Garvan Institute of Medical Research

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research is an Australian biomedical research institute located in , Sydney, New South Wales. Founded in 1963 by the Sisters of Charity as a research department of St Vincent's Hospital, it is now one of Australia's largest medical research institutions, with approximately 750 scientists, students and support staff.

History

Funds for its establishment were provided by a centenary hospital appeal by the Sisters of Charity for St Vincent's Hospital. Helen Mills, the largest donor, asked for the centre to be named after her father James Patrick Garvan, a distinguished New South Wales parliamentarian and business leader.

The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, a 100 million joint venture between Garvan and St Vincent's Hospital, was opened on 28 August 2012 by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The centre is named after the Kinghorn Foundation, one of the centre's main benefactors.

In 2014, the institute became one of only three organisations in the world able to sequence the human genome at a base cost below 1,000 each (the $1,000 genome) when it purchased the next generation of genome-sequencing equipment, which is capable of sequencing 350 genomes a week (18,000 a year).

Professor Chris Goodnow, internationally renowned immunologist, became Executive Director in 2018. He oversaw the development of rapid and affordable genome sequencing and the growing application of personalised medicine.

In 2023, Prof Benjamin Kile, an internationally recognised and highly regarded blood cell molecular biologist, was appointed Executive Director.   Kile has refined the Institute’s strategic focus to genomics, immunology and cancer.

Research

Garvan's medical research is focused on genomics, cancer and immunology

Researchers works across the three above themes, with teams divided into eight divisionsresearch programs.

• Genomics and Inherited Disease: Harnessing genomics to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of inherited disease. 
• Translational Genomics: Unpacking disease through the cell and the genome. 
• Centre for Population Genomics: Building the largest and most inclusive genomic databases to ensure all Australian communities benefit from genomic health advances. The Centre is a collaboration with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.  
• Cancer Ecosystems: Using the latest molecular techniques to understand the biological systems driving cancer growth. 
• Cancer Plasticity and Dormancy: Developing new treatment paradigms to overcome treatment resistance in cancer. 
• Translational Oncology: Transforming cancer therapy and improving patient outcomes. 
• Precision Immunology: Transform the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the immune system. 
• Immune Biotherapies: Using mammalian and bacterial immune targeting systems to develop new therapies and better understand the immune system.

Directors

Garvan is affiliated with UNSW Sydney. PhD and Masters by Research candidates are enrolled through UNSW Sydney and conduct their research at the Institute under the supervision of a panel approved by both UNSW and Garvan.

The Institute hosts a series of free public seminars and tours every year to share its research findings and behind the scenes access to the Institute with the public.

Directors