Abbott launches asthma CRC

September 29 2005

The Minster for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott officially launched the Cooperative Research Centre for Asthma and Airways (CRCAA) today, at a reception held at the University’s Medical Foundation Building.

A venture between four universities, two medical research institutes, two pharmaceutical companies and government, the Centre has been made possible by a Federal Government grant of $26 million.

The Centre aims to combine world-class science with leading pharmaceutical companies to address the problems associated with asthma; discover and develop novel therapies and diagnostics; generate revenues and establish biotech companies; and provide significant returns to Australia.

Philip Bert, Chief Executive Officer of the CRCAA said: 'The Centre has three core areas of research: advanced diagnosis and monitoring, new and superior treatments, and assessing the consequences of adverse air quality.'

Opening the Centre, the Minister Tony Abbot, said: ‘I’m pleased that more is being done to ensure that this excellence in medical research is being translated into commercial spin offs for the benefit of Australia and the world.’

‘Asthma is a major health problem for this Country along with skin cancer. I am pleased and proud that the Federal Government has been able to contribute $4million per year for the next seven years, this is an important day for the wider community,’ he said.

The members of the collaboration are the University of Sydney, Monash University, the University of Newcastle, the University of Western Australia, the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Glaxo Smith Kline, Pharmaxis Ltd, Bird Healthcare Pty Ltd, the NSW Department of Health, the West Australian Department of the Health and the West Australian Department of the Environment.