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 2013

Hart R, Norman RJ. ‘The longer-term health outcomes for children born as a result of IVF treatment. Part II: mental health and development outcomes', Hum Reprod Update. 2013 Feb 28.

Hart R, Norman RJ. ‘The longer-term health outcomes for children born as a result of IVF treatment: Part I-General health outcomes', Hum Reprod Update. 2013 Feb 28.

Butler MS, Yang X, Ricciardelli C, Liang X, Norman RJ, Tilley WD, Hickey TE. ‘Small glutamine-rich tetratricopeptide repeat-containing protein alpha is present in human ovaries but may not be differentially expressed in relation to polycystic ovary syndrome', Fertil Steril. 2013 Feb 20.

Refereed Journal Articles 2012

Escobar-Morreale HF, Carmina E, Dewailly D, Gambineri A, Kelestimur F, Moghetti P, Pugeat M, Qiao J, Wijeyaratne CN, Witchel SF, Norman RJ. ‘Epidemiology, diagnosis and management of hirsutism: a consensus statement by the Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society', Hum Reprod Update. 2012 Dec 18.

Moran LJ, Norman RJ. ‘The effect of bariatric surgery on female reproductive function', J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Dec;97(12):4352-4. doi: 10.1210/jc.2012-3606.

Hammarberg K, Setter T, Norman RJ, Holden CA, Michelmore J, Johnson L. ‘Knowledge about factors that influence fertility among Australians of reproductive age: a population-based survey', Fertil Steril. 2012 Nov 14. doi:pii: S0015-0282(12)02343-6. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.10.031.

Lim SS, Norman RJ, Davies MJ, Moran LJ. ‘The effect of obesity on polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Obes Rev. 2013 Feb;14(2):95-109. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2012.01053.

Moran LJ, Noakes M, Wittert GA, Clifton PM, Norman RJ. ‘Weight loss and vascular inflammatory markers in overweight women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome’, Reprod Biomed Online. 2012 Jul 26.

Sullivan EA, Wang YA, Hayward I, Chambers GM, Illingworth P, McBain J, Norman RJ. ‘Single embryo transfer reduces the risk of perinatal mortality, a population study’, Hum Reprod. 2012 Sep 17.

Misso ML, Costello MF, Garrubba M, Wong J, Hart R, Rombauts L, Melder AM, Norman RJ, Teede HJ. ‘Metformin versus clomiphene citrate for infertility in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, Hum Reprod Update. 2012 Sep 6.

Misso ML, Teede HJ, Hart R, Wong J, Rombauts L, Melder AM, Norman RJ, Costello MF. ‘Status of clomiphene citrate and metformin for infertility in PCOS’, Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Aug 28.

Dunning KR, Watson LN, Sharkey DJ, Brown HM, Norman RJ, Thompson JG, Robker RL, Russell DL. ‘Molecular Filtration Properties of the Mouse Expanded Cumulus Matrix: Controlled Supply of Metabolites and Extracellular Signals to Cumulus Cells and the Oocyte’, Biol Reprod. 2012 Jul 25.

Lim SS, Davies MJ, Norman RJ, Moran LJ. ‘Overweight, obesity and central obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, Hum Reprod Update. 2012 Jul 4.

Joham AE, Teede HJ, Norman RJ. ‘Polycystic ovary syndrome: what do the new guidelines recommend?’, Medicine Today 2012; 13(5): 58-63.

Yang X, Wu LL, Chura LR, Liang X, Lane M, Norman RJ, Robker RL. ‘Exposure to lipid-rich follicular fluid is associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress and impaired oocyte maturation in cumulus-oocyte complexes’, Fertil Steril. 2012 Jun;97(6):1438-43.

Thomson RL, Brinkworth GD, Noakes M, Clifton PM, Norman RJ, Buckley JD. ‘The effect of diet and exercise on markers of endothelial function in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome’, Hum Reprod. 2012 May 2.

Norman RJ. ‘Does ovulation induction with follicle-stimulating hormone still have a future in polycystic ovary syndrome?’, Fertil Steril. 2012 May 8.

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. 2012 May 16;5:CD003053.

Smith CA, de Lacey S, Chapman M, Ratcliffe J, Norman RJ, Johnson N, Sacks G, Lyttleton J, Boothroyd C. ‘Acupuncture to improve live birth rates for women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial’, Trials. 2012 May 18;13(1):60.

Costello MF, Misso ML, Wong J, Hart R, Rombauts L, Melder A, Norman RJ, Teede HJ . ‘The treatment of infertility in polycystic ovary syndrome: a brief update’, Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2012 May 28.

Homan G, Litt J, Norman RJ. ‘The FAST study: Fertility ASsessment and advice Targeting lifestyle choices and behaviours: a pilot study’, Hum Reprod. 2012 May 30.

Witchel SF, Recabarren SE, González F, Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Cheang KI, Duleba AJ, Legro RS, Homburg R, Pasquali R, Lobo RA, Zouboulis CC, Kelestimur F, Fruzzetti F, Futterweit W, Norman RJ, Abbott DH. ‘Emerging concepts about prenatal genesis, aberrant metabolism and treatment paradigms in polycystic ovary syndrome’, Endocrine. 2012 Jun 4.

Reid SM, Norman RJ. ‘PCOS and thromboembolism: a complex case’, Endocrinology Today. April 2012.

Misso ML, Wong JLA, Teede HJ, Hart R, Rombauts L, Melder AM, Norman RJ, Costello MF. ‘Aromatase inhibitors for PCOS: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, Hum Reprod Update. 2012.

Wu LL, Russell DL, Norman RJ, Robker RL. ‘Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress in Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes Impairs Pentraxin-3 Secretion, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential ({Delta}{Psi}m), and Embryo Development’, Mol Endocrinol. 2012 Mar 1.

Boyle JA, Cunningham J, Dunbar T, O’Dea K, Norman RJ. ‘Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in sample of urban Indigenous women in Darwin, Australia’, The Medical Journal of Australia. 2012 Jan 16.

Fauser BC, Tarlatzis BC, Rebar RW, Legro RS, Balen AH, Lobo R, Carmina E, Chang J, Yildiz BO, Laven JS, Boivin J, Petraglia F, Wijeyeratne CN, Norman RJ et al, ‘Consensus on women's health aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): the Amsterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored 3rd PCOS Consensus Workshop Group’, Fertil Steril. 2012 Jan.

Book Chapters 2012

Norman RJ. ‘Manging Failures-Troubleshooting and Patient Counselling’. Handbook on Managing Infertility (Meeting the Challenges in Low-Resource Settings), Chapter 25, pp 212-215.

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.

Community Engagement

Media Reports 2011-2013
The following are representative but do not comprise a complete list:

2013

• 22/03/2013, ABC 7:30 Report, ‘Male fertility'
• 13/03/2013, 774 ABC Melbourne, ‘Having children over 40'
• 13/02/2013, ABC Radio 89.1, ‘Male fertility'
• 11/02/2013, 2MCE News, ‘A world-leading reproductive biologist says...discussing mens age and fertility'

2012

• 20/07/2012, ABC 612 Brisbane, ‘Genetic code of human sperm cells
• 03/07/2012, ABC 891 Adelaide, ‘Embryo selection’
• 21/06/2012, ABC 891 Adelaide/Radio Adelaide/Australia Punch/Channel 10 (Adelaide)/ABC 891 Adelaide/5AA Adelaide/NewsMaker/Sunday Mail Adelaide/Sunday Telegraph/Adelaide Now/City Messenger, ’30 years of IVF’

2011

• 22/11/2011, ABC 891 Adelaide, ‘Stemcell Tourism’
• 21/11/2011, ABC 891 Adelaide, ‘Medicare cuts to IVF benefits and the affect on Patients’
• 04/10/2011, Channel 7, Today Tonight:, ‘Age and Pregnancy’
• 20/09/2011, 5AA Adelaide, ‘Nutrition and Pregnancy’
• 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?’

Files

• Prof RJ Norman CV - April 2013 - ProfRJNorman_CV_Apr2013.docx [337.4K] (application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document)

Expertise for Media Contact

Entry last updated: Wednesday, 10 Apr 2013