Internationally-acclaimed Aboriginal researcher and clinician Professor Alex Brown will establish and lead a National Indigenous Genomics Consortium, using cutting-edge medical science to deliver better health outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
Professor Brown was recently appointed Professor of Indigenous Genomics by The Kids Research Institute Australia and The Australian National University (ANU). He also leads the Aboriginal Health Equity Theme at South Australian Health Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).
The Consortium has been awarded a prestigious $5 million-dollar Synergy grant by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to drive the establishment of Australia's first large scale efforts in Indigenous genomics.
Genomics is the study of genes encoded in an individual’s genome – the set of instructions in our DNA.
Professor Brown said the relatively new field of medical research presents a one-in-a-generation opportunity.
Australia is on the cusp of a new era in personalised medicine that will bring deeper insights into the architecture of rare diseases among children and common diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer
“Unfortunately, Indigenous Australians have been missing out on accessing the benefits of genomics and clinical care due to being excluded from national genomics efforts.”
Read more about the Synergy Grant project led by Professor Alex Brown here.