The Menzies Research Institute has increased in size by fifty per cent today with the announcement of the first members who have been appointed to the Institute as the next step in Menzies' exciting strategy for growth.

The Menzies Research Institute has increased in size by fifty per cent today with the announcement of the first members who have been appointed to the Institute as the next step in Menzies' exciting strategy for growth.

Professor Simon Foote, Director of the Menzies Research Institute, says nineteen of Tasmania's most highly respected health and medical researchers have been named as Menzies' first members and senior members today at a special gathering of Institute staff.

"The members will bring with them their own teams of researchers, students and support staff, swelling staff numbers at the Institute from around 100 to more than 150," Professor Foote said.

The Menzies Research Institute has implemented a membership model as part of a growth strategy for health and medical research at the University of Tasmania (UTAS).

"With our new membership model, the Menzies will be able to enhance collaborations across research areas and ensure that the depth and high quality of our research is enhanced and strengthened.

"By welcoming members from other parts of UTAS, the current areas of research at Menzies will be significantly expanded. Some of the new themes which will complement Menzies' current work include neuroscience, diabetes and insulin research, respiratory medicine and clinical research.

"One of the advantages to operating a medical research institute in Tasmania is the close association we can foster with hospitals and clinicians. Through Menzies' new structure we are forging closer links between researchers who study the basic biology of disease and clinical researchers.

"The new Menzies also offers an attractive environment for the recruitment of world-class biomedical researchers to Tasmania. The Institute's expanded resources and new research themes have already enabled us to recruit three internationally renowned researchers, who will commence in the coming year," he said.

"Through these initiatives for growth, the Menzies will be on a par with some of Australia's most eminent medical research institutes.

"This is an exciting time for the Menzies Research Institute, and we are grateful for the support we are receiving from the Tasmanian community," Professor Foote said.

The first Menzies Research Institute members are:

Senior Member

Dr Leigh Blizzard
Associate Professor Inn Chuah
Professor Michael Clark
Professor Simon Foote
Professor Graeme Jones
Professor Mark Nelson
Professor Anne-Louise Ponsonby
Associate Professor Steve Rattigan
Associate Professor Alison Venn
Professor James Vickers
Professor Haydn Walters
Associate Professor Adrian West

Members

Dr Roger Chung
Dr Changhai Ding
Dr Adele Holloway
Associate Professor David Johns
Dr Stephen Richards
Dr Jane Zochling
Associate Professor Greg Woods

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