Our research

The Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health within Sydney Medical School is located at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and provides the major focus in the hospital setting for medical research, teaching and innovations in postgraduate and undergraduate education. The Children's Hospital at Westmead is a member of the Westmead Research Hub, with close links with other research facilities on campus such as the Millennium Institute based at Westmead Hospital (an adult facility) and the Children’s Medical Research Institute.

Research is intrinsic to delivering excellence in clinical care. There is a thriving research environment at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, covering research areas related to child health including cell biology, clinical physiology, clinical studies, medical education, epidemiology and population health. We are highly successful in achieving funding from international and national granting agencies. Our grant income, a standard measure of research activity, has doubled over the past three years. More importantly, our research has directly and rapidly resulted in significant health benefits for our patients, their families and the community. We have a dedicated childhood clinical trials program which is rapidly expanding.

Our research leaders are strong advocates for their patients through direct involvement with government, within the community, among their peers, as mentors for early career clinicians and scientists and through high quality research that generates significant health outcomes for children.

The Discipline currently supports over 60 postgraduate research students (mainly PhD students) who undertake research projects based at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. There are exciting opportunities for students to undertake research degrees though the University of Sydney across a large number of research areas.

Other major research groups within The Children’s Hospital which are affiliated with the University and provide avenues for collaborative research include:

• Centre for Kidney Research
• Cochrane Renal Group
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases
• Clinical Epidemiology – Childhood Asthma Prevention Study
• Children’s Chest Research Centre
• Gene Therapy Research Unit
• James Fairfax Institute of Paediatric Nutrition
• Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology
• Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health
• Oncology Research Unit
• Orthopaedic Research and Biotechnology Unit
• Centre for Research and Evidence-based Nursing
• Western Sydney Genetics Program/ Metabolic Research Laboratory
• The Children’s Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine
• Allergy and Immunology