University’s $46m funding support for brain disorder research
[ Research Review 0307 ]
The University of Melbourne is contributing $46 million to support a $204 million effort to combat brain disorders, launched by the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser.
Neuroscientists from the University of Melbourne and Austin Health will come together with the new Florey Neuroscience Institutes (FNI) and the Mental Health Research Institute to establish the Australian Centre for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research.
A major fundraising appeal for the Centre has been launched for the development of new research facilities at the University’s Parkville campus and the Heidelberg campus of Austin Health, and for new scientific teams.
The FNI has been created through the amalgamation of the Brain Research Institute, the Howard Florey Institute and the National Stroke Research Institute. With the Australian Centre for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, it will bring together expertise in a critical mass to facilitate significant scientific discoveries.
Howard Florey Institute President and chair of the Project Committee, which is overseeing the creation of the FNI and the Centre, Mr Martyn Myer, says $154 million has been raised to date but an additional $50 million is required for facilities, equipment and to attract stellar researchers.
The University of Melbourne will expand facilities at Parkville ($40 million) and at the Austin ($6 million) to house neuroscientists and related researchers.
The project has also received support from the Victorian and Federal Governments ($53 million and $37 million, respectively), the Ian Potter Foundation ($10 million), the Myer Family ($5 million) and members of the Howard Florey Institute Board ($3 million).
Mr Myer says neuroscience is an excellent investment for the health and well-being of the community, as well as the nation’s knowledge economy. “The rewards from this investment will reap benefits for the 75 per cent of Australians affected directly and indirectly by brain disorders every year,” he says.
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