Our research
Expertise in medicine and surgery
,
Our researchers from the University of Sydney School of Medicine are dedicated to improving health through excellence in research, creating new knowledge and fostering innovation and research at the highest level, across the disciplines of basic science, clinical medicine and public health.
Our academics and students produce high-impact research that addresses the most important global health issues and challenges in our areas of research strength.
The Specialty of Addiction Medicine was formed in 2007 and was the first of its kind in Australia.
We comprise teaching and research staff within Sydney Medical School, clinical schools and research centres and institutes at the University.
Our research covers many facets of addiction medicine including diagnosis, investigation, prevention and treatment.
The Specialty of Anaesthesia groups together internationally leading clinicians and researchers who are committed to advancing perioperative outcomes.
Sydney Anaesthetists have been responsible for a wide range of advances, from designing anaesthetic machines and treating anaphylaxis to drugs and modifying how anaesthesia is delivered.
The university's collaboration with major hospitals, notably Royal Prince Alfred, Royal North Shore and Westmead, facilitates discovery science and improving patient-centred outcomes.
With a long history of academic leadership, the Nuffield Chair of Anaesthetics was founded in 1963 with Professor Douglas Joseph being the Foundation Chair. Followed by Professor Baker and Professor Kam, the specialty has gone from strength to strength.
The Specialty fosters a culture of inquiry and excellence that propels high-quality clinical and academic pursuits. This collaborative environment ensures that the legacy of its esteemed leaders continues to inspire and nurture future academic talent within the field of perioperative medicine.
With substantial national and international grant funding, the Specialty contributes greatly to global research publishing across the top tier of medical, surgical and anaesthesia journals.
The Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health has become a global leader in paediatric research and professional development. For a century, we have educated the next generation of clinicians in paediatrics.
Committed to enhancing the health of all children, we have highly skilled researchers, including clinician researchers, many of whom are international leaders in their respective fields.
Our research has directly and rapidly resulted in significant health benefits for our patients, their families and the community. The breadth of the research is wide and over 100 students are undertaking higher degrees by research in the Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health.
Our research focuses on prevention and treatment of childhood diseases including:
We collaborate and partner with Kids Research, the research arm of the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, one of the world's leading paediatric institutions, combining best practice clinical care and groundbreaking research to improve the lives of children and their families.
We also have close research links with Westmead Hospital (adult facility), the Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Children’s Medical Research Institute, other parts of the University of Sydney, and many national and international collaborators.
Our goal is a future where kids and their families live long and happy lives.
Research for the Specialty of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health takes place at the Save Sight Institute and covers the study of all major parts of the eye across laboratory research, clinical trials, implementation and ongoing patient monitoring.
Find out more about our research in the areas below:
The Specialty of Clinical Pathology brings together a diverse group of researchers and clinician-scientists who are passionate about teaching, education and research in the field of diagnostic pathology.
Clinical pathology, the art and science of translating the improved understanding of disease processes obtained at the basic science level into clinically useful and accessible diagnostic tests, underlies modern medical practice.
The Specialty of Clinical Pathology is particularly active in research, currently holding more than 10 million dollars in competitive grants and hosting a successful PhD program.
Our researchers, and the University of Sydney as an institution, have been consistently named as the national leaders in pathology research in Australia.
University of Sydney pathology researchers have also been recognised by the World Health Organization as describing new classes of malignancies with profound impact on clinical care.
Faculty from the Specialty are sought after by the World Heath Organization as lead advisers on cancer classification and continue to be actively involved in developing new approaches to disease diagnosis. This includes companion diagnostic testing to enable the delivery of the right treatment, to the right patient at the right time.
Over the past 20 years our researchers have made several important breakthroughs, many of which may lead to improved cancer treatments:
Our research areas include: non-melanoma skin cancer, melanoma, skin immunology and inflammation and transplant patients.
Research is a key and integral part of the Specialty of Emergency Medicine, conducted by specialty members, associated staff and students of the Sydney Medical School, and aims to answer vital questions of life and death in the emergency department (ED).
Our studies involve aspects of acute medicine, resuscitation, toxicology as well as pre-hospital ambulance data.
Our research links include:
The General Practice Clinical School (GPCS) was launched in May 2024. While the University has had a strong academic general practice faculty for decades, the GPCS elevates the specialty as a cohesive, networked academic unit, bringing together staff who had previously been aligned with greater Sydney hospital-based clinical schools. Further, as a single entity, our links with rural clinical school sites in northern, western and far western NSW are strengthened.
The GPCS is committed to fostering academic excellence in general practice through teaching and research. Our research projects, programs and methodological expertise reflect the diversity of clinical and academic general practice – for example medical education, mental health, women’s health, adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, sleep disorders, chronic pain, preventive health, health services research, priority populations and health data in general practice.
The GPCS is also committed to training the next generation of academic general practitioners, by supporting MD research projects in general practice projects, academic general practice registrars and HDR and early career academics.
The Specialty of Genomic Medicine is a global leader in genomic medicine research, education and professional development.
Research in the Specialty of Genomic Medicine offers numerous opportunities to explore the impact of genetics and new genomic technologies on human health.
Available areas for research include application of genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics to understand disease causation, development of effective novel genetic therapies and investigation of implementation, ethical and educational aspects of genomics in the healthcare system.
These areas of research can be studied in an interdisciplinary manner across our diverse network of research teams in many subspecialty areas including: genomics for genetic diseases, ocular genomic medicine, genetic metabolic diseases, genetic therapies, neurogenetics, cardiac genetics, renal genetics, cancer genomic medicine, connective tissue disorder genetics, haematological disorder genetics and newborn screening.
The Specialty of Internal Medicine leads groundbreaking research in various fields, including cancer, cardiovascular health, neuroscience, endocrinology and aged care.
Committed to advancing research in internal medicine, the Specialty brings together researchers from the university’s four health precincts and research institutes to study disease and develop new treatments.
The university's collaboration with major hospitals facilitates translational research, ensuring that findings are rapidly integrated into clinical practice.
Our researchers attract substantial funding and grants from national bodies, supporting pioneering research and fostering a vibrant research environment.
The focus on interdisciplinary approaches in medicine has led to enhanced public health initiatives and improved healthcare policies, reinforcing the University of Sydney's commitment to advancing medical science and community health on a global scale.
Reflecting the nature of Intensive Care, the Specialty of Intensive Care Medicine brings a patient-centred and collaborative approach to improving outcomes for the sickest patients.
The Specialty of Intensive Care supports research to improve the outcomes throughout the patients journey through critical illness.
Our research streams commence in collaboration with colleagues in Emergency Medicine to improve resuscitation of critically ill patients with sepsis or following cardiac arrest, continuing in the ICU as we strive to reduce the impacts of critical illness, including respiratory failure, renal failure and severe brain injury.
Our research also seeks to improve long-term functional recovery for survivors of critical illness and to find better ways to support their families and carers.
Our research work extends from basic science labs, discovering novel insights into the causes of critical illness, through large scale clinical trials that guide clinical practice worldwide, and beyond to health economics and population health initiatives designed to inform and guide public policy.
Medical imaging research teams at the University of Sydney are at the forefront of innovative healthcare, bringing cutting-edge technology into the clinical space.
Our research spans from pioneering imaging science, to grassroots evaluation of how we can improve radiology and nuclear medicine education and clinical collaboration.
Research initiatives in imaging are linked through the Sydney Clinical Imaging Network, which promotes research and education and connects University of Sydney researchers with global academic and industrial partners.
The Imaging and Phenotyping Lab, led by Professor Stuart Grieve, has established itself as a global leader in imaging research, education, and innovation. The lab specialises in the early detection and management of chronic, often invisible diseases affecting the heart and brain.
University of Sydney start-up DetectEdX works closely with the Sydney Medical School and learners worldwide to develop innovative platforms for learning in the digital imaging world.
The University of Sydney’s medical imaging researchers are passionate about bringing high-quality, accessible care to the global healthcare community. Our academics comprise world leaders and up-and-coming academics supported by a strong legacy of innovation and a culture of mentorship.
Researchers and students of the specialty gain a wealth of experience working, learning and researching alongside teams in our clinical schools across NSW. We are committed to the provision of the highest possible standards and continuing developments in healthcare for women and babies.
We conduct our research and teaching at:
An estimated 20 percent of Australians suffer from persistent pain, making it one of the nation's most costly healthcare problems.
The Specialty of Pain Medicine is committed to easing this burden by bringing together a multidisciplinary group of clinicians, researchers and educators to improve treatments and educate health professionals in better managing patients with chronic pain.
Our research addresses all forms of pain (acute, chronic non-cancer pain and cancer pain) and informs the postgraduate education programs offered by the Pain Management Research Institute - a joint initiative between the University of Sydney and the Royal North Shore Hospital.
The Specialty of Psychiatry has existed at the University of Sydney for over 100 years. It brings together clinicians and researchers working across the breadth of mental health providing education, research, social policy and leadership to the field.
Psychiatric research is conducted in all of the metropolitan clinical schools, the Brain and Mind Centre and affiliated Medical Research Institutes in a broad range of basic research, treatment and social policy topics.
This capitalises on the excellent infrastructure available to researchers, the deep links with the local health districts, the many clinical affiliates active in the Specialty and the multidisciplinary nature of mental health work.
This treatment research extends across psychotherapeutic, physical as well as pharmacological interventions. Our researchers partner with other national and international centres of excellence in this work to further our basic understanding of mental illness and to develop the treatments that will change our patients lives.
Radiation Oncology, as a specialty, has a strong interprofessional focus both for the delivery of radiation therapy to cancer patients in the clinical setting and in the research sphere.
All University of Sydney metropolitan clinical school facilities, as well as Dubbo, contribute to radiation oncology research in technical and clinical arenas.
The large majority of clinical affiliates actively contribute, many as principle and co-investigators, to TransTasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) trials. TROG is the peak bi-national radiation therapy trials organisation.
Strong collaborations exist between the University of Sydney’s department of medical physics, in particular the Biologically Targeted RadioTherapy (BiRT) program, and the Image X Institute and clinical departments and researchers. These physics, scientist and clinician groups lead world-class targeted imaging biomarker research and design and test novel technological innovations research.
These programs have important applications for improving cancer patients’ experiences and outcomes and have a strong presence on the global radiation oncology research stage.
The Translational Radiation Biology Laboratory at the Westmead Medical Research Institute (WIMR) is home to unique research programs led by clinical University of Sydney affiliates. These programs specialise in understanding resistance of cells to radiation therapy and cell death pathways.
The Specialty of Sleep Medicine has become a global leader in sleep medicine research, education and professional development.
Committed to enhancing sleep research and education across the University and its affiliated hospitals and institutes, the Specialty of Sleep Medicine brings together researchers from diverse disciplines across the University to conduct research in a wide range of fields, including adult and paediatric sleep and breathing disorders, behavioural sleep medicine, dental sleep medicine, and more.
The rich history of achievement, mentorship and research in the specialty has expanded this interdisciplinary field across the University. A network of facilities supports the diverse research endeavours of the specialty. State-of-the-art sleep laboratories and supporting research infrastructure for adults and children, as well as a unique chronobiology and long-term monitoring facility are available across a diverse network of affiliated research centres.
The University’s clinical schools conduct diverse surgical research across multiple specialties, including general, cardiothoracic, colorectal, vascular, upper GI, head and neck, ENT, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, and urology.
Notably, the RPA Institute of Academic Surgery, founded in 2014, focuses on promoting academic surgery, best practices, and patient care through research and education.
The Concord Colorectal Unit, a leader in colorectal surgery, contributes significantly to research on colorectal cancer and benign diseases, with the Concord Colorectal Cancer Registry playing a key role. The Vascular Unit at Concord Hospital specialises in vascular technology, surgical outcomes, and education, in collaboration with geriatrics and ageing research centres.
Nepean Hospital’s Department of Surgery covers diverse fields, including oncology, hepatobiliary, and urological surgery, with notable contributions from the Whiteley-Martin Research Centre in areas like cancer epidemiology and surgical safety.
The Surgical Education, Research, and Training Institute (SERT) at Royal North Shore Hospital fosters collaboration in research and teaching across various specialties.
Westmead Hospital's Department of Surgery excels in clinical trials, basic research, and outcomes studies, with significant contributions in urological cancer research, pancreas transplant outcomes, and colorectal surgery.
Research at these institutions aims to enhance patient care, surgical practices, and education through interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based advancements.
