Research Week begins

BARWON Health and Deakin University have launched a week-long showcase of their research activities.

Research Week, which is in its third year and began on Monday, includes guest lectures by prominent Geelong researchers, various presentations, and education sessions aimed at early career researchers.

Events are being held at the St Mary’s Library and Research Centre in Geelong, including Monday’s opening keynote address from Associate Professor Helen Abud from Monash University, who gave a talk about personalised cancer medicine and “using organoids to take the guesswork out of treatment”.

Barwon Health chief executive officer Professor Ruth Salom said Research Week provided all of Barwon Health’s staff as well as the community an opportunity to embrace research, with more than 90 abstracts submitted.

“I’m committed to fostering a culture of research excellence, a culture of promoting research, especially at the level of translation in research. Our aim is to translate findings of fundamental research into medical practice and meaningful health outcomes.”

Other events this week include today’s (Thursday) Harrison Lecture for Innovation and presentation of the 2017 Barry Jones Medal at 5pm, and tomorrow (Friday’s) Barwon and Deakin panel discussion on physician-assisted dying from 12.30-1.30pm.

Monday’s session featured brief addresses from Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson and Corio federal member Richard Marles.