Our Director
Professor Kathryn North AC BSc(Med) MBBS MD DMedSc FRACP FAHMS
Professor Kathryn North AC is Director of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Australia's largest medical research institute ranked within the top four health and medical centres globally, and David Danks Professor of Child Health Research at the University of Melbourne.
A globally respected clinician-scientist, Professor North is shaping the future of child health through research and innovation. Trained as a paediatrician, neurologist and clinical geneticist, she is internationally recognised for her leadership in genomic medicine and for ensuring that scientific discovery delivers meaningful improvements in children’s lives.
Professor Kathryn North AC is Director of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Australia's largest medical research institute ranked within the top four health and medical centres globally, and David Danks Professor of Child Health Research...
Professor Kathryn North AC is Director of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Australia's largest medical research institute ranked within the top four health and medical centres globally, and David Danks Professor of Child Health Research at the University of Melbourne.
A globally respected clinician-scientist, Professor North is shaping the future of child health through research and innovation. Trained as a paediatrician, neurologist and clinical geneticist, she is internationally recognised for her leadership in genomic medicine and for ensuring that scientific discovery delivers meaningful improvements in children’s lives.
As Director of MCRI she is leading a diverse team of over 1,800 world-leading researchers and professional staff, united by a shared ambition to transform the health and wellbeing of children and young people, their families and communities, now and into the future.
Professor North has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare in Australia and internationally. She led Australian Genomics, a national collaboration that embedded genomic medicine into frontline care and directly informed the establishment of Genomics Australia as a national health agency in 2025. Through senior advisory and governance roles, she continues to influence policy, standards and investment in health and medical research globally.
Professor North’s leadership and impact have been recognised through numerous awards and honours, including appointment as a Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia for eminent service to genomic medicine and child health research.
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