Institute updates and future planning
Professor John Carroll, Director of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI), convened an All Staff Meeting on Friday 31 August, offering staff an update on the ongoing research, education and engagement initiatives across the institute.
The meeting began with the announcement of Professor Dena Lyras as the new Deputy Director of the Monash BDI.
At the last All Staff Meeting, Professor Carroll outlined the next phase of the Monash BDI, which will comprise three pillars: research, education and engagement. With an established footprint in research and engagement – and being home to an array of incredible educational activities – encompassing all three of these strengths in the Monash BDI was the natural next step.
Speaking of the evolution of the Monash BDI, Professor Carroll explained that “Educational activity is right at the heart of what we do. By combining research and education in the BDI, we are in a unique position to strengthen research-led education and train the next generation of scientists.”
“Being able to train great students in our labs is really effective at supporting the success of our research output, which in turn improves our ability to attract the best students from Australia and across the globe.”
In her education update, Director of Education Professor Janet Macaulay first brought staff up-to-speed on the new Biomedical Learning and Teaching Building (BLTB). The only one of its kind in Australia, the BLTB will have five floors of purpose-built practical labs, including one of the largest student labs in the country (the X Lab) which can hold up to 240 students and will revolutionise the student learning experience The foyer space will be used to showcase student work, Monash BDI research and for special events.
Professor Macaulay then went on to say that, with the recent opening of Monash’s Learning and Teaching Building (LTB) and many Monash BDI units being taught in this space, there have been paradigm shifts in biomedical teaching.
“To teach in the LTB, we’ve had to change the way we teach, including moving away from traditional lectures to collaborative active learning,” Professor Macaulay said.
“This has been a challenging and exciting experience, and the students have responded really well so far,” she said.
To close her education update, Professor Macaulay highlighted a new elective that is currently for the first time; a Work Integrated Learning unit providing industry experience. An intensive practical unit is being planned and academics are encouraged to share any ideas they may have for these units.
In his research update, Professor Carroll started by outlining some of the opportunities and challenges that will arise from the new National Health and Medical Research Institute (NHMRC) funding model, which will come into play for 2019 grants.
Professor Carroll went on to explain that in order to ensure researchers are best placed for the coming changes, the Monash BDI will be organising preparatory fellowship reviews for independent fellow.
Professor Carroll then provided an update on the Medical Research Future Fund and Monash’s strategy for engaging. Professor Carroll co-chairs a working group for the ‘Frontier health and medical research initiative’, through which $240 million will be made available over the next five years. This theme will likely be the most relevant for Monash BDI research. Projects will need out-of-the-box ideas that help to build the next generation of industry and therapeutic approaches.
Wrapping up his research updates, Professor Carroll discussed the International Scientific Advisory Board, which will convene in early 2019 to support future planning for the institute; Monash BDI’s partnership with Wenzhou Medical University, which will officially launch in October 2018; and staff development.
The meeting concluded with an update on the institute’s engagement opportunities, including how Monash BDI can be involved in Monash’s philanthropy campaign, upcoming events, the website transformation and industry engagement.
For those of you who were not able to attend the meeting, you can view the slides here (Intranet).
About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the newly established Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.