Our contributions

For 150 years, we’ve been advancing health together.

Since its establishment in 1876, the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences has partnered with world-leading hospitals, research institutes and industry leaders to advance health discovery, education and care.

From tackling infectious disease and revolutionising hearing care to transforming mental health and cancer treatments, our collaborations have redefined what’s possible. And we’re just getting started.

Discover the stories behind 150 years of impact, and the powerful partnerships shaping the future of health.

Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine and Peace have taught, studied and researched at the University of Melbourne including:

• Lord Howard Florey (1945)
• Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet (1960)
• Sir John Eccles (1963)
• Professor Bert Sakmann (1991)
• Professor Peter Doherty (1996)
• Professor Elizabeth Blackburn (2009)
• Associate Professor Tilman Ruff (2017)

Impact highlights

• Identification of the first gene implicated in the development of epilepsy (Professor Sam Berkovic AC, Professor Ingrid Scheffer AO)
• Discovery of lithium therapy as an effective treatment for bipolar disorder (Dr John Cade)
• Development of the bionic ear (Professor Graeme Clark AC)

• Development of Recaldent to help prevent and reverse dental decay (Professor Eric Reynolds AO)
• Discovery of the human rotavirus and development of a vaccine for infants and young children (Professor Ruth Bishop AO, Professor Julie Bines)
• Eye health research and policy
  recommendations resulting in halving the gap in the rates of blindness in indigenous communities (Professor
  Hugh Taylor AC)
• Discovery that excess oxygen causes retrolental fibroplasia in premature infants (Dame Kate Campbell, DBE, FRCOG)
• Scientists from the Doherty Institute first to grow the 2019 coronavirus and share with labs worldwide (Dr Julian Druce, Dr Michael Catton)