Mater part of new Academic Health Science Centre

Mater Health Services is one of eight of Queensland’s top research institutes, hospitals and universities which have united to form the state’s first Academic Health Science Centre.

Diamantina Health Partners will harness the research, education, training and clinical expertise of each organisation to improve treatment for some of the sickest patients in the state.

Translational Research Institute CEO and 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer said the alliance would enable each organisation to focus on a common goal.

“Diamantina Health Partners is not a building, it is not a lab and it is not a clinic. It is a collaboration of leading minds from all aspects of clinical innovation that will directly impact the people who need it most,” Professor Frazer said.

“At the core of our mission and vision will be the concepts of better health and health care for the community.

“We will be able to take the discoveries made in Queensland biomedical research labs and translate them directly to patient care.”

The ‘Smart Community’ in the South Brisbane corridor – which includes Mater Health Services, University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus, PA Hospital and the nearby Boggo Road Ecosciences Precinct – is growing in reality with years of investment into biotechnology able to be realised fully through the launch of this partnership.

Mater Medical Research Institute CEO/Director, Professor John Prins said, “The alignment between research and clinical practice at Mater is core to our operational mission and Diamantina Health Partners is another avenue in achieving synergies in research, education and clinical practice.”

The Academic Health Science Centre model is based on well established centres in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore and Sweden.