Victorian Minister for Health, the Hon David Davis MP, centre with representatives from collaborating organsations. Photo courtesy of David Patston.

Victorian Minister for Health, the Hon David Davis MP has delivered a significant boost to medical research in Victoria by officially launching the Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre.

Mr Davis said Monash Partners, one of two new major clinical research clusters in Melbourne, would enhance the capacity for clinical research in Victoria.

“Melbourne is a world-leader in medical research science and innovation,” Mr Davis said.

“The centre combines public and private health care providers with some of Australia’s leading biomedical research institutions.”

Burnet Institute Director and CEO, Professor Brendan Crabb said the establishment of Monash Partners is a huge step forward for health and medical research in Australia.

“Medical research institutes can’t do anything without a close association with universities and those at the coalface of healthcare delivery,” Professor Crabb said.

“A lot can be accomplished through Monash Partners to improve health and to achieve long and better life expectancy at less cost.

“A key question of the recent McKeon Review was how to embed health and medical research into health service delivery – and the answer is academic health science centres.”

Mr Davis said Melbourne is home to a third of Australia’s medical and research organisations and this collaboration will build on an already stellar reputation in the sector.

“Member organisations include Monash University, Alfred Health, Baker IDI, Monash Health, Cabrini Health, Burnet Institute, Epworth HealthCare and the Prince Henry Institute,” he said.

“The centre will undertake innovative research and speed up the translation of clinical research into practice that will directly improve healthcare for patients.”