Media Release
20 May 2003
UniSA funds $2.31 million for new research initiatives
Researchers from different research concentrations will join forces
to expand their capabilities following the University of South
Australia’s allocation of more than $2.3 million over three years for
six research initiatives identified under the University’s Emerging
Thematic Priorities scheme.
The ETP scheme is designed to stimulate innovative collaborations
between existing research concentrations and promote multidisciplinary
research, according to Professor Jane Kenway, Acting Pro Vice Chancellor
(Research).
“Applications for the scheme were assessed on their research excellence
and contribution to the University’s 2010 priority areas of healthy
lifestyles, sustainability and managing and modelling complex systems,
as well as their capacity to work towards research institute status.
“UniSA aims to be an Australian leader for innovative research conducted
in partnership with industry and the professions, with at least eight
internationally recognised institutes earning revenues of $2.5 million
or more annually by the year 2010,” Professor Kenway said.
Jointly funded by the University’s Research Policy Committee and the
Vice Chancellor’s Corporate Development Fund, the initiatives follow the
four key themes of the national research priorities announced by Prime
Minister John Howard in December 2002 - an environmentally sustainable
Australia, promoting and maintaining good health, frontier technologies
for building and transforming Australian industries, and safeguarding
Australia.
The initiatives under the Emerging Thematic Priorities include
An environmentally sustainable Australia
- Sustainable Systems and Technologies involving the Transport
Systems Centre, Centre for Industrial and Applicable Mathematics,
Sustainable Energy Centre, Agricultural Machinery and Design Centre
and the Australian Centre for Environmental Remediation and
Contamination and Assessment.
Led by Professor Michael Taylor, this initiative will create a research institute of international significance by generating leading edge multidisciplinary research in energy, transport, water, agriculture and environmental modelling.
- Sustainable Societies involving the Hawke Research Institute,
Centre for Research in Education, Equity and Work; Centre for Studies
in Literacy, Policy and Learning Cultures; and the Centre for Gender
Studies – led by Professor Alison Mackinnon.
This concentration will address major national and international issues in social sciences, drawing on established groups with strong funding to leverage their combined knowledge base to higher levels of performance focusing on ethics, values and cultures; strategic sites and processes of change, and global movements. Current levels of funding will exceed $3 million by 2005.
Promoting and maintaining good health
- SA Clinical Pharmacogenomics involving Centre for Pharmaceutical
Research, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Group, Centre
for Biomolecular Studies – led by Associate Professor Ross McKinnon.
This initiative will implement and evaluate clinical pharmocogenomic programs (methodologies to guide the best choice of a drug for development and help to select the most appropriate therapies for patients) and provide educational and policy support. Programs will examine safety, quality and ethical issues in health care systems and seek to integrate clinical pharmacogenomics into appropriate health policies. Within three years, this initiative aims to be a sustainable self-funding clinical centre of excellence that contributes significantly to better management of Australia’s health resources.
Frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries
- Australian Manufacturing Centre of Excellence involving Centre for
Advanced Manufacturing Research, Schefenacker, Ian Wark Research
Institute and the Advanced Computing Research Centre – led by
Professor Ross Bensley.
The Centre’s multidisciplinary approach will focus on submicron manufacturing, simulation and modeling, and adaptable and reconfigurable systems aimed at addressing the challenges facing manufacturing this century.
- Advanced Pharmaceutical Characterisation, Formulation and
Manufacturing involving Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Research,
Ian Wark Research Institute and Centre for Pharmaceutical Research.
Led by Dr Lingxue Kong, this initiative will offer an integrated approach to the formulation and manufacture of pharmaceutical and biotech products aimed at reducing development time while enhancing quality of novel health products. New experimental and educational tools will be developed for the Australian pharmaceutical and biotech industry. Significant benefits to the community will be gained through the manufacture of more user-friendly bio-products.
Safeguarding Australia
- Management and Design of Complex Technological, Social and
Business Systems involving Systems Electronic Evaluation Centre,
Centre of Business Analysis and Research and School of Art,
Architecture and Design.
Led by Professor Stephen Cook, this initiative aims to provide multidisciplinary solutions to problems associated with complex human activity systems, including those of a socio-political nature.
Media contact
-
Geraldine Hinter (08) 8302 0963 or 0417 861832