The expanded partnership will help boost high-impact medical research and innovation to improve lives worldwide.
ʹڲƱ Sydney and The George Institute for Global Health have signed a new 10-year affiliation agreement, renewing their commitment to transformative health innovation and impactful medical research. The new affiliation, commencing on January 1, 2026, will expand a leading Australian partnership in health and medical research.
Building on the success of the initial agreement inked in 2017, the partners will focus on amplifying the impact of joint research, education and innovation to improve health outcomes for people in Australia and around the world. Both ʹڲƱ and The George Institute are recognised for their pioneering approach to health research and emphasis on translating that research for real-world impact.
The partnership reflects one of the pillars of the ʹڲƱ Strategy: Progress for All, enabling healthy lives. One of the main goals is to lead cutting-edge research in areas like precision medicine and health technology, and to work with partners in research, industry and government to turn those discoveries into real-world improvements in people’s health and wellbeing.
ʹڲƱ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the new 10-year agreement reaffirms the deep and productive partnership between ʹڲƱ and The George Institute.
“Since 2017, ʹڲƱ and The George have collaborated on innovative, high-impact research that tackles some of the world’s most pressing health challenges, particularly in communities facing the greatest barriers to care,” Prof. Brungs said. “This renewed partnership builds on our deep links and great successes but enables us both, together, to make another huge step change forward with this exciting new chapter, one that strengthens our shared commitment to positive societal impact and delivering research that improves lives, now and into the future.”
Media enquiries
For enquiries about this story and interview requests, please contact:
Ben Knight
Phone: (02) 9065 4915
:b.knight@unsw.edu.au
Rachel Harris
Phone: +61 410 411 983
:rharris@georgeinstitute.org.au
CEO of The George Institute and ʹڲƱ Medicine & Health Conjoint Scientia Professor Anushka Patel said: “We are committed to building on an enduring partnership that will deliver research-driven solutions to the world’s most pressing health problems, particularly in non-communicable diseases and injury.
“Together we will nurture future health research leaders, expand our research focused on addressing health inequities, and ensure translation of research outcomes into real-world impact.”
To strengthen the partnership, The George Institute will move to the ʹڲƱ Health Translation Hub precinct in September. The state-of-the-art facility will connect world-leading research with public health and private industry to change Australia’s approach to health.
“We are particularly excited to take up our tenancy in the cutting-edge Health Translation Hub,” Prof. Patel said. “This will give our research teams even greater potential to collaborate with other key players in health and medical research and clinical care for improved health outcomes and impact.”
Improving health care through research
The George Institute and ʹڲƱ jointly work on numerous projects to address critical gaps in health care nationally and internationally, including high-quality clinical trials. Some joint projects that have recently been awarded funding include research on treatments to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, investigating how genes influence sepsis response, and testing the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation – a treatment that uses radio waves to block pain signals in people with chronic lower back pain.
Chair of The George Institute, Dr Paul Schreier said: “It’s evident that the affiliation has been of substantial mutual benefit for both organisations, measured by increased outputs of high-quality research, many joint projects, increased research funding income and increased appointments of jointly employed staff.
“The extension of the partnership will further progress our collective goals, most importantly to significantly improve the health of millions worldwide.”
Advancing through partnership
Other successful outcomes from the partnership include:
- Research to advance culturally relevant healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the Guunu-maana programԻ.
- Formation of the Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine.
- Working together to support health and medical start-ups through the .
“We’re committed to working together with The George Institute over the next decade to translate research into meaningful change for communities in Australia and around the world,” said Dean of Medicine & Health Professor Cheryl Jones. “From improving stroke care in regional and rural Australia, to SMS-based interventions that support people with chronic conditions and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – this collaboration continues to deliver real-world impact where it’s needed most.”
