History

Monash Institute of Medical Research addresses a wide range of unsolved medical problems in fields such as prostate health, male infertility, cancer, arthritis, endometriosis, the care of premature babies and more.

The Governor of Victoria, Emeritus Professor David de Kretser AC, was the Founding Director of the Institute when it was established in 1991 as the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development (MIRD).  Thousands of Australians have benefited from Institute scientists’ research including infertile young people, parents of premature babies, and men with prostate cancer.  

On February 1, 2005, the key medical research entities of MIRD and Southern Health joined forces to reflect the expanding breadth of research beyond reproduction and development, creating the Monash Institute of Medical Research.

MIMR research staff and students total more than 300 (including 100 PhD students) and continue to receive international recognition for their work.  Supported by a dedicated financial and human resource administrative team and development office, MIMR’s centres have outstanding track records of commercialisation, with six spin-off companies initiated in recent years.  The Institute’s commercialisation team manages intellectual property, business plan development, licensing, research contract negotiation and company spin-off activities.

Professor Bryan Williams, one of America’s accomplished cancer experts, officially commenced as the new Director of MIMR on January 1, 2006 and looks forward to leading the Institute into its next exciting phase.

Vision

As a major medical research institute, MIMR will enhance human health and the quality of life by major research innovation and discovery in biology, medicine, biotechnology and health services research.