Robinson Research Institute Annual Report 2015 Our vision is to achieve life-time health for all children and families, through research excellence. Our mission is to deliver world-class advances in knowledge of human reproduction, pregnancy and child health, and to inform clinical care, policy and practice that will improve health across generations and global communities. Contents Who we are 1 RRI at a glance 2 Message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) 3 Message from the Chair 4 Message from the Director 5 Research Priorities 6 Funding Highlights 28 Fellowships and Awards 30 Financials 32 Key Collaborations 33 International Visitor Spotlight 34 Institute Engagement 36 Media Impact 38 Research Groups 39 Fertility and Conception 40 Pregnancy and Birth 48 Early Origins of Health 52 Child and Adolescent Health 56 Fostering Research Excellence 64 Advisory Board 70 Executive Committee 71 Member List 72 Publications 74 Support us 87 Who we are We focus on the early stages of life to The Robinson Research improve the health and well-being of children and families over the life course Institute is a collective of and across generations, in Australia and internationally renowned around the world. We seek to enable a healthy start through researchers in human fertility choices and mindful conception, nurturing the baby during pregnancy and reproduction, pregnancy birth, strengthening the brain and body in early life, and advancing child and and child health at the adolescent health to treat and prevent University of Adelaide. disease. Annual Report 2015 1 RRI at a glance $15m+ 48 $42,800+ competitive funding Research Leaders donations 350+ 4 9 30+ 90+ 380+ Members Research Research Honours PhD publications Themes Priorities students students 5 5 17,300+ 7.5% 120+ Embedded in 5 Top ERA citations by citation Conference SA hospitals ranking of 5 for Research increase from papers all 3 rounds, Leaders 2014 research is well (Google above world Scholar) standard 2 Robinson Research Institute Message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) A vital aspect of any world-class university is delivering impact – real advances that benefit society and improve people’s lives. With more than 350 talented scientists and demonstrating that the stress hormone clinicians, the Robinson Research Institute cortisol affects brain plasticity and learning; seeks to improve lifetime health for children the discovery that obesity in parents changes and families through research excellence, DNA structure, leading to significantly and translating research discoveries to increased risk of obesity in children; and deliver better clinical care and health policy. defining health function changes in children Addressing the earliest phases of life is the with type 1 diabetes. key to solving many of the major health Looking through this report and reflecting conditions affecting Australians and people on the breadth and depth of the Institute’s across the globe. There is a strong societal research activities, I am confident the Institute and economic case for focussing on will continue to lead the way in transforming preconception, pregnancy and the child to the health of families around the world. deliver great dividends in our community. 2015 was yet another successful year for Professor Mike Brooks the Institute with many significant research Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) advances including: the discovery of a genetic contribution to cerebral palsy; Annual Report 2015 3 Message from the Chair In an increasingly competitive research environment, the Robinson Research Institute is taking measures to ensure it continues to be a research powerhouse into the future. Its future location in the new Adelaide Medical and Nursing School and the support by the University of Adelaide provide a strong and essential base for the continued success of the Institute. Collaboration and new partnerships will The Institute continues to demonstrate its also be key and I’m pleased to witness how leading capabilities, achieving an Excellence RRI members are adapting and devising in Research for Australia (ERA) rating of 5 for innovative approaches to tackle big research the third cycle in a row, demonstrating research questions. We can no longer rely on the outputs well above world standard – the only traditional sources of funding such as department in the country to achieve this NHMRC or ARC for research direct costs rating for all three cycles in the discipline of and salaries. It is essential that other avenues paediatrics and reproductive medicine. of funding be explored, requiring a different Thank you once again to the RRI Board mindset and different performance indicators. Members for the commitment, contribution Multi-disciplinary groups are clearly essential, and insight provided to the Institute during with clinicians and researchers working not 2015. We welcome Dr Susan Evans to the just across RRI research groups, but also Board who brings a community perspective with collaborators interstate and around the to our discussions as well as expertise world. Additionally, members are branching in the reproductive health of women. I’d out to form partnerships beyond their especially like to acknowledge the Director, peers, namely with the community, health Professor Sarah Robertson for her vision for professionals and corporates. the future of the Institute and for her inspiring This is in-line with the National Innovation leadership during challenging times. and Science Agenda and with the Research I look forward to continuing to Chair the Strategic Plan of the University of Adelaide. Advisory Board into 2016 and beyond, This vision seeks to match researchers and congratulate the RRI staff on another with industry to find solutions to real world outstanding year. problems. Professor Jock Findlay Chair 4 Robinson Research Institute Message from the Director 2015 was another strong year for the Robinson Research Institute. Our research continues to provide new understanding and practical solutions for important health conditions ranging from infertility through to preterm birth, and debilitating childhood conditions such as diabetes, obesity and infectious disease. I’m proud of our increasingly collaborative career researchers working in the Institute. approach, with most members now working We developed a funding scheme to seed across research groups and themes, and promising new projects, expanded our with national and international collaborators. mentoring scheme and established a High This enables not just incremental advances Performance Researcher Program to assist but bigger strides forward toward solving selected researchers in developing skills and major problems in reproduction, pregnancy characteristics for enhanced productivity and child health. It is clear that scale and and success. These new initiatives add to coordinated effort is essential to improving our series of funding schemes that support the complex conditions constraining health and enable researchers to work towards the and quality of life for children and families Institute’s priority goals. around the globe. Successes in 2015 are many, but a The Australian research space is changing highlight was securing an NHMRC Centre rapidly. The increasingly competitive research of Research Excellence to examine links environment raises new challenges and between in utero and perinatal events, and compels us to re-examine our focus and later childhood development and learning. ensure the relevance of our research to the Led by Professor John Lynch with a team wider community. To assist us with setting including Professors Michael Sawyer, Claire future directions we commissioned an Roberts and several others, the CRE will external Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) work to identify how best to protect our in 2015. The SAC comprises renowned children from mental health and learning experts in our field, Prof Moira Clay (Chair), disorders that limit their life chances. I am School building in the West End in early Prof John Aitken, Prof Jonathan Morris AM, delighted that this CRE embodies the RRI’s 2017, and the excitement and challenges Prof Peter Richmond and Prof Melissa Wake. core belief in the paramount importance that move will bring. They have been charged with identifying and of early life foundations of health, and also I am grateful to the University’s continuing providing critical advice on key capabilities, illustrates how multidisciplinary teams can encouragement and confidence in the limitations and opportunities, and guidance achieve more together than on their own. importance of the Institute’s research. We on making sustainable decisions for the In 2016 we will invest effort in key areas that are supported by the dedicated work of future. The first meeting held in November are critical to our future. Priorities will include the Institute’s professional staff, especially generated a helpful vision and plan for strengthening current relationships and Business Manager Marcus Goddard. I also 2016 and beyond, and I sincerely thank the building new diverse research partnerships thank the Advisory Board, and particularly committee for their dedication and valuable so that our skills and capabilities can be best Chair Professor Jock Findlay, for his support recommendations. applied in research that is meaningful to the and guidance. Additionally, we refined our management local, national and international community. I hope you enjoy reading this report and structure, appointing three Deputy