The Minister for Medical Research has welcomed the creation of a WA Office of Medical Research and Innovation within the Department of Health.
The Minister, Stephen Dawson said it was an exciting time for medical research and innovation in Western Australia.
“Since taking office in 2017, the McGowan Labor Government has been delivering reforms to cut red tape and address barriers in research, innovation and commercialisation in the health and medical sector,” Mr Dawson said.
“The emerging health and medical life sciences sector presents an opportunity to grow a new, globally significant and sustainable industry to contribute to the resilience of our economy,” he said.
“The Office of Medical Research and Innovation provides policy and funding support for health and medical research and innovation, particularly around the State Government’s Future Health Research and Innovation Fund.”
He said the support extended to both WA Health and the State’s wider health and medical research and innovation sector.
“Western Australia has some of the most dedicated researchers in the world, at a time of extraordinary growth for the health and medical research sector,” Mr Dawson said.
“WA is home to one of the most advanced clinical trial centres in the entire Asia-Pacific region, which will help position WA as a leading destination for biopharmaceutical companies,” he said.
The new Office of Medical Research and Innovation (OMRI) is to answer to the Department of Health’s Deputy Director General, Angela Kelly who was appointed to the role in 2021 as part of the Department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
The Department said the Office will continue to work closely with the Future Health Research Innovation Ministerial Advisory Council, as well other Agencies such as the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation to deliver on the medical research and innovation priorities of the McGowan Government.
It said OMRI would also benefit from the appointment of Professor S.S. Vasan to the role of Director of Research, arriving from the CSIRO, where he was COVID-19 Science Leader.
