COMPASSION is the sharpest tool in professor Frances Kay-Lambkin's arsenal as she takes the reins as director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI).
The mental health researcher has big plans for the organisation, as she aims to cement its reputation as the number one place to do medical research in the country - if not the globe.
It's no small task, but Ms Kay-Lambkin said she's confident the pandemic has highlighted just how critical research is to combat health challenges.
"I would like to help people understand how valuable research is to what we do everyday, and attract our best and brightest minds to the Hunter, harness that brain power and respond to the need in our communities," she said.
"This might sound a bit lame, but I would love when people think about research and health research to think of HMRI as the number one place they want to go.
"I want them to think of a culture of support, encouragement and capacity building across an organisation which is really well engaged with its partners and the community to quickly identify and respond to the needs of stakeholders."
HMRI has evolved into a world-class institute, bringing together 1500 medical researchers, students and support staff to investigate, prevent, treat and defeat serious illnesses.
It delivers patient-focused research from start-up studies to larger-scale research projects that weave together the knowledge of scientists, clinicians and public health professionals.
With more than two decades of experience in the university sector, Ms Kay-Lambkin is known for her innovative work on the comorbidity of mental health and drug use disorders.
Having received more than $30 million towards her own research efforts, she said the leadership role was an opportunity to pay forward the investment.
"We have a bit of a challenge ahead with not as many researchers in our workforce across Australia as we did before COVID so we need to ready to the troops to look outwards to respond to the next challenge," she said.
She will take over the role from current director professor Mike Calford in May.
