Comprising of more than 13 major medical research institutes, eleven teaching hospitals and nine universities, Victoria is home to Australia’s largest bioscience research community.
A number of well-known national and international research organisations are based in Victoria.
Medical Research Organisations in Victoria
Australian Genome Research Facility – is an efficient state-of-the-art facility for the collection of molecular genetic information covering large-scale DNA sequencing, genotyping, microarraying, agricultural genomic services and other resources for the genetic and physical mapping of chromosomes, mutation detection and associated bioinformatic analysis.
Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute – tackles the deadly trio of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease through research, education and patient care.
Bio21 Institute for Molecular Science & Biotechnology – is a multidisciplinary research centre, specialising in medical, agricultural and environmental biotechnology.
Bionics Institute – is an independent, non-profit, medical research organisation.
Burnet Institute – The Burnet Institute is a leading Australian medical research and public health organisation focused on improving the health of disadvantaged and marginalised groups.
Centre for Eye Research Australia – The Centre brings together a body of dedicated medical researchers to improve the living conditions and lifestyles of thousands of people both in Australia and abroad who are now, or may in the future, be affected by vision impairment.
Epworth Research Institute – Epworth Research Institute (ERI) has built a reputation as a high quality medical research institute within the private teaching hospital environment. It fosters a vibrant research culture that is committed to excellence and values clinically relevant research that translates into better outcomes for patients here and around the world.
European Molecular Biology Laboratory – EMBL Australia was launched on 29th March 2010, making Australia the first Associate Member of EMBL. EMBL Australia provides Australian researchers access to EMBL through activities such as funded research positions, collaborative ventures and the formation of research institutes.
Institute for Breathing and Sleep – The Institute for Breathing and Sleep (IBAS) is an incorporated not-for-profit organisation designed to facilitate and coordinate research, education and public advocacy in respiratory and sleep health.
Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research – Established in April 2009, the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR) is a joint initiative of WorkSafe Victoria, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Monash University.
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research – is a worldwide network of nine branches in seven countries dedicated to basic and clinical cancer research.
Mental Health Research Institute – mission is to further knowledge in mental health, behaviour and neuroscience.
Monash Institute of Medical Research – is committed to excellence in the performance of medical and biological research into the science of reproduction, development and growth.
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) – conducts life-saving medical research and community health research for babies, children and adolescents.
National Ageing Research Institute Inc. – strives to be the centre of excellence in medical research (biological, clinical and service delivery) into the causes and consequences of ageing and its social accompaniments.
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) – Supporting health and medical research.
National Trauma Research Institute – The NTRI aims to prevent or limit the disabling effects of traumatic injuries through research and education in trauma care.
National Vision Research Institute – Founded in 1972, NVRI pursues research in vision and the disorders of vision.
O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery – The Institute has made striking advances in the delicate craft of replantation surgery and the transfer by microsurgical techniques of body parts and tissue to reconstruct people maimed by trauma, cancer, burns and congenital deformity.
Orygen Youth Health – Orygen Youth Health Research Centre (OYH-RC) is Australia’s largest youth mental health research centre. Our research aims to understand the biological, psychological and social factors that influence mental illnesses in order to find better ways to prevent and/or reduce the impact of mental disorders for young people.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre – a premier resource for cancer patients in the provision of integrated treatment, research and education.
Prince Henry’s Institute of Medical Research – has maintained a reputation for excellence in the field of endocrinology (the study of hormones).
St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research – an enviable reputation within the global scientific community as one of the world’s premier medical research institutes, and is a shining example of Australian intellectual excellence and achievement.
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research – is one of Australia’s foremost medical research establishments, its mission being “mastery of disease through discovery”.
Teaching Hospitals in Victoria
The Alfred – Alfred Health is a leader in health care delivery, improvement, research and education. We strive to achieve the best possible health outcomes for our patients and our community by integrating clinical practice with research and education.
Austin Health – Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research in the northeast of Melbourne. Austin Health is world-renowned for its research and specialist work in cancer, liver transplantation, spinal cord injuries, neurology, endocrinology, mental health and rehabilitation.
Barwon Health (Geelong Hospital) – The Geelong Hospital has a full suite of medical and surgical services, including cardiothoracic surgery and is one of the busiest hospitals in the state. It is a 406 bed general medical and surgical teaching hospital affiliated with The University of Melbourne and Deakin University with obstetric, paediatric and psychiatric beds.
Monash Medical Centre – Monash Medical Centre Clayton is a 640 bed teaching and research hospital of international standing providing a comprehensive range of specialist surgical, medical, allied health and mental health services to our community.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre – Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world leader in cancer treatment, research and education. At Peter Mac we treat more cancer patients each year than any other hospital and our highly skilled medical, nursing and allied health team is backed by the largest cancer research group in Australia.
Royal Children’s Hospital – As the major paediatric hospital in Victoria, the Royal Children’s Hospital provides clinical, academic and advocacy services for children and young people throughout the state. It is internationally recognised as a leading centre for research and education. In its role as a leading paediatric teaching centre, the hospital has affiliations with the University of Melbourne and LaTrobe University and links with other universities in post graduate studies.
Royal Melbourne Hospital – The Royal Melbourne Hospital is one of Victoria’s leading public teaching hospitals, and operates across two campuses.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital is a privileged member of Melbourne’s world-leading Parkville Precinct, and enjoys strong relationships with many of the city’s major universities and research institutes.
Royal Women’s Hospital – The Royal Women’s Hospital is Australia’s largest specialist obstetric, gynaecological and neonatal paediatric hospital. We have an outstanding international reputation for research advances and clinical developments.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear – Proudly serving Victorians since 1863, the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is a state-wide teaching, training and research health service. Specialising in eye, ear, nose and throat (ENT) medicine, it is Australia’s pre-eminent specialty eye and ear hospital.
St Vincent’s Health – Education is one of the three core roles of St. Vincent’s, along with patient care and research. Most senior staff play an active role in teaching and training. A number of our senior staff hold professorial appointments with the University of Melbourne. While educating health professionals is a priority, St. Vincent’s supports staff at all levels to complete further study and training in their field of expertise.
Western Hospital – Western Health aims to provide work based education and training for Western Health staff and students which will support excellence in practice and career progression opportunity. Some of our training programs are also available as open programs for members of the health and local community.
Universities
Deakin University – By 2012, Deakin aims to have improved its research performance so that it is in the top third of the Australian higher education sector. The staff of Deakin University are responsible for its success. Their dedication to our students, to the research we conduct and to the communities we serve, will ensure the continued success of Deakin University.
Federation University Australia – Federation University Australia is an institution that combines teaching and research and especially one where teaching is informed by research. The university has moved, in a comparatively short period of time, to being research active. This is a credit to the University’s leaders, the staff and the students. The quest is now to increase the University’s comparative performance. The University continues to focus its research in those areas that both serve and benefit the region and the Institute for Regional and Rural Research and Innovation (IRRRI) leads that focus through its designated research centres.
La Trobe University – La Trobe’s research strategy encourages innovation, specialisation and collaboration. La Trobe is affiliated with the Biosciences Research Centre, the CRC for Plant Biosecurity, the CRC for Molecular Plant Breeding, the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre, the Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities, as well as Departments/Programs including Botany and Zoology.
Monash University – Monash University is committed to finding solutions for 21st Century challenges such as climate change, water shortage, cancer, diabetes, obesity and those posed by terrorism. With campuses and partnerships in Australia and overseas, Monash pursues knowledge and solutions from a global perspective.
RMIT University – We focus on applied research that is delivered in partnership with leading organisations and individuals who are capable of using research outcomes to create products and services that are leading edge. The passion, energy and intellect of our researchers is used to make a difference to the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of the communities we operate within here in Australia and internationally through innovative research and research excellence.
Swinburne University of Technology – A commitment to high quality, high impact research is ingrained in Swinburne University. Swinburne has made remarkable progress in research and intends to continue to foster its various areas of research focus – on its way to becoming an internationally respected research-intensive University of Technology. Swinburne actively encourages and values its international and industry connections and recognises that it is this that enriches and enhances the research efforts and careers of our academic staff and students alike.
University of Melbourne – The University of Melbourne is Australia’s second largest research organisation after the CSIRO. The Melbourne Research Office and the School of Graduate Studies are the two major central academic support groups which facilitate the responsible conduct of research through educational, preventive, and service activities.
Victoria University – At Victoria University we provide quality research training, and undertake specialised and cross-disciplinary research that is recognised in Australia and overseas. Our staff and research students are part of an innovative research community made up of University institutes, research centres and faculty research units that make a substantial contribution in their field. We actively pursue opportunities to collaborate with other researchers and organisations to develop innovative technologies that can also be commercialised and transferred for use by business, industry and the broader community.
NHMRC Centres of Clinical Research Excellence (CCREs)
Diabetes CCRE – Based at the University of Melbourne, the Diabetes CCRE seeks to encourage and promote clinical research in diabetes and its complications, with the ultimate goal of improving the treatment and prevention of this disease.
CCRE for Translational Clinical Research in Major Eye Diseases – This CCRE will fund a world-leading, broad-based, clinical and translational research program in Melbourne and Sydney to tackle the four eye diseases that cause the majority of vision loss in Australia: age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataract and glaucoma eye diseases. The CCRE will be headquartered at the Centre for Eye Research Australia in Victoria.
CCRE in Newborn Medicine – Based at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, the CCRE in Newborn Medicine will study adverse outcomes for the brains and lungs of newborn babies.
Biosciences Research Centre – AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience.
The Victorian Government, through the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and La Trobe University (La Trobe) are investing in a world-class centre for agricultural biosciences research and development through a AUD$288 million public-private partnership.
The building will be known as AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience. AgriBio will focus on cutting-edge research to improve productivity, fight disease and reduce environmental impact, to protect Victoria’s $11.8 billion agricultural sector.
CRCs are an incorporated or unincorporated organisation, formed through collaborative partnerships between publicly funded researchers and end users. CRCs must comprise at least one Australian end-user (either from the private, public or community sector) and one Australian higher education institution (or research institute affiliated with a university).
Cooperative Research Centre
There are currently seven broad CRC sectors.
CRC for Biomarker Translation (CRC-BT) – The CRC-BT focuses on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The CRC-BT is headquartered at La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria.
CRC for Biomedical Imaging Development (CRC BID) – The primary aims of the CRC BID are to develop new and advanced imaging techniques and equipment for application in biomedicine; and to foster the growth of Australian expertise in biomedical imaging. The CRC BID is headquartered in Bundoora, Victoria.
Cancer Therapeutics CRC (CTx) – The focus of the CTx is working on the discovery and early development of small molecule drugs or enabling therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Ctx is headquartered at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute’s Biotechnology Centre in Bundoora, Victoria.
CRC for Mental Health – The CRC for Mental Health researches early detection and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and psychoses. The CRC’s research includes areas such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease and psychoses such as schizophrenia and mood disorders.
CRC for Oral Health Science – The CRC for Oral Health Science brings together scientists, dentists, population health experts and manufacturers to find new and efficient ways of reducing the burden of oral disease in Australia. The CRC for Oral Health Science is headquartered at the Royal Dental Hospital, Carlton, Victoria.
CRC for Polymers – The research focus of the CRC for Polymers is on developing ‘functional’ (i.e. responsive to physical or biological stimuli) and higher value-added specialty polymers for emerging high growth opportunities. The Polymer CRC is headquartered in Notting Hill, Victoria.
The HEARing CRC – The HEARing CRC brings together an internationally unique consortium dedicated to the common purpose of ‘creating sound value’ through research – to prevent and better remediate the lost productivity resulting from hearing loss in children and adults. The HEARing CRC is headquartered at the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria.
