• McGowan Government's $1.5 million investment attracts world-class medical researchers
• Internationally recognised Premier's Science Fellow and talented Premier's Early to Mid-Career Fellow appointed
• Fellows will undertake phenomics research and data analysis to improve healthcare
• Fellows will attract research investment and create jobs in WA 

Two key appointments were announced today in Professor Elaine Holmes as the Premier's Science Fellow and Dr Ruey Leng Loo as the Premier's Early to Mid-Career Fellow.

The new Fellows will turbocharge our State's existing strengths through world-leading human phenomics research using metabolite profiling and data analytics with clinical applications.

Phenomics is the study of the interaction of genes and environmental influences. While our genes set the stage for human health and disease, what is actually happening in our bodies right now is a result of the dynamic interactions between our genes and environmental factors including lifestyle, diet, drug treatment and our gut microbes.

Profiling of metabolites in our bodies, which provides a snapshot of our current internal status, will help improve and tailor disease prevention, detection and treatment.

Professor Holmes, currently at Imperial College London, will conduct research on WA-focused areas such as maternal and infant health, liver and gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and dementia.

Dr Loo, currently based at the Medway School of Pharmacy, near London, will support Professor Holmes' research and undertake complementary research in personalised nutrition and health.

Bringing the Fellows to WA will make our State a leading centre in this cutting-edge area of medical science. The Fellows will attract research investment and interest from domestic and international students, creating jobs in WA.

For more information, visit http://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/Premier's-Science-Fellowship-Program