New neuroscience facility opens in Sydney

The opening of a new facility for brain research, the Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) institute, will add to positioning Australia at the forefront of research into diseases of the nervous system.

NeuRA resides in its new home, the Margarete Ainsworth Building, which was officially opened by the Federal Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research, Tanya Plibersek, and the NSW State Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research, Jillian Skinner. This represents the first stage in the development of the neuroscience research precinct on the Prince of Wales Hospital Campus in Sydney.

The building was named in recognition of major donor Margarete (Gretel) Ainsworth, businesswoman and wife of gaming magnate Len Ainsworth, who generously provided $10 million to the institute - one of the largest single gifts given by a female philanthropist in Australian history.

The federal and state governments and other philanthropic individuals and organisations also contributed significant grants for the construction of the facility.

New Executive Director and CEO of NeuRA, Professor Peter Schofield, said, “We are fortunate to have someone like Margarete and extend our gratitude to her and our other donors for giving so generously over the years to make the opening of this world-class facility possible.

“With this building, we are bringing together the best minds in science to find cures for these conditions.”

Five levels of the building are wholly or partially completed, with another two levels awaiting further funding to complete the fit-out. The gift from Margarete Ainsworth will meet half of the cost of this fit-out.