The Andrews Labor Government is backing Victoria to be a global leader in medical research with a new plan to support more breakthroughs, drive economic growth, create jobs and save lives.

Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford has launched the Labor Government’s Health and Medical Research Strategy: 2022-2032 with the 10-year plan ensuring Victoria has the people, institutions and scientific innovations required to position the sector to be the best in the world.

The strategy aims to strengthen the state’s research capabilities, support researchers to solve global health challenges and increase commercial opportunities.

To achieve this, the strategy focuses on talent, collaboration, big ideas and generating outcomes. Building on Victoria’s impressive track record of achievements in medical research, the strategy will expand our capability to find new public health solutions and back new technologies to improve the health outcomes.

From the world’s first IVF pregnancy in 1973 with Monash University Professors Alan Trounson and Carl Wood to the development of the bionic ear in 1984 by Professor Graeme Clark at the University of Melbourne, Victorian scientists have made critical discoveries that have had worldwide impacts on people’s lives.

More recently, researchers through Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance have made breakthroughs in genomic sequencing to provide more precise treatments and care for Victorians with rare genetic diseases, and scientists at the Doherty Institute were the first to isolate COVID-19 outside of China.

There are countless examples and an immeasurable number of Victorians who have made our medical research sector what it is today including two Nobel Prize winners – Professor Peter Doherty and Professor Gus Nossal.

The Government has invested more than $1.3 billion

Victoria’s health and medical research sector is one of the state’s most significant and productive industries. For every $1 invested in the sector generates $3.90 of activity in the economy.

The strategy was developed in consultation with Victoria’s health and medical research sector and follows Victoria’s Health and Medical Research Strategy 2016-2020.