Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) is Australia's largest child health research institute and ranked among the top three globally for research quality and impact^*.

There are over 1,800 researchers working across more than 150 common and rare diseases and conditions affecting children. From allergies and asthma to cancer and rare genetic disorders, MCRI is relentless in its pursuit to improve the lives of all children.


The MCRI story began in 1986, when world-leading philanthropist Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and genetics pioneer Professor David Danks imagined a better future for our children and established the original Murdoch Institute for Research in Birth Defects.

Since then, MCRI has grown from a genetics research institute to a global leader in child health.

Our foundational work in genetics, pioneering discoveries in stem cell medicine and ambitious population health studies are changing what’s possible for children and families in Australia and around the world.


Operating in a unique model with The Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute is part of a great circle of healthcare and discovery – helping transform child health from the labs to clinics and out into communities.

_{* Clarivate Performance analysis and MCRI benchmarking report, November 2023}