Alfred Health News

2012 marks the 10^th anniversary of the opening of the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP).

Established in 2002, AMREP is a partnership between Alfred Health, Monash University, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, the Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health (Burnet Institute), La Trobe University and Deakin University.

Over the past 10 years, AMREP has become one of Australia's leading centres for biomedical and clinical research, education and healthcare delivery. 

Research at AMREP takes a bench-to-bedside approach aimed at improving patient care and clinical outcomes. Most of the research effort is in the themes of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, infection and immunity, trauma, critical care and perioperative medicine; blood diseases and cancer, mental health and neurosciences. 

A strong collaboration between the partners has been key in achieving the development of outstanding facilities and resources on the precinct. Institute mergers and relocation of major new groups, such as the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases have contributed to AMREP's steadily expanding research capacity. Bold new initiatives, including Nucleus Network, the Centre for Health Innovation and the National Trauma Research Institute have been launched and, in 2011, Professor Stephen Jane, The Alfred's director of research, brought to AMREP his large research group which focuses on blood and skin disorders.

Growth in research funding has also contributed to AMREP's success. Annual external research revenue from competitive sources is now greater than $95 million, more than treble the amount received in 2002. Some recent major grants awarded to AMREP researchers were:

• A $23 million NIH grant awarded to Professor John McNeil (Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine) to lead the Australian arm of the ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) trial;
• a $20 million NIH grant to find a cure for HIV awarded to a group of seven of the world's best HIV researchers, including Professor Sharon Lewin (Director of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred); and
• a five-year $12.4 million NHMRC program grant secured by Professor David Kaye (Baker IDI) to conduct an innovative program in translational cardiovascular medicine.

Alfred Health chief executive and chair of the AMREP council, Andrew Way said AMREP's strength is based on a foundation of shared infrastructure, resources, knowledge and close links between clinical practice and research.

"We should be very proud of AMREP's achievements in biomedical research which have translated into new diagnostic methods, treatment and care in so many different areas," Andrew said.