Melbourne collaboration advances biomedical research

An agreement between the University of Melbourne and Thomson Reuters’ intellectual property and science business department is expected to help the university’s life science students gain a competitive-edge in the job market by working with the tools of the trade before they graduate.

The initiative is also likely to increase the impact of Melbourne’s biomedical research through the use of the company’s CortellisTM Competitive Intelligence system. This provides a source of up-to-date information on drug pipeline data, patents, companies and the latest industry news.

“This collaboration will ensure that University of Melbourne students have access to the highest quality life science content, including disease briefing and SWOT analysis to better inform their research and provide them with the ability to gain a competitive advantage toward pursuing their future professions with a fluency in Cortellis,” said Jon Brett-Harris, managing director of life sciences at Thomson Reuters.

(A SWOT analysis is a structured planning method used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in a business project or venture that can be carried out for a product, research or an industry.)

Melbourne Vice-chancellor Professor Glyn Davis said the university’s life science students would benefit greatly from having access to Cortellis, “this essential tool and resource”.

“We are pleased to be working with Thomson Reuters to provide our students with a competitive intelligence resource that will bolster their confidence and provide them with a competitive edge in their research, better preparing them for their future careers.”

Davis said that with the global research landscape continuing to rapidly evolve, it was increasingly important for students to be equipped with the knowledge and experience that would be critical to their success.