WA's Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan announced the funding - a combination of money from the Federal and States Governments and the University of WA (UWA) - at the BIO2007 International Convention in Boston.
"This funding, the largest to date, will lead to the creation of a world-class facility for biotechnology and biomedical research in Perth, Western Australia," Mr Logan said.
"The facility will have three primary areas of focus - adult, paediatric and ophthalmic health.
"With this funding, the WA Institutes for Health (WAIH) will foster innovation, advance that innovation to new medical therapies and provide a conduit to research around the world."
WAIH has over 700 medical researchers working on projects for the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research Inc., The Lions Eye Institute and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research.
WAIH director, Professor Peter Klinken, today welcomed the Australian Government's decision to match the State and UWA funding.
He said the funding would allow the various institutes to expand dramatically their research capabilities on disease prevention and the genetic aetiology of disease.
WAIH researchers have discovered genes involved in several diseases including cancer, leukaemia and muscle and nerve disorders.
They have also improved childhood health by developing new treatments and preventative measures for diseases such as spina bifida, asthma and diabetes. They have also made major contributions to improving ophthalmic conditions such as glaucoma, retinal degeneration and cataracts.
Currently WAIH has numerous collaborations with United States research institutions, including the National Institutes for Health, Harvard University and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Fred Welz, the senior investment commissioner (North America) of Invest Australia, said research facilities proposed by WAIH could become catalysts for additional American interest and investment in Australia - and, in this particular case, in Western Australia.
Contact: For Western Australia Douglas MacDougall 508-647-0209 (office) 508-904-5656 (onsite cell)
Source: Government of Western Australia
