October 20, 2015

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute attracts new talent to the region

Following an extensive recruitment effort, the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) has appointed high-profile academic Professor David Adams as its Executive Director. 

The appointment represents a big win for IHMRI and its key stakeholders, the University of Wollongong (UOW) and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD). It also represents a win for the Illawarra region, placing the Institute in a strong position to attract more high-profile academic and clinician researchers to the region and further its goal of building a nationally and internationally-recognised centre of health and medical research excellence. 

Professor Adams has held senior roles at the University of Miami (US), University of Queensland and Queensland Brain Institute. Most recently he has been Director of the Health Innovations Research Institute (HIRi) at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University. In this role, he took HIRi from a greenfield site to a highly-regarded Institute which has attracted more than $7M in funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and Australian Research Council since 2009. 

When he takes up the IHMRI Executive Director role in December 2015, Professor Adams will transfer his substantial and successful research program to IHMRI, as well as a National Health and Medical Research Program Grant and Project Grants to investigate methods of dissecting and modulating pain pathways using venom peptides. 

“Professor Adams’ skills and experience as both an institute director and researcher will be invaluable in implementing IHMRI’s Research Strategy and leading IHMRI’s 600 plus affiliated academic and clinician researchers and Higher Degree Research students in pursuing research with local, national and international relevance and impact,” said IHMRI Chair, Professor Alan Pettigrew. 

“He will be supported by the IHMRI Board and the Executive team as well as the UOW and ISLHD, which continue to demonstrate strong support for the Institute. He will also be supported by a new Clinical Director role, to be announced shortly.  

“We are delighted with this appointment and the high calibre of leadership Professor Adams will bring to the Institute and the region.”