A high-tech neural-engineering lab has received a very generous donation, which will go towards the development of new devices in Australia.

Mr Leigh Clifford AO, Mrs Sue Clifford and their family are donating $5 million to the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Neural Engineering (CfNE), to endow The Clifford Chair in Neural Engineering.

Staff say the endowment will advance links between life sciences, engineering and physical sciences and drive the next wave of medical technology breakthroughs.

It is a big step towards the university’s Believe project goal to raise $500 million by the end of 2017.

Mr Clifford, the current Chairman of Qantas Ltd and former CEO of Rio Tinto, says he supports new and innovative engineering, as he believes it will drive Australia’s future, particularly in the area of healthcare.

“The Chair will bring together researchers and experts from Engineering, Medicine and Science to improve health outcomes for every Australian not just those living in major metropolitan cities,” Mr Clifford said.

“The idea of small, low cost and easy to use devices for the best patient management is only one example of what is possible in the future.”

The CfNE is a cross disciplinary research and development centre with a focus on the world-wide convergence of the engineering, physical and the life sciences.

Through the Centre, potential treatments for conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and spinal injuries are being researched and developed.

“In the long-term, this gift is enabling the collaboration required to alleviate some key issues related to healthcare access and equity,” said Professor Glyn Davis AC, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne.