The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development
Health
We are transforming the understanding of the human brain and its complex processes - from birth through to old age - so we can better care for and nurture and maintain its cognitive performance as it develops, and understand how it combats stress, diseases, and disorders as we age.
Data
Using traditional and neuromorphic sensor technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), we are shaping how sectors such as manufacturing, health, and defence capture, analyse and visualise data to improve decision making.
Space & Defence
We combine our deep understanding of the human brain and human behaviour with systems design and engineering to deliver solutions that bring technology, operations and people in the field closer together. This reduces the complexity of information capture and processing in environments that can change abruptly, where every second counts.
Early Life & Aged Care
Understanding how the human brain develops during the first few months of life is crucial to establishing “best-practice” methods for optimal child development. Comprehensive knowledge of this early brain development is also pivotal in the diagnosis, assessment and mitigation of diseases and disorders as we progress through life.
Art & Music Sciences
Arts permeate every aspect of human existence, and yet we don’t fully understand how engaging with the arts impacts us at a neurological level or why or how it has such wide-ranging benefits. We are changing this by bringing together musicians, performers, composers, psychologists, neuroscientists, linguists and engineers to measure how art impacts the brain.
Human Communication
From the moment we are born our ability to communicate develops and adapts based on our physical abilities, social settings, cultural contexts, and brain function. We are transforming our understanding of how humans produce and perceive communication across the lifespan.
Mission
The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development conducts world-class interdisciplinary research that advances knowledge and finds sustainable solutions to practical problems concerning human interactions, new technologies, and our interaction with the environment.
The Institute’s vision is to optimise human interaction and wellbeing across the lifespan. MARCS Institute strives to solve the problems that matter most through the themes sensing and perceiving, interacting with each other, and technologies for humans.
Our Research
Westmead Innovation Quarter
WIQ brings Western Sydney University together with community, healthcare, industry and gov…
Case Studies
Discover how MARCS research is shaping sectors such as health, defence, music and arts, sp…
Explore Our Labs
MARCS has excellent state of the art labs and equipment that attracts researchers and stud…
Opportunities
Anne Cutler Visiting Fellowship Program 2027
Read about the Anne Cutler International Visiting Fellowship program opportunity!
BabyLab Podcast Season 2!
Tune in for science-backed parenting tips and stories shared by parents and researchers at The MARCS Institute.
ICNS Master's Program
Our world-first program prepares students for industry opportunities or a research pathway…
News & Highlights
Free & Interactive Brain Health Activation
12-18 October 2026 | 10am - 4pm | Westfield Parramatta
Join us at the Brain Station, a free interactive brain health activation designed to support greater awareness of brain health and dementia risk reduction. Explore a multilingual exhibition, complete a brain health check, discover personalised results, and connect with the Brain Station team led by A/Prof Joyce Siette. Resources are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
Ageing Well in Western Sydney & Beyond
This White Paper offering insights into both the challenges and the success stories that have led to healthier, more inclusive communities.