News: Paul Ramsay opens new research facilities at Greenslopes

Paul Ramsay opens new research facilities at Greenslopes

15 Nov 2011

Mr Paul Ramsay AO, Chairman, Ramsay Health Care was onsite at Greenslopes Private Hospital this week to officially open the new research laboratories as part of the expansion of the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation (GMRF).

The development of the new research facilities was made possible through a $5million grant from the Federal Government.  The facilities provided additional laboratory space and offices for research teams and clinical trials.

Greenslopes Private Hospital provides a unique environment where teaching and research are integrated into the day to day operations of the hospital.   Currently the two main research groups based at Greenslopes are the Centre for Immune and Targeted Therapy and the Liver Research Group.

Foundation CEO, Miriam Dwyer said these new facilities will allow us to continue expanding the great work our researchers do, including giving us the capacity to grow our number of research streams.

“Our respiratory program has been a recent addition, and we're looking forward to adding a fourth stream over the coming year," Miriam said.

The Foundation's Liver Research program is one of the largest and most prestigious in the country. Professor of Hepatology and Head, Discipline of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Darrell Crawford, recently won an NHMRC grant $465,000 over three years for research into the relationship between fatty liver disease and a gene which controls the way the body handles iron. Likewise, the Centre for Immune and Targeted Therapy led by Associate Professor Andrew Nicol continues to progress its research into harnessing the power of the immune system to more effectively treat cancer.

To celebrate the opening of its new laboratories and the opportunities it brings, GMRF is hosting a series of free public information sessions on interesting aspects of its work as part of Remembrance through Research Week. One such seminar will be on a bug in our water supply which shrugs off antibiotics and has already begun to affect Brisbane residents. The 'Bugs in Brisbane Water' session will be delivered by internationally recognised GMRF researcher Dr Rachel Thompson on Wednesday November 16 at 5pm.

Mr Ramsay who is the patron of the Research Foundation said he is very proud of the growth of the Foundation and its facilities over the last six years and he was delighted to be able to be part of this milestone.  Mr Ramsay who has very generously supported the foundation for many years pledged another $200,000 donation at the opening.