Cooperative spirit: $120m HIV centre

A new HIV research centre being established in Sydney will bring together 300 of the nation's top scientists under one roof.

The National Institute of Virology will be located within the St Vincent's Hospital precinct at Darlinghurst.

The vice-chancellor of the University of New South Wales, Fred Hilmer, says the centre will allow the state's scientists to stay at the forefront of research into HIV treatment and prevention.

"We are really delighted that what we will see is a $120 million project, funded a third by government and two-thirds by the university and philanthropy, and the hospital providing the land on which the facility will be built," he said.

He says it shows what people can do when they work together.

"To capitalise on strength for the benefit not just of NSW, not just of Australia but really the very many people in the world who suffer from the ailments that hopefully the research here will help alleviate."