Our Research Advisory Committee

Providing advice and direction to the Board on the quality of research undertaken at the institute.
Our Research Advisory Committee

SAHMRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) conducts a review every two years to provide advice and direction to the Board on the quality of research undertaken at the institute.

The RAC specifically reviews:

  • The research conducted within SAHMRI to ensure it is of excellent quality and scientific merit, as well as being aligned with SAHMRI’s research strategy
  • SAHMRI’s strategic plan to provide advice about how the institute can achieve its strategic goals through the research undertaken.

Our Research Advisory Committee

Sir Edward Byrne is a neuroscientist who served as Principal of King's College London from August 2014 until January 2021. He was previously Vice-Chancellor of Monash University.

See Sir Edward Bryne’s full King’s College London bio here.

Professor Caroline Homer is a leading midwifery researcher in Australia with an international reputation as a scholar and leader in maternal and newborn health care and service delivery. She obtained her PhD in 2001 and has led research and development projects in Australia and internationally, especially in relation to health services delivery, reproductive, maternal and newborn care, human resources for health workforce development and midwifery education.

See Professor Homer’s full Burnet Institute bio here.

Professor Ian Frazer is a clinician scientist who was trained as a clinical immunologist in Scotland. As a professor at the University of Queensland, he leads a research group working on the immunobiology of epithelial cancers. He is recognised as co-inventor of the technology enabling the HPV vaccines which are currently used worldwide to help prevent cervical cancer.

See Professor Frazer’s full University of Queensland bio here.

Professor Justin McArthur is nationally and internationally recognised for his work in studying the natural history, development and treatment of HIV infection, multiple sclerosis and other neurological infections and immune-mediated neurological disorders. He has also developed a technique to use cutaneous nerves to study sensory neuropathies, including those associated with chemotherapy, HIV and diabetes. Professor McArthur is the founding director of the Johns Hopkins/National Institute of Mental Health Research Center for Novel Therapeutics of HIV-associated Cognitive Disorders in Baltimore, Maryland.

See Professor McArthur’s full Johns Hopkins bio here.

Professor Reid is Tumuaki (Deputy Dean) and the Head of Department of Maori Health at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She holds science and medical degrees from the University of Auckland and is a specialist in public health medicine. Professor Reid is a member of Te Rarawa iwi in North Hokianga and her research interests include analysing disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous citizens as a means of monitoring government commitment to Indigenous rights.

See Professor Reid’s full University of Auckland bio here.

Professor Sharon Lewin is a leading infectious diseases expert and the inaugural Director of the Doherty Institute. She is also a Professor of Medicine at The University of Melbourne and a NHMRC Practitioner Fellow. As an infectious diseases physician and basic scientist, her laboratory focuses on basic, translational and clinical research aimed at finding a cure for HIV and understanding the interaction between HIV and hepatitis B virus.

See Professor Lewin’s full Doherty Institute bio here.

Professor Vicki Anderson is a paediatric neuropsychologist who works across clinical, research and academic sectors. She is the Director of Psychology at The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia and Director or Clinical Sciences Research with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI). Professor Anderson is an Australian National Health and Medical Research Senior Practitioner Fellow and a University of Melbourne Professorial Fellow (Psychology & Paediatrics). Her primary research and clinical interest focusses on improving outcomes from early childhood brain disorders.

See Professor Anderson’s full MCRI bio here.

Professor Vlado Perkovic is Dean of Medicine and Scientia Professor at UNSW, a Professorial Fellow at The George Institute and a Staff Specialist in Nephrology at the Royal North Shore Hospital. His research focus is in clinical trials and epidemiology, in particular in preventing the progression of kidney disease and its complications. Professor Perkovic leads several major international clinical trials and serves on the Steering Committees of several others. He has been involved in developing Australian and global guidelines in kidney disease, cardiovascular risk assessment and blood pressure management.

See Professor Perkovic’s full UNSW bio here.