St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research

What St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research does

St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research (AMR) is a nonprofit medical research organization operating within the St Vincent's Health Australia network, headquartered at 405 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, NSW. AMR was formed in 2008 through the merger of the Centre for Immunology (established 1983) and the Clinical Trials Unit, and functions as an integrated platform for patient-centred clinical research across 20+ therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, infectious diseases, cardiology, neurology, and haematology. Its research portfolio spans Phase I–IV clinical trials, discovery research programs, and translational medicine, supported by core facilities such as a PC3 laboratory, flow cytometry, live imaging, biostatistics, and a biorepository storing more than 1 million biological samples across roughly 250 collections.

AMR operates a clinician-researcher model in which many senior investigators are practising physicians at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, enabling direct bedside-to-bench translation. The organization holds the NSW State Reference Laboratory designation for HIV and the WHO Regional Reference Laboratory designation for HIV drug resistance in the Asia Pacific region, and is physically integrated into the St Vincent's Sydney Health Innovation Precinct alongside the Garvan Institute, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, and UNSW. Notable IP includes the discovery of the GDF15 molecule, which has been commercialized to international pharmaceutical companies, and a granted patent for acute myeloid leukaemia treatment.

The financial model relies on a blend of competitive research grants (including NHMRC and MRFF funding), philanthropic donations channelled through the St Vincent's Curran Foundation, internal grant programs (AMR Annual Grants, Pitch for Health Grants), and licensing income from commercialized discoveries such as GDF15. AMR does not charge patients for clinical trial participation and operates without commercial pricing tiers, consistent with its nonprofit research mandate.

Name

St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research

Legal name

St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research

Website

https://amr.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research is a nonprofit medical research center within St Vincent's Health Australia, conducting Phase I-IV clinical trials and discovery research across 20+ therapeutic areas, serving patients and clinician-researchers at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney and acting as the WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for HIV drug resistance in Asia Pacific.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Research Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry) (HLAGAEAB), Clinical Development (Phase I–III Trial Design & Execution) (HLAIALAE), Clinical Biomarker Testing Services (central labs, trial enrollment/monitoring assays) (HLAAAMAC)

Keywords

• Medical research services
• Clinical trials
• Discovery research
• Translational medicine
• Research infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Darlinghurst

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: The St Vincent's Curran Foundation serves as the fundraising organization for St Vincent's Hospitals and Facilities in NSW. Donations from individuals, community groups, and businesses fund research activities. Donations over $2 are tax deductible. Generous support enables researchers to deliver exceptional care, drive medical research, and provide clinical education.
2. Research Grants: Funding through competitive grant programs including AMR Translational Research Grants, AMR Equipment Grants, AMR Buyout Clinician Time Grants, Pitch for Health Grants, and St Vincent's Clinic Research Foundation Grants. Also receives government funding through Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and NHMRC.
3. Philanthropic Support - Pitch for Health: $4.5 million in philanthropic support needed over three years for Pitch for Health program. $1.5 million secured including leadership gift from Paula and Andrew Liveris AO and the Liveris family. Additional donations from Will and Jane Vicars, Dr Mark Nelson and Louise Nelson, and Mr John Sample.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AMR conducts clinical trials spanning Phase I through Phase IV and operates discovery research programs in immunology, supported by an integrated set of core facilities including a biorepository, flow cytometry, live imaging, and genomics services. The organization functions as a translational research center within the St Vincent's Health Australia network, providing researchers and clinicians with both clinical trial execution and specialized laboratory capabilities under one roof.

Product overview

St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research (AMR) is a medical research institution offering an integrated portfolio of clinical trials, discovery research programs, core research facilities, and grant funding programs. The core offering consists of Phase I-IV clinical trials across 20+ therapeutic areas (immunology, oncology, infectious diseases, cardiology, neurology, haematology, etc.) and discovery research laboratory programs spanning neurosciences, haematology, immunology, cancer, metabolism, and infectious diseases. Supporting infrastructure includes core facilities (biorepository, laboratories, flow cytometry, live imaging, biostatistics, translational research centre) and grant programs (AMR Annual Grants, Pitch for Health Grants) enabling researchers to access funding, equipment, and protected research time.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clinical Trials (Phase I–IV)

Quantifiable outcome

• Designated WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for HIV drug resistance in the Asia Pacific Region
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St Vincent's Sydney Health Innovation PrecinctcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMR is a Cornerstone partner of the St Vincent's Sydney Health Innovation Precinct. The Precinct brings together healthcare, research and education partners to drive discovery and medical excellence. Flagship areas are Cancer, Immunology, and Heart Health.
• Garvan Institute of Medical ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhysically connected to the Garvan Institute. Collaborates on research including oncology clinical trials at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, inflammatory bowel disease research, and gastroesophageal cancer research.
• Victor Chang Cardiac Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhysically connected and shares the Lowy Packer Building. Dr Audrey Adji is both a research fellow at AMR and a research scientist at VCCRI. Collaborates on cardiovascular research including pulsatile function in cardiovascular diseases.
• UNSW SydneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey university partner with the St Vincent's Clinical School on campus. Multiple researchers hold conjoint appointments. Collaborates on research programs including the Therapeutic and Vaccine Research Program with Kirby Institute.
• Nursing Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks in close proximity on the Precinct. NRI is a collaboration between St Vincent's Health Network Sydney, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, and Australian Catholic University.
• The Kirby InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at UNSW, collaborates on HIV, viral hepatitis, and infectious diseases research. Professor Greg Dore leads Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program at Kirby Institute.
• University of Notre Dame AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three universities with medical schools at the Precinct. Professor Richard Chye holds academic appointments.
• Australian Catholic UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university with medical school at the Precinct. Collaborates with Nursing Research Institute. Dr Lauren Christie holds position as Clinical Senior Research Fellow.
• National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational clinical-academic consortium including St Vincent's Health Australia, UNSW, Curtin University, and Flinders University. Established in 2018 to address health harms related to methamphetamine and other drugs of emerging concern.
• CSIRO Health & BiosecurityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Gastroesophageal Cancer Research Program on cancer research studies.
• Phebra Pty LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian-owned, international pharmaceutical manufacturing company collaborating on drug development research for acute myeloid leukaemia.
• Black Dog InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with CRUfAD and St Vincent's Department of Pain Medicine on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy trial for treatment-resistant depression.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Garvan Institute of Medical Research: Co-located Australian medical research institute within the St Vincent's Sydney Health Innovation Precinct, conducting genomics, immunology, and cancer research with comparable translational and clinical trial infrastructure.
• QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute: Major Australian translational research institute with extensive clinical trials, biomarker discovery, and infectious disease programs; comparable in scale and grant-funded operating model.
• Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research: Western Australia-based medical research institute with comparable translational research, clinical trials, and biorepository capabilities across cancer and chronic disease.
• Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI): Australia's largest medical research institute, operating discovery biology, immunology, and clinical translation programs comparable in scope and structure to AMR's discovery and clinical trial portfolio.
• Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute: Australian translational research institute focused on cardiovascular and metabolic disease, operating discovery labs and clinical research programs with a comparable hospital-linked model.
• Centenary Institute: Sydney-based medical research institute with programs in cancer, inflammation, and infectious disease, operating a comparable mix of discovery research, clinical translation, and PhD supervision.
• Murdoch Children's Research Institute: Hospital-integrated paediatric research institute running large-scale clinical trials, biobanking, and discovery science; structurally analogous to AMR's hospital-embedded model.
• The Kirby Institute: UNSW-affiliated infectious disease research institute that collaborates with AMR on HIV and viral hepatitis programs; operates comparable clinical trials, epidemiology, and reference laboratory services.
• Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute: Co-located in the Lowy Packer Building with AMR, focused on cardiovascular discovery science and translational research; directly comparable in operating model and precinct partnership structure.
• Doherty Institute: University of Melbourne-affiliated institute specializing in infectious disease and immunity, with reference laboratory functions similar to AMR's HIV and viral hepatitis reference lab mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research