The Allan Labor Government is backing a new innovation centre developing life-saving treatments using artificial intelligence - the first of its kind in the world.
Minister for Economic Growth Tim Pallas today visited La Trobe University to launch the Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation (ACAMI).
Backed by $10 million from the Labor Government - Victorian researchers at the centre will use artificial intelligence to advance medical research, develop workforce capabilities and improve clinical trials - uncovering new treatments, vaccines and immunotherapies for cancers, diseases and viruses.
ACAMI will build on La Trobe University's existing research capabilities in artificial intelligence and medical research, and collaborate with world-leading research institutes like the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Centre.
ACAMI will be the first organisation in Australia to access Nvidia's supercomputer DGXH200 to conduct research and development - the latest and most advanced artificial intelligence platform.
The centre will look at developing a biosensor that enables cancer-cell detection, as well as an artificial intelligence-driven colour map that tracks the spread of breast cancer and predicts how cells will respond to treatment.
The launch of ACAMI is another milestone for the La Trobe University Bundoora precinct, with German biotech leader BioNTech establishing a clinical mRNA manufacturing facility on the campus as part of their partnership with the Labor Government.
Victoria is responsible for almost 60 per cent of Australia's pharmaceutical exports - making it our highest-value advanced manufactured export - supporting more than 100,000 full-time jobs in the biotech sector.
The Labor Government's investment of more than $1 billion in medical research over the past decade has cemented the state as a world leader in the sector, driving significant breakthroughs in treatment and patient care.
As stated by Minister for Economic Growth Tim Pallas
"We're backing our world-leading researchers to use the latest technology to deliver new medical breakthroughs, improving the healthcare of Victorians and people around the world."
As stated by Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll
"This new centre will unlock the power of artificial intelligence to drive innovation - cementing Victoria's reputation as a global leader in medical research."
As stated by La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell
"ACAMI will sit within La Trobe's Research and Innovation Precinct, a core component of the University City of the Future, positioning it as a place of innovation and collaboration. The potential of this partnership, both for student learning and scientific discovery, is really exciting."
