Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity?
The Peter Doherty Institute is a partnership between the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, established to create a world-class institute combining research into infectious disease and immunity with teaching excellence, reference laboratory diagnostic services, epidemiology and clinical services.
The $210 million Institute will allow around 700 expert scientists, researchers, clinicians, academics, staff and students to share resources, equipment and knowledge.
This powerful coalition of experts will significantly strengthen our national and global capacity to detect, verify and respond to existing, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Influenza A Viruses with pandemic potential, Malaria and Tuberculosis and other serious public health threats. It will also monitor the increasing numbers of drug-resistant infectious diseases in hospitals and the community.
The building will have:
- complex and highly-specialised prime containment laboratories and support spaces;
- integrated teaching spaces to support the next generation of scientists; and
- capacity to host conferences, regional meetings and information sessions.
Who is Peter Doherty?
Immunologist Laureate Professor, Peter Doherty is the namesake and Patron of the Institute.
In 1996, Professor Doherty and his Swiss colleague Rolf Zinkernagel were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
for discovering how the immune system recognises virus-infected cells.
Professor Doherty is based at Melbourne University’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology and since 1985 has been a member of the Department of Immunology at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
Why is the Doherty being built?
Infectious diseases account for one in four deaths every year, or 15 million people worldwide.
Newly emerging infectious diseases add to the problem. In recent times, a new pandemic health issue has emerged almost every
year.
With continuing human population growth, climate change, the increasing size of cities, significant growth in the import and export of food products, and more people travelling internationally the evolution and spread of infectious diseases continues at a rapid rate.
Australia needs a sophisticated system to manage and respond to these threats. As the only Institute of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the Doherty will play a pivotal role in managing outbreaks of infectious disease.
What will the Doherty achieve?
The Doherty will:
- use cutting-edge laboratory capability to support state and national government agencies in infectious disease control;
- provide authoritative information and advice regarding infectious disease threats;
- continually push the boundaries of research and foster innovation to reduce the social and economic impacts of infectious diseases; and
- inspire, train and equip the next generation of scientists and clinicians.
Which organisations will move into the Doherty?
- The University of Melbourne's Department of Microbiology and Immunology;
- The Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, The University of Melbourne;
- The Victorian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System;
- The Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory;
- The Victorian Infectious Diseases Service; and the
- The Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative.
In the future it is envisioned other organisations will join the Doherty either in entirety or in part, such as the Nossal Institute for Global Health which will have representatives based at the Institute when it opens in 2014.
How wil these organisations work together at the Doherty?
Each of the organisations moving into the Doherty will bring specific expertise in infection and immunity to the Institute. Through close collaboration and sharing knowledge these experts will rapidly develop new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, treat, and inform the community about bacterial, viral and other pathogen outbreaks.
Is the Doherty being constructed using sustainable building principles?
Yes - sustainability is a key component of the design. The Doherty will be constructed to achieve a 5-star environmental rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.
When will the Doherty be operational?
The Doherty will be operational in early 2014. Demolition works began in May 2011 and construction is scheduled for completion in late 2013.
Who is funding the Doherty?
The Doherty is being built with funds from the Commonwealth Government’s Education Investment Fund ($90 million), the University of Melbourne ($65.8 million), and with support from the Victorian Government.
Where is the Doherty located?
The Doherty is being constructed on the corner of Elizabeth and Grattan streets in Melbourne, Australia. It is positioned in the city’s hub of healthcare, research and education excellence: the Parkville Precinct.
