Brief History

The ANZAC Research Institute and
The ANZAC Health and Medical Research Foundation

The ANZAC Health and Medical Research Foundation, a charitable foundation legally incorporated in 1995 as a company limited by guarantee, was established on the occasion of the "Australia Remembers" campaign, marking the 50th year since the end of World War II, to develop health and medical research by constructing a new research institute on the grounds of Concord Hospital, a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney operating within the Sydney South West  Area Health Service.

Healthy Ageing

Congruent with the health and medical needs of the ageing veterans community, the theme of "disorders of lifestyle and ageing" was adopted as the global objective. Between 1995-8 the Foundation's fundraising campaign raised funds from Federal (Dept of Veterans’Affairs) and State government matching grants together with corporate and philanthropic contributions. Following international recruitment, an inaugural Director was appointed in 1998.

Following fundraising from Federal and state governments, together with corporate and philanthropic contributions, an inaugural Director was appointed in 1998 and during 1999-2000 the Institute building was designed and construction completed. Intramural research commenced during the 3rd quarter 2000. The ANZAC Research Institute has “Ageing” as its unifying research theme. As the only major independent biomedical research institute with a primary focus on ageing, it aims to co-ordinate the highest quality innovative research at all levels from cell and molecular biology and physiology, to clinical research as well as public and population health. Each research group has strong linkages with an on-campus Hospital department.

Academic and Health Affiliations

The ANZAC Research Institute has full academic status and access to all University infrastructural facilities as a large external Department of the University of Sydney, based on a Memorandum of Understanding. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Sydney Area Health Service (now the Sydney South West  Area Health Service)  provides long-term lease of the grounds with reserved expansion space for further building extension together with provision of building services infrastructural support. The ANZAC Research Institute has been recognized formally by the NHMRC as an independent medical research institute. It was also awarded an infrastructure grant by NSW Health under the Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program for 2000/1-2002/3 and an application for renewal of this funding for 2003/4-2006/7 was submitted in February 2003. The Foundation’s accounts are audited annually by the NSW Audit Office and reported in the Annual Report.

ANZAC Research Instiute Building

During 1999-2000, the present 2100 m2 Institute building was designed and constructed. For more details about the building, link to the "Our Facilities" page.
Research Program

The Institute opened for operations in 3rd quarter 2000. At the start of 2003, the Institute had 4 major research groups: Andrology (Leader: Professor DJ Handelsman), Biogerontology (Leader: Professor DG Le Couteur), Bone Biology (Leader: Professor MJ Seibel) and Neurobiology (Leader: Professor GA Nicholson). These accommodate 22 senior research scientists (PhD) including 3 NHMRC Overseas Research Fellows within the laboratories, excluding extramural dry laboratory research affiliates who work in clinical and public health research adjacent to the Institute building.

Subsequently, four additional research areas have been established, Vascular Biology (Leader: Professor Ben Freedman), Cancer Pharmacology (Leader: Professor Stephen Clarke), the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project – CHAMP- ( Leader: Professor Robert Cumming) and, the Australian Vietnam Veteran’s Health Study (Group Leader: Dr Brian O’Toole). The Institute now provides a research home to nearly 100 scientists within the 8 research group.

New Facilities

A new Asbestos Disease Research Institute is currently being planned. The project aims to have a  new building completed by mid 2008. Additionally, the University of Sydney has now also committed funds for the partial construction of a second floor above the new Asbestos Institute, to extend the ANZAC Research Institute’s laboratory facilities. In total, when completed these developments will triple the laboratory space on the Concord campus. More details about current and past developments can be found in the Directors Report and in downloadable versions of our Annual Reports.

Publications, Training, Meetings and Support

During 2005/2006 the Institute's scientists produced over 200 scientific papers in many areas of medical research and continued its research training program of nearly 30 graduate students. Publication details can be found within the individual research areas within this site.The Institute has weekly research-in-progress meetings for graduate students and researchers to present ongoing work as well as regular journal club and Seminar programs.

The Institute offers support for scientists travel to scientific meetings and for peer-reviewed publications.