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The Westmead Institute for Medical Research is a large medical research institute located at Westmead in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. The institute is closely affiliated with Western Sydney Local Health District and The University of Sydney and comprises approximately 500 medical research and support staff and students.

The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) was established in 1996 as part of Westmead Hospital’s vision to integrate world-class research with clinical services, initially operating as a federation of four research centers. In 2000, its first purpose-built facility was opened, marking the beginning of its rapid growth into a multidisciplinary institute housing 11 research centers across cancer, infection, immunity, neuroscience, and more. In 2014, WIMR moved into a state-of-the-art 17,500-square-meter building, bringing all research teams under one roof to foster collaboration and innovation within the Westmead Health Precinct. Renamed in 2015, WIMR now stands as a global leader in medical research, dedicated to advancing health outcomes through cutting-edge science.

The Westmead Institute for Medical Research excels in addressing a broad spectrum of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, kidney disease, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and mental health challenges. With a focus on understanding the fundamentals of cell biology, WIMR collaborates with an extensive network of clinical practitioners to ensure research drives transformative impacts in precision medicine and patient care globally.

Diseases researched include:

• Cancer: Research includes leukemia, lymphoma, breast, liver, ovarian, melanoma, and skin cancers.
• Infectious Diseases: Focused on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, COVID-19, and combating antibiotic-resistant infections.
• Metabolic and Liver Diseases: Studies cover fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, diabetes, and obesity-related liver conditions.
• Ophthalmology: Investigations into age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and corneal diseases.
• Kidney Diseases: Research spans polycystic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease, renal fibrosis, and acute kidney injury.
• Neurological and Mental Health Disorders: Work addresses schizophrenia, PTSD, autism, Alzheimer’s, eating disorders, and psychosis.
• Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders: Studies include multiple sclerosis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and amyloidosis.
• Cardiovascular & Respiratory Diseases: Research focuses on heart rhythm disorders, heart failure, asthma, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis.
• Blood and Immune Disorders: Includes work on immunodeficiencies, autoimmune diseases, graft-versus-host disease, and hematological malignancies.

The institute is closely affiliated with the University of Sydney and also has highly regarded research programs with The University of New South Wales and Western Sydney University.

• Health in Australia

• The Westmead Institute for Medical Research home page