Curtin University is proud to be partnering with the new Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), which aims to improve health outcomes for patients and the health system in Australia.
Senator the Hon. Zed Seselja, Liberal Senator for the ACT, Assistant Minister for Sciences, Jobs and Innovation, announced today that the Federal Government will invest $55 million through its CRC program to further develop Australia’s growing digital health technology and services industry.
The Digital Health CRC will leverage new technologies across a range of health areas including safe and high value care, preventative health, ageing and chronic disease management.
Curtin University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Research Professor Chris Moran said the Digital Health CRC provided a unique opportunity to work with industry partners to address limitations in the healthcare system.
“The program is a critical component of the Australian demand-driven research system, enabling industry to co-invest in research that delivers tangible social, economic and environmental impact,” Professor Moran said.
“This new initiative will help provide the stimulus to bring together excellence in research and innovation in digital health across Australia.”
The Digital Health CRC is aligned with Curtin University’s data science capabilities, developed broadly through Curtin’s Health Research and Data Analytics Hub in the Faculty of Health Sciences and in partnership with the Curtin Institute for Data Science.
The Centre will operate through collaborative research and development programs involving 40 commercial and government organisations operating across the health, aged care and disability sectors, and 23 established and start-up technology, advisory and investment companies.
Associate Professor James Boyd, the Head of the Centre for Data Linkage at Curtin, said the Digital Health CRC would help governments and its partners look for sustainable solutions for health.
“When information covers larger portions of the health system, there is increased opportunity for better decision making for policy makers, program managers, service managers, clinicians, and patients,” Associate Professor Boyd said.
Professor Suzanne Robinson, the Theme Leader for the Health Systems and Health Economics team at Curtin, added: “The Digital Health CRC provides an amazing opportunity for research and industry partners to work on relevant translational and innovative research that will improve population health outcomes in WA and beyond.”
Curtin University is one of 16 Australian universities to partner with the Digital Health CRC initiative.
Local industry partners include the Western Australian Department of Health, Western Australian Country Health Service, Western Australia Primary Health Alliance and St John of God.
For further information on the Digital Health CRC, visit: http://www.digitalhealthcrc.com
