Leading–edge science for the 21st century
La Trobe University’s ambitious $350 million plan developed in the past two years for next-generation science research, education and training has been secured.
This follows substantial government support in the May Federal Budget for the La Trobe Institute of Molecular Sciences and the launch in June of the State Government’s Biosciences Research Centre on the main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson said the new facilities will significantly increase La Trobe’s leadership in science.
Between them they will bring some 700 extra researchers to the University by early next decade – about 200 at the Institute of Molecular Sciences and 400 at the Biosciences Research Centre.
The La Trobe Institute of Molecular Sciences is geared to help solve some of society’s big problems, including cancer, malaria and autoimmune diseases.
The Biosciences Research Centre – a joint venture between the University and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries – will focus on agricultural biosciences, helping crop and livestock industries and carry out studies into the impacts of climate change on food production, see Work starts on $230m Biosciences Centre.
In regional Victoria, the Federal Government also helped fund the University’s Rural Health School in Bendigo. The school will produce 200 additional graduates annually, see Regional Victoria benefits from new Health School.
All up, La Trobe received more than 13 per cent of the Federal Budget’s education infrastructure allocation, more than any other university in Australia.
Largest investment
‘These major developments, coming together after two years of intensive planning, are the largest investments by government in this University since it opened its doors in 1967,’ Professor Johnson said.
‘They demonstrate faith in the University and the vision that we have set ourselves for the next ten years. It’s a clear vote of confidence in our key research strengths in biosciences and quality higher education’.
Professor Johnson welcomed the Federal Government’s Budget allocation of $123.7 million from its Education Investment Fund to help spearhead the University’s new science and regional health efforts.
He said $64 million will go towards establishing the $80 million La Trobe Institute for Molecular Sciences (LIMS) and close to $60 million towards the $89 million Rural Health School in Bendigo.
‘These two projects are groundbreaking in their approach, setting the mould for next-generation science and regional health in Australia.’
The two projects are expected to train an extra 280 people to help alleviate a critical shortage of bio-scientists and health workers. In the short term they will also create more than 1,300 construction jobs in the north of Melbourne and Central Victoria.
‘The University is deeply committed to these regions and our strength as an institution is directly linked to the sustainability of our communities,’ said Professor Johnson. As well as generating new jobs, both these initiatives will play a major role in securing a stream of future workers for the community.
‘Future success in scientific research and health depends on a strong pipeline of students,’ said Professor Johnson.
World class facility
The La Trobe Institute of Molecular Sciences will be a world-class facility for molecular science, biotechnology and nanotechnology research and research training. It will focus on medical-related research, training doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, and also provide new research laboratories for undergraduate and graduate students.
Work is expected to start this year, creating some 800 direct and indirect construction jobs during the construction phase.
Professor Johnson described the Institute as ‘a carefully crafted project critical for the long-term health of science in Australia’.
‘With an extra 220 research positions at the Institute we will be able to expand our strong track record in scientific research and education, bring together many different disciplines and create a significant biotechnology research and development hub in northern Melbourne,’ he said.
‘We expect the University to earn an extra $10m each year in research income, contributing to our already outstanding reputation for grant and research income.’
The Institute will also offer an extended science outreach program to more than 2,500 secondary school students.
In 2008, La Trobe ranked 11th for competitive National Health and Medical Research Council grants, ahead of all Australian universities without a medical school.
International links too will be strengthened. For example the new Institute will work on liver cancer with the Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology in Indonesia.
La Trobe University is also part of the Government’s new $50 million Australian National Fabrication Facility, the Bio-molecular Platforms and Infomatics project, the Cooperative Research Centre for Biomarker Translation, the Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science and home to the Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre.