Working together for better health
Established in 2008, the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) is a not-for-profit charity that supports health and medical research in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region of New South Wales, Australia. We provide our affiliated researchers with a range of services to help them find new insights into disease and illness, devise prevention strategies, and develop more effective treatments and health care services. Due to the high incidence of chronic and age-related conditions in our region, such as diabetes and dementia, we encourage the community to take part in ground-breaking research through clinical trials. We promote and champion our researchers in our communities and beyond to help raise awareness of their vital work and gather philanthropic support. As an independent Medical Research Institute (MRI) we also help our partners, the University of Wollongong and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, advance health and medical research in our region.
Our vision
Working together for better health.
Our research
Although our affiliated researchers come from different scientific and clinical disciplines, they are united in their commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven. Our researchers also aim to have a national and global impact.
Translational research
IHMRI fosters a translational approach to research. The following framework helps direct our researchers to find better ways to treat disease and illness, and implement improvements in health care.
Discover the mechanisms and pathways underlying clinical conditions, especially age-related diseases, chronic conditions and mental illness.
Improve the range and effectiveness of clinical treatments, through preventative lifestyle interventions, new drugs and delivery methods, innovative medical devices and implants.
Develop and test new models of health care and population health interventions.
Our purpose
We strive to understand how the human body works to prevent disease, improve treatments and the health services people receive.
Strategic plan 2017-2021
Our Strategic Plan outlines our priorities, strategies, targets and how we will measure success. Click on the tabs below to view our three strategic priorities.
Enhance our research excellence, innovation and translation
Creating impact
- Enhanced research presence both nationally and internationally.
- Increased grant funding to enable world class research that will provide greater collaboration and innovation, as well as dedicated scientific and clinical research.
Strategy
- Support and encourage researchers to develop and submit high-quality grant applications
- Investigate additional funding options nationally and internationally
- Provide support and resources to assist researchers in preparation of high-quality peer reviewed publications
- Support and encourage translatable projects by providing funding through IHMRI grants schemes and theme support
- Support investigator-initiated clinical research studies and commercial clinical trials
Our targets
- Increase funding from competitive grants and other sources
- Increase impact of publications
- Facilitate and support research translation
Measuring progress
- Total IHMRI related research income
- Number of high-impact publications by IHMRI affiliated researchers
- Number of clinical studies and commercial trials supported by IHMRI
Develop our people and engage with our partners to improve health and medical research both locally and globally
Creating impact
IHMRI becomes a MRI of choice for leading researchers and support staff.
Strategy
- Increased engagement with ISLHD and UOW researchers by supporting research project design and grant applications
- Develop programs to support ISLHD researchers in IHMRI laboratories
- Recruit high-performing Research Fellows and Early Career Researchers
- Develop a program for clinical fellowships
- Retain high-performing staff and researchers through career development, mentoring and leadership opportunities
- Target partnership opportunities with industry and government
- Provide training opportunities for researchers in translation and commercialisation
Our target
- Enhance our partnership with UOW and ISLHD
- Retain and recruit high performing staff and researchers, including clinician researchers
- Establish opportunities for linkages between industry and researchers
Measuring progress
- Number of IHMRI Research Fellows
- Number of UOW / ISLHD collaborative projects
- Number of industry orientated events / engagements
Develop stronger community relationships to enhance understanding, foster support and maximise our impact
Creating impact
People will have a greater understanding about the vital work that IHMRI does to enhance health and medical research locally, nationally and internationally.
Strategy
- Develop a communications strategy to better engage with the community
- Develop a community engagement strategy and program of activities
- Develop a fundraising strategy and foundation
Our targets
- Increase IHMRI’s profile locally, nationally and internationally
- Increase philanthropic donations and support to enhance sustainability
Measuring progress
- Number of IHMRI events
- Fundraising income
- Increased website, social media and mainstream media activity
- Increased community awareness