Genomics alliance receives first round of funding

The Queensland Genomics Health Alliance (QGHA), based at The University of Queensland, has received funding for nine research projects as part of a $25 million initiative of the Palaszczuk government. The projects will focus on two core themes: clinical demonstration and capability building areas which will help to establish capacity for genomics testing and treatment within Queensland’s health system.

The first round of funding was announced by Health and Ambulance Services Minister Cameron Dick, who revealed that four of the projects will receive $600,000 over 18 months to demonstrate the use of genomic medicine to diagnose and manage patients with melanoma, lung cancer, infectious diseases and maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

A further five projects are being funded to build the capability of Queensland’s health services to implement genomics in Queensland. Receiving $480,000 over 18 months, they will establish infrastructure and capacity in information management, genomic testing innovation, workforce development, ethics, legal and social implications, and evaluation of the application of clinical genomics in the Queensland health system.

Dick spoke of the importance of the workforce development project, which aims to build genomics knowledge and skills in current and future clinicians by developing teaching materials to upskill scientists and clinicians in genomics. This includes the establishment of the first postgraduate program in diagnostic genomics in Australasia, he said.

The funding is part of the Palaszczuk government’s five-year commitment to QGHA, which is a collaboration involving Queensland-based universities and research organisations, the Queensland Hospital and Health Services network, private health providers and associated health organisations throughout Queensland. An additional two funding rounds will be announced in future.