RESEARCHER PROFILE
Professor Alice Rumbold (Filmed November 2023)
Perinatal epidemiologist & Co-Theme Leader of
SAHMRI Women and Kids
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute &
Research Leader, Robinson Research Institute
University of Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia
Professor Alice Rumbold is Theme Leader of SAHMRI Women and Kids, managing a multidisciplinary research team focussed on improving health outcomes for women, babies and families. She also holds an affiliate position as a Research Leader within the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide.
An epidemiologist and health services researcher, she is internationally renowned for her leadership of large-scale clinical trials, epidemiological studies and systematic review activities to improve perinatal and reproductive health care. She is passionate about improving health outcomes for women and babies, particularly those experiencing vulnerability. Her current research interests include preterm birth, breastfeeding, human milk banking and infertility.
She has held continuous NHMRC funding as a CI since 2007, totalling >$21.2m across 13 grants, including a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship. Her research has generated significant publications in top-ranking journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Global Health, British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Human Reproduction and American Journal of Epidemiology, including 11 papers with over 100 citations.
Professor Rumbold’s current research is primarily focused on improving breastfeeding outcomes in preterm babies. She runs several clinical trials that aim to improve breastfeeding outcomes in premature babies, a vulnerable group that is known to have difficulties with establishing breastfeeding. Alice’s research tests new interventions to improve breastfeeding outcomes in these babies, as breast milk is particularly crucial for their development.
Professor Rumbold finds motivation and inspiration from the families participating in her research. These families often participate while knowing that they may not receive direct benefits from the research. She is also driven by the potential to have lifelong impacts on health and opportunities by improving outcomes in the early months of life.
Apart from research, Professor Rumbold loves music. She enjoys listening to it, playing it, and attending live music events. She is a keen cellist and pianist and was previously involved with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.
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Oral administration of insulin for Type 1 Diabetes
Huiwen Pang is a 3rd year PhD candidate in the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, focusing on biomedical health research. Prior to commencing his PhD, Huiwen studied animal genetics in his Masters degree at Huazhong Agriculture University in China.
People with diabetes, especially Type 1 diabetes, largely rely on the insulin injections or insulin pumps to control their high blood glucose levels, which is painful and has a high risk of infections.
Huiwen Pang is conducting research on nano-based drug formulations for Type 1 diabetes treatment, with a focus on using nanomaterials to load insulin for oral administration and employing anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory approaches to mitigate damage to beta cells.
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Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism
Assoc Prof Jack is passionate about the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents, with diverse research areas including the impacts of family friendly workplace initiatives, screening and management of thyroid disorders in infants and children. She supports her First Nations colleagues on Indigenous-led research projects funded by the Medical Research Future Fund, aiming to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations Children. Through her clinical and academic roles, Assoc Prof Jack hopes to make a positive difference to the health and well-being of children and their families.
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Dr Paul Griffin
MATER HEALTH SERVICES, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
