Image: Professor Paul Dietze
Burnet Institute has formalised an exciting new collaboration with The National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) at Curtin University in Perth.
A new entity, NDRI Melbourne, will be based at Burnet Institute in Melbourne and serve to advance NDRI’s research presence and impact in Victoria and the eastern states of Australia.
Professor Paul Dietze, Director of Burnet’s Behaviours and Health Risks Program has been appointed as Professor and Head of NDRI Melbourne on a half-time basis with his existing Burnet position.
Professor Dietze is one of Australia’s leading alcohol and other drug researchers, with more than 20 years’ experience, and an outstanding track record of conducting research with policy and practice impact, both nationally and internationally.
Professor Dietze said he was excited to join NDRI, one of the largest centres of alcohol and other drug research expertise in Australia and was eager to lead NDRI Melbourne and develop its program of research.
“This is an amazing opportunity to build on the strengths of NDRI and Burnet Institute to conduct high quality research that is valued by policy makers, practitioners and communities in Australia and internationally,” Professor Dietze said.
NDRI Director, Professor Simon Lenton, said that NDRI, with the support of the NDRI Advisory Board, Curtin University, and the Commonwealth Department of Health, had commenced plans to shape and establish a new Melbourne base last year, and all were in strong support of the new collaboration.
“The establishment of the new NDRI Melbourne office formalises a long history of partnership and collaboration between researchers at NDRI and Burnet Institute and opens up a wealth of new opportunities for us to contribute to alcohol and other drug research, research translation, and capacity building,” Professor Lenton said.
Recruitment for further appointments to NDRI Melbourne will commence in the near future, with initial positions to include a senior researcher and a PhD candidate for an NDRI Melbourne PhD scholarship.
