Precinct fosters health innovation
Opinion: Te Papa Hauora, the Christchurch health precinct, is a key anchor project in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan – bringing together people and facilities.
The precinct will foster and develop partnerships and collaborations that drive innovation across the areas of health research, health professional education and development and clinical services.
Development of the precinct is being led by the health precinct advisory council – a strategic leadership group comprising senior leaders of the tertiary health and education sectors: the Canterbury District Health Board, University of Otago, University of Canterbury, and Ara Institute of Canterbury, working in partnership with Matapopore (the Canterbury Ngai Tu¯ ahuriri earthquake recovery group) and the Crown.
The precinct will make a longterm contribution to the economic well-being of Christchurch by attracting top quality researchers, businesses, students, health sector workers and associated staff to live and work in the city – indeed it will be a real magnet for talent.
Working with big data is key, as is more effectively linking the health system with industry to commercialise health technology, products and services.
Importantly, given that proximity matters for innovation, opportunities exist for businesses to physically co-locate into the precinct. It will be simpler and easier for the business sector and collaborators to engage with health through a single ‘‘front door’’.
The New Zealand health research strategy released in June 2017 nicely aligns the health precinct’s research strategy, and will facilitate precinct partners and collaborators to further drive innovation in the precinct.
Government strategic actions identified include more funding to support transformative and innovative ideas; creating industry partnerships, and strengthening infrastructure to support the translation of research into products and services that improve health outcomes.
Canterbury has a strong tradition of clinical research and of collegial links with industry and clinicians who are interested in new ways of doing things.
Features that set Christchurch apart from other centres include a single teaching hospital; a single medical school and a single funder of health – making the city an ideal location for research.
Additionally, Christchurch researchers are considered to be ‘friendlies’ to the industry and are proven to be innovative and responsive.
Examples include the MARS programme where clinicians and researchers have collaborated to develop a world-first colour CT scanner, recently commissioning the prototype for small animals in the US.
The B&M Gates Foundation uses Canterbury Health Laboratories as a reference lab for its key strategic programmes.
Christchurch also has strong Maori research capacity at the Ngai Tahu Research Centre based at the University of Canterbury, and Otago University’s Maori and Indigenous Health Institute.
Engagement with these centres, together with a strong relationship with Mana Whenua will help to identify new opportunities for innovation in Maori health research, workforce development and education.
The Health Research Education Facility (HREF) currently under construction will put health education, professional development, and research activities into a purpose-built facility designed to maximise opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
Ara’s undergraduate nursing, radiography and midwifery students, and the University of Canterbury’s postgraduate health science students will relocate into the HREF.
The HREF will set the stage for partners and collaborators to create a truly unique and innovative health education and research environment.
This is another good example of how the city is changing its offering and capability as it faces a bright future.
Canterbury has a strong tradition of clinical research and of collegial links with industry.
❚ Peter Townsend is the chief executive of the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce