08 Jun 2023
Showcasing biomedical research and the power of collaboration to STEM students of the 2023 Quad Fellowship
Today, the Doherty Institute welcomed the Quad Fellows, a distinguished cohort of exceptional STEM graduate students from Australia, Japan, India and the US, as they visit the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct for the inaugural Quad Fellowship Summit.
As part of this first-of-its-kind scholarship program, designed to build ties among the next generation of scientists and technologists from the four countries, Quad Fellows visited the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct to learn about the power and promise of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration as well as the importance and impact of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) around the world.
The Quad Fellows toured the Doherty Institute, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), and the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, which offered a comprehensive look into various areas of research, including disease and immunology research, synthetic biology, and stem cell and genomic medicine.
Reflecting on the Summit, Head of the University of Melbourne’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Doherty Institute, Professor Andrew Brooks, said the event provided an opportunity to bring together the brightest young minds in science, and emphasised the influence of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct.
“The Quad Fellowship Summit has highlighted the transformative potential and influence of our Biomedical Precinct,” Professor Brooks said.
“It was a chance to reflect on some of the achievements resulting from our collaborative endeavours amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and illustrated how interdisciplinary collaboration can propel advancements in health.
“It also served to underscore the importance of collective efforts in expanding opportunities for individuals to take on leadership roles that created global impact."
The Fellows also heard from leaders with decades of experience in STEM research through public policy interventions and implementation, including the Doherty Institute’s Director of Epidemiology, Professor Jodie McVernon, Director of the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit (MDU) Public Health Laboratory, Professor Benjamin Howden and Immunologist and Laboratory Head, Professor Jose Villadangos.
The Quad Fellowship, announced by the Australian, Indian, Japanese, and US governments in September 2021, aims to cultivate connections among future STEM leaders while empowering them to drive interdisciplinary scientific and technological innovation. The inaugural Summit, held from June 6-11, addresses strategic STEM topics identified by the Quad countries, such as critical and emerging technologies, climate resilience, global health and pandemic preparedness, sustainable infrastructure, and cybersecurity.