Monash sleep researcher recognised internationally

Professor Rosemary Horne and
Peter Blair, Chair of ISPID

Congratulations to Professor Rosemary Horne, who has received the Distinguished Researcher Award for 2018 at the meeting of the International Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant and Neonatal Death in Glasgow last week.

The award is made for outstanding contributions to research in the area of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy research as evidenced by the awardee’s international reputation in the area and publications in the field over a number of years.

“Personally and professionally this means a tremendous amount to me as it acknowledges my contribution to understanding the mechanisms which make a baby more vulnerable to SIDS,” Professor Horne said.

Professor Horne heads the Infant and Child Health theme within the Ritchie Centre, Department of Paediatrics Monash University and Hudson Institute of Medical Research. Her research focuses on sleep in infants and children.

“My current projects are investigating mechanisms involved in the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), development of cardio-respiratory control in preterm infants and the effects of sleep disordered breathing on daytime performance and the cardiovascular system in children,” she said.

Since 1998, 14 people have been given this award and Professor Horne was the only person awarded the honour this year.

Professor Horne has an international reputation in her field and is the Chair of the Physiology working group of the International Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Deaths, Secretary of the International Paediatric Sleep Association, immediate past Chair of the National Scientific Advisory Group of Red Nose (formerly SIDS and Kids) and is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Sleep Research, Sleep and Sleep Medicine.

Professor Horne said she is extremely proud to be part of the leading paediatric sleep research group in Australasia (and second in the world), in terms of publications.  Prof Horne has published more than 170 papers, and successfully supervised 15 PhD students and over 40 honours students.

“I would like to acknowledge my students and postdoctoral fellows who have worked with me on this research which underpins safe infant sleeping guidelines both in Australia and internationally," she said.