Work under way at Sarich neuroscience facility

The first sod has been turned at the Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute in Nedlands, with Cockram Construction set to begin work under a $30.3 million contract.

As reported by Business News in March, the facility will be located on the Verdun Street boundary of the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre campus, with $20 million in funding provided through a donation by Perth businessman Ralph Sarich, $7.2 million in Lotterywest grants, $3.5 million from Curtin University, and $1 million each from the Wheatley family and the University of Western Australia.

Health Minister Kim Hames said the project had been made possible by the work of neurosurgeon and Department of Health acting director general Bryant Stokes, and the generosity of the Sarich family, whose contribution is one of the state’s largest ever personal donations.

“This project heralds an exciting era in world-class neuroscience research in WA and there’s no doubt that without the efforts of Professor Stokes and the Sarich family, we would not be standing on this site today talking about the facility about to take shape,” Dr Hames said.

The new research facility, designed by Leederville-based Bateman Architects, will accommodate Curtin’s neuroscience research laboratory, the Ear Science Institute of Australia, the McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, The SCGH/UWA Neurofinity Surgical NeuroDiscovery Group, and the Western Australian Neuroscience Research Institute.

Dr Hames said the design incorporated 8,932 square metres of clinical amenities including rooms for assessments and treatments, along with tissue culture laboratories and facilities for neurodiscovery movement analysis, physiology research, experiments and cryogenic archival storage.

“The QEII Medical Centre has undergone significant expansion in recent years, and the presence of the Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute will further enrich the site’s growing reputation as a hub of clinical services, education and research excellence,” he said.

The QEII Medical Centre houses expanded PathWest laboratories and the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.