At the Telethon Kids Institute our researchers are searching for answers to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families affected by some of the most devastating, complex and common diseases and issues. At any one time we have more than 200 active research projects and 700 staff and students that include laboratory scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, bioinformaticians, statisticians, public health professionals and social scientists.
Our research is structured into Research Focus Areas, programs of work and teams. We are committed to collaboration and work together with other research organisations, clinicians, practitioners, policy makers, consumers and the community to understand the complexity of factors that impact on a child's health and wellbeing and the translation of research findings into action. We actively reward research excellence and offer a range of schemes to support our researchers.
In August 2018, we moved to our new purpose-built facility located within Perth Children’s Hospital on the QEII Medical Centre campus - the largest centre of excellence in healthcare, research and education in the southern hemisphere. With a footprint across seven floors, our new home features more than 7000sqm of work space and 2000sqm of laboratories (including specialty suites, equipment rooms and freezer farms), as well as dedicated clinical suites and a cryogenics facility. Our co-location with the Perth Children’s Hospital will enhance our collaboration with clinicians, nursing staff and other allied health professionals, leading to better care, better treatments and better health and development outcomes for our children and young people.
We are an independent medical research institute based in Perth, Western Australia and affiliated with the State's major universities. Our research is primarily funded through national and international competitive grants and generously supported by donors and governments.
Research impact
We're moving to our new home
Check out our study websites
New coalition to end rheumatic heart disease once and for all
Vitamin D deficiency linked to childhood asthma
Latest reports & findings
A novel statistical framework for exploring the population dynamics and seasonality of mosquito populations
Understanding the temporal dynamics of mosquito populations underlying vector-borne disease transmission is key to optimizing control strategies. Many questions remain surrounding the drivers of these dynamics and how they vary between species-questions rarely answerable from individual entomological studies (that typically focus on a single location or species).
Published research Infectious Diseases Geospatial Health and Development MalariaDoes fast-food outlet density differ by area-level disadvantage in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia?
Socio-economic spatial patterning of fast-food outlets can result in disparities in the availability and access of food across geographic areas, contributing to health inequalities. This study investigated whether area-level socio-economic disparities exist in fast-food availability across the Perth metropolitan region of Western Australia.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Food and NutritionRetinoic Acid Induces an IFN-Driven Inflammatory Tumour Microenvironment, Sensitizing to Immune Checkpoint Therapy
With immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) having reshaped the treatment of many cancers, the next frontier is to identify and develop novel combination therapies to improve efficacy. Previously, we and others identified beneficial immunological effects of the vitamin A derivative tretinoin on anti-tumour immunity.
Children's Cancers Published research Pregnancy and Early Life Immunology Systems Immunology Subsite: Cancer Sarcoma Translational ResearchYoung people with prior health service contacts have increased risk of repeated alcohol-related harm hospitalisations
After a first alcohol-related hospitalisation in youth, subsequent hospitalisations may demonstrate an increased risk of further alcohol-related hospitalisations, but there is no existing data on this.
Published research Human Capability Youth HealthResearch focus areas
Research focus area leaders
Glenn Pearson
Director of Aboriginal Health
BA (Education) PhD Candidate
Ben Jackson
Research Focus Area Head, Brain and Behaviour
BSc (Hons) PhD
Liz Davis
Head, Chronic & Severe Diseases Research Focus Area; Clinical Lead, Diabetes and Obesity Research
MBBS FRACP PhD
Deborah Strickland
Research Focus Area Head, Early Environment
PhD