Dr Richard Head, Flagship Director

Throughout the ages people's life expectancies have been increasing. Within the past century alone, longevity of Australians has risen by more than 20 years. Coupled with a four-fold increase in Australia's population, this has driven a major boost to our economy - gains from increased healthy years and health improvements.

The challenge we face is ensuring more healthy years for all of us, but particularly for the older segments. Because labour force participation rates decline with age, the key emphasis will be on participation and our ability, at whatever age, to contribute to society and the workforce

Australia's future will be shaped by our ageing demographics, along with global competition, and a need for a sustainable balance of payments. Understanding the impact of these, and knowing the role innovation can play to meet these challenges is crucial.

It's an area where the Preventative Health National Research Flagship can and is making a difference.

The major threat to healthy years and participation is the impact of chronic diseases like bowel or colorectal (bowel) cancer, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease – diseases that now coming under the Preventative Health spotlight.

As the economic returns on people living longer are considerable, the issue of healthy years and participation has a powerful economic impact.

It's an issue which we shared over lunch during the recent Innovation Festival.

The May forum, led by Preventative Health, involved leading cancer specialist Professor Graeme Young and economics Professor Richard Blandy. The innovation challenge of preventative health was highlighted in the context of the economic and demographic realities facing our nation. Read more about the lunch in this edition of UPDATE.

I've also discussed this challenge in several meetings this month - with the Prime Minister's science adviser Darren Brown and the Productivity Commission.

I early June I met with Darren Brown, the PM's Science Adviser, to share the progress in the Preventative Health Flagship. We also discussed how the Flagship approach might be useful in tackle issues of national wellbeing, participation and productivity through engaging all levels of government, providers of services and the broader community.

I also held talks with the Productivity Commission about its study on public support for science and innovation in Australia. We discussed CSIRO's National Flagship Programs and the way in which they work to achieve impact in the innovation system. The Commission will release its draft report in October and present its final report to government in March 2007.

Also in this edition of UPDATE, we highlight the vital role partnerships play in the success of our Flagship– across disciplines and across research organisations.

We look at how we've brought together statisticians, biochemists and imaging specialists to create a special microscope system to analyse samples for colorectal (bowel) cancer studies.

We'll share the example of Flagship PhD student, Gemma Brierley, whose work has helped develop our links to Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

For these and more information about our work, please click on the front page links provided.

And if you would like to find out more about the Flagship, please visit our website or email Flagship Communicator Helen.Beringen@csiro.au.

Contact: Richard.Head@csiro.au, phone 08 83138819

Dr Richard Head
Director, Preventative Health Flagship

UPDATE home

Message from the Director

Microscope System Keeps Count for Colorectal Cancer Studies

New protection for health-promoting probiotics

Preventative health focus at Australian Innovation Festival

Oxford lab experience for Flagship PhD student

Preventative Health Presentations/Publications for February 2006 to June 2006

About this email

The Preventative Health Flagship is a CSIRO initiative and part of the National Research Flagships program that aims to deliver scientific solutions to advance Australia's most important national objectives. One of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia, it aligns closely with the Federal Government's National Research Priorities. The initiative brings together our national research resources to deliver breakthroughs in fields ranging from healthcare to light metals and the environment.

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