The inaugural Eva Kolling Research Day was staged within Royal North Shore Hospital, providing the perfect chance to celebrate the vision and generosity of a true pioneer.
Established in 1920, the Kolling Institute is the oldest medical research institute in New South Wales. It has been at the forefront of cutting-edge research for more than a hundred years, with its founding director Dr W. Wilson Ingram opening the first clinic for diabetes treatment in Australia.
In 1931, a new two-storey building was officially opened and named the Kolling Institute of Medical Research after businessman Charles Kolling. His widow Eva was a strong supporter of research and made a substantial donation towards the development of the new building.
The Kolling Institute's iconic photo features Eva laying a foundation stone.
Her vision and the long-standing impact of the Kolling were highlighted at the inaugural research day by Royal North Shore Hospital honorary archivist Catherine Storey OAM, who shared insights into the Kolling’s remarkable journey.
The institute’s Academic Director Professor James Elliott said the event offered the chance for researchers to engage with visitors, to learn more about the health challenges facing the community, and to share details of their current research.
“A key part of our research success will depend on the strength of our community ties, including community driven clinical trials and broad community involvement,” he said.
“I would also like to thank the NORTH Foundation for their unrelenting support, and for raising awareness of the dedicated and skilled clinician researchers within the Kolling Institute.”
Early-to-mid-career researchers presented a poster display, illustrating their commitment to improving health outcomes, driving new health policy, and realising global reach.
Two awards were announced on the day, including an Excellence in Clinical Translation Science gong to Temitope Esther Afolabi from the Kolling’s Lab of Ageing and Pharmacology, and an Excellence in Basic Science award to Daisy (Qinrui) Chen from the Renal Research Lab.