Kennett Pledges Cash For Medical Research
The Age
Tuesday August 2, 1994
Victorian medical research will get more money in the State Government's September budget, the Premier, Mr Kennett announced yesterday.
The Premier revealed the funding boost at the opening of an ophthalmology laboratory at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
The Premier would not eleborate on the funding increase, but said it would be moderate and would demonstrate the Government's commitment to maintaining Victoria's high standards in the field.
``We have a very strong base here for medical research," Mr Kennett said. ``We want to encourage it, but we are not able to throw large amounts of money at it - but we are going to make a greater contribution than we have the last financial year."
The announcement was warmly received by Professor John Mills, director of the Macfarlane Burnet Centre, renowned as one of Australia's leading medical research institutions. But Professor Mills, who said last month the centre would move to Queensland if extra funding was not made available, said he would delay any celebrations until details of the funding allocation were made clear.
He said medical research centres brought $100 million into Victoria each year but received little Government funding. ``We are not talking about money sponges, we are talking about money making-machines that need a little oil to run."
The new ophthalmology laboratory will begin investigating the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye to provide information on the causes and possible treatment of blinding conditions including diabetes and age-related retinal degeneration.
The head of the research team, Dr Michael Loughnan said a study would also be conducted into healing on the surface of the eye.
© 1994 The Age
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