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Tropical research institute welcomes funding for health and medicine in northern Australia
Tropical research institute welcomes funding for health and medicine in northern Australia
The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) at James Cook University welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement of $15.4 million funding for tropical health research.
The announcement is an endorsement of the work led by JCU and confirms its national significance.
The Director of AITHM, Professor Louis Schofield said the institute’s location in the tropics is an advantage for research collaborations to combat tropical diseases.
“Northern Australia suffers from endemic and epidemic tropical diseases and consequently has world-class expertise in tropical health and medicine research.”
“This sector holds enormous potential for Australia’s engagement with the emerging economies of Asia, and with the nations of the Pacific,” said Professor Schofield.
The funding provides extraordinary opportunities for AITHM to further strengthen its commercialisation agenda and contribute to better health for people in the tropics world-wide.
AITHM intends to apply for the Federal Government’s $8.5 million Australian Tropical Medicine Commercialisation Grants Programme to strengthen northern Australia’s research capacity, as announced by the Trade and Investment Minister, Andrew Robb.
“By promoting commercialisation and the creation of science/industry networks, this funding initiative plays to Australia's scientific strengths in the future economy of the Pacific Rim,” said Professor Schofield.
AITHM’s research programs cover dengue, malaria, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, indigenous health in rural and remote communities, and other diseases specific to the tropical region.