Beamline on imaging and medical therapy

Construction has begun on a $10 million facility for advanced medical research at the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne.

Due to open at the end of the year, the new Imaging and Medical Therapy Centre will use synchrotron x-rays to advance studies in biological, medical and industrial sciences, Victoria's minister for innovation, Gavin Jennings, said.

He said that in addition to pioneering new treatments for cancer, the centre would further medical research that could help premature babies.

"Synchrotron x-rays allow our leading scientists to see for the first time what happens when mammals take their first breath," he said.

"It's not well understood how our lungs go from a fluid to an aerated state when we are born and for premature babies, this process can be problematic due to the immaturity of their lungs.

"Through the examination of lungs in animals, the Synchrotron will enable us to build a model that will help take the guesswork out of ventilation in humans in to the future."

Professor Tony Burgess from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research said the new facility will lead to major breakthroughs for Australian biomedical science.

"Having this facility on our own soil will not only speed up existing research, it will allow many more medical researchers to access these tools for the first time," he said.

Jennings announced centre at a cabinet forum convened to focus on Victoria's biotechnology and medical research sector.

"The Victorian Government's Biotechnology Strategic Development Plan aims to position the State among the world's top five destinations for biotechnology by 2010," he said.

"The plan's targets include seeing 10 firms achieve market capitalisation in excess of $250 million and the sector to have raised $1 billion in capital by 2010."