About the course

Professor Stuart Hooper (profile)

• NHMRC Principal Research Fellow
• Centre Head, The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
• Research Group Head, Fetal and Neonatal Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research

Professor Hooper completed his PhD in Reproductive Endocrinology at Monash University and then his postdoctoral training in fetal development at Monash University and the University of Western Ontario in Canada.

Aligned with The Ritchie Centre’s Fetal and Neonatal Health group, Professor Stuart Hooper established the Fetal and Neonatal Laboratory to apply synchrotron technology to progress understanding of the physiology of fetal and neonatal lung development and the factors that regulate the transition to air breathing at birth. By understanding these changes, it will become possible to moderate the impact of pre-term birth and other problems such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, on the health of the infant after birth; a diaphragmatic hernia allows abdominal contents to move into the chest cavity during fetal life, which causes the lungs to stop growing.

Professor Hooper has published 197 research and review scientific articles. He is a past president of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and is currently the lead Investigator on a NHMRC Program Grant ($8.5M) and a USA NIH RO1 grant ($1.7M US).

Professor Euan Wallace AM (profile)

• Carl Wood Professor and Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University

Professor Wallace is one of Australia’s leading specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology. He joined Monash University in 1996 as a Fellow in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, becoming a Senior Lecturer (1997-2000) and subsequently an Associate Professor (2000-2006) in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In 2006 he was awarded a personal chair, named in honour of the inaugural head of department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Monash University – Professor Carl Wood. In 2013, Professor Wallace succeeded Professor David Healy as the Head of the Department, establishing the Carl Wood Chair as the Head of Department chair. From 2006 Professor Wallace was Director of Women’s Program at Monash Health, Australia’s largest women’s health service. Under his leadership, Monash Health is now home to Victoria's largest maternity service. He also provided strong medical leadership to Victoria's first public hospital home birth program through Casey Hospital, ensuring public hospital patients have the same choices of pregnancy care as women accessing private home birth services. Professor Wallace established Australia's first guidelines on fetal surveillance and the Fetal Surveillance Education Program, which are now in every hospital providing maternity care in the country. In December 2016 he stepped down as Program Director to take up the role of CEO, Safer Care Victoria, a new office for healthcare quality and safety improvement within the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.

Professor Wallace is also an Executive member of The Ritchie Centre, one of the world's leading research centres for perinatal and women’s health research. The Centre is a collaboration between Monash University, the Hudson Institute for Medical Research and Monash Health. Within The Ritchie Centre, Professor Wallace leads the maternal and perinatal research group and has authored more than 260 peer-reviewed publications. His research is focused on preeclampsia, fetal development, cerebral palsy, stem cells and regenerative medicine, and patient safety.

In 2013 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contributions to medicine in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. In October 2014 Professor Wallace was awarded a Minister's Health Lifetime Achievement Award at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Victorian public health system. This award is the Minister's highest honour for an individual. In 2015 he was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

Associate Professor Graeme Polglase (profile)

• NHMRC and NHFA Career Development Fellow
• Deputy Director, The Ritchie Centre, Monash University
• Research Group Head, Perinatal Transition, Hudson Institute of Medical Research

A/Professor Polglase completed his PhD in Physiology at Monash University and then his postdoctoral training in neonatal respiratory function at The University of Western Australia.

A/Professor Polglase established the perinatal transition laboratory and integrates real-time physiological recordings with the latest imaging modalities (Echocardiography, MRI) to determine the underlying mechanisms that regulate the transition of the cardiovascular circulation at birth. His research extends to preterm and compromised newborns, including those exposed to chorioamnionitis, sepsis, growth restriction or hypoxia/asphyxia in the perinatal period.

A/Professor Polglase has published 160 research and review scientific and clinical papers. He is a strong advocate for early career researchers and currently the lead Investigator on 2 NHMRC Project Grants.