Top specialist to lead women’s and children’s health research institute

A world-renowned reproductive biomedical specialist whose research is helping to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies has been named as the new Director for the University of Adelaide’s Robinson Research Institute (RRI).

Professor David MacIntyre will join the RRI from Imperial College London (UK), where his research has led to new understandings of how microbial communities in the female reproductive tract can increase or reduce the risk of miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes and preterm birth. He also led the development of new technologies for the rapid testing of the vaginal microbiome and treatments designed to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.

I’m excited to bring my experience and passion for improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes to this new role at the Robinson Research Institute, which is home to world-class advances in reproduction, pregnancy and child health.Professor David MacIntyre

Building on more than 60 years of pioneering research at the University of Adelaide, the RRI aims to inform clinical care, policy, and practice to progress women’s and children’s health across generations and global communities.

University of Adelaide Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Laura Parry said Professor MacIntyre’s appointment will complement the existing research strengths at the RRI and also catalyse new approaches in the integration and analysis of genomic, transcriptomic and microbiomic data.

“I am thrilled to welcome Professor MacIntyre to the University of Adelaide’s Robinson Research Institute. With his outstanding research track record and experience, Professor MacIntyre is the latest example of the top talent the University is attracting to help achieve its goal of building a better future for families in Australia and around the world,” said Professor Parry.

Professor MacIntyre is currently the Professor of Reproductive Systems Medicine, and Section Head of Pregnancy, Parturition and Prematurity at the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology at the Imperial College London. He is also the Scientific Director of the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at the College.

He received his PhD in Reproductive Medicine at the University of Newcastle (Australia), before undertaking postdoctoral training in metabolic profiling at the Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe in Valencia, Spain where he was awarded the Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship. He also received the UK’s prestigious Medical Research Council Career Development Award, which enabled him to develop an internationally recognised research program focused on understanding how the vaginal microbiome influences reproductive health outcomes.

His research has been awarded grants from major funding bodies including the March of Dimes, UK Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Gates Foundation, and European Research Council, which supports collaborations in the UK, USA, China, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Zambia and Ghana.

Professor MacIntyre will start as Director of the Robinson Research Institute at the beginning of March.

Media contact: Jessica Stanley, Media Officer, The University of Adelaide. Mobile: +61 (0)422 406 351, Email: jessica.stanley@adelaide.edu.au