As part of identifying child health issues that need to be
addressed now and into the future, the Institute has created
'affinity' groups that pull together already research groups with
synergies from across the campus.
This will mean greater focus and critical mass for research into
conditions such as allergy, cancer, neurodevelopment and conditions
affecting adolescents such as mental health, eating disorders and
chronic physical illness
In another major initiative designed to accelerate the pace of
discovery, Murdoch Childrens has begun to establish a Bioresource
Centre. Our Bioresource Centre, based on the UK Biobank model, will
enable investigation of a wide range of childhood conditions and
diseases through storage of biological specimens and health
data.
It is hoped the facility will include data for in excess of half
a million participants. Once established the resource will be
among the largest of its kind in the world and will be an
indispensable resource for researchers. Dr Timothy Peakman, the
Executive Director of UK Biobank, last month visited Murdoch
Childrens and imparted his expertise, based on the wealth of
experience gained from the UK Biobank.
This knowledge was critical for Murdoch Childrens in its quest
to set up an equivalent facility for children's health. Dr Peakman
was the inaugural recipient of the Dame Elisabeth Fellowship, which
was established to honour Dame Elisabeth's 100th
birthday.
The Bioresource Centre represents one of Murdoch Childrens most
exciting projects in recent times and will support many areas of
research on campus. The result will give researchers the best
chance of research discoveries using new technology and multi
disciplinary investigations. The facility will also ensure
Murdoch Childrens is at the forefront of genomics and personalised
medicine research.