Women's and Children's Health Research Institute
Overview
The Women's and Children's Health Research Institute Inc (WCHRI) is a not-for-profit research organization committed to improving the health and development of children. Established in 1989 as the Child Health Research Institute, it is an independent medical research institute based in South Australia. WCHRI integrates early stage “fundamental” research with later stage translational research applying its research findings to the development of new therapeutic or preventative health strategies that result in improved health outcomes for child and maternal health.
WCHRI's research areas include:
Applied Nutrition
- Nutritional status of children for improved growth and development
- Health and well-being of pregnant and breast feeding women
- Nutritional clinical trials
- Role of fatty acids in the mother, neonate, and infant in health and disease
- Nutritional factors that influence the development of the immune system including breast milk factors
Mucosal Immunology
- Studies on factors that lead to allergic disease and how these can be influenced by infant nutrition.
Craniofacial Research
- Craniosynostosis: Discovery of genes involved in bone disorders, and potential applications of these genes.
Leucocyte Biology
- Discovery of leucocyte molecules by proteomics
- Understanding leucocyte function through studies of leucocyte surface markers and their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets
- Antibodies for diagnostic, therapeutic and research application
Wound Healing
- Mechanisms involved in wound healing, burn injury and scar formation
- Regulatory T cells in health and disease. Includes studies on the mechanisms of suppression and on the producition of Treg for potential therapeutic application.
Virology
- Methods to increase the immunogenicity of proteins of hepatitis C virus
- HCV immunotherapy
WCHRI has over 70 staff and students
Partners
ANU, Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, Flinders University, Flinders Medical Centre, Hanson Institute, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, University of SA and Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Number of employees: 65
Main business focus/
Listing by sector:
- Research Organisation
- Allergy & Respiratory
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Competitive Advantages
The Institute is based in Adelaide, and has laboratories at The Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre and the University of Adelaide. This multi-campus set up provides good linkages between scientists, clinicians and patients that serve to facilitate WCHRI’s research, development and therapeutic applications. WCHRI receives competitive funding from national and international competitive funding bodies as well as industry support from Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Nutrition companies. As a small independent medical research institute, WCHRI can move quickly to develop agreements and research partnerships.
Corporate Alliances/Partnerships
WCHRI has a number of collaborations with commercial and academic organisations worldwide including Europe, Asia and the US. They include: Nestle, Wyeth, Mead Johnson, KK Hospital and BD Bioscience.
In Australia, WCHRI is a member of the CRC for Biomarker Translation, a member of the Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre (from July 2010) and collaborates with TGR Biosciences Pty Ltd and partners with a number of research institutions nationally.
Contact Details
| Contact person | Prof Eric Gowans |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Executive Director |
| Address | 72 King William Road |
| City/Suburb | North Adelaide |
| State | South Australia |
| eric.gowans@adelaide.edu.au | |
| Phone | +61 8 8161 7443 |
| Fax | +61 8 8239 0267 |
| Website | http://www.wchri.com.au |
