History of ANZAC Research Institute
The ANZAC Research Institute and the ANZAC Health and Medical Research Foundation
To provide Leadership and excellence in health and 
medical research activities throughout Australia, with a focus on aging, to improve the future health and medical care for the Australasian community. In so doing, the Institute will provide a lasting legacy to the veterans and their families who have created the society we have today.
The ANZAC Health and Medical Research Foundation, a charitable foundation legally incorporated in 1995 as a company limited by guarantee, was established on the occasion of the "Australia Remembers" campaign, marking the 50th year since the end of World War II, to develop health and medical research by constructing a new research institute on the grounds of Concord Hospital, a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney operating within the Sydney Local Health District.
Healthy Ageing
Congruent with the health and medical needs of the ageing veterans community, the theme of "disorders of lifestyle and ageing" was adopted as the global objective. Between 1995-8 the Foundation's fundraising campaign raised funds from Federal (Dept of Veterans’Affairs) and State government matching grants together with corporate and philanthropic contributions. Following international recruitment, an inaugural Director was appointed in 1998.
Following fundraising from Federal and state governments, together with corporate and philanthropic contributions, an inaugural Director was appointed in 1998 and during 1999-2000 the Institute building was designed and construction completed. Intramural research commenced during the 3rd quarter 2000. The ANZAC Research Institute has “Ageing” as its unifying research theme. As the only major independent biomedical research institute with a primary focus on ageing, it aims to co-ordinate the highest quality innovative research at all levels from cell and molecular biology and physiology, to clinical research as well as public and population health. Each research group has strong linkages with an on-campus Hospital department.
Academic and Health Affiliations
The ANZAC Research Institute has full academic status and access to all University infrastructural facilities as a large external Department of the University of Sydney, based on a Memorandum of Understanding. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Sydney Area Health Service (now the Sydney Local Health District) provides long-term lease of the grounds with reserved expansion space for further building extension together with provision of building services infrastructural support. The ANZAC Research Institute has been recognized formally by the NHMRC as an independent medical research institute. The Foundation’s accounts are audited annually by the NSW Audit Office and reported in the Annual Report.
The ANZAC Research Institute Building
During 1999-2000, the present 2100 square metre Institute building was designed and constructed. In 2008, the Bernie Banton Centre building was completed, extending the ANZAC Research Institute’s laboratory facilities to the upper floor of that building, referred to as ANZAC 2. Recently additionally laboratory facilities were acquired on the Concord Hospital Campus, referred to as the ANZAC 3 facility. Demonstrating the Institute's expansion; in the last 5 years, the laboratory space on the Concord campus has more than tripled. For more details about the building, go to the "Our Facilities" page.
History of the Research Program
The Institute opened for operations in 3rd quarter 2000. At the start of 2003, the Institute had 4 major research groups: Andrology (Leader: Professor DJ Handelsman), Biogerontology (Leader: Professor DG Le Couteur), Bone Biology (Leader: Professor MJ Seibel) and Neurobiology (Leader: Professor GA Nicholson). Today, there are many more researchers and research groups, as chronicled in the Annual Report and on this website; demonstrating the institute's significant growth.
