DRIVING CHANGEMaking an impact locally and globally
At The George Institute, we strive to make a meaningful impact through every program, project, and initiative we undertake. We work with communities to ensure our research is relevant, actively engage decision makers, and identify opportunities for influencing.
We build global networks of collaborators, work with global experts, foster discussions that stimulate debate, and strengthen our researchers’ capacity to drive change at local, regional and global levels.
Our work addresses the diverse health challenges experienced by communities to ensure everyone has the best opportunity to access high-quality care, when they need it. We understand that lasting change requires a systems approach, grounded in collaboration with local experts and people with lived experience.
Learn how our efforts are improving health around the world, from influencing food policy to empowering healthcare workers in rural communities with AI technology.
Sustainability
Balancing growth and green
At The George Institute, we’re on an exciting journey to make sustainability a core part of everything we do. Our Sustainability Roadmap sets out how we’ll get there.
In 2024, we’re laying the groundwork by finalizing our sustainability plan, conducting a thorough audit to understand where we stand, and listening to our stakeholders to learn what matters most to them.
In 2025, we’ll start putting our plans into action—introducing initiatives to improve our performance, building better systems for tracking and reporting our progress, and tackling any gaps in the data we need to measure success.
By 2026, we’ll focus on refining our processes, ensuring our data is accurate and reliable, and aligning with global frameworks to prepare for external reporting.
Finally, in 2027, we’ll bring it all together by fully integrating climate reporting into our annual reporting cycles, ensuring sustainability is firmly embedded in how we work an
Consumer and Community Involvement in health research projects
What is Consumer and Community Involvement in health research?
Consumer and community involvement in health research is about ensuring that consumers and community members have a say in the research conducted and that the research best supports consumer and community needs and interests.
Consumers and researchers work together to provide the best value for, and have the greatest impact on, the wider community. Consumers can be involved from the very beginning such as forming questions and co-designing studies with researchers, and throughout all stages of the research process.
What does it look like?
Consumers can be involved at any stage of the research cycle shown below. The level of involvement will vary depending on the consumer’s role and the type of research study.
STAGE 1 - DECIDING WHAT TO RESEARCH
Consumers can help identify and prioritise research questions. Examples include:
participating in and sharing ideas at relevant consumer/c
Five ways we can respond to a Trump Administration
News / Media mentions
Introducing The George Institute’s COP 29 Delegation
We are delighted to announce that The George Institute will be sending a delegation to the Conference of Parties (COP 29), the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held from 11 November – 22 November in Baku, Azerbaijan. The George Institute values the opportunity to engage with this unique platform for global collaboration, policy development, networking, knowledge transfer, and advocacy, all of which are essential for advancing evidence-informed action on planetary health.
Meet the COP29 delegation
During Week 1, we are thrilled to support the participation of Dr Harshita Umesh, who will be serving as the Co-Contact Point for the Health Working Group of the official children and youth constituency of the UNFCCC – YOUNGO. You can learn more about her profile and connect with her here.
During Week 2, we are thrilled to have members of our Neurology and Mental Health research and Impact & Engagement teams attend - collectively advocating fo
Using pregnancy to improve women’s lifelong health
By utilising a life-course approach to the prevention of non-communicable diseases, when women are screened during pregnancy.
The physiological changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy to support fetal growth and wellbeing and prepare for labour and birth have been compared to a nine-month marathon that finishes with a sprint. For some women, this pregnancy “stress test” will result in medical complications of pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes (“GDM”, affecting approximately 1 in 7 pregnancies globally), high blood pressure disorders (affecting up to 1 in 10 pregnancies globally) and anaemia (10-40%). Existing mental and physical health conditions may also worsen.
The course of a woman’s pregnancy also gives a window into a woman’s future health, as the effect of pregnancy complications on mother and child do not end with the pregnancy. For example, after hypertensive pregnancy there is at least doubled risk of cardiovascular disease (beginning within 5-10 years of
Being overweight or obese in your 20's will take years off your life, according to a new report
News / Media release
Establishing consumer panels
The key role of Panel members at The Institute is to offer health consumer perspectives and lived experiences within the context of their respective the Institutes research programs.
This provides consumers the opportunity to contribute to current and future research activities. Consumer panel members may also assist in identifying the gaps, barriers, strengths, and opportunities for improvement in Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) within the research program.
The George Institute for Global Health currently has three consumer panels:
Brain Health,
Cardiovascular Health, and
Kidney Health.
Role of consumer panel
While each consumer panel has established its own processes, Panel member’s involvement includes:
Input into grant applications and research proposals
Providing advice and feedback on study design, patient-centred outcomes, and patient-facing materials
Assisting with the communication and sharing
Changing policy and practice
We conduct large scale work to influence global health policies and practice.
For example, a large scale cohort study recruiting 40,000 people in 21 low and middle-income countries is informing development of better fracture care in resource-poor settings. In India, we have reviewed national injury surveillance systems and made recommendations to Government regarding their strengthening and expansion. We evaluated the pilot cashless scheme of health insurance for road crashes victims and made recommendations for effective coverage and performance benchmarking. The findings have contributed to expansion of the scheme across all National Highway’s in India , under the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) bill 2016.
Our affiliates, multilateral relationships and advocacy networks
Collaboration is key to delivering impactful global health solutions. We work alongside trusted affiliates, partners, multilateral and advocacy networks to amplify our efforts. Together, we combine expertise, advocate for health equity, and create sustainable improvements for communities worldwide.
our affiliates
UNSW SydneyLearn moreMore info about UNSW SydneyUNSW Sydney, located in Sydney, was established in 1949 with a unique focus on the scientific, technological and professional disciplines. UNSW is committed to making a difference by focusing on areas critical to the future. Pioneering research and sustained innovation are addressing some of the most important issues of today – from climate change and renewable energies to lifesaving medical treatments and breakthrough technologies. In the social sciences, UNSW research informs policy and expert commentary in issues facing society, ranging from human rights and constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians to public heal
Our people
Making impacts through our people
At The George Institute, people are at the heart of everything we do. Our work is driven by the knowledge, passion, and dedication of our people. From world-class researchers to global collaborators, we work together to create real-world solutions that transform health systems, improve lives, and advance equity across the globe.
Our team includes researchers, operational experts, and global collaborators who work to amplify insights, translate evidence into action, and build pathways from research to policy implementation.
By working with external thought leaders, policymakers, and advocates, our work drives impactful change for those who need it most.
A GeorgeTalks seminar discussing our partnership with UNSW Sydney
The George Institute Thought Leaders 2024 cohortEmerging Thought Leadership ProgramOur Emerging Thought Leadership Program invests in our rising talent, giving early and mid-career professionals the opportunity to make a diff
George Health
George Health was established in 2014 to commercialise the research of The George Institute. Its businesses, George Medicines and Ellen Medical Devices, benefit from exclusive access to the research, intellectual property, and scientific expertise of the Institute, which enables George Health to execute a profit with purpose strategy to reduce the inequitable social and economic burden of non-communicable diseases globally.
Find out more about the work of the George Health businesses here: George Medicines website and Ellen Medical Devices website.