The Raine Study Board has announced the appointment of two distinguished leaders who will guide the next phase of the world's longest-running pregnancy longitudinal cohort study.
Professor Margaret Byrne, PSM, has commenced as Director and early in the new year Associate Professor Philip Melton will take on the role of Scientific Director.
Catherine Resnick, Chair of the Raine Study board, said the appointments reflected the Raine Study's commitment to world-class research and governance.
"Margaret and Phillip bring the expertise needed to realise the potential for growth and development that our outgoing directors, Romola Bucks and Rebecca Glauert, have firmly established," Ms Resnick said. "The Raine Study moves confidently into its next phase."
Professor Byrne brings extensive leadership experience in science and governance as the former Executive Director of Biodiversity and Conservation Science for the WA Government.
She is a UWA graduate with expertise in molecular and life and biological sciences who has a strong academic record, with numerous scientific publications and extensive experience in research funding.
Professor Byrne's expertise spans governance, stakeholder engagement, and data repository management – critical for the Raine Study's biosamples and data assets.
"It's an honour to take on the leadership of the Raine Study, and I look forward to working with all our stakeholders to progress opportunities for continued delivery of world-class research," Professor Byrne said.
Associate Professor Melton is a long-standing contributor to the Raine Study with expertise in statistical genetics, computational biology and cohort research.
He has published 33 papers using Raine Study data and played key roles in international consortia such as Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics, Genetics of Differential Methylation and LifeCycle consortia for The Raine Study.
With Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, McCusker Foundation and Telethon7 funding, the Raine Study is delivering an unparalleled, multi-generation resource for researchers and policymakers, making it an invaluable asset for Western Australia and the global community.
