Brain Research Institute
Joining Forces for Brain Research
The Director of the Brain Research Institute is Professor Graeme Jackson. To create the largest brain research facility in the Southern Hemisphere, the Brain Research Institute, the Howard Florey Institute and the National Stroke Research Institute amalgamated in July 2007 to form Florey Neuroscience Institutes (FNI). The amalgamation process is slated to take five years, with the possibility of a complete merger in 2012. To reflect the establishment of this new organisation FNI’s Board adopted a Mission, Vision and Values statement in 2008.
Mission
Improving life through brain research
Vision
To be recognised as a leading international brain research institute
Values
- Innovation and excellence
- Commitment and passion
- Integrity and rigour
- Collaboration and team work
In December 2008 Professor Fred Mendelsohn AO retired after 11 years at the helm of the Howard Florey Institute and then Florey Neuroscience Institutes. He has been the architect of the modern FNI, initially moving the Howard Florey Institute towards neuroscience and then driving the amalgamation to what will become one of the major neuroscience institutes world-wide.
After an extensive international search, the Board appointed Professor Geoffrey Donnan to succeed Professor Mendelsohn in January 2009. Professor Donnan was Professor of Neurology at The University of Melbourne, the founding Director of the National Stroke Research Institute and the founding President of the World Stroke Organisation.
Professor Donnan has set out four goals for the FNI for the next 12 months.
- To maintain and grow scientific effort through the amalgamation and building process.
- To greatly expand collaborative efforts across the group and with external partners.
- To enhance cross-fertilisation of ideas between research streams.
- To meet the funding challenges facing an expanding organisation.
The Building Process Begins
Neuroscientists from the Mental Health Research Institute and the University of Melbourne will co-locate with FNI in new purpose-built facilities at the University's Parkville campus and at the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg. The collaborative effort is known as the Melbourne Neuroscience Project with the Austin Neuroscience Facility and the Parkville Neuroscience Facility comprising its two research hubs. The facilities will accommodate more than 500 FNI staff and students. The Parkville facility will have a strong basic and translational research base and the Austin facility will continue its clinical focus.
Demolition of existing buildings has been undertaken and construction of the underground car park has commenced at Parkville. Completion of the project is expected in October 2010 for the Austin and mid-2011 for Parkville.
Brain Disorder Research Focus
Ground-breaking work continues at FNI with research undertaken in a number of basic and clinical areas that are aimed at developing better treatments for a range of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Examples of FNI’s areas of research are below.
- Stroke
- Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Huntington’s disease
- Motor neuron disease
- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injury
- Depression
- Parkinson’s disease
- Schizophrenia
- Addiction
- Brain function in health and disease
- Neuroimaging
- Discovery research
FNI not only specialises in brain and mind disease that affect millions in our community, but has the capacity to assist fellow researchers, pharmaceutical and bio-medical companies to develop and perform trials on their behalf.
Working Together to Improve Outcomes
FNI represents a powerful step forward for three reasons – programs, productivity and people.
- Neuroscience is a broad field and there are enormous benefits to be derived from sharing technologies, expertise and insights. Technology is evolving rapidly and it is important for researchers to keep pace with and share knowledge about the latest developments.
- Strength will be derived from sharing equipment and support services. Streamlined operational costs will ensure that researchers have the maximum access to state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge expertise.
- People constitute FNI’s third strength. The relocation will draw staff together with the hope that the collaborative and exciting environment will also attract leading researchers from around the world.