About us
The Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) is a premier research institution at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney, investigating brain ageing and dementia.
CHeBA was established in October 2012 and headed by internationally acclaimed leaders in the field, Professor Henry Brodaty and Professor Perminder Sachdev.
Our vision
Our vision is to achieve, through research, healthier brain ageing and better clinical care of age-related brain diseases.
Our purpose
CHeBA is positioned as an international centre of excellence in multidisciplinary research into the ageing brain. Our work extends from molecular work in the genetics and proteomics laboratories, to tissue culture and cell-related work in the Brain Ageing Lab, to neuronal systems and networks in the Neuroimaging Lab, to clinical, epidemiological and sociological research, to research on ageing health policy using its strong links with teaching hospitals, aged care providers, state and federal governments and our established ageing cohort studies.  Our work strongly emphasises implementation, capacity building and translational research.
Our mission
Our mission is to conduct innovative research and provide the empirical basis to prevent and treat dementia and achieve healthy brain ageing for all Australians.
Meet CHeBA's Co-Directors
Scientia Professor Perminder Sachdev AM
MD, PhD, FRANZCP, FAHMS
Perminder Sachdev AM MBBS MD FRANZCP PhD FAHMS is Scientia Professor of Neuropsychiatry, Co-Director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) in the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney, and Research Director of the Neuropsychiatric Institute (NPI) at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia. He is deputy chair of the Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) and Director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Vascular Contributions to Dementia. His major areas of research are drug-induced movement disorders, brain imaging, cognitive ageing and dementia.
Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty AO
MBBS, MD, DSc, FRACP, FRANZCP, FAHMS, FASSA
Henry Brodaty AO, MB BS, MD, DSc, FRACP, FRANZCP, FAHMS, FASSA is a researcher, clinician, policy advisor and strong advocate for people with dementia and their carers. At ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney, he is Scientia Professor of Ageing and Mental Health, and Co-Director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing. He has published extensively, is a senior psychogeriatrician at Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney. He is co-chair of the Clinical Quality Register in the Australian Dementia Network, and serves on multiple committees for the NSW and Australian governments and WHO. He was previously President of International Psychogeriatric Association, Chairman of Alzheimer’s Disease International, and President of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW and Alzheimer’s Australia.
Aims
Our aims are to conduct multidisciplinary research into ageing in health and disease, and be involved in knowledge dissemination and translational research. 
In particular, CHeBA’s focus is on the following:
- Determining the pathway of normal and abnormal brain ageing in the community.
- Identifying risk and protective factors for abnormal brain ageing.
- Develop strategies for prevention of cognitive decline with ageing.
- Promote global collaborations to develop knowledge and further research into brain ageing.
- Understand the behavioural as well as the cognitive and functional manifestations of brain ageing.
- Translate relevant research findings into practice.
- Determining the prevalence of age-related neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disorders.
- Identifying biomarkers for brain disorders.
- Investigating the pathophysiology of brain diseases so that novel treatments can be discovered.
- Conducting treatment trials of novel drugs and other strategies.
- Conducting educational activities for a workforce involved in the care of the elderly, especially those with dementia.
- Designing models of assessment and care using the latest research evidence.
- Developing research programs in special populations, e.g. young-onset dementia, dementia in intellectual disability.
- Improving diagnosis, post-diagnostic care and long-term community and residential care.
- Improving quality of practice for GPs, memory clinics and hospitals through research and through setting up Australian Dementia Network and Registry.
Our governing structure
The Centre Steering Committee is the major decision making board for CHeBA. Centre Steering Committee members provide leadership across the Centre, are responsible for developing the Centre's strategy, advise on the Centre's operations and financial position, new partnership and funding opportunities. The founding Co-Directors of CHeBA, Professor Perminder Sachdev and Professor Henry Brodaty, report to Head of the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, the Head of the School of Clinical Medicine and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health.
Our funding sources
- NHMRC
- ARC
- NIH
- Joint Program for Neurodegenerative Diseases of the European Union
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- Australian Rotary Health Research Fund
- Dementia Research Collaborative Centre (DCRC), ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ
- ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç â€” Various
- J Holden Family FoundationÂ
- Thomas Foundation
- The Montefiore Home
- The Sachdev Foundation
- Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation
- The Yulgilbar Foundation
For information about making a philanthropic donation to CHeBA please contact h.douglass@unsw.edu.au.