The changing face of our city: great minds deliver healthy results

"Before its doors even opened in late 2013, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) had already made a substantial impact on Adelaide.

The Cheesegrater’s striking design caught the eye and sparked discussion like no other building in our city before or since.

As much pride as there is in the building, SAHMRI is so much more than a building.

It is a collection of some of the finest research minds from around the world, all working to overcome humanity’s greatest health challenges.

SAHMRI is not bounded by its distinctive shell of triangular windows — some 15,000 of them — SAHMRI extends throughout Adelaide BioMed City, at the west end of North Terrace, and beyond.

SAHMRI lives in our hospitals. It lives in our GP clinics. It lives in our businesses. It lives in our schools. It is part of our communities.

Last November marked SAHMRI’s fifth birthday but already it has grown at a such a rate that plans are well underway to construct SAHMRI 2 to the immediate east of the current site.

As well as enabling the institute to expand its our pool of talented scientists and research specialties, SAHMRI 2 will house the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy.

This facility, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, will provide cancer patients with lifesaving treatment that destroys tumours while preserving surrounding, healthy tissue.

In its short existence SAHMRI has made significant contributions to Adelaide’s skyline, culture and economy.

But, of course, it is in improving health that SAHMRI has excelled and will continue to impact in the future with our mission to conduct inspired research leading to better outcomes here and throughout the world."

- Amanda McIlroy, Inaugural SAHMRI Chief Operating Officer