La Trobe University has joined the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH) as an Affiliate Member, the Centre announced today, joining the leading group of 19 hospitals and medical research institutes that make up the joint venture.
La Trobe is MACH’s second University member after founding partner the University of Melbourne and adds valuable expertise from its areas of research and teaching strength, which include highly-ranked Nursing and Midwifery programs.
“I am delighted to welcome La Trobe University and its track record of excellence to the MACH partnership,” said Professor Shitij Kapur, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne and Chair of the MACH Board. “The impact of its brightest health and medical research minds will surely be felt across MACH activities in short order,” Professor Kapur added.
MACH is one of nine NHMRC-accredited research translation centres across Australia with the mandate to transform the most targeted, evidence-based research findings available into standard health care practice as quickly as possible. Bringing La Trobe into the fold means greater collaborative research opportunities across the partnership and, ultimately, better health for Australians.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for La Trobe to be joining MACH. Our joint efforts will strengthen inter-disciplinary clinical research and education, to improve patient outcomes and the health and wellbeing of Australians,” noted Professor Susan Dodds, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Industry Engagement) at La Trobe University.
As an Affiliate Member, La Trobe will provide representation to MACH’s subcommittees – which explore themes in health and health care delivery such as Women’s and Newborn Health, Indigenous Health and Care of the Ageing – as well as offer joint workshops for clinicians and researchers in areas of mutual need. La Trobe researchers will also be eligible to collaborate on Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grants offered through MACH as part of its Rapid Applied Research Translation scheme.
“Interdisciplinary collaboration which simultaneously benefits patients and the economy through healthcare savings and new technologies is what MACH is all about,” said Professor Sir John Savill, Executive Director of MACH. “Working with La Trobe can only strengthen our capacity to do the ground-breaking work that is a hallmark of the partnership,” he noted.
