Two Perkins researchers received funding from the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund through the Enabling Scheme and the Research and Innovation Capacity and Capability Building Program last week.
Professor Kevin Pfleger, Director Biomedical and Health Innovation at UWA and the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, Chair of Perth Biodesign, and Head of Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology at the Perkins, received $1 million to establish the Westside Collaboration Space – a hub for the QEII medical campus to foster collaborative health and medical research and innovation.
This new facility within the existing Perkins North Building will provide a dedicated space to bring together researchers, clinicians, industry partners and consumers to accelerate the development of new treatments, technologies and healthcare solutions that address real-world health challenges.
The aim of the Westside Collaboration Space is to foster collaboration across disciplines and institutions, creating an environment where ideas can be shared, tested and translated into practical outcomes that benefit patients and the wider community.
The facility will provide purpose-built spaces for meetings, workshops and collaborative projects, supporting partnerships that drive research and innovation, leading to improved health outcomes.
It will also provide a base for the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub as the State’s health and medical life sciences ‘concierge service’ and enhance Perth Biodesign’s ability to address unmet needs at the heart of healthcare innovation and training.
Professor Pfleger said, “This initiative is a collaborative effort led by UWA and the Harry Perkins Institute, with support from major health and research organisations across QEII and beyond.
“It will strengthen WA’s position as a leader in health and medical research and innovation, attract new research investment, enhance the state’s ability to attract and retain top talent, and support the translation of discoveries into improved healthcare.”
Professor Girish Dwivedi (pictured above), Joint Head of the Perkins Cardiovascular Science and Diabetes Program and a cardiologist from UWA’s Medical School received $536,153 to transform medical discovery with next-generation high-performance computing infrastructure for accelerated translational research.
“With next-generation high performance supercomputing at the Perkins, we can turn today’s scientific questions into tomorrow’s life-changing treatments,” said Professor Dwivedi.
“With this computing platform, researchers can accelerate discoveries and transform them into medical breakthroughs for patients.”
This investment will transform medical research in Western Australia by dramatically increasing researchers’ capacity to analyse vast and complex datasets – from genetic information to medical imaging and patient health records.
This world-class High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure at the Perkins will help drive medical breakthroughs.
Ultimately, this cutting-edge facility will drive the translation of research into real world benefits for patients and communities, enhancing healthcare quality and driving economic growth across Western Australia.
Professor Dwivedi was also awarded nearly $1.2 million to establish HealthReady, a South Metropolitan Health Service initiative that supports health and medical innovators in introducing, testing and validating innovations within Western Australia’s public healthcare system.
