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CURTIN HEALTH INNOVATION RESEARCH
INSTITUTE (CHIRI)
Australia’s population is undergoing dramatic changes in
health, ageing and longevity patterns. While medical advances
have improved child and maternal health, and prolonged
our life spans, chronic illnesses associated with longevity,
lifestyle and the ageing process – diabetes, obesity, cancer and
cardiovascular disease – are increasing.
Traditional, reactionary healthcare models based on providing
acute, episodic care are no longer sufficient to deal with our
changing health needs, and infrastructure is crumbling under
a widespread lack of resources and funding.
Innovative, future-focused models of healthcare are required,
and Curtin, through the Faculty of Health Sciences, has
responded to this major national issue with the establishment
of the CHIRI.
CHIRI facilitates high-quality translational health research
focused on 10 broad programs of research. It brings together
over 140 researchers from more than 24 different health
professions, working in inter-disciplinary and
multi-disciplinary research groups across the Faculty’s
network of schools and centres, to develop high impact,
high-quality research.
These programs of research include;
• Biomolecular Interactions and Drug Discovery in Chronic
Conditions
• Healthy Environment and Behaviours
• Health Information and Genomics
• Human Movement and Rehabilitation
• Lifespan – Development and Ageing
• Metabolic Health
• Neuroscience and Mental Health
• Patheogenesis and Management of Disease
• Research into Teaching and Learning Towards Better Health
• Vulnerable Populations
It is engaged in developing practical solutions to global
health challenges, preparing students for leadership roles
in healthcare, and working with industry partners and
communities to advance health and wellbeing around the
world. Translational research is a key focus of CHIRI- taking
research from the bench-top to the bedside to better health.
CHIRI is about bringing people, knowledge and creative energy
together in an inspiring environment where working as a team,
constantly pushing the limits, will lead to greater success.
STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH FACILITIES
Curtin University is committed to providing high-quality
facilities for its research students. It has recently invested
millions in state-of-the-art facilities including the Curtin
Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) Biosciences
Research Precinct and Health Sciences Graduate
Research Hub.
The CHIRI Biosciences Research Precinct is a $35 million
investment uniting leading researchers and educators across
biomedical sciences, pharmacy and public health in a central
multidisciplinary research and teaching community.
The precinct is helping to drive the search for better methods
of preventing, diagnosing and treating a range of chronic
diseases – and reducing the impact of diseases that burden
populations worldwide.
It provides 24 specialised suites and laboratory space for more
than 100 scientists and research students.
One laboratory houses a live-cell confocal microscope – a
sophisticated instrument for the high-resolution imaging
of cells. A further $2 million worth of diagnostic equipment
for advanced gene, protein and cell analysis will help deliver
unprecedented capabilities to researchers.
CHIRI is about bringing people, knowledge
and creative energy together in an
inspiring environment where working as a
team, constantly pushing the limits, will
lead to greater success.