- WA’s Future Health Research and InnovationFund open day at ECU Joondalup
- New round of grant programs announced for medical research and innovation
- $250 million available over four years for health and medical research, and innovation
Precision health will take centre stage as the State’s best medical minds converge to focus on new strategies to deliver effective and personalised care, and improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Precision health is the key theme at the Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund open day at Edith Cowan University (ECU), Joondalup on Tuesday, 31 October with leading medical personnel sharing knowledge, opinions, and exciting advancements.
Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson said precision health was a key priority for the Cook Government and developing a strategic approach features in WA’s Health and Medical Research Strategy 2023-2033. It is an approach that considers individual differences in genes, lifestyle and environments to develop treatments and prevention strategies that are effective for different groups of people.
The open day’s keynote speaker is Associate Dean, Professor Simon Laws, who heads up ECU’s Centre for Precision Health. The centre specialises in applying genomics, glycomics and proteomics to health conditions with the goal of improving healthcare and outcomes for the community.
Other speakers include FHRI multi-grant recipients from ECU and Murdoch University. The team will outline how their ideas have been fast-tracked thanks to the financial support of the FHRI Near Miss Awards (WANMA) Program. Key speakers include:
- Dr Pauline Zaenker will discuss her research on melanoma and progress in early diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of successful treatments;
- Dr Marc Sim will share outcomes from his studies on strategies to reduce falls and their burden in older Australians;
- Professor Rakesh Veedu, lead of Precision Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Research at Murdoch and Perron Institute will share his research and innovation journey in precision health which led to the creation of his precision health start-up company Syngenis; and
- Professor Archa Fox will share her vision for the Centre for RNA therapeutics in Cancer including a new mRNA production facility in WA.
The open day will also provide crucial opportunities for the research sector to engage with FHRI Advisory Council members as the Fund prepares to launch its next round of health and medical research and innovation grant programs. Over four years, $250 million is available for health and medical research and innovation.
FHRI Fund Programs and Initiatives being launched for the November funding cycle are the Co-Funding Partnerships Program, the Major Research Application Support Program, the WA Near Miss Awards Ideas Grants and WA Near Miss Awards Emerging Leaders Grants and Fellowships and the Innovation Seed Fund. Further details on these programs can be accessed from the FHRI Fund Website.
For more information on the open day or make a booking then follow these links:FHRI Fund October 2023 Open Day Tickets, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus B32 Lecture Theatre, Joondalup | TryBooking Australia
As stated by Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:
“Demand for healthcare services continues to grow around the world. It’s clear that we need new ways of thinking. Health and medical research is the catalyst to help us live healthier, more satisfying and productive lives.
“A key priority for the Cook Government is to harness the skills of our researchers and attract new talent to our State’s growing medical and health research precinct.
“These open days are an important opportunity for the sector to network, collaborate and germinate new ideas that can make a difference.
“Tomorrow’s improvements in health will be the result of a well-connected and supported research sector that we are developing for the benefit of all Western Australians.”
