Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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

MCRI is committed to transforming child and adolescent health by improving diagnosis, developing early interventions and pioneering new treatments for children in Australia and around the world. MCRI is located at The Royal Children’s Hospital and is at the heart of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct.

With over 1,800+ world-leading researchers working across more than 150 diseases affecting children, from allergies and asthma to cancer and genetic disorders, with relentless dedication to improving the lives of all children.

Our 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

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