Our main objectives are to:
- contribute to reducing maternal and newborn mortality, and prevention of other adverse pregnancy outcomes
- contribute to improving sexual and reproductive health
- address preventable causes of morbidity and mortality in children, and optimise growth and development
- work towards the advancement of gender equality, and prevention of gender-based violence
- ensure ongoing delivery of quality health services for women and children in crisis situations
- support increasing the capacity of health professionals, researchers, policymakers and the general community in maternal and child health through education and training in Australia and globally.
We work with many communities to better understand and address the underlying factors that prevent access to vital healthcare services such as family planning, perinatal and postpartum care, newborn care, vaccinations, management of childhood illnesses and nutrition.
Our work focuses on:
- leading and supporting high-quality primary research and knowledge synthesis, particularly in limited-resource settings
- providing technical advice through collaborative partnerships with institutions, United Nations (UN) agencies and governments in the Asia-Pacific region
- offering research supervision and training opportunities
- recognising that protecting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of individuals empowers all members of a community.
Burnet is working towards better access to health care for mothers and their children by conducting innovative medical and public health research, strengthening service delivery systems and empowering communities.
pregnant women in Fiji will be recruited into a prospective clinical validation study to assess the clinical utility of a novel point-of-care test developed by Burnet researchers for confirmation of active syphilis.
boxes of umbilical cord chlorhexidine (Umbipro) purchased and supplied to the East New Britain Province of PNG by our team working in conjunction with the manufacturer GSK.
of pregnant women in a Burnet-led study in Papua New Guinea (PNG) were found to have had at least one curable STI at the time of their first antenatal visit for pregnancy care. The research team also found that the current recommended clinical management, based on the presence or absence of specific symptoms, is allowing most infections to go undetected and untreated with serious consequences.
is the number of lives that could be saved per year by 2035 if the current level of professional midwife healthcare was scaled up, according to a modelling study supported by Burnet..
Working Groups
Burnet is an Australian-based medical research and public health institute and international non-government organisation that is working towards a more equitable world through better health.
Global Adolescent Health Group
Co Heads: Dr Elissa Kennedy and Dr Julie Hennegan. Adolescence as a key developmental stage within t...
Global Health: policy, practice and community action
Co Heads: Mr Chad Hughes and Ms Lisa Davidson. We translate research into sustainable health solutio...
Global Women's and Newborn's Health Group
Co-Heads: Professor Caroline Homer and Professor Joshua Vogel. Improving the health and well-being o...
Infectious Diseases Systems Epidemiology Group
Head: Professor Alyssa Barry. Humans and pathogens exist in complex populations and environments, wh...
Malaria and Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Group
Head: Professor Freya Fowkes. Understanding malaria dynamics in populations is key to implementing e...
Malaria Immunity and Vaccines Group
Head: Professor James Beeson. Research focussed on immunity, vaccines, new treatments and clinical s...
Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group
Co-Heads: Dr Paul Gilson and Professor Brendan Crabb. Deputy Head: Dr Hayley Bullen. Malaria is a de...
Modelling and Biostatistics Group
Head: Dr Nick Scott. Deputy Head: Dr Rachel Sacks-Davis. Modelling plays a critical role in translat...