Faculty Research Centres (FRCs)

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Directors: Charles McGhee, Paul Donaldson and Andrew Collins

Website: Aotearoa New Zealand - National Eye Centre

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Directors: Michael Hay and Mark McKeage

Mission: The Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre is a world-leading drug discovery centre with the mission to improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients in New Zealand and globally. We conduct and publish international-quality research on all aspects of cancer, from basic discovery to cancer prevention, focusing on cancer types common in New Zealand patients or where disparities exist for Māori. We work to discover and develop new drugs for cancer therapy, including kinase inhibitors, radiosensitisers, immune modulators, and hypoxia-activated prodrugs. We train future cancer researchers and health professionals throughout participation in postgraduate student supervision and research-led teaching.

Website: Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre

Hosted by: Faculty of Science

Directors: Anthony Poole (Science) and Wei-Qin Zhuang (Engineering and Design)

Mission: The Auckland SynBio Research Centre advances synthetic biology research at the interface of biology and engineering. By connecting researchers, industry and government, the Centre builds national capability, supports innovation and research translation. It prepares Aotearoa New Zealand to respond to future opportunities in synthetic biology, while exploring its societal, ethical and regulatory implications.

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Directors: Antonia Lyons, Peter Adams, and Rodrigo Ramalho

Mission: To undertake world-leading research to enhance the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Pacific and beyond through the generation of robust evidence to inform practice and policy around the understanding, prevention, and treatment of addiction.

Website: Centre for Addiction Research

Hosted by: Faculty of Engineering and Design

Director: Johan Verbeek

Mission: Our purpose is to address the global challenges of energy efficiency, low emissions and sustainability in manufactured products through increasing innovation and productivity within the knowledge-intensive, advanced manufacturing sector.

Hosted by: Faculty of Science

Directors: Ghader Bashiri (Science) and Colin Simpson (Medical and Health Sciences)

Mission: The Centre for AMR Research addresses the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance through collaborative research, innovation, and engagement with industry and policymakers. Working closely with researchers, clinicians, industry partners, and government agencies, the Centre develops novel prevention, diagnostic, and treatment strategies that help translate research into real-world health benefits.

Hosted by: Faculty of Engineering and Design

Director: Bruce MacDonald

Mission: Our mission is to create robotic, automation, and sensing (RAS) technologies that improve societal wellbeing and inspire and train the next generations of RAS researchers. We aim to continue establishing the University of Auckland as New Zealand’s leading university in RAS, and place CARES at the global frontier.

Website: Centre for Automation and Robotic Engineering Science 

Hosted by: Faculty of Science

Directors: Simon Greenhill, Sarah Knight, Simone Linz and Anna Santure

Mission: The Centre for Computational Evolution (CCE) uses computational tools and evolutionary theory to tackle 21st-century challenges such as health, linguistics, and conservation. The centre’s research themes include phylodynamics, life system modelling, and conservation genomics. The centre fosters transdisciplinary research to create new translational research.

Website: Centre for Computational Evolution

Hosted by: Faculty of Science

Directors: Yun Sing Koh, Gill Dobbie , Daniel Wilson

Mission: The Centre of Machine Learning for Social Good empowers researchers to solve high-impact societal problems in their diverse domains. By leveraging machine learning, the centre enables these diverse domains to work in a transformative manner, proactively facilitating interventions for better outcomes for Aotearoa.

Website: Centre of Machine Learning for Social Good

Hosted by: Faculty of Arts and Education

Director: Barry Milne

Mission: COMPASS uses quantitative methodologies to answer policy-relevant questions aimed at improving health, wellbeing, and equity in Aotearoa. COMPASS uses several methodological approaches in its research, including analysis of whole population administrative data to understand the drivers of health and wellbeing, undertaking surveys to understand how New Zealanders’ attitudes and wellbeing are changing, and quantifying the impact of policies using ‘micro-simulation’.

Website: COMPASS

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Directors: Chris Bullen, Helen Eyles, Andrew Jull and Robyn Whittaker

Mission: The Centre For Translational Health Research: Informing Policy and Practice (TRANSFORM) exists to achieve better health, health equity, and wellbeing through innovative research informing practice and policy - translating, where applicable, into accessible services.

Website: Translational Health Research: Informing Policy and Practice (TRANSFORM)

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Directors: Grant Searchfield and Suzanne Purdy

Mission: Enabling and accelerating a national and transdisciplinary research effort that will deliver innovative solutions to provide hearing and balance health to all communities in Aotearoa so they can thrive.

Values and principles:

• We are inclusive and value the diverse contributions of all our communities.
• We will uphold the articles and principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• We are committed to achieving equitable hearing and balance health for all peoples in Aotearoa and the Pacific region.
• We conduct excellent, innovative, and impactful research that is built on a foundation of fundamental science.

Website: Eisdell Moore Centre

Hosted by: Faculty of Business and Economics

Director: Emilson Silva

Mission: The Energy Centre’s mission is to provide research policy analysis and educational programmes to help business and government confront energy issues of national significance to New Zealand.

Website: Energy Centre

Hosted by: Cross-faculty group (Faculty of Engineering and Design, Faculty of Business and Economics, and Faculty of Science)

Directors: Andy Philpott, Alessandro Premier, Emilson Silva, Nona Taute, Geoffrey Waterhouse.

Mission: The Energy Research Consortium (ERC) at Waipapa Taumata Rau| University of Auckland is dedicated to uniting the diverse expertise within our institution while creating strong partnerships with government agencies, industry stakeholders and community groups to foster a transdisciplinary and holistic approach to addressing the pressing energy challenges of our time. By leveraging the collective knowledge and innovative capabilities of our researchers, we aim to develop evidence-based research and cutting-edge solutions that advance energy efficiency, affordability, security and sustainability, toward a 2050 net-zero carbon energy system. Our mission is to facilitate collaboration, inspire innovation, and drive impactful research that contributes to a sustainable, equitable and energy positive future for Aotearoa| New Zealand and the world.

Website: Energy Research Consortium

Hosted by: Faculty of Science

Director: Simon Thrush

Mission: The George Mason Centre for the Natural Environment is a multidisciplinary centre that focuses on environmental solutions to complex problems. Since its inception, the centre has funded 21 projects focusing on environmental restoration, conservation, and sustainability, and has supported 12 post-doctoral and 5 PhD students. The centre works with the George Mason Charitable Trust and collaborates with other organisations.

Website: George Mason Centre for the Natural Environment

Hosted by: Faculty of Engineering and Design

Directors: Andy Philpott, Mike O’Sullivan, Rajnish Sharma, Nirmal Nair, Andrea Raith and Brent Young

Mission: The purpose of the Green Energy Engineering Centre (GEEC) is to support research which will help New Zealand reach a zero-carbon economy through increased investment in renewable energy. Current energy research within the Faculty of Engineering and Design encompasses geothermal, wind, solar, and marine energy, green hydrogen, electricity optimisation, as well as energy storage, efficiency, and conservation. The GEEC will promote collaboration across these areas and provide better visibility of this research to the outside world. The establishment of the GEEC will provide a platform to seek external research funding and will foster collaboration with industry partners and other research groups.

Website: GEEC webpage

Hosted by: Faculty of Business and Economics

Interim Director: Susan Watson

Mission: Governments, organisations, communities and individuals all over the world are exploring how capitalism can evolve to enhance the well-being of our people and our planet. Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism creates a platform to lead this evolution locally, bringing together the rigorous research, key resources and strategic collaboration opportunities necessary to build momentum and enable long-term transformation. The first endeavour of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand, this centre brings our nation’s diverse perspectives and unique insights to the global movement towards a more sustainable and equitable world. Three key pillars – research, education and collaboration – form the foundation of the centre, inspiring and empowering all those committed to driving change within their industries and communities.

Website: Juncture

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Director: Julian Paton

Mission: In partnership with Māori and Pacific peoples, create a vibrant world-class centre for heart health research underpinned by evidence-based, internationally recognised multi-disciplinary collaborative research, workforce development, outreach and community engagement to deliver meaningful benefit and equity to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Website: Manaaki Manawa - The Centre for Heart Research

Hosted by: Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Directors: Maurice Curtis, Miriam Scadeng and Beau Pontre

Mission: The Medical Imaging Research Centre (MIRC) is dedicated to improving health outcomes for patients through world-class research and the advancement of knowledge, and capability building in medical and biomedical imaging sciences.

MIRC is a hub for medical imaging research through driving researcher development, innovation, and excellence in the field. The MIRC builds, strengthens and enables collaborations across the University and co-designs research with community partners.

Website: Medical Imaging Research Centre

Hosted by: Faculty of Business and Economics

Director: Natasha Hamilton-Hart

Mission: The New Zealand Asia Institute aims to enhance New Zealand’s understanding of and engagement with Asia. The NZAI undertakes research focusing on contemporary Asia and New Zealand engagement with Asia. We provide a forum for informed debate and offer a bridge to Asia-related expertise and research within the University of Auckland.

Website: New Zealand Asia Institute (NZAI)

Hosted by: Faculty of Arts and Education

Director: Ritesh Shah

Mission: The Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies aims to respond to contemporary challenges of conflict and climate-induced displacement. We are driven by a transformative agenda that places social justice and human rights as core aspects of our work that will empower refugee voices and build local capacities. Through a commitment to multidisciplinary scholarship, the centre is committed to bringing together people from academia, refugee communities, government, civil society and the private sector to collaboratively work on meaningful and tangible projects on current and future forced displacement situations.

Website: The Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies - Tāwharau Whakaumu

Hosted by: Faculty of Engineering and Design

Directors: Guglielmo Aglietti and Roberto Armellin

Mission: Our mission is to create, Disseminate and exploit knowledge to support and enhance the development of the country’s space sector. Te Pūnaha Ātea - Space Institute aims to become a leading centre to enable the safe and sustainable use of space and maximise opportunities which arise from the flourishing local space sector.

Website: Te Pūnaha Ātea - Space Institute

Hosted by: Faculty of Science

Directors: Karen Fisher and Jade Le Grice

Mission: Te Pūtahi o Pūtaiao supports research projects that bridge mātauranga Māori and Science. The centre is Māori-led and underpinned by tikanga, mātauranga, and te reo Māori, advancing scholarship that aligns with Māori interests.

Website: Te Pūtahi o Pūtaiao

Hosted by: Faculty of Arts and Education

Directors: Peter O'Connor and Selina Tusitula Marsh

Mission: The centre researches how the arts have the potential to make a more socially just and equitable world through improving the quality of life of all citizens. The centre is outward-focused and builds relationships with educators, artists, activists, policy makers and communities to research the power of the arts for social transformation.

Website: Centre for Arts and Social Transformation

Hosted by: Faculty of Arts and Education

Director: Jennifer Curtin

Mission: We provide independent analysis, critical research and insight into key policy issues affecting Aotearoa New Zealand, the Asia Pacific, and the global community.

Website: Public Policy Institute

Hosted by: Faculty of Engineering and Design

Director: Kim Dirks

Mission: Our vision is to be an international leader in transportation engineering research by developing best practice in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of transport systems. We aim to help lead and accelerate the transition towards a safer and more sustainable transport system that enables improved social, cultural, economic, and environmental outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.

Website: Transportation Research Centre