The State Government has announced a new medical initiative to attract more clinical trials to Western Australia and build upon the state’s research reputation.
Health Minister John Day said the Liberal National Government has committed $1.3 million over three years to establish the state’s first Clinical Trials and Data Centre.
“Clinical trials are a vital component of a strong, safe and sustainable health system,” he said.
“They ensure the quality of existing treatment regimes as well as the safety and efficacy of proposed new treatments.”
The centre will be established under the Western Australian Health Translation network, an alliance of WA universities, medical health institutes, private and public hospitals and the WA Department of Health.
The network began last year to aid the incorporation of advanced health and medical research into clinical practice.
“One of the new centre’s key roles will be to attract national and international trials to WA,” he said.
“It will achieve this by coordinating a wide variety of clinical trials and by tapping into the State’s already advanced health and biological statistics and data management systems.”
The centre was the latest component of the government’s FutureHealth WA program, providing an additional $30 million over four years from 2013 to 2017.
“It will promote innovation across WA’s growing health and medical research sector, supporting our many talented researchers while helping attract new expertise,” he said.
Mr Day award two $2000 student prizes to Dr Rhonda Taylor from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Health and Anthony Buzzai from the Telethon Kids Institute to mark the end of Australian Society for Medical Research WA Medical Research Week.
“These awards recognise outstanding contributions to this week’s research symposium by two higher-degree students or early-career academics,” he said.
“This prize-winning, early stage work augers well for WA’s medical research and development future.”
Mr Day announced the initiative at the annual dinner of the ASMA.
