Professor Sophia Zoungas has been appointed Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health Australia, succeeding Professor Bruce Neal, who has led the Institute's Australian operations since 2019.
Professor Zoungas trained in medicine and clinical research in Australia and completed a highly successful postdoctoral fellowship at The George Institute for Global Health, where she led pioneering research in diabetes and cardiorenal health. During this time, she played a critical role in the landmark ADVANCE (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron MR Controlled Evaluation) trial and its subsequent follow-up study, shaping global guidelines on blood pressure and glucose control in type 2 diabetes. She later joined the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University and was soon promoted to Professor of Diabetes, Vascular Health and Ageing.
Professor Zoungas returns to The George Institute from Monash University, where she served for seven years as Head of the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Under her leadership, the school rose to 40th in the world in the Shanghai Rankings. During her tenure, she established the Monash University Clinical Trials Centre and Health Economics Group and led the school to achieve more than $90 million in research income in 2025.
She brings an exceptional record of research leadership to her new role. An internationally recognised clinician scientist and trialist, Professor Zoungas has made landmark contributions to the fields of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney health and healthy ageing. She is a prolific researcher, with more than 340 publications in leading journals including The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine, and over 35,000 citations (H index 88). Her work has influenced global clinical guidelines and reshaped health practice worldwide.
Her research focuses on:
- Large-scale clinical trials: Designing and leading multinational trials and cohort studies that directly inform public health policy and clinical care guidelines.
- Chronic disease prevention: Generating evidence to improve the screening and management of diabetes and related comorbidities/complications, particularly kidney and heart disease.
- Healthy ageing: Developing personalised treatment approaches to support longer, healthier lives for people living with chronic conditions.
Professor Zoungas holds numerous professional affiliations, including Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Member of the Australian Diabetes Society, and Member of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Global Council.
She is the lead for the Australian Diabetes Clinical Quality Registry (ADCQR), a national initiative dedicated to improving standards of diabetes care.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to diabetes research, cardiovascular outcomes, and national diabetes care systems in Australia, in 2022 she was awarded the Kellion Award by the Australian Diabetes Society (the society's highest honour).
"Sophia brings exactly the combination of scientific excellence in relation to our key focus on non-communicable diseases, research leadership and genuine commitment to health equity that The George Institute stands for. Her track record of translating evidence into real-world impact is exceptional and we are thrilled to welcome her to this role.
This is a pivotal time for global health and Sophia's expertise in large-scale clinical trials and implementation science will be invaluable as we continue to grow our impact in Australia and around the world.
By:Professor Anushka Patel
CEO and Director of The George Institute for Global Health and Scientia Professor at UNSW Sydney
Professor Zoungas said she was honoured to be returning to an institute with such a strong record of improving health outcomes for people around the world.
"The George Institute has a remarkable history of turning scientific discovery into meaningful change for individuals and communities. I look forward to building on that legacy and working with the team to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges of our time in Australia.
Australia has a critical role to play in shaping global health research and I'm excited to help lead that work.
By:Professor Zoungas
Professor Neal, an employee of the Institute since its founding, has led its Australian operations since 2019, overseeing significant growth across its clinical trials, cardiometabolic research and food policy programs. The Institute wishes him well in his continuing research endeavours.
"We would like to thank Bruce for his exceptional leadership over the last six years and are delighted that he will be staying in the George Institute family to focus on his pivotal research into cardiovascular disease prevention by, among other activities, helping to switch the world's salt supply.
By:Professor Patel
Professor Zoungas takes up the role as Executive Director for The George Institute Australia April 8.
