Unlocking Treatments for Complex Diseases

By NSW Premier Mike Baird @MikeBairdMP

Investment in medical research is vital to help clinicians deliver better treatments for patients and improve the delivery of health services.

Supporting this research is a key priority for this Government, and this week we announced six NSW genomics research teams will share in $1.54 million to help them unlock the causes of some of the most debilitating genetic conditions.

A genome is the complete set of genetic information we inherit from our parents, and genomics is the study of the structure and function of the genome of an organism.

These grants will help strengthen NSW’s place as a world leader in cutting-edge scientific and medical research.

The use of emerging technologies to examine the behaviour of human cells will give us a better understanding of human biology - leading to improved diagnostics, better treatments and the prevention of a range of diseases.

These researchers are looking at issues including why only some people develop certain diseases. The answers may lie in their genetic makeup and these grants will help advance the role genomics research can play in identifying individualised treatments based on genetics.

Out total investment in the Sydney Genomics Collaborative is $24 million and as a result researchers have explored better treatments for cancer, schizophrenia and inherited heart disease in babies.

This week we were also provided a glimpse into what NSW might look like in the next 40 years.

Data from the Future State intergenerational report has provided an insight into challenges and opportunities for our state - the nation’s strongest economy.

The report shows that by 2056 NSW’s population is expected to grow to 11.2 million – almost 50 per cent higher than today’s population of 7.6 million and more than double the population of five million in 1976.

This report will be incredibly useful in providing insights into the financial pressures facing NSW over the long term.

Armed with this knowledge we can take the necessary action in the coming years to provide the highest possible standard of living for all our citizens into the future.

The full intergenerational report is released next month.