Medical Research Minister Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Professor Caroline Finch, Professor Simon Laws and Professor Andrew Woodward.
The State's best medical minds have gathered at Edith Cowan University (ECU) Joondalup campus to put the spotlight on new strategies to deliver effective and personalised care and improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Precision health was the key theme at the Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund open day, which was attended by Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson, who said precision health was a key priority for the State Government.
"Demand for healthcare services continues to grow around the world. It's clear that we need new ways of thinking. Health and medical research is the catalyst to help us live healthier, more satisfying and productive lives," Minister Dawson said.
"A key priority for the Cook Government is to harness the skills of our researchers and attract new talent to our State's growing medical and health research precinct."
The event's keynote speaker, ECU Associate Dean (Medical and Health Sciences) and Director of Centre for Precision Health Professor Simon Laws said that precision health promises to be the future of healthcare through augmenting existing patient centred care to improve health outcomes.
"Properly implemented, a precision health approach has the potential to shift the focus of the health system from the treatment of illness to the protection of health," Professor Laws said.
"Our research within the Centre for Precision Health strives to maximise quality of life by enhancing diagnostic, prognostic, and tailored intervention strategies through considering an individual's unique biology and their environment."
The event provides crucial opportunities for the research sector to engage with FHRI Advisory Council members as the Fund prepares to launch its next round of health and medical research and innovation grant programs.
Over four years, $250 million is available for health and medical research and innovation.
Network, collaborate and germinate
Dr Pauline Zaenker, a current FHRI recipient, discussed her melanoma research, in particular tumour-associated autoantibodies, for the prediction of treatment response and side-effects in end-stage cutaneous melanoma skin cancer patients.
"These open days are an important opportunity for the sector to network, collaborate and germinate new ideas that can make a difference," Minister Stephen Dawson said.
"Tomorrow's improvements in health will be the result of a well-connected and supported research sector that we are developing for the benefit of all Western Australians."
For more information head to the FHRI Fund Website.
