Professor David Danks with support from Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Sir Jack Brockhoff and others, established the original Murdoch Institute in 1986. It quickly became a world class centre of genetics research and clinical genetics services.

In early 2000, under the leadership of Professor Bob Williamson, the Murdoch Institute and The Royal Children's Hospital Research Institute merged to form the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with a broader focus on child heath research.

The clinical genetics services are now managed by Victorian Clinical Genetics Services - a wholly owned entity of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.

In 2005, under the leadership of Professor Terry Dwyer, the Institute underwent a major restructure which resulted in significant growth, from 40 to 60 research groups.

Now, in 2009, Murdoch Childrens is Australia’s largest and most prestigious children’s health research. With over 1100 researchers, the Institute conducts vital research into myriad conditions affecting babies, children and adolescents, helping them lead happy, healthy lives. Our current research priorities include cancer, heart defects, genetic disorders, premature birth, obesity, diabetes, and allergies.

The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute is proud of its close partnerships with the Royal Children's Hospital and the University of Melbourne.

Historical timeline

1960
Royal Children's Hospital Research Institute (RCHRI) established

1973
Genetics Research Unit, a subgroup of the Research Foundation established

1981
Professor David Danks, then Director of the RCHRI proposed that the genetics research unit become financially independent from the hospital - leading to the establishment of the Birth Defects Research Institute

1986
The Birth Defects Research Institute gained independence to become the Murdoch Institute thanks to the generous support of the Murdoch family, the Brockhoff Foundation, the Scobie and Claire Mackinnon Trust and other major donors

2000
The Murdoch Institute and the Royal Children's Hospital Research Institute merged, forming the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

2004
Director Professor Bob Williamson AO FRS FAA retired; Professor Terry Dwyer AO MD MPH appointed as the new director

2005
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute underwent a major restructure, aligning research groups into six themes to consolidate activities to ensure we stay globally competitive

2009
Now with over 1100 researchers working all areas of child health, Murdoch Childrens is the largest and most prestigious children’s health research institute in Australia