Imaging technology centre opens in Queensland

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, joined by Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch, last week opened the TRI Innovation and Translation Centre in collaboration with Siemens Healthcare. Based at Princess Alexandra Hospital, it is said to be the second facility of its kind in the world.

A collaboration between Queensland’s Translational Research Institute (TRI) and medical devices manufacturer Siemens Healthcare, the centre will give the TRI the capability to develop the imaging technology and protocols needed to evaluate new targeted therapies as well as new cancer vaccines being developed by TRI founder and University of Queensland (UQ) scientist Professor Ian Frazer. It will draw on a multidisciplinary mix of researchers and professionals from biomedical science, medical imaging, biomedical engineering, imaging analysis, big data and modelling.

Palaszczuk said a key focus of the centre is on strengthening the working relationship between business and research. She noted, “Government and medical research institutes can’t commercialise a medical innovation and make it available worldwide — only organisations like Siemens Healthcare can achieve that.

“By partnering with business, we can get critical research out of the lab and into the marketplace, and that means future jobs for Queenslanders.”

The centre will be supported by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), which has significant experience in establishing world-class research infrastructure and laboratories. QUT Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Arun Sharma said the university is “funding three radiographers for three years for this program, and these staff will supply a high level of expertise and support to our consortium partners”.

The Queensland Government will provide $3.25 million to the centre over three years as part of the Advance Queensland Future Jobs Strategy. Other collaborators on the centre include UQ, Queensland Health and Mater Research, with the centre looking to partner with QIMR Berghofer and the Hunter Medical Research Institute in Newcastle.