Garvan Institute of Medical Research

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Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Garvan Institute of Medical Research.png
Founder Sisters of Charity
Established1963;62 years ago (1963)
Mission Medical research
DirectorProfessor Benjamin Kile [1]
Faculty University of New South Wales
Adjunct faculty St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
Staffapprox. 750
Location
Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
, , ,
Australia
Website www.garvan.org.au

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research is an Australian biomedical research institute located in Darlinghurst, 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.

Contents

History

Original Garvan Institute building, opened in 1963. Old Garvan Institute Building.jpg
Original Garvan Institute building, opened in 1963.

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. [2]

The current Garvan Institute building, completed in 1997, with the Kinghorn Cancer Centre to the left Garvan Institute Building.jpg
The current Garvan Institute building, completed in 1997, with the Kinghorn Cancer Centre to the left

The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, a A$100 million joint venture between Garvan and St Vincent's Hospital, was opened on 28 August 2012 by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. [3] The centre is named after the Kinghorn Foundation, one of the centre's main benefactors. [4] The Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics (KCCG) was also established in 2012, with a commitment of A$9 million in funding from the Kinghorn Foundation. KCCG is Australia's leading medical research institute in medical genomics and informatics that translates into genome-based personalised medicine. The functions of the KCCG include high quality 'next generation' genome sequencing and diagnostic services. [5] I

In 2014, the institute became one of only three organisations in the world able to sequence the human genome at a base cost below US$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). [6]

Directors

Former Executive Director, Professor John Mattick, pictured in 2014. Professor John Mattick AO FAA.jpg
Former Executive Director, Professor John Mattick, pictured in 2014.
OrderIncumbentStart dateEnd dateTime in officeNotes
1
196619692–3 years
2Leslie Lazarus1969199020–21 years
3 John Shine 1990201221–22 years
4 John Mattick 201231 May 20185–6 years
5 Chris Goodnow 1 June 201822 July 20226 years, 243 days
6Benjamin Kile27 April 2023incumbent1 year, 278 days

Other notable staff

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "Leadership". Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. "Garvan, James Patrick (1843–1896)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  3. "PM opens new Sydney cancer centre". News Website. 9MSN. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  4. Turner, Brook. "No-regrets Kinghorn gives away $300m". News Website. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  5. "The Kinghorn Foundation - Medical Research". Corporate Website. Kinghorn Foundation. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  6. Herper, Matthew. "The $1,000 Genome Arrives -- For Real, This Time". magazine. Forbes. Retrieved 19 February 2014.