Catherine Dimasi, PhD

Dr Catherine Dimasi is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow within the Women and Kids Theme at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). Working in the Pregnancy and Newborn Health Program, her research aims to optimise the perinatal period to improve health outcomes across childhood and into adult life, with a particular focus on the role of omega‑3 fatty acids. Catherine holds a hybrid position as both the Project Manager for the Omega‑3 Test and Treat Program and a postdoctoral researcher.

Her expertise spans multiple aspects of reproductive and perinatal health, including ovarian function and early embryonic development, fetal growth—especially fetal growth restriction, preventing preterm birth, and improving lifelong health trajectories. She is passionate in improving pregnancy, infant, and maternal health through clinical research and implementation. Catherine also has a background that bridges basic science, preclinical studies, and clinical research.

Catherine completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (majoring in Biochemistry) and an Honours degree (Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences in Obstetrics and Gynaecology) at the University of Adelaide, where she investigated the effects of oxidative stress on preimplantation embryo development. She completed her PhD in the Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group at the University of South Australia, focusing on how fetal growth restriction influences fetal cardiac development and exploring the role of microRNAs in broader perinatal cardiac development.

Her research experience also includes work as a Research Assistant in SAHMRI’s Vascular Research Centre, contributing to projects investigating novel therapeutic targets to reduce plaque burden in atherosclerosis. Additionally, Catherine also worked in clinical trials at the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders at the University of Adelaide, where she supported first‑in‑human studies for new devices designed to treat atrial fibrillation.