Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Every day, the progress of medical research reminds us that the future is going to be awesome, and of course the development of the COVID-19 vaccine and what we're able to do to protect the Australian population is a critical part of that story. Like many medical research institutions, the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University is doing an incredible job to advance genomics and precision medicine, as well as advancing COVID-19 testing.

I was privileged to see their work firsthand during a tour led by Professors Russell Gruen, Graham Mann, Elizabeth Gardiner and Ian Cockburn. They'd succeeded in repurposing the ANU's robotic facility for the largest COVID-19 blood-test survey in Australia to date. We were also pleased to see the trailblazing work of Professors Matt Cook, Carola Vinuesa and Ross Hannan, Dr Amee George and Associate Professor Leonie Quinn, who have been undertaking work in genome sequencing and cellular bioprinting.

The Morrison government has supported this important work by investing $5 billion in the medical research fund, providing grants for innovation and underwriting critical infrastructure. We know that the speed of our economic recovery continues to depend on the safe rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the Morrison government is supporting Australia's medical research sector to strengthen Australia's health and economic recovery, and of course a critical part of that is the vaccine rollout.