The $206 million centre is supported by a $60 million investment from the Allan Labor Government.
The ACMD brings together clinicians, scientists and engineers from hospitals, universities, research institutes and healthcare companies.
It is Australia's first hospital-based biomedical engineering research centre and will fast-track medical discoveries into real benefits for patients across Victoria and beyond.
Research will tackle chronic conditions like epilepsy, cancer and osteoarthritis - using cutting-edge artificial intelligence, biotechnology and regenerative medicine.
The facility can accommodate up to 900 researchers and train up to 300 new doctors a year and includes 3D printing laboratories, a kinetics lab, engineering workshops and robotics to fast-track clinical trials.
A dedicated education centre will train the next generation of clinical, nursing, allied health and biomedical leaders.
The centre is part of Melbourne's world-leading biomedical precinct, attracting global research talent to Victoria.
The Commonwealth Government, St Vincent's Health Australia and other philanthropic and research partners have also supported the centre.
The Labor Government has invested more than $1.1 billion in health and medical research since 2014, driving growth, creating jobs and supporting major breakthroughs in treatment and care.
As stated by Deputy Premier and Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll
"We're backing world-class facilities like the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery that generate lifesaving breakthroughs and support thousands of jobs."
As stated by Minister for Health Harriet Shing
"The impact of medical research is life-saving and life-changing, and this Centre will fast-track more treatments and bring better outcomes to Victorians living with a range of really complex conditions."
As stated by Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery Acting CEO Michael Krieg
"This isn't just a research facility, it's where the discoveries made in the lab will find their way to the bedside faster, and more reliably, than ever before."
