Professor Richard Head is responsible for the management and delivery of science focused on early detection and intervention in chronic diseases of significance to Australia.
Current activities
As Director, Professor Head provides leadership to a multidisciplinary team of more than 162 research scientists and technical staff with skills in genomics and proteomics, biotechnology, bioinformatics and statistical data analysis, structural biology, information technology, psychology and food and nutritional sciences.
Under Professor Head’s leadership the Preventative Health Flagship engages with seven CSIRO Divisions, over 30 Australian and eight international or overseas research institutions and agencies. Specifically the Director oversees development of approaches to early detection and intervention in colorectal cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and obesity.
Professor Head is also Coordinator of the 'Promoting Health' Sector Domain across CSIRO.
Background
Professor Head has undertaken:
Professor Head has had 40 years research experience nationally and internationally in investigating the aetiology of chronic diseases that affect societies.
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training as a pharmacologist, University of Adelaide, South Australia
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postdoctoral training at the Roche institute of Molecular Biology, USA.
He has been:
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Research Fellow, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University, USA
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Affiliate Professor of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Adelaide
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Chief, CSIRO Division of Health Sciences and Nutrition
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Director of the Preventative Health National Research Flagship since its inception in 2002.
Professor Head has had 40 years research experience nationally and internationally in investigating the aetiology of chronic diseases that affect societies.
He has published extensively in the cardiovascular and nutrition areas, most notably in expanding our knowledge in the role of the sympathetic nervous system in hypertension and the influence of dietary lipids on vascular function.
He was one of the key international drivers in the concept of vascular hypernoradrenergic innervation in hypertension.
Academic qualifications
Professor Head was awarded a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Adelaide.
Achievements
Professor Head has published extensively in the biomedical science area and managed science portfolios of significant size. Within CSIRO, he has had the unique experience of being Chief of two Divisions, Flagship Director and Affiliate Professor of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology at the University of Adelaide.
Professor Head was responsible for initiation and development of one of the first Flagships in CSIRO’s National Research Flagships Program, which has grown to significant standing. Many of the contemporary research management and governance practices employed across CSIRO derive from those early developments.
Professor Head is often called upon as a keynote speaker and has been responsible for co-development of major national and international conferences.
Professor Head is a member of a range of scientific societies, administrative groups and boards. He is currently:
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Board Member, Australian e-Health Research Centre
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Board Member, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science Advisory Board, University of Adelaide
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Member of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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Member of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology
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Member of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists
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Member of the Nutrition Society of Australia
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Member of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia
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Member of the Australian Science Media Centre Science Advisory Panel
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Member of the RiAus (Royal Institution of Australia) Program Advisory Group
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Champion, Twinning Teachers and Scientist Program, South Australian Bragg Initiative
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He has also been a member of the:
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Board of Directors for GroPep Pty Ltd
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Board of Management for the Cooperative Research Centre for Tissue Growth and Repair
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Cooperative Research Centre for Diagnostic Technologies
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Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology
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Australian Vascular Biology Society.
Find out more about the Preventative Health Flagship.
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