KOLLING BUILDING FOR RESEARCH & EDUCATION

Last updated 27 November 2008

WHAT'S NEW...

November 2008: The Kolling Building relocation is now complete and the building was officially opened on Tuesday 18 November.

OPENING NEWS

Above: The NSW Minister for Health John Della Bosca (right) and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney Dr Michael Spence (left) officially opened the new Kolling Building on Tuesday 18 November 2008. The $99 million building provides purpose-built state-of-the-art new facilities research and education facilities for the campus.

Above from left: The official party with the plaque - General Manager North Shore Ryde Health Service Sue Shilbury, NSCCAHS Chief Executive Matthew Daly, Chairman of Research Prof Carol Pollock, University of Sydney Vice Chancellor Dr Michael Spence, NSW Minister for Health John Della Bosca, Kolling Institute of Medical Research Director Prof Rob Baxter, Dr Gemma Figtree, Northern Clinical School Associate Dean Prof Michael Field and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Dr Bruce Robinson.	Above, right: researcher Dr Gemma Figtree spoke on behalf of the researchers and students who will benefit from the facilities in the new Kolling Building, saying they were among the best in the world
Above, left: Professor Rob Baxter (left) from the Kolling Institute of Medical Research was presented with the original Kolling Laboratories key at the official opening. The key was presented to benefactor Mrs Eva Kolling in 1931.	Above, right: Chief Executive Matthew Daly (right) inspects the original trowel used in the ceremony to mark the start of construction on the original Kolling lab. It is hoped to display both items in the Kolling Building in the future.
Above: NSW Minister for Health John Della Bosca visited the Sydney Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre (left) and cancer laboratories (right, pictured with research assistant Eve Jary) and following the official opening.

About the project

A $99 million ultra-modern new Kolling Building for research and education is now open on the Royal North Shore Hospital campus.

The consolidation of research and education activities has created a dynamic environment with a greater capacity for teams to share knowledge as well as resources.

The building will has its own architectural identity and discrete presence on site, but will have good connection into the new main hospital building, allowing easy flow from the acute care area to the research area for the many staff members engaged in active clinical research.

The education centre on the lower levels provides teaching and training for medical, nursing students and allied health students, and ongoing professional development for RNS staff.

A combination of lecture theatres, tutorial rooms, and seminar and conference rooms is located on the ground level. The first floor includes tutorial rooms, a library, a clinical training area, a computer skills and learning lab, staff and student amenities area and an administrative zone.

The research facilities occupy the upper levels and provide a combination of laboratory and administrative space for range of research projects, with a capacity to share high-cost laboratory equipment and common support services.

The construction of the building was considered a priority because of the need to unlock the centre of the campus for the future development of the new main hospital building.

Work on the new main building is dependent on the centre of the site (currently occupied by the research and education teams) being vacated. Now research and education has been consolidated into the new facility, the older style buildings currently occupying the centre of the site will be demolished to make way for the new main building.

About "Kolling"

The Kolling Institute of Medical Research (the Kolling), located at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) was founded in 1931. It is one of the longest-established medical research institutes in Australia.

The Kolling was named after a prominent businessman, Charles Kolling, following a generous in memoriam donation from his wife Eva Kolling.

Its five major areas of specialty are Cancer, Renal and Cardiovascular Research, Pain Management Research, Bone and Joint Research, and Perinatal Research.

About research at Royal North Shore Hospital

RNSH has a well-established research community with about 300 laboratory based researchers currently located on site.

Many more researchers, based outside of NSW or indeed Australia, have expressed enthusiasm to join the research community at RNSH. Until now, that enthusiasm, and the potential to welcome many more innovative and productive researchers, has been limited by physical capacity and infrastructure.

Despite these restrictions, RNSH's capacity to produce high quality and relevant research has not been compromised. The majority of medical staff are integrally involved in clinical research, embracing novel technologies that have the potential to make a difference to health outcomes. The translation of research outcomes to clinical care is only maximally appreciated by individuals cared for under a system where research is integrally involved in care.

Research at RNS has resulted in improvements in health care delivery across a range of areas including:

• Acute stenting of arteries, which increases blood flow to the heart muscle - in patients with a heart attack this has reduced death rates and complications of heart failure significantly
• Innovations in pain management have reduced the time that individuals are incapacitated and unable to return to work or an integrated position in society
• Novel prostheses in bone and joint disease have improved functional outcome
• Early diagnosis of cancer based on genetic abnormalities has directed therapies.
• Additional key areas of research relate to diabetes, kidney disease, maternal/fetal medicine and hypertension and stroke.
• The Kolling Foundation (formerly known as the Northern Medical Foundation) was incorporated in 1996 and represents a coalition between Northern Sydney Central Coast Health, University of Technology Sydney, University of Sydney, researchers and the community. Located at Royal North Shore Hospital, the Foundation aims to foster outstanding health and medical research at the highest level across a wide range of programs.

About education at Royal North Shore Hospital

RNS has an active education program which includes teaching and training for medical students, nurses, students of other health disciplines, medical post-graduate staff, allied health professionals and other groups.

The Northern Clinical School is responsible for the coordination and delivery of the University of Sydney Medical Program to about one third of the Faculty of Medicine student load. It does this through the facilities of Northern Sydney Central Coast Health, utilising most of the hospitals in the lower sectors of the Area as well as private hospitals and community-based practices.

The School is based at Royal North Shore Hospital, where it also operates the Northern Clinical Skills Centre and the Pam McLean Cancer Communication Centre. These are specialised units for training in physical examination/procedural skills and clinical communication respectively. Programs have been made available to other health professional groups, junior medical officers and advanced trainees in surgery and other disciplines. The Clinical School also works collaboratively with the Sydney Medical Simulation Centre located at RNSH.

The Clinical School also oversees the studies of over 100 postgraduate research students working within the facilities of RNSH and associated hospitals.

RNSH is also well-known for its nursing education, in association with leading universities, particularly the University of Technology, Sydney. Nursing education programs include clinical placements for nursing students, enrolled nurse training programs, attainment/conversion courses (which train enrolled nurses to administer medications), ongoing development opportunities for registered and enrolled nurses, clinical leadership programs and retraining to return to work initiatives.

Ongoing staff training in a variety of areas including occupational health and safety, mandatory training and computer skills is managed by the Area's Learning and Development team.

About the University of Sydney

The University of Sydney is Australia's oldest university and conducts cutting-edge research across the broadest range of disciplines of any Australian University.

The University's research spans three broad thematic areas; the humanities and social sciences that seeks to cultivate a civil society through visionary research and artistic creation; science and technology that offers insights into the natural and physical world and provides innovative solutions that will underpin Australia's future economic prosperity; and health and medical research that encompass research from agents of disease to increased patient care. For more information, visit http://www.usyd.edu.au

MILESTONES

2008, SEPTEMBER: Staff Preview

More than 200 staff members enjoyed a sneak preview of the new Kolling Building prior to opening in early September 2008.

Rob Baxter and Janet Martin, from the Kolling Institute for Medical Research, show staff around the new hormone and cancer labs on level 8.	Volunteer Judy Vidler and Sue Fowler from the RNS Redevelopment Project direct visitors at the new main entry of Kolling.

2008, JULY - nearing completion

2008, MAY: Construction Progress

Above, left: The new building under construction in August 2007 and, right, in May 2008 showing the rapid progress on the project.

Above: Professor Michael Field pictured in the new auditorium.

Above: Professor Michael Field and Professor Rob Baxter in the new library.

2008, MARCH - site visit

Above: The Area Executive and RNS team with project staff and visitors from the University of Sydney inspect progress on the new R&E Building in March 2008.	Above: The future main entry and front plaza.
Above: A lab under construction.	Above: The view from level 10, looking over the new hospital site, St Leonards and the harbour to the Bridge.
Above: The new library reception and entry on ground level.	Above: The new library with its sweeping full-length windows.

2007, OCTOBER

Above: Eastern side	Above: Western side
Above: Research level (level 4)	Above: Level 8 concrete pour
Above: View of construction	Above: Level 1 (for education) under construction

2007, SEPTEMBER - Joint Funding Announcement

September 2007: above, from left: University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown and NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher sign the historic partnership agreement between NSW Health and the University of Sydney. The partnership will deliver $30 million funding from the University of Sydney for the new Research and Education building at RNS. Pictured with the Vice-Chancellor and the Minister are, from left, Associate Dean Northern Clinical School Professor Michael Field, NSCCAHS Chairman of Research Professor Carol Pollock and Acting Chief Executive Terry Clout.

2007, AUGUST

2007, JULY - lift core construction

Above: View of R&E central core from the construction crane.

2007, MAY - construction

2007, APRIL

Above: View of the site	Above: Detailed excavation work clearly showing the retaining walls (background) and elevator pits (centre), 4 April 2007

2007, MARCH - site cleared for construction

Above: The Research & Education building site, 9 March 2007