About the Charles Perkins Centre
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Our centre

Generating new solutions to combat chronic lifestyle diseases

The Charles Perkins Centre is a multidisciplinary research centre committed to improving global health. Our unique, complex-systems approach allows us to bring together researchers in unexpected research collaborations.

Diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and their related conditions are the leading causes of death, disability and reduced quality of life in Australia and elsewhere around the developed and developing world. These conditions pose a serious population-wide health problem that is continuing to grow.

Established in 2012, the Charles Perkins Centre aims to generate innovative and workable solutions to combat these global health challenges.

This requires us to rethink traditional approaches to the causes of these conditions that tend to consider medical or biological factors in isolation from their psychological, societal and environmental contexts. We have built a unique research institution that brings together many disciplines to achieve improved health on a global scale.

We're different

We understand that these diseases are more complicated than biology alone. They are about the layout of our cities; the places we work; the food supply; the demands of modern life, and so much more.

To solve the problem of these diseases, the Charles Perkins Centre pursues research that is mindful of the interconnected effect of the environment, food, genetics, and technology – among other factors – in determining individual and wider population health.

We facilitate unusual research collaborations

Our people are leading Australian and international researchers. They are experts in a diverse range of fields with a shared mission to find real-world solutions that improve lives.

From researchers in medical and scientific fields to experts in business, architecture and agriculture, we’re strengthened by the diverse experiences and expertise of our collaborative team.

Our research strategy aligns researchers under research themes and domains, ensuring common research goals and faciliatating unexpected research outcomes.

We’re teachers, too

As leaders in our fields, we have the responsibility to educate a new generation of students, researchers and practitioners so that they too can think differently about and pioneer new approaches to tackling complex societal issues such as the burden of chronic disease.

That’s why the Charles Perkins Centre is training future researchers, doctors and other health professionals – through our undergraduate and postgraduate courses and degrees, our PhD programs and our suite of courses for existing health professionals.

Visit our education page to learn more.

We’re here to help

Whether you’re looking to find out more about our current research, our clinics or to learn more about our people, we’re happy to help. You may also want to be a part of our research and help us to transform the health outcomes of millions of people across the world.

Please feel free to get in touch