Two Key Visitors Applaud MMIM Project

Dr Carol Kovac (centre), pictured with Project Director Dr Marienne Hibbert (left) and Chairman of the MMIM Steering Committee, Mr Robert Merriel (right).

The Molecular Medicine Informatics Model (MMIM) is a virtual repository of clinical and genetic data sets (clinical, genomic, tissue bank, biomarkers), for diseases such as cancer, epilepsy and diabetes, collated from 13 Victorian hospital sites. In April, MMIM was awarded $11 million in funding from the Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development (DIIRD) to establish the Victorian contribution of the Australian Cancer Grid.

Dr Carol Kovac General Manager Healthcare and Life Sciences IBM (USA) recently visited MH to learn about the history, achievements and plans of the MMIM project. Dr Kovac is responsible for the strategic direction of IBM global healthcare and life sciences business. IBM has been a significant participant in the team working on the MMIM project. Dr Kovac’s visit was an opportunity for those associated with the MMIM to exchange views with an influential healthcare IT executive.

The Hon John Brumby, the Minister for Innovation, pictured with Dr Peter Gibbs (rear).

The Hon John Brumby, Minister for Innovation, highlighted the MMIM project when he visited RMH last week to announce funding of $26 million for 15 Victorian medical research institutes. The Minister highlighted the work by RMH oncologist Dr Peter Gibbs, who is leading a team from RMH and Ludwig Institute in analysing the records of 1,500 bowel cancer patients collected in the Bio21:MMIM database.