With release of our Strategic Plan in April, the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct Office has been focused on developing an implementation plan with Precinct Partners.
In particular we have seen a lot of activity around our strategic directions 1, 2 and 3 which focus on commercialisation, digital health, and talent attraction and retention.
New Precinct Partners
Since establishing the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct Office last year, we’ve been delighted with the response and interest in our work, as well as the many groups who have come to us actively wanting to be involved. The Precinct Leadership Group discussed this recently and as a result we are welcoming a number of new organisations to our already strong stable of biomedical partners.
The addition of these new partners further showcases the breadth and depth of the Precinct’s work and complements our existing relationships. We believe it is clear further evidence of the strong contribution the Precinct makes to Victoria’s reputation and success.
It’s important to note that new partners must satisfy a number of key principles, including that they are active in the areas of biomedical research, product development, healthcare delivery, tertiary education, or biomedical advocacy. In addition they must have a strong brand and be active in the Precinct – though not necessarily headquartered here.
The membership of the Precinct Leadership Group will remain unchanged.
Meet our new partners here.
New Biomedical Director appointed to Tel Aviv
As the next important step in building international industry collaborations, Dr Sky Gross has been appointed inaugural Biomedical Director of the Victorian Government’s new trade and investment office in Tel Aviv.
The office opened in late 2017 and with Israel’s reputation as a leader in translation and commercialisation, this is an incredible opportunity for the Precinct. It will help open doors to Israel-Victorian biomedical research partnerships and related commercial opportunities, as well build and strengthen our knowledge and skills. This is all consistent with a key direction of our Strategic Plan and provides a wonderful marketing opportunity for the Precinct and its work.
Dr Gross will work closely with our office and also visit Melbourne in coming months to meet with Precinct Partners. Her career has been built on strong collaborations in health and social sciences, more recently reporting directly to Israel’s Chief Scientist focusing on research funding, policy and priorities.
A corresponding liaison officer will also be based in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct Office. Scott Edwards has been appointed to the role of Principal Adviser, International. With an initial focus on Israel, Scott will seek to grow the international recognition of the Precinct, and foster new research collaborations and industry partnerships.
Read more about Dr Sky Gross and Scott Edwards here.
Connecting Care in Parkville – Electronic Medical Records
The Connecting Care Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Project is now well underway, following the Victorian Government’s budget announcement of $124 million to fund a fully-integrated EMR for the Precinct.
EMR was a key recommendation in our Strategic Plan and essential to patient quality and safety, as well as to research across the Precinct.
Jackie McCleod has been appointed as Executive Director of the project team and with her experience in leading EMR projects at Austin Health and the Royal Children’s Hospital, is well placed to lead this project to its go-live date of 2020.
The project team has representation across the key health services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Women’s Hospital and Melbourne Health, as well as the Royal Children’s Hospital.
For those interested in working on the project, roles will be advertised via Seek and the recruitment sites for the hospitals listed above.
Advisory Groups
At our last Precinct Leadership Group meeting, it was agreed to establish a Precinct People and Culture Advisory Group. We know that people are at the heart of the Precinct’s success, so it’s critical that we continue to work together in the important areas of attraction, development and retention of staff. We will be meeting with Precinct Partners in coming months to establish this group and agree an approach..
New early learning centre opens at WEHI
This week the Victorian Minister for Early Childhood Education the Hon. Jenny Mikakos officially opened the new Professor Lynn Corcoran Early Learning Centre at Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI).
Named after Professor Lynn Corcoran, a senior scientist at WEHI and advocate for gender equity, the new centre is a clear show of support for female scientists in the Precinct. Access to quality childcare was seen as a major barrier for women continuing their careers in medical research, so this is an important step forward to enable a balance between family and work life.
The $9.9 million, 100 place centre will cater for children aged three months to six years and has been funded through a mix of philanthropic, government and institute support.
Read more about the Professor Lynn Corcoran Early Learning Centre here
CSL seeking 2019 fellowship applicants
CSL is inviting Australian biomedical researchers to apply for one of two of the company’s Centenary Fellowships worth $1.25 million over five years.
Applications opened this week for outstanding mid-career scientists seeking to undertake work-class medical research at an Australian academic institute.
The fellowships aim to boost the medical research community by supporting the development of Australian science.
Learn more about CSL’s Centenary Fellowships here.
Did you know?
If you’ve noticed a lot of happy student faces in the Precinct, you shouldn’t be surprised – Melbourne has been voted the best student city in Australia and third in the world, according to the QS Best Student Cities 2018 ranking. This is no small feat and to say the least we are in good company, just behind London and Tokyo at number 1 and 2 respectively.
Stay informed
The Melbourne Biomedical Precinct Office was established by the Victorian Government to drive economic development in the Precinct and strengthen its position as a world leader in biomedical research, development and innovation.
Do you know someone who would like to know more about our work and stay informed? Please direct them to this website or sign up here
