UQ and UCSF’s shared vision

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Tags: atlantic philanthropies, international collaborations, medical research, summer-2011, TRI

A vision to more rapidly translate health research into breakthrough medicines was the driving force behind talks held in August between Queensland’s “Smart State” medical research institutes and one of the world’s top medical research universities.

A delegation from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) toured a number of Brisbane’s medical research and technology facilities at the invitation of Founding Chairman of The Atlantic Philanthropies, Mr Charles “Chuck” Feeney.

The Chancellor of UCSF, Professor Susan D Desmond-Hellmann, and the CEO of UCSF Medical Center, Mr Mark Laret, spent three days touring Queensland research facilities that have benefited from the support of The Atlantic Philanthropies.

The Atlantic Philanthropies has provided more than $AUD500 million in funding to Australia in the past 13 years, including in excess of $AUD250 million to Queensland. This support has helped build or expand 20 research facilities in Australia (13 in Queensland), with a built value of more than $AUD1.5 billion.

The tour included a visit to the construction site of the new $345 million Translational Research Institute (TRI), which received $50 million from The Atlantic Philanthropies and will be the first in Australia and the largest institute of its type in the southern hemisphere. Upon completion, the TRI will be among a handful of facilities worldwide that can research, trial treatments and manufacture breakthrough drugs in the one location.

TRI CEO and Research Director, and 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer, discussed future collaboration opportunities with Professor Desmond-Hellmann during her visit.

TRI will draw together 650 researchers from its four partner institutions at the new facility to be located on the Princess Alexandra Hospital campus in Woolloongabba.

By Kathy Grube

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