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At the Telethon Kids Institute our researchers are searching for answers to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families affected by some of  the most devastating, complex and common diseases and issues.  At any one time we have more than 800 active research projects and 1400 staff and students that include laboratory scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, bioinformaticians, statisticians, public health professionals and social scientists.

Our research is structured into Research Themes, programs of work and teams.  We are committed to collaboration and work together with other research organisations, clinicians, practitioners, policy makers, consumers and the community to understand the complexity of factors that impact on a child's health and wellbeing and the translation of research findings into action. We actively reward research excellence and offer a range of schemes to support our researchers.

In August 2018, we moved to a purpose-built facility located within Perth Children’s Hospital on the QEII Medical Centre campus - the largest centre of excellence in healthcare, research and education in the southern hemisphere. With a footprint across seven floors, our new home features more than 7000sqm of work space and 2000sqm of laboratories (including specialty suites, equipment rooms and freezer farms), as well as dedicated clinical suites and a cryogenics facility. Our co-location with the Perth Children’s Hospital will enhance our collaboration with clinicians, nursing staff and other allied health professionals, leading to better care, better treatments and better health and development outcomes for our children and young people.

We are an independent medical research institute based in Perth, Western Australia and affiliated with the State's major universities. Our research is  primarily funded through national and international competitive grants and generously supported by donors and governments.

December 2024

Changing rules, recommendations, and risks: COVID-19 vaccination decisions and emotions during pregnancy

As COVID-19 vaccinations rolled out globally from late 2020, rules and recommendations regarding vaccine use in pregnancy shifted rapidly. Pre-registration COVID-19 vaccine trials excluded those who were pregnant. Initial Australian medical advice did not routinely recommend COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy, due to limited safety data and little perceived risk of local transmission.

Published research Immunisation Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases COVID-19
April 2024

Looking after bubba for all our mob: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community experiences and perceptions of stillbirth

The stillbirth rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and communities in Australia is around double that of non-Indigenous women. While the development of effective prevention strategies during pregnancy and improving care following stillbirth for women and families in communities has become a national priority, there has been limited progress in stillbirth disparities. With community permission, this study aimed to gain a better understanding of community experiences, perceptions, and priorities around stillbirth.

Published research Aboriginal Health Maternal health Adolescent Health and Wellbeing
May 2024

The Australian New Zealand Consortium in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Oncofertility action plan

International and national oncofertility networks, including the US-led Oncofertility Consortium, FertiProtekt, and the Danish Network, have played pivotal roles in advancing the discipline of oncofertility over the last decade. Many other countries lack a shared approach to pediatric oncofertility health service delivery.

Published research Sarcoma Translational Research
April 2024

Invasive fungal disease in children with solid tumors: An Australian multicenter 10-year review

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) occurs less frequently during treatment for solid compared to hematological malignancies in children, and risk groups are poorly defined. Retrospective national multicenter cohort data (2004-2013) were analyzed to document prevalence, clinical characteristics, and microbiology of IFD.

Children's Cancers Published research Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Brain Tumour Research Leukaemia Translational Research Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Sarcoma Translational Research Immune system

Associate Professor Glenn Pearson

Director of First Nations Strategy and Leadership

BA (Education) PhD Candidate

Professor Ben Jackson

Research Theme Head, Brain and Behaviour

BSc (Hons) PhD

Liz Davis

Head, Chronic & Severe Diseases Research Focus Area; Clinical Lead, Diabetes and Obesity Research

MBBS FRACP PhD

Professor Jane Pillow

Research Theme Head, Early Environment; Team Lead, Chronobiology

BMedSci (Dist) MBBS, PhD (Dist) FRACP