The Victorian Minister for Health, the Hon. Jill Hennessy MP has officially launched the HMSTrust Laboratory at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (MIPS). The HMSTrust Laboratory is the first of its kind in Australia and will deliver global industry-standard training in Victoria, enabling the further development of next-generation pharmaceutical scientists.

“The creation of the HMSTrust Laboratory at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science is a shining example of Victorian research, development and infrastructure having a global impact,” Ms Hennessy said.

With partnership and collaboration as priority objectives of HMSTrust, the Trust’s Chairman, Dr Phil Moors AO, commended Monash University and the MIPS team for bringing together a powerful partnership that includes a world first collaboration between global industry partners PerkinElmer and Shimadzu.

“I am confident that the HMSTrust Laboratory will transition research projects to new medicine. It will nurture the talents of outstanding researchers like Dr Michelle McIntosh and her team, and enable future generations of students who will continue to turn Victorian ideas into global impact,” said Dr Moors.

The genesis of this unique facility was an HMSTrust grant of $50,000 made in 2007 to MIPS for the purchase of an analytical separation system. This equipment, still in use today, enabled researcher, Associate Professor Michelle McIntosh, to develop the globally-recognised inhaled oxytocin project, which in turn became the catalyst for establishing this first-of-its-kind facility in Australia with a grant of $1.2m from HMSTrust in 2014.

“On behalf of my fellow Trustees and staff, I congratulate all who have enabled this global facility to be established here in Parkville and the creation of a central resource that will be available for research collaboration with other research institutions across Melbourne”, Dr Moors said.

The HMSTrust Laboratory’s unique platform will be open access enabling Victorian researchers to continue the development of their projects within Australia.

The launch on 12 August took place before a large delegation of guests. Speakers included Monash University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, Professor Bill Charman, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science at Monash University and Associate Professor Michelle McIntosh.