SNAPSHOTS OF SCIENCE IN WESTERN Medicine and Health

Western Australia has a strong base of medical research and translation supported by the State Government’s significant investment in new health infrastructure, including two world-class clusters of health care delivery and research facilities in ’s south and north. ’s health system has many areas of research excellence, underpinned by extensive collaboration across the sector and positioning the State as a leader in the development of health research and its translation into health care improvements.

the McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Collaboration Credit: Murdoch University A significant collaborative initiative Foundation, the Neurofinity Surgical involving the State’s major NeuroDiscovery Group and the teaching hospitals, universities Western Australian Neuroscience and research institutes has led to Research Institute. the establishment of the Western Edith Cowan University’s Australian Health Translation Health and Wellness Institute Network. The depth of this is a cross-disciplinary alliance of collaboration will ensure Western research centres with extensive Australia’s admirable heritage of national and international linkages.  The Centre for Comparative successful medical training and Genomics undertakes design It brings together an expert team and development of antisense research discoveries is translated of researchers to integrate exercise compounds to modify gene into groundbreaking improvements science, nutrition and clinical expression. The Molecular Therapy in patient care. psychology to promote a holistic Laboratory at the Centre focuses on rare inherited diseases. Another excellent example of approach to health and lifestyle, cross-sector collaboration in with a particular focus on exercise Infectious Diseases, the Centre Western Australia is the Science medicine for cancer survivors. for Comparative Genomics, on the Swan Conference, which establishment of a Chair in will bring together international Translational Medicine (jointly luminaries with research leaders funded with ) and from all universities and research the establishment of four research institutes in the State. The theme of practitioner Professorships co- the 2015 conference, “Hot Topics funded by the State Government in Life Course and Developments”, Department of Health and the highlights the strengths in this area University of Notre Dame Australia. in Western Australia. Credit: Edith Cowan University The new WAIS High Performance Service Centre, located at UWA’s The Sarich Neuroscience  ECU’s Professor Daniel Galvao Mt Claremont Sports Precinct, plays Research Institute, expected to with a client of the ‘Living Longer an important role in building the be completed in late 2016, will Living Stronger’ program at ECU’s health, well-being and performance accommodate five of the State’s Vario Wellness Clinic. of West Australians. The Centre premier neurological research enhances the long-standing organisations – Curtin University’s UWA is host to several National relationship between WAIS and Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Health and Medical Research UWA in the area of sport science the Ear Science Institute of Australia, Council (NHMRC) Centres of and education. Research Excellence, including Credit: Department of Treasury the Centre for Aboriginal Health and Western Australia FutureHealth WA Wellbeing, the Centre for Research The State Government has in Childhood Early Respiratory committed $30 million to health Disease, and the Centre for and medical research through the Translation of Genetic Eye Research. FutureHealth WA initiative, adding to The establishment of a Health the $58 million already committed Precinct around the Murdoch through the Department of Health’s Specialised Activity Centre various programs such as the  The latest project to get underway will complement Murdoch Medical and Health Research as part of the QEII Medical Centre Infrastructure Fund, the Clinician Redevelopment is the Sarich University’s collaborative Neuroscience Research Facility. initiatives and centres such as the Research Fellowships and The Western Australian Department of Institute for Immunology and Research Translation Projects. Health contributed $5 million. SNAPSHOTS OF SCIENCE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Several areas have already been is designed to translate the latest Indigenous Health supported through FutureHealth research discoveries into clinical The has WA, including support to promising practice. It will focus primarily on recently established Lions Outback early-career researchers through metabolic and vascular conditions, Vision to provide specialist a “near-miss” scheme for including cardiovascular disease, comprehensive eye health services unsuccessful grant and fellowship diabetes and obesity. to regional and remote communities. applications submitted to the The multidisciplinary Kirkbride The Outback Vision Van, expected NHMRC, providing funding to all five Melanoma Treatment Centre to be on the road in late 2015, Western Australian universities for at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital will provide a mobile facility with mentoring programs, and support for and St John of God Subiaco consulting rooms and specialist major Western Australian health- Hospital will also be developed to equipment with the capacity to treat based databases. improve diagnosis and treatment 200 patients per week.

The Developmental Pathways of melanoma. This will build on the Photo courtesy of Alan McDonald, Project, led by the Telethon Kids work of the Kirkbride Melanoma Fred Hollows Foundation. Institute, is a landmark project that is Centre based at the Harry Perkins taking a multidisciplinary and holistic Institute, where scientists are approach to investigate pathways working on the genetic causes of to health and wellbeing, education, melanoma, potential treatments and disability, child abuse and juvenile predictors of disease recurrence. delinquency outcomes among Child Health Western Australian children and Research shows that the youth. This project has established development of many serious the process for linking data collected diseases occurs as early as in the by State Government agencies and womb. is a new the Telethon Kids Institute in an Project ORIGINS  Dr Angus Turner, Director at Lions birth cohort study that investigates Outback Vision, photographed with anonymous manner. how the early environment affects Mavis Arnott, a Martu woman from Jigalong. Underpinning technologies have been a child’s growth, development and enhanced by developments such as health. At the Telethon Kids Institute, the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, This new study will complement the Looking Forward Aboriginal which provides supercomputing the internationally-acclaimed Mental Health Project proposes to capacity for health and medical , one of the most revolutionise the capacity of mental research. Major advances in imaging Raine Study comprehensive pregnancy / birth health, alcohol and other drug technology for research have also cohort studies in the world. This services to respond to Nyoongar been established at the Harry Perkins study has been going for 23 years, families in the Armadale district. Institute and the UWA Centre for following the health outcomes of The Marulu Foetal Alcohol Microscopy, Characterisation individuals from birth to adulthood. Spectrum Disorders Strategy, and Analysis. The study is now expanding to targeting the families in the Fitzroy

Credit: The University of Western Australia examine genetic, nutritional, Valley, aims to reduce the prevalence environmental and social factors, of Aboriginal women consuming stress, physical activity, sleep and alcohol; BHP Billiton has provided risk-taking behaviours on health and $5 million for a similar approach in wellbeing. the Pilbara. The Institute has also established the Centre of Research Credit: Telethon Kids Institute Excellence in Rheumatic Heart Disease with the goal of eliminating the disease in Aboriginal children in Western Australia over the next 10 years.  The CAMECA IMS 1280 (located at the Centre for Microscopy and The Poche Centre for Indigenous Characterisation) is a versatile Health at UWA supports and member of the latest generation of double focusing, magnetic-sector conducts a range of research SIMS instruments. programs aimed at improving the health and well-being of Indigenous New research developments people. In recognition of the centrality Adult Health  The sleep assessment of the Raine of culture to good mental and Study. The Study commenced in 1989 The Harry Perkins Institute will be and is one of the largest and most physical health, the Poche Centre home to the Wesfarmers Centre successful longitudinal Pregnancy uses Aboriginal knowledge systems for Translational Research at Cohort studies in the world. as the cultural lens and framework for Hospital. The Centre research and education.