OUR HISTORY

1867	The Hospital opened at its current site in Herston.  At that stage it was simply called the Brisbane Hospital.
1878	The Hospital’s earliest reported medical research discovery of international significance - Dr Joseph Bancroft discovered the adult filarial worm responsible for the serious tropical disease ‘Filariasis’, which was untreatable at the time.
1938	The Women´s Hospital was officially opened on the Herston site on Sunday 13 March (first patients were received on 26 March).  At that stage it was called the Brisbane Women´s Hospital.
1966	Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II conferred the prefix ‘Royal’ to the Brisbane Hospital, making the official name the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
1967	Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II conferred the prefix ‘Royal’ to the Brisbane Women´s Hospital, making the official name the Royal Women´s Hospital.
1984	The Royal Women’s Hospital (RWH) Foundation was established in December.
1985	The Royal Brisbane Hospital (RBH) Foundation was established in September.
1988	Professor Cooksley was appointed Director of the RBH Foundation Clinical Research Centre.
1989	The RBH Foundation Clinical Research Centre opened focussing on the problems of ageing, Alzheimers disease, liver disease, nutrition and disease, mechanisms and management of malignant diseases, allergies, neurosurgery and cancer. The RBH Foundation Clinical Research Centre awarded grant for the Kingston Toxic Waste Study.
1990	RBH Foundation awards its first Research Grants.
1991	The Gastroenterology Laboratory opens in the RBH Foundation Clinical Research Centre.
1992	The Perinatal Research Centre opened. The Perinatal Research Centre trialed a world-first technique where applied potential tomography is used to study factors predisposing babies to brain damage.
1993	The RBH Foundation Clinical Research Centre won the Government tender to study hepatitis in Aboriginal populations. The Pain Centre opened.
1994	The Perinatal Research Centre conducted a number of significant projects including: An investigation into the potential link between maternal smoking and SIDS; An assessment of foetal health and development through the response of the foetal heart rate to vibration; and  A randomised trial to establish the safest method for delivery of pre-term babies.
1995	The Skinbank Project commenced in the Burns Unit.
1996	The bowel cancer tissue bank was purchased with funds from the estate of Walter Paulsen.
1998	The renal and inflammatory bowel disease laboratories open and the neuroscience laboratory closed. The Betty Byrne Henderson Women’s Health Research Centre opened.
1999	The Betty Byrne Henderson Women’s Health Research Centre began the 10-year research project on the health issues associated with ageing in women. The study is called the Longitudinal Assessment of Ageing in Women (LAW Study).
2000	Ned Hanlon building completed in August.
2001	The liver disease lab closed.
2002	Many victims of the Bali Bombings were sent to the RBH for treatment.
2003	The Royal Brisbane Hospital and Royal Women’s Hospital merged to become one hospital, ie, the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital. The Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital Foundation was formed on 11 December, following the merger of the two hospitals and their respective Foundations, ie, the RBH Foundation and the RWH Foundation. The Burns, Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre opened. The Centre for Clinical Nursing opened.
2005	Research undertaken at the Perinatal Research Centre and the Betty Byrne Henderson Centre described as ‘internationally significant’.
2006	The Alzheimer’s disease research unit opens.
2007	The Perinatal Research Centre commenced its 5-year BRAIN project (Brain Research Advances in Newborns). The Centre for Clinical Nursing and the Betty Byrne Henderson Women’s Health Research Centre both win large NHMRC grants. Dr John Herron becomes Chairman of the RBWH Foundation Board.
2008	RBWH Foundation launches the Royal Mums program.              The Neurology Research Centre is officially formed.
2009	RBWH Foundation unveils the Royal Mums Honour Wall on 8 May.