Professor Robert Norman

Biography/ Background

Robert Norman holds a personal chair as Professor for Reproductive and Periconceptual Medicine at the University of Adelaide and is a subspecialist in reproductive medicine (CREI) and in endocrine biochemistry (FRCPA).  He is Director of the Robinson Institute at the University of Adelaide, a collection of 350 researchers in reproductive health and regenerative medicine.   He is leader of the NHMRC Program Grant on ‘Periconceptual origins of health and disease’ and has published over 300 peer-reviewed publications and one book. He serves on the editorial board of major journals.  His major research contributions have been in IVF and reproductive endocrinology, particularly in PCOS, the effect of lifestyle on reproductive outcomes and periconception medicine.  He is an active reproductive medicine specialist. He serves on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s research and embryo licensing committees.

www.robertjnorman.com 

Qualifications

1972 - BSc (Hons) Anatomical Sciences, First class, University of Birmingham

1974 - MB ChB (Hons), University of Birmingham

1983 - MD, University of Natal, Durban

FRANZCOG, FRCPA, FRCPath, FRCOG, CREI

Awards & Achievements

• 2010 - Included in the 2010 Edition of Who’s Who in the World

• 2009 - SA Great Award for Health awarded for best contribution to Health in South Austalia.

• 2009 - SA Great Award for Science awarded for best contribution to Science in South Australia.

• 2009 - South Australian Scientist of the Year awarded for most outstanding scientific leadership.

• 2009 - Healthy Development Adelaide, winner of SA Science Excellence Award for Research for Collaboration

• 2007 - NHMRC award – named one of 10 of the Best Great Minds in Australian Research

• 2007-2009 - Member of The Queen Elizabeth Research Foundation Research Advisory Committee

• 2006-2008 - Member of RANZCOG Research Foundation  Scholarship Selection Committee

• 2006-present - Uni of Adelaide representative on Research Committee of Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation

• 2006 - Finalist in Premier’s Science Excellence Awards for Research Leadership

• 2005 - Finalist in Premier’s Science Excellence Awards for Research Leadership

• 2001 - Australasian Menopause Society Award/Novo Nordisk Award.

• 2001 - SA Great Award for Health as CEO of Repromed Pty Ltd

• 1987 - South Africa Medical Research Council award to Nobel Prize winner’s meeting, Germany

• 1983 - ICI Clinical Research Scholarship, Dept. Reproductive Physiology, St   Bartholomew’s Hospital UK.

• 1971 - Nuffield Dominions Travelling Scholarship to Britain, Dept. Anatomy, University of Birmingham, UK

• 1968 - City of Salisbury Scholarship to study Medicine in Salisbury, Rhodesia

Research Interests

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Ovarian Physiology and Reproductive Endocrinology
• Assisted Reproduction
• Gonadotrophin Structure and Function
• Cytokines & Reproductive Function
  

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles 2011

Boyle JA, Cunningham J, Dunbar T, O'Dea K & Norman RJ. ‘A high prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in sample of urban Indigenous women in Darwin', The Medical Journal of Australia. In press (accepted 12/10/2011).
Norman RJ. ‘The power of one and its cost', The Medical Journal of Australia. In press (accepted 08/10/2011).

Janse F, Eijkemans M, Goverde AJ, Lentjes EG, Hoek A, Lambalk CB, Hickey TE, Fauser B & Norman RJ. ‘Assessment of androgen concentrations in women: liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry and extraction radioimmunoassay show comparable results. Eur J Endocrinol. In press (accepted 03/10/11). [Epub ahead of print].

Escobar-Moreale H, Carmina E, Dewailly D, Gambineri A, Kelestimur F, Moghetti P, Pugeat M, Wijeyaratne CN, Witchel S & Norman RJ. ‘Epidemiology, diagnosis and management of hirsutisma: a consensus statement by the Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (AE-PCOS) Society', Hum Reprod. In press (accepted 20/9/11).

Teede HJ, Misso ML, Deeks AA, Moran LJ, Stuckey BG, Wong JJ, Norman RJ & Costello MF. ‘Assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome: summary of an evidence-based guideline'. The Medical Journal of Australia. 2011 September 19; 195(6): s65-s112

Fauser B, Tarlatzis BC, Rebar B, Legro RS, Balen AH, Lobo RA, Carmina E, Chang JR, Yildiz BO, Laven JS, Boivin J, Petraglia F, Wijeyeratne CN, Norman RJ, Dunaif A, Franks S, Wild RA, Dumesic D & Barnhart K. ‘Consensus of women's health aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)', Hum Reprod. In press (accepted 2011) 

Ngo DT, Chan WP, Rajendran S, Heresztyn T, Amarasekera A, Sverdlov AL, O’Loughlin PD, Morris HA, Chirkov YY, Norman RJ, Horowitz JD. ‘Determinants of insulin responsiveness in young women: Impact of polycystic ovarian syndrome, nitric oxide, and vitamin D’, Nitric Oxide, 30 June 2011 [Epub ahead of print].

Moran LJ, Tsagareli V, Norman RJ, Noakes M. ‘Diet and IVF Approaches (DIVA) pilot study: Short-term weight loss improves pregnancy rates in overweight / obese women undertaking IVF’,  Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, in press (accepted 27/5/11).

Norman RJ, Zegers-Hochschild F, Salle BS, Elbers J, Heijen E, Marintcheva-Petrova M, Mannaerts B; for the Trust Investigators. ‘Repeated ovarian stimulation with corifollitropin alfa in patients in a GnRH antagonist protocol: no concern for immunogenicity’, Hum Reprod. 2011 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]

Dunning KR, Akison LK, Russell DL, Norman RJ, Robker RL. ‘Increased Beta-Oxidation and Improved Oocyte Developmental Competence in Response to L-Carnitine During Ovarian In Vitro Follicle Development in Mice’, Biol Reprod. 2011 May 25. [Epub ahead of print]

Hickey M, Doherty DA, Atkinson H, Sloboda DM, Franks S, Norman RJ, Hart R. ‘Clinical, ultrasound and biochemical features of polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescents: implications for diagnosis’, Hum Reprod. 2011 Apr 8.

Hart R, Doherty DA, Mori T, Huang RC, Norman RJ, Franks S, Sloboda D, Beilin L, Hickey M. ‘Extent of metabolic risk in adolescent girls with features of polycystic ovary syndrome’, Fertil Steril. 2011 Mar 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Moran LJ, Hutchison SK, Norman RJ, Teede HJ. ‘Lifestyle changes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome’, Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Feb 16;2:CD007506.

Refereed Journal Articles 2010

McLernon DJ, Harrild K, Bergh C, Davies MJ, de Neubourg D, Dumoulin JCM, Gerris J, Kremer JAM, Martikainen H, Mol BW, Norman RJ et al. ‘Clinical effectiveness of elective single versus double embryo transfer: meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials’, British Medical Journal 2010.

Moran LJ, Hutchison SK, Norman RJ, Teede HJ. ‘2010, Lifestyle changes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, in press.

Norman RJ, Thomas A. James Boyer Brown 1919-2009. Hum Reprod. 2010 Oct 5. 

Fauser BCJM, Nargund G, Andersen AN, Norman R et al. Mild ovarian stimulation for IVF: 10 years later. Hum Reprod. 2010 Sep 21.

Wu LL, Dunning KR, Yang X, Russell DL, Lane M, Norman RJ, Robker RL. High-fat diet causes lipotoxicity responses in cumulus-oocyte complexes and decreased fertilisation rates. Endocrinology. 2010 Sep 22. [Epub ahead of print].

Dunning KR, Cashman K, Russell DL, Thompson JG, Norman RJ, Robker RL. Beta-Oxidation Is Essential for Mouse Oocyte Developmental Competence and Early Embryo Development. Biol Reprod. 2010 Aug 4. [Epub ahead of print].

Hickey TE, Norman RJ. Biomarkers: Polycystic ovary syndrome: steroid assessment for diagnosis. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2010 Jun;6(6):305-7.

Anderson K, Norman RJ, Middleton P. Preconception lifestyle advice for people with subfertility. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Apr 14;4:CD008189. Review.

Moran L, Norman RJ. The effect of modifying dietary protein and carbohydrate in weight loss on arterial compliance and postprandial lipidaemia in overweight women with polcycystic ovary syndrome.  Fertil Steril. 2010 Apr 10. [Epub ahead of print].

Wild RA, Carmina E, Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Dokras A, Norman RJ et al. Assessment of cardiovascular risk and prevention of cardiovascular disease in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome:  a consensus statement by the Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (AE-PCOS) Society.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 May;95(5):2038-49. Epub 2010 Apr 7. Review.

Hickey M, Doherty DA, Hart R, Norman RJ, Mattes E, Atkinson HC, Sloboda DM. Maternal and umbilical cord androgen concentrations do not predict digit ratio (2D:4D) in girls: a prospective cohort study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2010 Sep;35(8):1235-44. Epub 2010 Mar 17.

Lim S, Norman R, Clifton P, Noakes M.  The effect of comprehensive lifestyle intervention or metformin on obesity in young women. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2010 Feb 15. [Epub ahead of print].

Moran LJ, Misso ML, Wild RA, Norman RJ. Impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2010 Jul-Aug;16(4):347-63. Epub 2010 Feb 16. Review.

Hart R, Sloboda DM, Doherty DA, Norman RJ, Atkinson HC, Newnham JP, Dickinson JE,

Hickey M.  Circulating maternal testosterone concentrations at 18 weeks of gestation predfict circulating levels of antimullerianhormone in adolescence: a prospective cohort study.  Fertil Steril. 2010 Sep;94(4):1544-7. Epub 2010 Feb 13.

Tang T, Lord JM, Norman RJ, Yasmin E, Balen AH. Insulin-sensitising drugs (metformin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, D-chiro-inositol) for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, oligo amenorrhoea and subfertility. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;(1):CD003053. Review.

Hart R, Doherty DA, Norman RJ, Ffanks S, Dickinson JE, Hickey M, Sloboda DM.  Serum antimullerian hormone (AMH) levels are elevated in adolescent girls with polycystic ovaries and the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).  Fertil Steril. 2010 Aug;94(3):1118-21. Epub 2010 Jan 8.

Thomson RL, Buckley JD, Lim SS, Noakes M, Clifton PM, Norman RJ, Brinkworth GD. Lifestyle management improves quality of life and depression in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2010 Oct;94(5):1812-6. Epub 2009 Dec 11.

March WA, Moore VM, Willson KJ, Phillips DI, Norman RJ, Davies MJ.  The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in a community sample assessed under contrasting diagnostic crieteria. Hum Reprod 2010 Feb;25(2):544-51. 

McLernon DJ, Harrild K, Bergh C, Davies MJ, de Neuborg D, Dumoulin JCM, Gerris J, Kremer J, Martikainen H, Mol BW, Norman RJ et al. Clinical effectiveness of elective single versus double embryo transfer: results from an individual patient data meta-analysis of randomised trials. British Medical Journal. Accepted September 2010.

Hickey T, Norman RJ. Maternal and umbilical cord androgen concentrations do not predict digit ratio (2D:4D) in adolescent females: a prospective cohort study. March 2010 Psychoneuroendocrinology. In press

Anderson K, Nisenblat V, Norman RJ.  Lifestyle factors inpeople seeking infertility treatment – A review. The Australia and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2010 50:8-20

Community Engagement

Media Reports 2010-2011
The following are representative but do not comprise a complete list:

2011

• 07/09/2011, 5AA Adelaide/3AW Melbourne/6PR Perth/4BC Brisbane/ABC 612 Brisbane, ‘Taking drugs such as Nurofen and Voltaren early in pregnancy could increase the risks of miscarriage’
• 07/09/2011, The Age Melbourne, ‘Miscarriage risk doubled: drug study’
• 03/05/2011, Channel 9 Today, ‘The Egg Timer Test’
• 10/04/2011, Sunday Mail Adelaide, ‘Out of Time’
• 22/02/2011, The Australian, ‘Fibre optics to monitor health of IVF embryos’
• 18/01/2011, ABC 891 Adelaide, ‘Surrogacy in Australia’
• 12/01/2011, Adelaide Advertiser, ‘Whatever happened to just having a healthy baby?’

2010

• 21/12/2010, Adelaide Advertiser, ‘Get healthy, dads warned’
• 26/11/2010, Adelaide Advertiser, ‘One in five still have a puff while pregnant’
• 09/11/2010, Northern Territory News, ‘Couples turned off by GFC’
• 06/11/2010, The Advertiser, ‘Technology opens up new ethical issues on embryo rights’
• 04/11/2010, Canberra Times, ‘Cash crunch puts the brakes on bubs’; Daily Telegraph, ‘Too poor for kids’
• 11/10/2010, 5AA Radio Adelaide, ‘Fertility Society Australia conference’
• 10/10/2010, Sunday Canberra Times, ‘IVF Baby Boom Feels Labour Pains’
• 05/10/2010, ABC Radio 981 Adelaide, ‘New breakthroughs in IVF birth technologies’
• September 2010, Adelaide Review, ‘125 years of medical history at the University of Adelaide’
• 29/07/2010, 5AA Radio Adelaide, IVF
• July 2010, Today Tonight Sydney, ‘Parent’s Rights’
• 15/6/2010, Today Tonight Channel 7, ‘Fertility and a Healthy Lifestyle’
• June 2010, Channel 7 News, ‘Early Menopause’
• 29/04/2010, The Advertiser, ‘More mums now finding that life begins at 40’
• 15/03/2010, ABC Radio 891, ‘Sex selection of embryos’
• 29/01/2010, 5AA Radio, ‘Ovarian reserve and other reproductive health issues’
• 28/01/2010, The Advertiser, ‘Just why the biological close is ticking at 30’
• 9/01/2010, The Advertiser, ‘A Foundation for Healthy Life’

Files

• Prof RJ Norman CV for website - ProfRobNormanCVforWebsite_Sept2011.docx [247.8K] (application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document)
• Prof RJ Norman CV for website - ProfRobNormanCVforWebsite_Sept2011.docx [247.8K] (application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document)

Expertise for Media Contact

Categories	Medicine and medical research, Fertility & reproduction
Expertise	IVF; in vitro fertilisation; assisted reproduction; fertility; menopause; reproduction; obstetrics and gynaecology, obesity and reproduction, ART, embryo, preconception counselling, reproductive medicine; polycystic ovary syndrome; PCOS
Notes	Alt phone: 0450840245
Mobile	0450840245
After hours	(08) 8332 9116

Entry last updated: Sunday, 5 Feb 2012