Research Areas

With more than 3.8 million Australians now aged over 65, helping our ageing population live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives has never been more important.

Arthritis is the overarching name for more than 100 medical conditions that affect the joints, with debilitating symptoms such as pain, stiffness, reduced movement, swelling and more.

Allergies cause some people to develop an immune response to everyday things that are not typically harmful to other people.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart rhythm problem with symptoms including an irregular heartbeat, weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Australia. While people over 50 are most at risk of bowel cancer, it is on the rise among younger Australians.

Brain cancer is one of the toughest cancers to treat. It sadly kills more children in Australia than any other disease and more people under 40 than any other cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with 18,000 Australians diagnosed each year and a heartbreaking 3,000 dying from the disease.

Sadly, 50,000 Australians die each year from cancer. The good news is that survival rates are improving, thanks to better treatments, care and earlier diagnosis.

Childhood cancer is the most devastating of all diseases, affecting about 1,000 children and adolescents every year.

With about 25% of South Australians living outside of Adelaide, there is a huge need for access to lifesaving treatments and improved care in regional centres.

COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on our lives and driven huge demand for research to develop vaccines, treatments, understand long-term immunity and protect the vulnerable.

Creative arts within a hospital setting improves the quality and experience of healthcare and has a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing.

Cystic Fibrosis is a life-limiting genetic disease that affects lung function, causes persistent lung infections and puts people at higher risk of respiratory diseases like the flu and COVID-19.

Dementia includes more than 100 progressive conditions affecting memory, rationality, social skills and much more. Our dementia research aims to increase knowledge about dementia prevention, develop new treatments for dementia and improve day-to-day care for people living dementia.

Diabetes is a chronic, life-long disease. Even with daily insulin therapy, diabetics are at greater risk of eyesight damage, kidney disease, an impaired ability for wounds to heal, limb amputations and even death.

Paving the way for better treatments and improved quality of life

The Hospital Research Foundation Group funds medical equipment in hospitals and research equipment in laboratories to ensure our experts have access to the most advanced tools.

More than 450,000 Australians are living with impaired eyesight or blindness, caused by eye conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts or diabetic retinopathy.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia. Heart attacks, stroke, heart failure and arrhythmias are the most common cardiovascular diseases affecting our community.

Sadly, Indigenous Australians have disproportionately poorer health outcomes and lower survival rates than non-Indigenous Australians.

Over 75,000 Australians are affected by inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and clostridium difficile (C-diff) infection.

Each year around 130,000 Australians are admitted to an Intensive Care Unit.

Almost 1.7 million Australians suffer from kidney disease, with more than 16,000 of these sadly succumbing to their complications each year.

Leukaemia is a cancer of the white blood cells, which develops in the bone marrow and travels through the bloodstream.

More than six million Australians suffer from chronic liver disease, with more than 7,000 deaths a year. Sadly, about one in 12,000 children are born each year with a liver disease.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in Australia and fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer.

Lymphoma is a cancer within the lymphatic system, affecting your immune cells and often with painful symptoms in the neck, armpits or groin.

Australian men on average have a shorter life expectancy than women, and die more often than women from preventable causes – prompting the need for more specialised care. 

The mental health and wellbeing of our community has never been more important; with better triage, treatments, education and care a core focus of our support.

Australia’s service men and women sacrifice so much to protect our community. Looking after the mental health of current and former military members and emergency service workers at risk of Post-Traumatic Stress is paramount.

Multiple Myeloma is the second-most common type of blood cancer. It develops in the bone marrow and affects the plasma cells which fight infections.

Muscular Dystrophy is a neuromuscular, genetic condition which results in the progressive deterioration of muscle strength and function.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are life-long disorders of early brain development such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, schizophrenia and intellectual disabilities.

Neuroendocrine tumours are malignant cancer cells found in the neuroendocrine system affecting organs including the gastrointestinal system, lungs and pancreas.

Nutritional science and gut health is a growing area of research which can improve people’s overall health as well as manage their diabetes, heart problems and more.

Chronic pain is one of the most serious health issues of our time. Stubborn pain can be all-encompassing and affect everyday functions including work, sleep and relationships.

Palliative care refers to the treatment, care and support given to people living with a life-limiting illness. Importantly, it is a family and patient-centred model of care and aims to provide for people’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

Pancreatitis is a condition where inflammation of the pancreas takes place, causing people to experience severe abdominal (stomach) pain, fever, nausea and vomiting.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that has complex motor and non-motor symptoms.

Helping mothers and babies get the best start in life plays an important role in the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Prostate cancer is the most common form of internal cancer in Australian men, affecting about 18,000 males every year. Sadly, 3,000 will die from the disease each year.

Everyone deserves someone fighting for their health. That’s why The Hospital Research Foundation Group extends its support to over 50 diseases and illnesses.

Australia’s incidence of skin cancer is one of the highest in the world, with two out of three people having some form of skin cancer by the time they’re 70.

Poor quality sleep or a disorder such as obstructive sleep apnoea can lead to serious and long-term health problems including heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

A spinal cord injury consists of damage to the spinal cord that often causes loss of mobility or feeling.

Abdominal cancers consist of many different cancers including the stomach, bowel, ovaries, liver, intestines, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract and more.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts. Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers and a leading cause of adult disability.

People who require surgery are the highest-risk group for experiencing complications in hospitals.

The world has turned its attention to COVID-19, but deadly viruses such as Zika, malaria and Hepatitis C also need our support to find treatments and cures.