After an extensive worldwide search, Professor Leanne Redman has been appointed Academic Director of the Charles Perkins Centre (CPC), the University's largest multidisciplinary research initiative whose mission is to ease the burden of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease and their related health conditions.
A Professor of Clinical Science, Professor Redman currently holds a number of positions at Louisiana State University 's Pennington Biomedical Research Center , including the LPFA Endowed Chair in Nutrition and Associate Executive Director for Scientific Education.
Over the past 20 years, she has pioneered groundbreaking research on women's health issues, including the study of obesity in pregnancy, the optimisation of maternal nutrition and childhood obesity prevention.
Professor Kathy Belov , Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global and Research Engagement) at the University of Sydney, said: "Leanne's research record makes her a perfect fit for the Charles Perkins Centre.
"She brings deep expertise and a collaborative spirit that will strengthen our community. As CPC enters a new chapter following its five-year review, I'm eager to see how Leanne's leadership shapes the Centre's future. I know her vision will inspire us all as we continue tackling the world's most pressing health challenges together."
Born in Australia, Professor Redman graduated from Southern Cross University with a Bachelor of Human Movement Science with honours, before gaining her PhD from the University of Adelaide in 2004 and a Master of Clinical Research in 2011 whilst in the US at Tulane University.
Image credit: Pennington Biomedical Research Center
At Pennington Biomedical, Professor Redman's work has focused on how diet and physical activity influence body composition and energy metabolism: she has designed and conducted clinical trials with manipulations to diet and physical activity to study the body energy stores and how they are defended by the body's metabolism. The goal of her research is to understand the mechanisms of obesity development and to develop effective interventions for treatment and prevention.
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As Director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center and Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health, Redman's research focuses on the transmission of obesity between generations. She has published more than 300 research articles, reviews and book chapters on themes including diet, exercise, obesity and pregnancy, and her work cited more than 28,000 times.
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Earlier this year she won the American Society for Nutrition's McCollum Award, given to a clinical investigator who is recognised as a major creative force, actively generating new concepts in nutrition. This award joined her prior recognitions as the TOPS Award from The Obesity Society in 2023, two national mentoring awards and the LSU Presidential Laurels Medal in 2023.
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Dr John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical, said: "Professor Redman has been at the forefront of developing and testing e-health technologies such as smartphone apps to help people meet national dietary and exercise guidelines. She is also at the forefront of precision nutrition by serving, along with her mentor Dr Eric Ravussin at Pennington Biomedical, as the primary investigators on the Nutrition for Precision Health study - the largest precision nutrition effort to date to learn more about how the body responds differently to food."
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Professor Redman said: "Ever since the CPC was established in 2012, I have maintained a keen eye on its progress and expansion. When it opened, I distinctly remember feeling for the first time since leaving Australia for a US postdoctoral fellowship in 2003 that the CPC would be the place to call me home someday. By pairing more than two decades of rich academic training and success in translational research in the US with my passion for making life-long impacts to the health of the world's people through teaching, research and discoveries, I am excited by the opportunity to lead this successful cross-disciplinary Centre towards a future of strong strategic alliances and collaborations within the University, Australia and worldwide."
At Pennington Biomedical, Professor Redman's work has focused on how diet and physical activity influence body composition and energy metabolism: she has designed and conducted clinical trials with manipulations to diet and physical activity to study the body energy stores and how they are defended by the body's metabolism. The goal of her research is to understand the mechanisms of obesity development and to develop effective interventions for treatment and prevention.
As Director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center and Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health, Redman's research focuses on the transmission of obesity between generations. She has published more than 300 research articles, reviews and book chapters on themes including diet, exercise, obesity and pregnancy, and her work cited more than 28,000 times.
Earlier this year she won the American Society for Nutrition's McCollum Award, given to a clinical investigator who is recognised as a major creative force, actively generating new concepts in nutrition. This award joined her prior recognitions as the TOPS Award from The Obesity Society in 2023, two national mentoring awards and the LSU Presidential Laurels Medal in 2023.
Dr John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical, said: "Professor Redman has been at the forefront of developing and testing e-health technologies such as smartphone apps to help people meet national dietary and exercise guidelines. She is also at the forefront of precision nutrition by serving, along with her mentor Dr Eric Ravussin at Pennington Biomedical, as the primary investigators on the Nutrition for Precision Health study - the largest precision nutrition effort to date to learn more about how the body responds differently to food."
Professor Leanne Redman with LSU President William Tate, receiving the LSU Presidential Laurel. Image credit: Pennington Biomedical State University
Professor Redman will take up her new role at the Charles Perkins Centre on 9 February next year. She follows in the footsteps of inaugural director, Professor Stephen J Simpson , who stepped down from the role of inaugural Academic Director at the end of March after 13 years.
Professor Belov also thanked Professors Natasha Nassar and David James , who have led the Charles Perkins Centre as Joint Interim Academic Directors since April this year.
Since its inception in 2012, the CPC has adopted principles from evolutionary biology and ecology to bring together multidisciplinary teams in unexpected collaborations - from clinicians and basic scientists to writers and philosophers. These teams form part of a complex adaptive research and education ecosystem. The CPC's ability to harness the energy and solutions-focused outcomes of cross-disciplinary and collaborative teams has led to significant real-world impact and translation.
The CPC works closely with the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, and related faculties, units, and services on campus. Other research and commercial partners include NSW Health, Qantas, World Health Organization, Heart Research Institute, Sydney Health Partners, Obesity Australia, and international universities including the University of Glasgow and the University of Copenhagen.
