Professor Peter Eastwood is joining Flinders University as the incoming Director of FHMRI, and will commence in the role on 2 November 2020.

Currently the Director of the The Raine Study and inaugural Director of the Centre for Sleep Science at the University of Western Australia, Professor Eastwood has extensive research accomplishments to match his leadership expertise, with a focus on sleep disorders and chronic lung disease.

He will join Flinders University as a Matthew Flinders Fellow.

Professor Eastwood is a NHMRC Senior Research Fellow at the West Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute and Department of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital; Adjunct Professor at Curtin University; the Asia/Australasia representative on the World Sleep Society Governing Council; and the immediate Past President of the Australasian Sleep Association.

“The program of research I have led remains focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms, natural history and consequences of respiratory disease and sleep disorders; improving techniques to diagnose and treat them; and working with industry to translate novel therapies into practice,” he says.

“A defining characteristic of my research is its multidisciplinary nature and its proven capacity to span hospital- and university-based activities.

“More broadly, I understand the need for an interdisciplinary combination of basic, translational and clinical research to improve our capacity to predict, identify, treat, and prevent human disease.”

With expertise and interests across the FHMRI themes of Molecular Biosciences, Clinical Translation and Healthy Communities, Professor Eastwood’s experience will bring a unique perspective to the Institute’s development and focus on real-world challenges.