Congratulations to Professor Sarah Robertson who has been appointed as the new Director of the Robinson Institute. Sarah will take the reigns from Professor Rob Norman on Tuesday 1 October. An international leader in reproductive science, Sarah is very enthusiastic about the role and the Institute’s potential to solve the major health burdens associated with […]

In what is being hailed a world first, A/Prof Wendy Ingman and colleagues have identified a link between hormonal changes and a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. The breakthrough research focuses in on the role of immune cells known as macrophages, which are supposed to protect the body, but occasionally drop their guard. Now […]

We’ve all experienced the debilitating symptoms of infection. Shaking, shivering, bone aches and high fevers are the side effects of small hormone-like molecules produced by our immune system while fighting disease. When high levels of a particular molecule known as TNF are induced during some infections, side effects can include extreme pain, disability and even […]

Meningococcal disease is the leading infectious cause of death in children and adolescents, and can leave families reeling with its rapid and devastating impact. The Robinson Institute’s Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit has contributed to several important studies investigating the safety and efficacy of vaccines against the most common and virulent cause of meningococcal […]

Women’s bodies go through many biological changes when pregnant, and not just in the reproductive organs. Lung function is different during pregnancy: women who normally experience asthma may have it worsen, while others may experience asthma for the first time when pregnant. As head of the Robinson Institute’s Pregnancy and Development Group, Associate Professor Vicki […]

It has long been known that children born preterm are at increased risk of developmental problems, but to date, the tools to identify and treat affected individuals have been of limited effectiveness. Dr Julia Pitcher and Associate Professor Michael Ridding of the Robinson Institute’s Neuromotor Plasticity and Development (NeuroPAD) Group are interested in how the […]

Blood transfusions are one of the most common medical treatments required by preterm infants. Although the procedure undoubtedly saves many lives, emerging evidence suggests damage to the baby’s developing organ systems may be an associated risk. Associate Professor Michael Stark from the Robinson Institute’s Neonatal Medicine Group is interested in determining why the potential side […]

It would seem reasonable to assume that the longer a fetus remains inside the uterus, the better off the baby will be. However the risk of poor health outcomes in babies and mothers can in fact increase when pregnancies continue beyond term. One of the key decisions to be made by clinicians managing pregnancy is […]