UTAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Daryl Le Grew today welcomed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the architecturally-stunning $58 million Medical Science 1 building.

UTAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Daryl Le Grew today welcomed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the architecturally-stunning $58 million Medical Science 1 building.

It is the first stage of the new UTAS Medical Science Precinct in Hobart's CBD.

Prof Le Grew said the new Medical Science Precinct is an important development not just for the University but also for Hobart and the State as a whole.

"This is a state-of-the-art development that puts Tasmania in the lead in terms of providing facilities for medical research and education," he said.

"MS1 is the new base for the Menzies Research Institute and the Faculty of Health Science's School of Medicine.

"We are co-locating for the first time our medical research and education, which will enable the highest levels of collaboration between our health professionals."

Prof Le Grew said MS1 will soon be augmented by stage two of the development, which will see the $90 million Medical Science 2 building erected by the end of 2012.

Prof Le Grew said neither development would be possible without the support and financial contribution of the Australian Government, the State Government and the US-based Atlantic Philanthropies.

"For this first stage, UTAS has received funding support of $23.5 million from the Australian Government, $9 million from the State Government and $7.5 million from the US-based Atlantic Philanthropies," he said.

"Along with the commitment from UTAS, the second stage has also been strongly supported with $44.7 million from the Australian Government's Health and Hospitals Fund, $15 million from the State Government and a further $15 million from Atlantic Philanthropies."

Menzies Director Prof Simon Foote said the Institute was strongly committed to building capacity in medical research in Tasmania for the benefit of all.

"There is no doubt that having facilities for researchers such as offered by MS1 will help deliver that commitment and allow research to be undertaken at the highest level," he said.

 "Over the past two decades Tasmanians have been able to see the benefits of having a world-class institute such as Menzies operating in the State," he said.

Faculty of Health Science Dean Prof Allan Carmichael also praised the new building saying its role in health education in Tasmania is critical.

"It is very important for the State's University to be able to provide medical professionals who are trained to the highest of standards to provide the highest level of health care in our communities," he said.

"The facilities at MS1 clearly allow us to do that."

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