Professor Jane Gunn & Miranda Hindle
 After many years of research capacity building, the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne are pleased to announce the establishment of the Primary Care Research Unit (PCRU). The vision of the PCRU is to be a national and international centre of excellence in primary care research known for multi-method, rigorous research programs, strong national and international collaborative research, research higher degree training and knowledge translation. The PCRU already draws together more than 20 researchers within the Department who represent a wide variety of clinical and research backgrounds.
The PCRU's current research programs cover clinical research, primary care systems research, and translational research (getting research into practice) in three major areas including chronic disease, primary care mental health and youth health. These programs are largely funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI), the beyondblue Victorian Centre of Excellence in Depression and Related Disorders (VCoE) and other competitive research grants.
In line with the establishment of the PCRU is another exciting research initiative at the University of Melbourne - the Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN), which will help achieve the PCRU's goal to undertake first-rate international research. The PBRN will provide more direct links with community-based health care providers to facilitate clinical and translational research.
Professor Jane Gunn (pictured), who was appointed inaugural chair of the PCRU, has been instrumental in getting the Unit off the ground. Professor Gunn, an academic and general practitioner, has a longstanding interest in primary care research. She has played a major national role in building research capacity in primary care via her contribution to the Commonwealth funded Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) Program.
The PCRU will be officially launched on 29 November 2006 in Melbourne. For further details about the launch, please contact:
Hayley Shaw
Ph: 03 8344 9050
E: h.shaw@unimelb.edu.au
Jane Gunn
Professor of Primary Care Research
Department of General Practice
University of Melbourne
Ph: 03 8344 4530
E: j.gunn@unimelb.edu.au
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