Robinson Research Institute - Adelaide University

RRI member Professor Helen Marshall AM explains how the 'B Part of It' Study on the deadly Meningococcal B disease led to the world's first government-funded vaccination program targeting both infants and adolescents in South Australia.

The findings have since informed and influenced countries around the world to publicly fund vaccinations against Meningococcal B.

🎧 Listen in: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/radio-national-breakfast-changing-australia-helen-marshall/107235550

🔬 Research Group Spotlight: Maternal and Adolescent Health Equity

The Maternal and Adolescent Health Equity (MAHE) group is working to improve health and wellbeing for women, adolescents and families, with a strong focus on reducing health inequities.

The team’s research spans maternal, reproductive, newborn, child and adolescent health, exploring how evidence can be translated into better healthcare, services and policy - particularly for communities experiencing disadvantage or barriers to care. 💜

From improving s*xual and reproductive health to maternal and newborn outcomes, nutrition and adolescent wellbeing, the group is helping ensure research leads to meaningful change for people and communities.

Read more: https://adelaide.edu.au/research/robinson-research-institute/research-capabilities/maternal-and-adolescent-health-equity/

What if one of the biggest assumptions about cerebral palsy was wrong?

Research led here in Adelaide has helped change the world’s understanding of cerebral palsy, challenging long-held beliefs about its causes and demonstrating the significant role genetics can play.

Now, that research continues at Robinson Research Institute, with the aim of improving diagnosis, intervention and quality of life for people with cerebral palsy.

Read the fascinating story behind Adelaide’s myth-busting science below. https://adelaide.edu.au/about/news/2026/how-adelaide-s-myth-busting-science-changed-cerebral-palsy/

What if diagnosing endometriosis could take less than a second?

Researchers at Adelaide University’s Robinson Research Institute are helping develop a promising AI tool that could move us closer to faster, less invasive diagnosis of endometriosis.

Led by Dr Yuan Zhang, Prof Louise Hull and Associate Professor Jodie Avery, the latest research into EndoFusion explores how AI could combine information from MRI and ultrasound imaging to identify two major indicators of advanced endometriosis from a single scan.

In the latest Imagendo study, the EndoFusion method produced results in just 18 milliseconds and correctly classified cases 83% of the time, outperforming the other models evaluated in the research.

With more than 190 million women worldwide living with endometriosis, and diagnosis often taking years, developing accurate, non-invasive diagnostic methods could help shorten the pathway to answers and reduce reliance on surgery.

While the technology remains in its early stages, the findings are a promising step towards giving clinicians new tools to support faster and more accurate diagnosis.

Read more about the research and what comes next below. 👇https://adelaide.edu.au/about/news/2026/promising-ai-tool-to-speed-up-endometriosis-diagnosis/