Flinders Uni opens $280m Health and Medical Research Building

Flinders University has this week unveiled its Health and Medical Research Building (HMRB) — a 10-storey landmark signifying the start of a new chapter for health and medical research in South Australia.

Flinders Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling was joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas in opening the HMRB, which has been purpose-built to foster collaboration among researchers, healthcare professionals and industry partners to drive advances in medical science. Home to over 600 medical researchers, clinicians and support staff, the $280 million building is poised to tackle the some of the most pressing health challenges of our time, from chronic diseases and Indigenous health disparities to pioneering treatments for diabetes, infections and cancers.

“The HMRB is a game changer in medical research, turning breakthrough research and clinical trials into real benefits for Australians in disease prevention and treatment,” Stirling said.

“This state-of-the-art facility will drive collaboration and empower our researchers and students to push the boundaries of medical innovation.”

HMRB is equipped with the latest cell imaging equipment and one of South Australia’s largest banks of PC2-rated physical containment labs across five floors, together with BC2 biosecurity containment zones. It is understood to be one of Australia’s most sustainable research institutions and the first medical research facility in the world to achieve a platinum rating for best-in-class digital connectivity.

“Flinders University’s Health and Medical Research Building will be making breakthroughs and changing lives for the better for many generations to come,” the Prime Minister said.

“Whether it’s better understanding neural pathways to control chronic pain, unravelling the secrets in our DNA to address debilitating genetic conditions [or] supporting the health of mothers and babies, there are endless possibilities to what the 600 researchers here will be able to achieve.

“When I speak about a Future Made in Australia, this is what it looks like. Australian research, hard work and ingenuity keeping us at the global cutting edge.”

Located adjacent to Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders Private Hospital, the HMRB anchors the Flinders Village development — southern Adelaide’s biomedical research precinct that brings together research, education and accommodation, driving $1.5 billion in economic activity and sustaining over 20,000 jobs.

“Boosting the quality and volume of research undertaken in our state is fundamental to increasing the complexity of our economy,” Malinauskas said. “This is the key to unlocking a better standard of living for all South Australians.

“The proximity of this new building alongside the Flinders Medical Centre will provide opportunities for researchers to work alongside our clinicians and their patients to tailor safe and effective treatments and get them into use.

“The research undertaken at this incredible new facility will help save lives.”

Photos by Mark Zed and courtesy of Hansen Yuncken.