Rate My Professor Roger Smith

Distinguished Laureate Professor Roger Smith AM holds the position of Laureate Professor of Endocrinology in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He earned his MBBS with Honours from the University of Sydney in 1974 and completed his PhD in 1981, after which he joined the University of Newcastle. Throughout his over 35-year career, he has served as Co-Director of the Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, Director of the Mothers and Babies Research Centre, and Director of the Department of Endocrinology at John Hunter Hospital. He also acts as Scientific Director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute Mothers and Babies Research Program and was instrumental in establishing the Hunter Medical Research Institute in 1990. Professor Smith is an NHMRC Fellow and teaches endocrinology to medical students.

Professor Smith's research specializes in reproductive endocrinology, focusing on the physiology and pathophysiology of human birth, including mechanisms of pregnancy maintenance, parturition, preterm labour prevention, stillbirth causes, placental biology, fetal growth restriction, and mitochondrial function in the placenta. He discovered the placental biological clock regulating pregnancy length through corticotrophin-releasing hormone and identified placental aging as a contributor to stillbirth. His innovations include nanoparticle-targeted tocolytics for preterm birth treatment. With 374 publications and over 11,500 citations, his work has global impact, including the Gomeroi Gaanygal program enhancing Indigenous maternal health and a Nepal initiative reducing maternal mortality by 40 percent via obstetric emergency evacuations. His honours include the Member of the Order of Australia in 2013 for contributions to pregnancy physiology and Indigenous health, Laureate Professor appointment in 2016, Freeman of the City of Newcastle in 2024 as the first scientist recipient, Fellowship of the Australian Society for Reproductive Biology, and Life Membership of the Endocrine Society of Australia.