WESTMEAD CHILDREN’S $10.6M RESEARCH CENTRE OPENS

Thousands of children will benefit from the findings of world-leading clinical trials, following the opening of a new $10.6 million research centre at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Westmead.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Health Brad Hazzard today officially opened the state-of-the-art Clinical Research Centre, which is expected to significantly improve medical treatment for children and young people.

“This research facility will foster collaboration between researchers, doctors and nurses to discover new treatments and greatly improve the health care of thousands of children,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The centre is part of the $900 million Westmead Redevelopment project – the largest in NSW – and is transforming Westmead into a world-class health and education precinct.”

Mr Hazzard said about 1000 children will take part annually in world-leading clinical trials.

“In NSW, we are fortunate to have highly skilled paediatric researchers dedicated to discovering better treatments for some of our sickest kids and this first-class clinic will certainly help them achieve that.”

The centre will focus on a range of paediatric research areas - including allergy and immunology, respiratory, cardiology, rheumatology, endocrinology, obesity, neurology, autism spectrum and psychology – as well as evaluate the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and devices for children and young people.

The Clinical Research Centre features:

• 13 outpatient spaces,
• the NSW Paediatric Gait Analysis Laboratory,
• a multi-purpose clinical assessment room,
• dedicated reception and waiting area,
• interactive kids’ zone and parents’ lounge,
• biospecimen laboratory;
• and a shopfront clinical trials pharmacy.

Over the next 20 years, the precinct is expected to provide an additional 24,000 jobs and contribute $2.8 billion per year to the NSW economy.