The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research was born from an ambitious plan to unite researchers from different areas of investigation with a key focus on collaboration. A multi-site medical research institute was established and named the Western Australian Institute of Medical Research (WAIMR), with founding partners that included The University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and in July 2003, Fremantle Hospital joined.

It was thanks in-part to the leadership of the institute’s inaugural Chairman, Mr Harry Perkins AO, that Wesfarmers became the founding sponsor. In October 2013, WAIMR was renamed the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in honour of Harry, his pivotal role in the creation of the institute and his vision to improve the lives of Western Australians.

In 2010, the Harry Perkins Institute established Linear Clinical Research Ltd, WA’s only dedicated and Australia’s most advanced early phase clinical trials facility accelerating the translation of discoveries at the bench to the bedside.

In the more than 20 years since the Institute’s inception, the Perkins has made and continues to make groundbreaking discoveries that improve the global understanding of disease and helped tackle WA’s major health challenges.

The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research was named in honour of our inaugural Chairman, the late Harry Perkins AO, who played a pivotal role in the creation of the Institute.

Harry’s vision and commitment to improving the lives of Western Australians led to the creation of the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research in 1998.

The respect in which he was held and his unrelenting drive to advance medical research in Western Australia were instrumental in bringing together multidisciplinary teams of the best and brightest minds in science and biomedical engineering, working together and collaborating across the world for you, your families and your loved ones.

A farmer in the Bruce Rock area, where he was born, Harry Perkins went on to a distinguished business career, culminating in 16 years as Chairman of Wesfarmers Limited. He died of cancer in 2002.

Harry was a pioneer, who identified a need in the WA medical research sector and then went out and did something about it.

The word in our logo is based on Harry Perkins’ actual signature.

The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research is grateful for the support and involvement of our Patron The Honourable Chris Dawson APM, 34th Governor of Western Australia.