LotteryWest has awarded Murdoch University a $5 million grant towards the establishment of Murdoch's Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases.
LotteryWest has awarded Murdoch University a $5 million grant towards the establishment of Murdoch's Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases.
Full announcement below:
Lotterywest grants Murdoch $5 million
Murdoch University is celebrating WA Premier Hon Colin Barnett's announcement today of a $5 million Lotterywest grant towards the establishment of Murdoch's Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (IIID).
The grant was awarded to the Murdoch University Foundation which was established to advance the strategic priorities of the University for the benefit of the community.
Lotterywest Chief Executive Officer, Jan Stewart, said it was one of the largest grants ever awarded for medical research projects.
"Lotterywest's approach to medical research is to support projects that significantly build the State's capacity and assist in achieving or retaining international standing," Ms Stewart said.
"Grants are considered for major infrastructure that supports research already endorsed and supported by key national and international funding bodies.
"We were satisfied that the Institute's work was endorsed at the highest international level, and the groundbreaking research in developing personalised medicine tailored to the individual's DNA had already produced health and social benefits."
Vice Chancellor Professor John Yovich said the Lotterywest grant was significant and would play an important role in keeping the state at the global cutting edge in infectious disease response and research.
"The University is committed to ensuring that the Institute's researchers have the best possible resources to enable them to tackle the world's most significant health issues," Professor Yovich said.
"The grant will help fund the new $35 million health research building - which houses IIID.
"The building has already received $19.5 million from the Australian Government, $2.3 million from the WA Government, $500,000 from the McCusker Charitable Foundation and $500,000 from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.
Simon Mallal and his team also received more than $20 million including $12 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help with development and testing of a vaccine for HIV AIDS."
Murdoch's Director of Development Vicky Dodds said The Genesiis Campaign, one of Murdoch University Foundation's public fundraising campaigns, was established to ensure IIID's lifesaving research achieves its goals.
"The Genesiis Campaign has now raised more than $6 million of the original $10 million target, but we hope the public of Western Australia will realise the importance of this cause and dig deep to help us raise the rest," Ms Dodds said.
