Deakin research precinct opens up new opportunities for medical, biological and environmental research in the Geelong region

A new $15million research precinct at Deakin University's Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds has been officially opened today (Wednesday 18 August) by Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

The new precinct received $13.8million funding support from the Commonwealth Government's Better Universities Renewal Funding program and will be the base for Deakin's growing research program in medical and life and environmental science.

"The new laboratories are part of a step change for research in the region, which will provide significant long term health and economic benefits," said Professor John Catford, the Dean of Deakin's Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Sciences.

"This development is an important component of Deakin's research strategy to establish a group of world class biological, environmental and medical researchers in Geelong," he said.

"The precinct accommodates researchers from the Deakin Medical School, the Centre for Integrative Ecology and theInstitute for Technology Research and Innovation. The collocation of these research teams allows for collaboration and shared approaches to important research questions in infectious diseases, immunology, cancer, nutrition, metabolic disease, muscle function and disease, pharmacology and integrative ecology.

"The precinct is an ideal environment for research and postgraduate training, and in the future we expect the area to be home to more than 40 PhD students and 20 Honours-level research students."

The new research precinct includes state-of-the-art laboratory facilities integrated with seminar rooms and office space for staff and students undertaking research degrees. A broad range of support services are accessible from the laboratories, providing researchers with a safe and secure environment for specialised activities. These include tissue culture rooms, a metabolic containment area, a microscopy room, a bacterial culture room, a cold room and a controlled temperature room.

Research in the precinct will be strengthened by partnerships with key regional organisations, including Barwon Health,CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (CSIRO-AAHL) and the Kardinia Health GP Super Clinic.