Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

What Woolcock Institute of Medical Research does

The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research is an Australian not-for-profit medical research organisation focused on respiratory and sleep health, operating from Glebe and Macquarie Park in New South Wales. It runs a dual structure that combines a fee-charging specialist clinic (the Woolcock Clinic) with a multi-centre research enterprise. The clinical arm offers nine specialty services — sleep studies, CPAP therapy, insomnia (CBT-i), NeuroSleep, weight loss, smoking and vaping cessation, lung function testing, narcolepsy and paediatric sleep — delivered through an 11-bed in-clinic facility (including four paediatric beds), home-based sleep studies, and telehealth follow-ups, with partial reimbursement from Medicare and private health funds. The research arm comprises dedicated centres and groups covering lung cancer, COPD and emphysema, sleep and chronobiology (including CIRUS and a time-isolation sleep lab), respiratory technology (drug formulation and device development in a 2024-built lab), cellular and molecular biology, respiratory and environmental epidemiology (including ACAM national datasets and the CAR air pollution centre), epigenetics, clinical management, and the Centre for Chronic Diseases of Ageing.

The institute is affiliated with the University of Sydney, Macquarie University and UTS, is part of Sydney Health Partners, and operates a wholly-owned Vietnam subsidiary (Woolcock Vietnam) with 50+ staff across Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hue. It runs the Lung Cancer Research Network spanning over 20 hospitals, research centres and universities, and holds patent contribution coverage around inhaled mannitol (Bronchitol) for hypersecretory respiratory disease. Revenue is generated from clinical service fees, competitive research grants, and tax-deductible donations supported by named major donors (Ernest Heine Family Foundation; the Gibson family). The go-to-market is sales-led: GP referral for clinical services, complemented by a research volunteer programme (researchvolunteer.org.au) and educational outreach for top-of-funnel engagement.

Name

Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

Legal name

Woolcock Institute of Medical Research Limited

Website

https://woolcock.org.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research is an Australian not-for-profit medical research institute combining a specialist sleep and respiratory clinic with translational research centres, serving patients, clinicians, donors, and academic partners across Australia and Vietnam.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sleep and Respiratory Medical Research & Clinical Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Home Health Care Services (62161)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Sleep Medicine Clinic (HLAKANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sleep Diagnostic Centers (Polysomnography) (HLAFAKAF), Ambulatory Sleep Medicine Centers (HLAFABAJ), Sleep Neurology (Neurologic Sleep Disorders) (HLAKAIAJ)

Keywords

• Respiratory medical research
• Sleep disorder treatment
• Clinical sleep studies
• Respiratory healthcare services
• Translational medical research

Headquarters

HQ city

Glebe

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Clinical Services Revenue: Fee-charging medical clinic providing sleep studies, specialist consultations, and diagnostic services to patients. Revenue generated from clinical consultations, sleep studies, and related medical services. Partial reimbursements available through Medicare and private health funds for eligible patients.
2. Research Grants and Donations: Not-for-profit research institute funded through research grants, charitable donations, and government funding. Donations of more than $2 are tax deductible. Receives support from donors including the Ernest Heine Family Foundation and Mrs Janice Gibson.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research is an Australian not-for-profit medical research organisation that delivers specialist clinical services for sleep and respiratory disorders through the Woolcock Clinic, while running multiple translational research groups and centres focused on respiratory disease, sleep medicine, lung cancer, COPD/emphysema and chronic diseases of ageing. Its core outputs include diagnostic sleep studies (in-lab and home-based), CPAP therapy, specialist consultations, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, weight management, and cessation programs for patients, alongside peer-reviewed translational research, clinical trials and national respiratory datasets.

Product overview

The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research is a not-for-profit research institute offering a unified portfolio of clinical services and research activities focused on sleep and respiratory health. The clinical arm (Woolcock Clinic) provides specialist diagnostic and treatment services including Sleep Clinic, CPAP Clinic, Insomnia Clinic, NeuroSleep Clinic, Weight Loss Clinic, Smoking and Vaping Cessation Clinic, Lung Clinic, Narcolepsy Clinic, and Paediatric Sleep Clinic. The research arm comprises multiple dedicated groups and centres including the Centre for Lung Cancer Research, Woolcock Emphysema Centre, Sleep and Circadian Research Group (with CIRUS), Respiratory Technology Group, Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology Group, Respiratory and Environmental Epidemiology Group (with ACAM and Woolcock Vietnam), Epigenetics of Chronic Disease Group, Clinical Management Group, Airway Physiology and Imaging Group, and Centre for Chronic Diseases of Ageing. Together these deliver translational research from molecular biology through to patient care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Woolcock Clinic: World-leading medical centre specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of all sleep and breathing disorders.
• CIRUS
• Woolcock Emphysema Centre
• Australian Centre for Chronobiology, Endocrinology and Sleep Sciences Laboratory
• Australian Centre for Airways disease Monitoring (ACAM)
• Centre for Chronic Diseases of Ageing

Products and services

• Woolcock Clinic A world-leading medical centre specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of all sleep and breathing disorders, offering expert clinicians at the forefront of international health research with the latest innovations in diagnosis and evidence-based medicine. Operates as a fee-charging medical centre requiring GP referrals for most services.
• Sleep Clinic (Sleep Study) Provides diagnostic sleep studies including polysomnography to diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy, with both in-lab and home-based testing options. Requires GP referral.
• CPAP Clinic (Woolcock Therapy Centre) Expert help and advice for successful CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy for sleep apnea, including mask fitting, equipment advice, and troubleshooting. Located at Macquarie Park.
• Insomnia Clinic Specialist clinic treating insomnia using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-i) programs delivered by sleep psychologists and doctors in individual or group sessions.
• NeuroSleep Clinic Interdisciplinary clinic treating sleep disorders alongside neurodegenerative and mental health conditions, integrating neurology, sleep medicine, psychiatry, geriatrics, and rehabilitation medicine.
• Weight Loss Clinic Medically-supervised weight loss program conducted by accredited exercise physiologists and nutritionists for patients with sleep disorders or weight-related conditions, incorporating lifestyle modifications. Initial consultation $180, follow-up $140, 12-month plan (12 consultations) $1720.
• Smoking and Vaping Cessation Clinic Nicotine treatment clinic for patients of all ages offering personalised one-on-one treatment with behavioural and pharmacological cessation plans over a minimum six-week programme.
• Lung Clinic Respiratory specialists providing lung function testing including spirometry, allergy testing, exhaled nitric oxide, and asthma challenge testing for diagnosis of respiratory conditions.
• Narcolepsy Clinic Specialist clinic for diagnosis and treatment of narcolepsy and excessive sleepiness disorders, offering polysomnography, MSLT testing, medication management, and access to clinical trials.
• Paediatric Sleep Clinic Australia's specialist Paediatric and Adolescent Sleep Service assessing and managing all sleep disorders in children and teenagers including sleep apnea, insomnia, and parasomnia. Four of 11 sleep study beds dedicated to paediatric investigation.
• Centre for Lung Cancer Research Australia's first centre dedicated to understanding and treating lung cancer, housing purpose-built high-tech facilities for translational research programs and the Lung Cancer Research Network spanning over 20 hospitals, research centres, universities and organisations.
• Woolcock Emphysema Centre Australia's only research centre dedicated to COPD and emphysema, focusing on earlier diagnosis, better treatment options, and finding a cure through integrated clinical and basic research. Established with support from the Ernest Heine Family Foundation and the Gibson family.
• Sleep and Circadian Research Group (including CIRUS) Research group focused on understanding sleep disorders' impact on health, including neurobiology, insomnia, chronic respiratory disease and sleep, cardiometabolic diseases, and clinical trials, operating the Australian Centre for Chronobiology, Endocrinology and Sleep Sciences Laboratory and the CIRUS translational research network.
• Respiratory Technology Group Research group linking fundamental respiratory science with clinical research, specialising in drug formulation, device development, characterisation and delivery, operating from purpose-built 2024 Macquarie Park laboratory.
• Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology Group Investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms in chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis using bio-bank tissue samples and novel in-vitro models.
• Respiratory and Environmental Epidemiology Group Conducts research on prevalence, risk factors, and impact of respiratory disease including air quality effects, asthma, COPD, and includes the Centre for Air pollution, energy and health Research (CAR) and Woolcock Vietnam operations across Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hue.
• Australian Centre for Airways disease Monitoring (ACAM) National centre of excellence in respiratory data, conducting national surveys on breathlessness and difficult-to-treat asthma, authoring the Asthma in Australia report series.
• Epigenetics of Chronic Disease Group Identifies key epigenetic modifications in chronic cardiopulmonary diseases using long-read gene sequencing technology to understand causes and provide therapeutic targets.
• Clinical Management Group Investigates care models for asthma, COPD, and sleep problems in community, clinic, and hospital settings, designing models of care and performing clinical trials.
• Airway Physiology and Imaging Group Investigates airway and lung malfunction in asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis using state-of-the-art tools for lung mechanics and ventilation assessment. Involves international collaborations with researchers in Milan, Brussels, London, Gothenburg and Nova Scotia.
• Centre for Chronic Diseases of Ageing Research centre established July 2022 focusing on chronic health conditions common in ageing including sleep apnea, COPD, emphysema, and their relationship to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Co-chaired by Professor Carol Armour AM and Associate Professor Angela D'Rozario.

Quantifiable outcome

• Weight loss of 5-10% can improve obstructive sleep apnea by up to 26%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SleepImage Grant Recipients (Australia and USA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2024Research grants awarded to support studies on sleep health disparities with recipients based in Australia and the United States, addressing inequities in sleep health across diverse populations globally.
• Sydney ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney Research is a partner organisation supporting the Woolcock Institute's research activities and clinical operations.
• Sydney Local Health DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NSW Health Sydney Local Health District supporting clinical services and research translation.
• Macquarie UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Macquarie University. Researchers hold positions at the university and the institute operates state-of-the-art labs at Macquarie Park.
• Sydney Health PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney Health Partners is a health partnership supporting research translation and clinical care initiatives.
• Centre for Air pollution, energy and health Research (CAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual centre bringing together more than 30 researchers from around Australia and internationally to understand health impacts of air pollution and new energy sources.
• University of SydneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong academic partnership with University of Sydney. Multiple researchers hold conjoint positions and conduct research at university-affiliated hospitals.
• International Research Collaborators (Italy, Belgium, UK, Sweden, Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaborations with researchers in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Milan Italy, Brussels Belgium, London UK, Gothenburg Sweden and Nova Scotia Canada for airway physiology research.
• Lung Cancer Research Network PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of over 20 hospitals, research centres, universities and organisations united in better understanding, treating and preventing lung cancer through data sharing and multidisciplinary projects.
• University of Sydney (Lung Cancer Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with University of Sydney for the Centre for Lung Cancer Research, providing purpose-built high-tech facilities for translational research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine: Major US academic medical centre with a dedicated sleep medicine and pulmonology division. Comparable in combining sleep diagnostics, CPAP services, and translational research, but operates at far greater scale and across many other specialties.
• Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center: US academic medical centre with a dedicated sleep disorders program and active sleep research. Comparable in combining clinical polysomnography, CPAP, and research output, with broader specialty footprint and larger patient volumes.
• Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals (Sleep and Ventilation): UK specialist hospitals with strong respiratory and sleep medicine research programs. Comparable as a research-clinical hybrid focused on respiratory failure, COPD, and sleep-disordered breathing, with international collaborative research links to groups like Woolcock.
• Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Sleep Medicine: Harvard-affiliated US hospital with active sleep and circadian medicine research programs. Comparable in combining clinical sleep services with translational research, including collaborations with international groups on sleep epidemiology.
• National Jewish Health: US non-profit academic medical centre dedicated to respiratory, cardiac, immune, and related disorders. Comparable as a research-hospital hybrid with deep bench in respiratory medicine and sleep disorders, but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.

Regional players

• Garvan Institute of Medical Research: Australian non-profit medical research institute located in Sydney. Comparable as a fellow Australian research charity with clinical-research hybrid model, similar headcount scale, and competition for the same pool of national grants and philanthropic donors.
• Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute: Australian non-profit medical research institute in Melbourne focused on cardiometabolic disease. Comparable as a fellow Australian research charity with overlapping sleep-cardiometabolic research themes and shared competition for major philanthropy and federal grants.

Direct peers

• Centre for Sleep Science (University of Western Australia): UWA-based sleep research centre with translational and clinical research activities. Comparable as an Australian academic sleep research centre competing for national grants and contributing to clinical sleep guidelines.
• Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health (Flinders University): Australian research institute focused on sleep disorders and respiratory health, affiliated with Flinders University. Direct peer to Woolcock with overlapping research portfolio in sleep apnea, insomnia, and CPAP-related research and a comparable academic-clinical hybrid model.
• Monash Lung and Sleep Institute: Monash University-affiliated institute researching respiratory and sleep medicine. Comparable in combining clinical services with academic research, and competes for similar Australian federal grant funding and clinical referrals in the same therapeutic areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Woolcockmedical
• YouTubevimeo.com/woolcockinstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/WoolcockInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woolcock-institute-of-medical-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Woolcock Institute of Medical Research