About Us
At the Robinson Research Institute, we tackleÌýthe most pressing reproductive health issues byÌýundertaking cutting-edge research to improveÌýfertility and pregnancy outcomes, and foster earlyÌýchildhood health in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, and the world.
We improve the health of the nextÌýgeneration by identifying factors that driveÌýintergenerational health and susceptibilityÌýto disease. Our world-class researchÌýempowers health care professionals andÌýparents-to-be with knowledge and tools toÌýmake the safest choices, and we use ourÌýfindings to advocate for improved healthÌýcare and policy change. Our focus is onÌýpregnancy and the path to pregnancy,Ìýseeking to understand the root causes ofÌýinfant and childhood conditions to developÌýearly interventions.
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Our vision
Life-time health for all children and families, through research excellence.
Our mission
Deliver world-class advances in human reproduction, andÌýmaternal and child health, to inform clinical care, policy,Ìýand practice across generations and global communities.
Research portfolio
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RRI science domain
Our science domain spans Fertility & contraception, Conception, Embryo implantation & early development, Pregnancy, Birth, and Infancy & childhood.Ìý
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RRI research structure
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Our portfolio is based on Accelerator Programmes for major clinical translation initiatives, underpinned by excellent foundation science that informs the biology and external influences impacting on the newborn and mother’s journey from conception, through pregnancy to the early days, months and years after birth.
History
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1950's - Lloyd Cox appointed
- 1958: Lloyd Cox appointed as Foundation Professor of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department (O&G), based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)
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1960's - First biochemist appointed
- 1962: Ron Cox appointed as a biochemist - first department of its kind to appoint a scientist
- 1963: Lloyd Cox elected as Dean of Medicine
- 1969: Bob Seamark appointed by Lloyd Cox
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1970's - First donor sperm program established
- 1971: First frozen semen bank in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, and first sperm donor program established
- 1971: Arnold Gillespie appointed Reader in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- 1973: O&G begins a presence at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH)
- 1977: Alastair MacLennan appointed and based at the Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH)
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1980's - Fertility services commenced
- 1984: Lloyd Cox retires as Head of Department
- 1984: Arnold Gillespie appointed as Acting Head of Department
- 1985: O&G achieved South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s first birth from a frozen embryo
- 1986: Jeffrey Robinson appointed as Head of Department
- 1987: Colin Matthews appointed as first Professor of Reproductive Medicine
- 1987: Part of O&G moved to the Medical School
- 1987: Repromed established and commenced fertility services at Wakefield Memorial Hospital (WMH) and the QEH
- 1988: Rob Norman appointed to O&G
- 1988: Caroline Crowther appointed to O&G
- 1988: Sarah Robertson appointed to O&G
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1990's - Achieved a life birth following ICSI
- 1993: ÌýO&G achieved a birth following Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) - ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ was the 3rd in world to successfully use this technique
- 1993: ÌýO&G achieved its first birth following Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) (cystic fibrosis) - another ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n first (5th in the world)
- 1994: ÌýO&G begins to have a presence at Lyell McEwin Hospital (LMH) with Paul Duggan appointed as Senior Lecturer
- 1995: ÌýQVH closes its doors and the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) opens
- 1998: ÌýGus Dekker appointed as Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the LMH and the QEH
- 1999: ÌýRob Norman appointed as Professor of Reproductive Medicine and Periconceptual Medicine
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2000's - Robinson Institute opens
- 2002: ÌýRepromed moves to new premises in Dulwich
- 2002: ÌýResearch Centre for Reproductive Health established at QEH & the Medical School
- 2002: ÌýResearch Centre for Early Origins of Health and Disease was established by Prof Julie Owens and colleagues
- 2006: ÌýJeffrey Robinson retires as Head of the Department
- 2006: ÌýAlastair MacLennanÌýappointed Head of the Department
- 2006: ÌýRepromed sold
- 2006: ÌýThe Research Centre for Reproductive Health and O&G moved from the QEH to form a major centre at the Medical School
- 2008: ÌýPlanning for new building at Norwich Centre and LMH begins
- 2008: ÌýRobinson Institute opens with Rob Norman appointed as Director. Named after E/Prof Jeffrey Robinson
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2010's - Re-named as Robinson Research Institute
- 2012: ÌýAlastair MacLennan retires as Head of the Department, Paul Duggan appointed as Head
- 2013: ÌýRob Norman steps down and Sarah Robertson is appointed as Director of the Robinson Institute
- 2014: The Robinson Institute is re-named to theÌýRobinson Research InstituteÌýÌý
We are proud members of
The Association of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) is the peak body for medical research institutes (MRIs) across ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥.
TheirÌý54 member organisations work on a broad spectrum of human health issues such as preventive health, chronic disease, mental health, immunology and Indigenous health.
The Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) provides dedicated investment funding to support the commercialisation of early-stage medical research discoveries that originate from its member institutes.
The collaborative nature of the MRCF seeks to foster best practice in the commercialisation of medical innovations.