The research pillars of early years development, adolescent health and Indigenous genomics will spearhead The Kids Research Institute Australia’s expanding footprint with its Adelaide facility officially opened tonight by South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.
The Kids Research Institute Australia Chair, the Hon Julie Bishop, said the official opening of the Adelaide facility was just the start of the Institute’s expansion beyond Western Australia.
“The Kids is already a national powerhouse in child health research. We work in communities right across Australia and globally, and it is now time to broaden our presence in South Australia with the opening of this new facility,” Ms Bishop said.
“We believe that every child deserves to live a happy, healthy life and we want to help them achieve that through ground-breaking research.”
The Institute’s Executive Director, Professor Jonathan Carapetis, said he was thrilled to cement the Institute’s presence in South Australia.
“We’ve had research teams working in South Australia for some time now, but the official opening of our new facility in Adelaide’s CBD gives us the opportunity to showcase some of the transformational work being led by our Adelaide scientists,” Professor Carapetis said.
“We’re breaking new ground in the space of Indigenous health by working to unlock the genomic picture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people which would pave the way for better health outcomes.
“Our early development team is expanding what we know about how a child develops in the first five years – those crucial years that set kids up for the rest of their lives. And we’re working to gain a better understanding of the complex area of adolescent health and wellbeing to provide more help to our most vulnerable young people.”
The Kids Research Institute Australia was established in Perth, Western Australian in 1990 and its impact includes seminal work in the role of folate in preventing neural tube defects, evidence that has shaped the childhood immunisation schedule, and trials for new therapies for children’s cancers, diabetes and cystic fibrosis. Professor Carapetis also said the Institute’s autism work was ‘paradigm changing’.
“In deciding to open this facility in Adelaide it became clear, upon talking to many South Australian medical and science leaders, that there are many synergies between The Kids and existing research organisations in SA,” Professor Carapetis said. “We are extremely excited at the prospect of even greater collaboration with South Australian-based universities, research institutes and child health providers.
Our vision is simple. It is for happy, healthy kids in South Australia, throughout our nation and internationally. Our world-class researchers are working hard to achieve that vision.
South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas said his Government was excited for the opportunities that would arise from the Institute’s expanded presence in the State.
“The Kids has a world-leading track record in research in childhood cancer, mental health, Aboriginal health and a strong commitment to prevention and early intervention,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“I’m excited about the collaborations and partnerships that will be built here to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families.”
The Kids Research Institute Australia is also home to the autism clinical service and research collaboration, Clinikids, making it an excellent fit for South Australia, which is the only Australian state to appoint an Assistant Minister for Autism.
The Kids Research Institute Australia research teams in Adelaide are led by Professor Alex Brown, Associate Professor Yasmin Harman-Smith and Professor Peter Azzopardi.