Infectious diseases

We are at the forefront of research to enhance our collective understanding of disease mechanisms and processes, and interventions. Our researchers investigate medical microbiology, tropical infectious diseases and public and environmental health microbiology to enhance our knowledge of infection, immunity and pharmacology.

We work in research and hospital diagnostic laboratories, medical clinics, government health departments and international agencies.

Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:

• UWA Medical School
• Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training
• School of Biomedical Sciences
• School of Molecular Sciences
• Biomedical Engineering
• Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (affiliated)
• The Kids Research Institute (affiliated)
• Institute for Respiratory Health (affiliated)

Ageing

UWA has a research focus on healthy ageing. Our internationally recognised researchers work to extend healthy lives, prevent onset of disabling illnesses, and to find better ways to treat age-specific diseases. We have a strong record of success in the fields of dementia, depression, aged care, stroke and frailty.

Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:

• UWA Medical School
• UWA School of Allied Health
• WA Centre for Health and Ageing
• Lions Eye Institute (affiliated)
• Perron Institute (affiliated)
• UWA Dental School
• Ear Science Institute Australia (affiliated)
• Raine Study
• Busselton Study

Mental Health

Good mental health is fundamental to individual, family and community wellbeing. Our researchers achieve national and international recognition for research and service provision in psychiatry, clinical psychology, clinical neurosciences, and behavioural medicine.

Advancing knowledge and holistic understanding

Our teams promote awareness and address destigmatisation, while contributing to advances in diagnosis, assessment, epidemiology, genetics, and treatment of mental disorders.

These include schizophrenia, dementia, somatoform, anxiety, depression and substance use disorder.

Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:

• School of Psychological Science
• Department of Psychiatry (Medical School)
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Clinic
• Good Arts Good Mental Health
• Mental Health and Exercise Research Group
• Psychometric Laboratory
• Raine Study
• WA Suicide Prevention and Resilience Research Centre (SPARRC)

Indigenous health

Social determinants of health, including historical and systemic factors, contribute to poor mental and physical health and shorter life expectancies for Indigenous people. Our researchers co-design projects to foster culturally sensitive and community-driven health and social and emotional wellbeing solutions that address disparities.

WA state-wide collaboration

Our health researchers and healthcare professionals are embedded in rural communities throughout Western Australia. Their research focuses on delivery of services, Aboriginal health, rural health and workforce development for the communities they serve.

Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:

• School of Indigenous Studies
• Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH)
• Aboriginal Ageing Well Research
• Rural Clinical School of WA
• Western Australian Centre for Rural Health (WACRH)
• The Kids Research Institute (affiliated)

Early life nutrition

UWA’s comprehensive research focuses on infants’ nutrition from birth to early childhood, which can influence long-term health. Our researchers investigate issues ranging from lactation to the role of genetics in early life nutrition, and gut immune development.

Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:

• UWA Medical School
• Geddes Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group
• Paediatrics
• Child and Adolescent Development and Health
• The Raine Study (affiliated)
• The Kids Research Institute (affiliated)

Pre-term birth

Pre-term birth affects around eight per cent of all deliveries in Australia. It is the largest single cause of death and disability of children under the age of five years. Our researchers are working to understand the causes, develop tests to identify at risk women, reduce the number of pre-term births and improve outcomes for pre-term babies.

Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:

• UWA Medical School
• UWA School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Centre for Child Health Research
• Paediatrics
• Child and Adolescent Development and Health
• The Raine Study (affiliated)
• The Kids Research Institute (affiliated)

Cognition

Our researchers are unlocking the mysteries of the mind. What shapes our cognition is being explored through experiments, surveys and simulations, behavioural analysis and mathematical modelling. Our work looks at how people behave in a range of contexts from simple decision tasks to complex cognitive and social environments.

Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:

• UWA School of Psychological Science
• Attention and Human Behaviour Laboratory
• Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion (CARE)
• Individual Differences Laboratory
• Social Influence Laboratory
• Human Factors and Applied Cognition (HUFAC) Laboratory
• Interpersonal Dynamics Laboratory
• Memory and Decision Making Laboratory
• Working Memory Laboratory
• Memory and Cognition Laboratory
• Person Perception Lab
• Healthcare Human Factors Laboratory
• PECAN Lab
• Western Australia Centre for Road Safety Research (WACRSR)
• Laboratory Learning, Individual Development, and Life (LIDL) Lab
• Perron Institute

Cancer

UWA cancer research division's key focus is precision medicine to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Our research is carried out in laboratories, hospitals and within the community at a patient level. With close ties locally and internationally, our world-leading researchers collaborate on clinical trials, translating discoveries into medical practice.

Innovation in diagnostics

The novel scientific inquiry of our researchers has led to innovative diagnostic tools, therapeutic interventions and treatment strategies. These developments are contributing to advancements in medical science and healthcare delivery.

Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:

• UWA Medical School
• School of Biomedical Sciences
• School of Molecular Sciences
• Biomedical Engineering
• Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (affiliated)
• The Kids Research Institute (affiliated)
• Institute for Respiratory Health
• Pharmacy
• The Centre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease (GOHaD)
• National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases (NCARD)

Human performance

Our researchers take an interdisciplinary approach to investigate advanced exercise physiology, performance psychology, human movement and ergonomics, energy metabolism (nutrition), exercise programming and prescription, load monitoring and analytics.

This knowledge can be used in the management and treatment of a variety of conditions and to maximise the human performance potential of individuals in athletic and occupational settings.

Explore our schools, institutes and strategic research centres:

• UWA Medical School
• UWA Sport
• UWA School of Human Sciences
• KIDDO
• Thriving Exercise Rehabilitation
• Centre for Sleep Science