Health economics is now a key part of The George Institute's work. Professor Stephen Jan explains how its importance and impact has evolved over the years.

Working with The George Institute for 20 years, critical care physician Professor Simon Finfer has led transformational studies into intensive care to reduce mortality and shed light on one of the world’s most serious silent killers – sepsis.

Peter Burrows AO is one of the lesser known heroes of The George Institute. Without his passion for medical research and financial acumen, the Institute might never have been established.

Laurent Billot is Director of the Statistics Division at the George Institute and a Principal Research Fellow at The University of Sydney. He is an accredited statistician by the Statistical Society of Australia.

Laurent is responsible for the design, analysis and reporting of numerous medical studies ranging from health surveys and epidemiological studies to multinational Phase III/IV trials in oncology, critical care and cardiovascular disease.

Q. What is the importance of data analytics for tackling public health challenges?

Originally trained as an epidemiologist, Professor Maree Hackett joined the Institute in 2005, completing her PhD soon after in a field that would remain her focus to this day – the effect of chronic diseases on mental health.

Just as a lack of trained doctors can cost lives, a shortage of researchers can also mean opportunities to save them are lost. That’s why building an international research workforce is a top priority, says Peter Dolnik.