Welcome to the 2009 edition of the Research Review
[ Research Review 0809 ]
The University of Melbourne has a long and proud tradition of research and teaching excellence. The sheer scale of research facilities, institutes, researchers, fellows and postgraduates in the Parkville Precinct, and surrounds, is without parallel in the southern hemisphere, and one of the very few such concentrations of research excellence worldwide.
It is an extraordinary time for major infrastructure projects at, and around, the original campus of the University of Melbourne. Over $1.6 billion of capital works are under way or soon to start �€“ more than at any other time in the University�€™s history.
This edition of Research Review is dedicated to the timely theme of �€˜Institutes, Innovation and Infrastructure�€™.
In the pages ahead we bring insights into the projects and research that will help build the Parkville Precinct as a world centre of research and scholarship.
Recent announcements from the Commonwealth and State governments include the $1 billion Parkville Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Parkville CCC), after some 10 years of planning. The feature on page 5 shows how the defining characteristic of a comprehensive cancer centre is the linkage between research and treatment of the patient.
Medical research capacity will be boosted further by the University�€™s $210 million Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and $100 million Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative (VLSCI), to be built on the site of the Elizabeth Towers hotel.
The Doherty Institute will co-locate the University Department of Microbiology and Immunology with a number of Victorian Government and World Health Organization laboratories, and the VLSCI will provide computational biology expertise and peak computing infrastructure to institutions throughout Victoria.
These projects have been made possible by Commonwealth and Victorian Government funding, with the Doherty Institute expected to open by the end of 2012.
On page 11 we profile Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty about his life as a scientist and about the Institute. On page 7 we feature new developments with the bionic eye. This is an example of strong research partnerships at work to tackle the problems of society.
The Special Report on pages 12�€“15 provides a snapshot of the magnitude and research capabilities of the Parkville Research Precinct.
Complementing these developments is the emergence of new multidisciplinary institutes. The new institutes, featured on pages 16�€“19, are one of the primary means of the University meeting the demands of society and engaging with the new ways of research required.
Research Review is a stimulating and inspiring publication. There are wonderful opportunities to interact with us or to become part of the �€˜Melbourne Experience�€™. I hope you will be as excited as we are about these opportunities.
Professor Peter Rathjen
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
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