The University of Western Australia (UWA) is tackling global challenges to health, climate change and environmental resilience through collaborative and innovative approaches that leverage advanced technology and partnerships.
The University of Western Australia is a research-intensive university with a unique worldview shaped by its location at the crossroads of Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region.
Our research is driven by the belief that the world’s most complex challenges, such as climate change, health inequalities, environmental degradation, social change, and technological disruption, require collaborative, international responses.
UWA brings together disciplinary excellence, shared research infrastructure and strong partnerships to move knowledge from discovery to translation and social impact.
Our research capabilities are strongly aligned with Horizon Europe’s ambitions, particularly in addressing global challenges, strengthening the competitiveness of innovation ecosystems and industries, and delivering tangible benefits to society. We combine cutting-edge research with advanced digital and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled methodologies, a strong commitment to co-design, and effective implementation through policy, industry, and community partners.
Our research community works across disciplines and borders, partnering with leading universities, research infrastructures, governments, and industry to deliver solutions that are globally relevant, locally rooted, and internationally scalable.
Transforming health through discovery, data and design
UWA is internationally recognized for its health and biotechnology research across cancer, infectious diseases, mental health, aging, early health, cognition and indigenous health.
A critical strength of our approach is the integration of biomedical discovery with advanced analytics, machine learning, and data-driven methods. Our researchers combine experimental science, clinical insights and digital innovation to develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease.
UWA health research is designed to be translatable. Researchers work closely with clinicians, health systems, industry, and communities to ensure that new knowledge leads to better health outcomes for people around the world. This includes developing new diagnostics, digital medical tools, AI-assisted decision support, and new models of care.
Our leadership in population health and Indigenous health research brings a unique global perspective to issues of equity, ethics, and inclusion. UWA researchers work in true partnership with Indigenous communities to create research models that are increasingly relevant around the world as health systems seek to serve diverse populations fairly and effectively.
Repair your body with nature in mind
As the population ages, the need for treatments that can repair and regenerate damaged materials by promoting the body’s natural healing processes is expected to become more prevalent. Professor Minghao Zheng is an expert in applying science to clinical practice. Through a partnership between UWA and Paul Anderson, biotechnology companies Orthocell and Marine Biomedical have been established to develop and commercialize surgical technologies. Their innovations now provide surgeons with practical and effective treatment solutions for difficult cartilage, nerve, tooth and bone repairs for patients in Australia and around the world.
Climate, oceans, and the future of the living planet
UWA is a world leader in research into climate change, environmental resilience, oceans, food systems, energy and natural resources.
Located in the Indian Ocean, in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, UWA brings unparalleled expertise in marine science, oceanography, coastal systems, agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystem restoration. Our researchers are at the forefront of efforts to understand how natural systems respond to climate pressures and how society can adapt.
Managing blackleg in canola
Blackleg is a serious problem for canola producers, resulting in yield losses of 10% per year on average. The UWA Batley Research Institute team, led by Professor Jacqueline Batley, has developed an accurate screening platform to identify resistance genes. This can be routinely introduced into breeding programs. They are also discovering new and sustainable sources of resistance genes, which could increase productivity, profits, and consistent yields, and reduce the need for farmers to spray crops with fungicides.
This work is characterized by the use of large-scale data integration, modeling, and AI-powered analysis to address environmental problems at scale. From predicting climate impacts to managing marine ecosystems and ensuring sustainable food systems, UWA researchers apply cutting-edge methods to real-world problems.
UWA’s research in this area is international in nature. Environmental systems have no borders. Our collaboration reflects this reality. We work with international collaborators to deliver research that supports climate adaptation, sustainable resource management and ocean and biodiversity protection, directly contributing to priorities at the heart of Europe’s green transition and global environmental leadership.
Helping with kelp
Kelp forests play an important role in the health and economy of temperate marine environments. A team led by Professor Thomas Warnberg from the University of Western Australia has helped establish the recognition of Australia’s Great Southern Reef, an interconnected temperate reef ecosystem dominated by kelp forests. Their study showed how 40 to 60 percent of the world’s kelp forests have declined over the past 50 years due to human activity and weather phenomena such as extreme ocean heatwaves. They are now offering new solutions, such as green gravel, to help rebuild damaged kelp forests around the world.
Society, culture and innovation in a changing world
UWA’s outstanding research extends beyond science and technology to the social, cultural and institutional foundations of resilient societies.
Our humanities and social sciences researchers work on issues of democracy, governance, cultural heritage, creativity, social cohesion and inclusion. This research provides important insights into how societies respond to change, whether caused by climate impacts, technological disruption, or global uncertainty.
UWA’s outstanding contribution is its leadership in indigenous research and knowledge systems. UWA researchers work with Aboriginal communities to promote ethical, co-designed approaches that recognize Indigenous knowledge as an important part of understanding the world. These perspectives are becoming increasingly important internationally as research systems seek more inclusive and responsible ways of working.
Across all disciplines, UWA focuses on the translation and international dissemination of research. We support this through platform-based research, embedded industry partnerships, open and interoperable data practices, and strong connections with national and international research infrastructure. At UWA, innovation is not an end point, but a pathway that connects ideas with people, markets and policy.
A natural partner for Horizon Europe
UWA offers research partners in Europe that combine:
Excellence in cutting-edge and applied research. Translatable and impactful research – whether in medicine (from bench to bedside), agriculture (from farm to fork), or society (from individuals to policy). Horizon Europe’s strengths in core global challenges. Leadership in data-intensive science powered by AI. Extensive experience in international, inclusive and ethical collaboration. A unique bridge connecting Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
As Australia deepens its engagement with Horizon Europe, UWA stands ready to serve as a trusted outward-facing partner, committed to collaboration, innovation and impact globally.
Please note: This is a commercial profile
This article will also be published in the quarterly magazine issue 26.
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