Celebrating 15 years of the UQ Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR)
Speech delivered by Professor Deborah Terry at the UQ Centre for Clinical Research 15-year celebration, Mayne Medical School Building, UQ Herston
Date: 20 November 2023
Thank you, Karen.
I, too, acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we meet this evening and pay my respects to Elders past, present & emerging – as we walk together on the path to Reconciliation.
I’d also like to acknowledge:
- Mr Michael Walsh, Acting Director-General, Queensland Health
- UQ colleagues, distinguished guests, one and all.
Good evening and welcome to tonight’s celebration to mark 15 years of research excellence and health impact through UQ’s Centre for Clinical Research. It’s wonderful to be here and to have the opportunity to celebrate this important occasion with the Centre’s key partners, supporters, and staff.
The fact that we’re all gathered here this evening to celebrate this milestone has a lot to do with the long-term vision and generosity of one man: the American philanthropist Charles ‘Chuck’ Feeney, who passed away just last month, at the age of 92.
Back in 2005, Chuck donated $20 million to UQ to establish the Centre for Clinical Research. And this astonishing gift was then matched by the Queensland Government, under the Smart State strategy. This foundational investment provided the bulk of the funding for the UQ CCR building on Bowen Bridge Road, which eventually opened in 2008.[1]
Without doubt, Chuck was an inspirational person. He was an entrepreneur who built immense wealth through the first half of his life, as the founder of the global duty-free shopping chain, DFS. And then, he devoted the second half of his life to giving away his entire personal fortune, in service to humanity.
As he famously said – and I quote: “I had one idea that never changed in my mind – that you should use your wealth to help people”.[2]
In total, Chuck donated a staggering AUD$10 billion dollars to causes he believed in, over a period of 38 years, before finally closing his foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, when the funds were exhausted in 2020.[3]
Chuck’s legacy is evident everywhere at UQ today because, in total, he gifted more than $100 million to the University to help establish a number of our major research institutes and centres, as well as campus facilities like the UQ Centre.[4]
Less celebrated is the fact that, between 2000 and 2006, Chuck also donated $9 million to support more than 250 Vietnamese students to complete postgraduate degrees at UQ, many of whom studied in health-related areas and are now in major leadership positions in Vietnam.
Interestingly, we know exactly what Chuck envisioned for his investment in the Centre for Clinical Research – because you can still find a pithy summary of the grant on The Atlantic Philanthropies website.[5]
It says simply: “Granted to The University of Queensland”… To improve patient care and healthcare delivery through the clinical application of biomedical innovations in Queensland by helping to fund the development of the Clinical Research Centre for its largest hospital.”
In those early years, when the CCR was being established, the Centre’s founders developed a mission statement to align with Chuck’s vision. Its purpose is, and I quote: “to improve health through excellence in research, clinical partnerships, mentorship, and service”.
And, as everyone here knows, the Centre has remained faithful to that succinct, 12-word mission over the past 15 years.
Over time, the Centre has focussed its attention on 4 clear themes: Brain, Neurology and Mental Health; Cancer; Fertility; and Infectious disease. In each of these areas, the Centre has consistently delivered improvements in health care and clinical practice by adopting an approach that is informed by, and responds to, the needs and preferences of patients.
Undoubtedly, a major contributing factor to this success has been the Centre’s deep commitment to researcher-clinician collaboration – both here at Herston, as well as with partners across Australia, and globally. Because, of course, when it comes to research translation and innovation – in any field – collaboration is essential to gaining new insights and seizing new possibilities.
So, I’d like to particularly thank our partners at Queensland Health – as well as the many teams at Metro North, the RBWH and the RBWH Foundation for your collaboration and support over the past 15 years. Your partnership has been critical to our ability to not only advance clinical practice, but also to developing a cohort of highly talented clinician–researchers for the future.
Since opening 15 years ago, the Centre has trained just over 150 PhD students, with around one-third of those students from overseas focused on solving health challenges in their home country. So, this Centre’s work is contributing to improving health practices and patient outcomes not only here in Brisbane and Australia, but globally.
Of course, none of that impact is possible without a highly talented team of staff – and committed leadership. So, I’d like to acknowledge the five Directors, who have overseen the Centre’s development and growth over these past 15 years. Thank you to professors Nick Fisk, Murray Mitchell, Greg Riceand David Paterson.
And, on a final note, I’d also like to acknowledge Professor Paul Colditz, who has announced he’ll be retiring at the end of this year. Thank you, Paul, for your contribution to the Centre, and to UQ more broadly. I’m really pleased to say that Paul won’t be lost to us entirely – as he has just been appointed an Emeritus Professor of the University.
In closing, can I sincerely thank and congratulate everyone here this evening who has contributed their expertise, hard work, and collaborative spirit to the growth and success of the UQ Centre for Clinical Research over the past 15 years.
The Centre is a source of great pride for the University and I have no doubt will play a central role as we move to an integrated health sciences faculty at UQ from 2025.
It’s now my great pleasure to introduce Mr Michael Walsh, the Acting Director-General of Queensland Health to say a few words. Please join me in welcoming him to the lectern.
[1] Work begins on one of Australia’s largest medical research hubs, Qld Ministerial Media Statements, 24 November 2006
[2] Giving While Living, The Atlantic Philanthropies website
[3] Our Story, The Atlantic Philanthropies website
[4] Vale Chuck Feeney, UQ News website, 23 October 2023
[5] Grants – Clinical Research Centre, The Atlantic Philanthropies website