Cairns Campus of JCU - a 'world magnet' for research

Cairns could be at the core of global tropical research with the opening of a new laboratory at James Cook University.

And JCU leaders say the new facility was just the start with plans to grow health research in the city. State Treasurer Andrew Fraser will today launch the Queensland Tropical Health Alliance and its new research laboratory at JCU’s Cairns campus.

The alliance positions the state and Cairns as a leading location for tropical health research and could be one of its great scientific assets.

The $6 million facility at Smithfield has 35 researchers working on a range of programs from dengue fever and malaria to parasites.

QTHA director Prof Louis Schofield said the facilities would be a magnet for more world-class scientists and medical research would expand. "It’s definitely our intention to grow from here and this is a very significant step in that direction," Prof Schofield said. "It makes complete sense for growth in the research to be based in Cairns." Prof Schofield said there was an explicit agenda in QTHA to increase collaboration between researchers in Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane and form a strong network.

JCU professor of medicine John McBride said the first medical research laboratories were established in 2003 and the new building was much needed as medical research was gaining pace in the Far North. "Having this new facility will allow for us to expand medical research in Cairns and create exciting opportunities," Prof McBride said.

Author | Source | Kelly Burns | The Cairns Post, July 14th 2011