The prime minister joined federal Member for Chisholm Julia Banks MP to officially launch the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) at Monash University’s Clayton Campus on Monday.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Ms Banks were invited by Monash University Vice Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardiner AO and Chancellor Mr Simon McKeon AO to tour the multi- and cross-disciplinary biomedical research institute.
Mr Turnbull and Ms Banks both noted that Monash University, a nation leader in research, focuses on collaboration with industry.
The tour focused on the research work that is being done on cancer, cardiovascular disease, development and stem cells, infection and immunity, metabolic disease and obesity, and neuroscience.
The federal member for Chisholm was particularly proud to return to Monash, having graduated from the university with degrees in Arts and Law.
Joining Ms Banks was her brother Dr Anthony Lolatgis, himself a Monash medicine and surgery graduate and now a local general practitioner.
“I’m delighted to be at this launch with the prime minister. This Biomedicine Discovery Institute is a centre of excellence in research,” she said.
“It’s particularly special for me to be ‘back at Monash’ where both my brother and I studied. I am so proud that Monash − Australia’s largest university − is a leader in innovation and research located here in Chisholm.”