The Ralph and Patricia Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute (SNRI) at Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Medical Centre was officially opened by Her Excellency, the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC, Governor of Western Australia on 26 April 2017.
Designed to accommodate four of the State’s premier neurological research organisations, the Ralph and Patricia Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute (SNRI) which was once an innovative research concept, is now a reality.
The new $37.7 million research facility will accommodate Curtin University’s Neuroscience Research Laboratory, the Ear Science Institute of Australia, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science and Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.
The construction of the five-level, 8,900 square meter building commenced in February 2015, and includes assessment and treatment rooms; tissue culture laboratories and facilities for neurodiscovery movement analysis, physiology research, experiments and cryogenic archival storage.
However the SNRI would not exist if not for the generosity of the Sarich family who donated $20 million towards the project. The State Government contributed a further $5 million, while $7.2 million was received in Lotterywest grants, $3.5 million from Curtin University, and $1 million each from the Wheatley family and the University of Western Australia.
North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS) Board Chair and former Department of Health Acting Director General Professor Bryant Stokes AM steered the project from concept to reality since 2008.
“Professor Bryant Stokes has been a tireless advocate for a facility of this calibre. He was behind the initial proposal, and has seen the project through to its completion with the generous support of the donors,” NMHS Acting Chief Executive Philip Aylward said.