The Parkville Research Precinct
[ Research Review 0809 ]
The sheer quantity of life sciences research facilities, institutes, researchers, felows and postgraduate students in the Parkville precinct and surrounds, and the comprehensive breadth of bioscience disciplines, is without parallel in the Southern hemisphere and one of the few such concentrations of research excellence worldwide.
In 2008 research organisations in the Parkville Precinct and immediate surrounds:
engaged over 10,000 researchers - including 6500 research staff and 3500 postgraduate research students
hosted one Nobel Prize winner, some 200 Fellows of learned Academies including 16 Fellows of the Royal Society and 68 Fellows of the Australian Academy of Sciences. It also hosts 9 of the 23 Australia Fellows and 16 Federation Fellows
secured 26% of all National Health and Medical Research Council funding (part of the 41% of NHMRC funding attracted to the State of Victoria)
produced 24% of Australia’s outputs in journals of highest impact factor (IF >20)
produced around 10,000 publications* including 4000 different instances of countries named in address by-lines from 97 countries
produced 117 articles or reviews of impact factor greater than 20 in which collaborative country addresses numbered 267 from 55 countries
created and commercialised numerous medical innovations, including the Bionic Ear, colony stimulating factors, Relenza®, Recaldent®, retinal imaging, discovery of Rotavirus, vaccines, diagnostics, microsurgical instruments and antibiotics
managed a $1.3B annual research expenditure.
Co-location and centralisation
Many facilities sit side by side in the immediate surrounds of the University of Melbourne or within easy distance. The centralised position of the Parkville Precinct, adjacent to the central business district of Melbourne, enables the University to take advantage of downtown industry savvy, excellent public transport, quality inner city housing, and a rich cultural and intellectual life.
Critical mass and collaborative culture
Synergies and opportunities evolve constantly from the co-location of large numbers of high quality, researchers and clinicians in the Precinct’s faculties, hospitals, research institutes and specialist medical practices. Collaboration is a hallmark of research in the Precinct and this is now actively and explicitly fostered by the University leadership.
Strong positioning and snowballing investments
Building off this strong base, recent and ongoing investment approaching $5bn around the Parkville Precinct has been used to augment capabilities, bring new partners to the Precinct, facilitate interactions between basic and translational programs, enhance research infrastructure and build new capabilities in ICT, especially as it pertains to life sciences research.
These investments are expected to take the Parkville Precinct from being the premier site for life sciences research and training in the southern hemisphere to a major international player, and to position the Precinct as the key southern hemisphere hub for the generation, storage, interrogation and exchange of life sciences data.
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