Better together: Connecting research and care through infrastructure

Dr Rahul Chakrabarti is a comprehensive consultant ophthalmologist at the Eye and Ear's Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit.

He is also the Director of Ophthalmology Training for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology in Victoria.

Dr Chakrabarti believes the Eye and Ear redevelopment has provided a new education precinct that is one of the best in the world.

The new precinct includes a microsurgical wet lab, virtual reality simulation room, library, and lecture theatre.

Dr Chakrabarti says these facilities serve to attract and retain the best and brightest from around the world, 'driving excellence from the ground up ... and ensuring the highest standards of patient care.'

Dr Chakrabarti says the Eye and Ear has many examples of successful 'bench to bedside translational research'.

He says that from an ophthalmic perspective, research at the hospital has made real progress around the major causes of avoidable and reversible vision loss.

This includes around cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

Dr Chakrabarti believes this investment in infrastructure, coupled with investment in the workforce and technology, will allow momentum to continue.

He says, 'The hospital is well equipped to deal with the growing demands of ophthalmology now and into the future.'

Professor Stephen Nicholls is Director of the Monash Victorian Heart Institute and Program Director at the new Victorian Heart Hospital.

He has played a pivotal role in development of the hospital, which combines advanced patient care with research embedded at its core.

Professor Nicholls says embedding research and teaching into a state-of-the-art facility means patients will have access to cutting-edge treatment sooner.

'Better patient experiences are a critical component of how we've designed this building. We want to do great things for a lot of patients and improve their (health) outcomes,' Professor Nicholls says.

'There's an incredible opportunity to be involved in clinical trials - whether it's of a new medication, whether it's one of our new devices in our interventional labs or our operating theatres, whether it's even just new ways of delivering the care that we already have.

'Bringing researchers close to patients and clinicians, enables (researchers) to make discoveries and inventions. It means we can bring those inventions to the clinic much faster.'

The new pedestrian footbridge will provide a direct connection to the new Footscray Hospital for Victoria University students, staff, visitors, and the public.

Victoria University will use the research and education centre for students studying areas such as nursing, speech pathology and biomedicine.

The bridge, which includes First Nations artwork in the interior, weights 120 tonnes and requires 80 tonnes of steel reinforcement.

Find out more

Find out more about how the Victorian Government is connecting education, research, and clinical care to provide Victorians with world-class healthcare by visiting our dedicated project pages:

• Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
• Victorian Heart Hospital
• New Footscray Hospital