Media release

From: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)

Explore SAHMRI’s off-limit labs & tech

Ever wanted to see how cancer-fighting radiopharmaceuticals are made?

Or wondered what happens when human tissue is cryogenically frozen and thawed?

South Australia’s flagship health and medical research institute, SAHMRI, is opening its digital doors with a state-of-the-art virtual tour, enabling everyone to see exactly what goes on behind those iconic triangle windows.

Seven months in the making, ‘Inside SAHMRI’ is the most sophisticated and immersive virtual tour developed by a medical research institute in Australia.

It brings research to life with 360-degree walkthroughs, cutting edge animation and interviews with researchers and technicians who give personal perspectives on their lifesaving work.

From the huge Indigenous mural adorning the “Cheesegrater’s” North Terrace facade to the DNA-inspired helix staircase connecting its laboratories and workspaces,

virtual tourists are given unprecedented access to SAHMRI facilities including no-go zones that can’t be visited in person due to safety and contamination considerations.

Importantly, it has been designed to deliver accessibility for all including those in regional and remote communities, people with mobility challenges and neurodivergent audiences.

SAHMRI Executive Director Professor Maria Makrides says the self-guided experience provides unparalleled, around the clock access, where virtual tourists will discover that what happens inside SAHMRI is even more impressive than the famed building.

“SAHMRI is a place of innovation and discovery, focused on impact to create healthier futures for people everywhere,” Prof Makrides says.

“The Inside SAHMRI virtual tour explains not just what SAHMRI does, but why and how.

It’s another platform for people to explore how SAHMRI is improving their health and wellbeing.”

The virtual tour’s producer Dr Ben Lewis says ‘Inside SAHMRI’ showcases 24 locations, providing rich insights into its high-tech facilities and equipment.

“It includes a tour of the concrete bunker housing our state’s only cyclotron particle accelerator, which is advancing the development and manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals that are crucial in diagnosing and treating cancers and other illnesses,” he said.

“The tour also lifts the lid on SAHMRI’s cryogenics lab, home to more than half a million samples stored at temperatures colder than the surface of Neptune, making it a research time machine holding potential answers to questions we’re yet to ask.

“Whether it’s the microscopic detail of brain cells or how our spectacular building responds to light throughout the day, we sought to capture the essence of SAHMRI and we’ve succeeded.”

Featuring advanced animation and more than 50 interactive elements, the virtual tour is structured to allow people to explore what fascinates them, be they science curious members of the public, students, fellow researchers or industry partners.

Notably, the STEM focus embedded throughout the virtual tour complements the national curriculum, making it a powerful resource for schools and encouraging secondary students to consider careers in health and medical research.

Prof Makrides says the virtual tour amplifies SAHMRI’s iconic status and strengthens its connections to community.

“The tour makes SAHMRI accessible at any time and from any place,” she said.

“Inside SAHMRI also presents a powerful tool to foster partnerships, showcasing SAHMRI’s advanced capabilities, technologies and expertise to potential collaborators nationally and internationally.”

Check out Inside SAHMRI for yourself here.

ENDS