AsianScientist (Sep. 17, 2014) – Australia´s capacity to participate in the global response to known and emerging infectious diseases has experienced a boost thanks to the recent launch of a new research institute in Melbourne.
The Doherty Institute is a US$190 million partnership between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, funded by both the Australian federal government and the Victorian state government. Officially opened by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, it is named for Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty of the University of Melbourne.
The institute is set to focus on diseases that pose serious public health threats in Australia, the region and around the world—such as HIV, viral hepatitis, influenza, tuberculosis and drug-resistant bacteria.
Professor Sharon Lewin, the inaugural director of the Institute, said the establishment of the Doherty Institute is a bold and ambitious move that will transform infectious diseases research, training and care in the Australian, regional and global health communities.
“Our brief is clear: to become a regional and global leader in research on the prevention of, treatment and elimination of infectious diseases.”
“Our groundbreaking structure can get us there; the partners who make up the Doherty Institute include laboratories that conduct some of the best fundamental infection and immunity science in the world, public health laboratories that are centers of excellence and reference laboratories for our state, country and region.
“We have experts in public health and epidemiology and clinicians who are highly skilled in treating patients with infectious diseases.” Prof. Lewin said.
Prof. Lewin said staff at the Institute will focus on a multi-disciplinary response to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on health at both the individual and community level.
The Doherty Institute will place great emphasis on translational research and improving clinical outcomes. Teams of interdisciplinary scientists, clinicians and epidemiologists will collaborate on a wide spectrum of activities: from basic immunology and discovery research, to the development of new vaccines and new preventative and treatment methods, to surveillance and investigation of disease outbreaks.
“Victoria is fortunate to have one of the world’s top facilities in the fight against human infectious diseases,” said Melbourne Health chief executive, Dr. Gareth Goodier. “The Doherty Institute will truly provide state of the art capabilities to dramatically accelerate the flow of scientific advances in infectious diseases not just from bench to bedside, but to our local, national and regional communities – and back again,” he added.
“The Doherty will work towards the development of new vaccines, treatments and cures to a wide range of infectious diseases including drug resistant bacteria that are currently of world-wide concern.”
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Source: University of Melbourne.
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