Baird Institute, The

Our mission is to foster research and apply science to improve the outcomes for patients facing heart or lung surgery.

Our primary focus is to encourage and fund research to improve the surgical outcomes and quality of life for patients facing heart or lung surgery. The money raised funds research that directly improves the surgical techniques associated with heart and lung surgery. Improvements can include less intrusive procedures as well as techniques that improve survival rates.

Through our commitment to ongoing research and the application of scientific breakthroughs in technology, we can directly impact the quality of life for patients post-surgery and save lives that may otherwise have been lost.

Founded on the principle that academic surgeons produce better outcomes, The Baird Institute prides itself on continued investment in research and training; enabling it to remain at the forefront of innovation, surgical robotics and revolutionary industry technology.

• Educational fellowships
• Clinical trials and research projects
• Support for heart and lung surgery patients and their families
• The ongoing education of our nurses
• Training of surgeons
• International impact projects
• The development of surgical technology

Or main beneficiary group are those patients who will undergo heart and lung surgery. 

As an organisation, we focus on the translation of quality cutting edge research into improved surgical practice.  We emphasise the delivery of long term public health solutions, to ensure we have a positive impact at all stages – from patient diagnosis, through to treatment and recovery.

At The Baird Institute, we identify the issue, we design relevant research programs that answer specific patient problems, we undertake research in the wards of major teaching hospitals or in affiliated research laboratories and then we return to the operating theatre, intensive care unit and the wards with life-saving solutions.

The below projects are our focus at present:

• We are working to advance the field of minimally invasive heart and lung surgery and the application of modern medical technology, to support the development of new surgical techniques. This includes working to develop new models of valve replacement surgery to increase the chances of survival and also patient quality of life.
• Conducting advanced research into the use of robotic technologies in  order to speed up diagnosis and improve treatment possibilities
• The establishment of three robotic databases – Robolung database, Robocab database and Robomitral database – to collect details regarding robotic surgery. Data is collected on the procedure itself as well as patient quality of life after surgery.
• Working on creating innovative techniques for imaging blood flow in order to determine the cause of Aortic Aneurysm Disease.
• Research into how the heart/lung machine affects organ function during open-heart surgery and how to make it safer and more effective.
• Heart and lung surgery patient support groups
• We operate and participate in several clinical trials –  clinical trials are research investigations for which people volunteer to test new treatments or interventions as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage various medical conditions
• The provision of funding for research scholarships for cardiothoracic surgeons to complete a Masters or PhD program
• Educational conferences for heart and lung nurses

Gifts in Wills

By leaving a gift to the Baird Institute in your will, you will be leaving a long-lasting contribution to more families than you can possibly know.

In Australia, more than 45,000 people die of cardiovascular disease each year – that is 1 every 12 minutes and, unfortunately, heart research costs millions of dollars.

Your Will is one of the most important documents
that you will ever prepare. It ensures that the people
and organisations you care about are provided for
after your death.
In preparing your Will, your first concern will obviously be for your family and others close to you.  After providing for your loved ones, you may like to consider including a bequest to The Baird Institute.

Bequests are an important source of funding for the Institute, so please contact us for information about updating your Will.

One-Off or Monthly Donations

When you choose to contribute to The Baird Institute, you’re making the choice to invest in the continued delivery of long-term, life-changing solutions – the kind of solutions that save lives and make a real difference to people living with chronic disease, both now and in the future.

As a long-established and reputable charitable not for profit organisation, The Baird Institute carries an Australian Tax Office approved DGR1 status, which means all donations in excess of $2 AUD are tax-deductible.

We are 100% supported by donations so please help by giving what you can. Your support will help us continue our research and improve the quality of care we deliver to patients, thus improving patient outcomes.

You can donate online now securely