Australia Launches New Center To Focus on HIV Prevention, Treatment Research
A new HIV/AIDS research center in Sydney, Australia -- called the National Institute of Virology -- will bring together 300 of the country's top scientists to conduct research in the fight against the disease, New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma said recently, the AAP/The Age reports.
The New South Wales government has committed 20 million Australian dollars, or about $19 million, toward the center, which has a total cost of 120 million Australian dollars, or about $115 million. The center will be located at St. Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst, and a chief scientist and scientific engineer for the state have been appointed. Iemma said that "NSW researchers are at the forefront of work in HIV treatment, prevention and vaccination" and that the "investment will expand the international role of our state's researchers in both the prevention of HIV and their role in emerging public health issues, such as prevention of hepatitis C" (AAP/The Age, 6/25).
University of New South Wales Vice-Chancellor Fred Hilmer said the center will allow the state's scientists to remain at the forefront of HIV treatment and prevention research. "We are really delighted that what we will see is a $120 million project, funded a third by the government and two-thirds by the university and philanthropy, and the hospital providing the land on which the facility will be built." Hilmer added that the center will work to "capitalize on strength for the benefit not just of NSW, not just of Australia, but really the very many people in the world who suffer from the ailments that hopefully the research here will help alleviate" (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 6/26).
