A new national institute to study and manage infectious diseases is to be created in the Parkville biomedical precinct to understand and prepare Australia for any future pandemics or epidemics.
Announced by Premier Daniel Andrews, the Australian Institute for Infectious Disease is expected to cost $550 million to establish with the funding shared between the State and Commonwealth Governments and the University of Melbourne.
“Our contribution includes an immediate allocation of $5 million to complete a business case for the facility, which will combine the strengths of some of the world’s leading research institutes,” Mr Andrews said.
“The business case is due for completion in mid-2021 and construction of the Institute would create 350 jobs.”
He said that when the institute was completed it could support up to 5,000 jobs, including up to 850 jobs it would employ itself.
“The institute will create the largest centre of expertise in the Indo-Pacific region and will establish Victoria as a global leader in understanding infectious disease,” Mr Andrews said, “accelerating research into the prevention of future pandemics and rapidly developing treatments.”
He said it would also bring the brightest minds together from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the University of Melbourne and Melbourne-headquartered global biotechnology company CSL.
“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of backing science and research in getting ahead of outbreaks and keeping people safe,” Mr Andrews said, “with the institute designed to deliver everything researchers need to detect, analyse, manage and treat infectious diseases.”
He said the project would supercharge the ongoing efforts of the world-leading researchers at Victoria’s 12 medical research institutes to combat coronavirus.
“The Australian Institute of Infectious Disease will be the new home of the Burnet Institute and being located next to the Doherty Institute, will also allow the Doherty to expand its research operations,” Mr Andrews said.
