Telethon Kids Institute
The Kids Research Institute Australia is an Australian medical research institute focused on the prevention of paediatric disease and the development of improved treatments to improve the health and wellbeing of children. The Kids has developed a particular focus on Aboriginal health and has more than 500 staff, post-graduate students and visiting scholars. The Kids is located in the suburb of Nedlands, in the Perth Children's Hospital building. The Kids Research Institute Australia is an independent not-for-profit, non-government organisation with close affiliations with the University of Western Australia and the Perth Children's Hospital.
Established in 1990 by Professor Fiona Stanley, the director of the institute since July 2012 is Professor Jonathan Carapetis. Stanley presently holds the role of Patron.
Research
Research at The Kids Research Institute Australia is grouped around four major research focus areas:- Aboriginal Health
- Brain & Behaviour
- Chronic Diseases of Childhood
- Early Environment
Some highlights include:
- Discovering that folate can prevent spina bifida;
- Hib meningitis vaccination;
- Improving outcomes for Aboriginal babies and children;
- Researching IVF outcomes;
- Leading the world in the understanding, treatment and prevention of asthma;
- Developing programs to reduce youth suicide;
- Determining causes for cerebral palsy;
- Improving the life chances for children with cystic fibrosis;
- Increasing survival rates for children with leukaemia.
Location
The Kids Research Institute Australia is co-located with the Perth Children's Hospital within the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site in, Western Australia, with which it collaborates closely. The new building is adjacent to the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. The institute moved in 2018 after the closure of the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, and moved to the current site to continue to enhance collaboration with researchers and other clinicians located at the new site.Ongoing collaborations exist with the University of Western Australia Department of Paediatrics, Curtin University and the Channel Seven Perth Telethon, a major funding partner.
History
Formed in 1990 on the grounds of Princess Margaret Hospital when Professor Fiona Stanley and a group of population scientists from UWA joined a group of lab based researchers from the hospital and formed the WA Research Institute for Child Health. By 1994, due to rapid success and expansion, it became clear that a purpose-built facility was required. 11.2 million was raised from West Australian corporates and individuals through a capital campaign with the state and federal governments then matching this with 11.2 million each. The land was purchased from Perth Modern School, construction began in 1998, and the building was opened in February 2000. The original 11.2 million raised through the capital campaign was invested in a capital account which earns interest to maintain infrastructure.Channel 7's Telethon was the biggest single donor to the capital campaign and in recognition of this, the name was changed to the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research.
In 2024, the institute underwent a rebrand changing its name from Telethon Kids Institute to The Kids Research Institute Australia.