Western Sydney University’s high-tech hub for health and medical research set to transform Westmead

Construction on Western Sydney University’s Westmead Innovation Quarter (IQ) – an extraordinary $350 million investment in world-class health, medical and education research located in the heart of Westmead – is nearing completion and set to deliver health, social and economic benefits for the people of Western Sydney.

A partnership between the University and Charter Hall, Westmead IQ will springboard Australia’s brightest minds from healthcare, industry and government to new heights of health and medical breakthrough. Leading edge technologies will create a new research ecosystem that will forge solutions to some of our most pressing health challenges through STEM-related innovation and commercialisation.

The multi-million dollar development was showcased at Business Western Sydney’s ‘Westmead conference 2021: 6-month update’ held on Monday 6 December.

Critically, Westmead IQ will be the new home for the University’s internationally-recognised research institutes — the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, NICM Integrative Health Institute, the Translational Health Research Institute and Transforming Early Education and Child Health (TeEACH) — who will share the space alongside key tenant, CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.

Together, the University’s research institutes at Westmead will be delivering cutting-edge, translational research that benefits all Australians. Collaborating with communities and co-locating with industry partners, the Institutes will be leading research into integrative medicine, diagnostics and therapeutics, preventing and managing chronic disease, mental health, neuroscience and artificial intelligence, early intervention, med-tech, brain-optimised human machine systems, simulation, neuromorphic engineering, health communication, and music in health.

Situated between the Hospital and Westmead station, Westmead IQ’s first two towers comprise 33,000 square metres of state-of-the-art health, education and research infrastructure and business space, along with 2,000 square metres of retail and lifestyle facilities and public transport links on its doorstep.

During the pandemic its construction has generated over 1,000 jobs – providing a much-needed multi-million dollar boost for the NSW economy.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO, said the completion of the world-class development will further strengthen Westmead’s status as one of our most advanced health and innovation precincts.

“We are pleased to realise the NSW Government’s vision for Westmead as a truly global centre where world-leading scientists and researchers can partner with industry and government to deliver unparalleled health and medical outcomes and new commercialisable devices and platforms. Westmead IQ is a major commitment by this University and its partners that will no doubt be a catalyst to drive future investment, workforce and research training, and employment growth for this flagship Precinct,” said Professor Glover.

“Western Sydney University is proudly building on its longstanding education and research presence in Westmead, dating back to the days of the Westmead Teachers’ College. This exciting next chapter in the site’s history is creating a vital 21st century research hub for the Western Sydney region that can positively transform the health and livelihood of all communities for generations to come.”

Westmead Innovation Quarter is part of the University’s ‘Western Growth’ strategy – an ambitious program that is reshaping the University’s campus network and co-creating cities and transformative educational infrastructure across Western Sydney, in partnership with industry and government.

The development will officially open in March 2022.

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