Laureate Prof. Robert ( John ) Aitken

Qualifications

• Doctor of Science, University of Cambridge - UK, 2000
• PhD, University of Cambridge - UK
• Master of Science, University of Wales
• Bachelor of Science, University of London

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Research

Research keywords

• Fertility regulation
• Gamete Biology
• Infertility
• Reproductive Sciences

Research expertise

My area of expertise is cell biology and biotechnology with particular emphasis on reproductive science. I am Director of the PRC for Reproductive Science as well as the ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development.

In recent years my focus has been on the cell biology of mammalian germ cells, particularly the male. This interest extends from the fundamental molecular mechanisms that regulate the differentiation of male germ cells in the testes to the development of clinical improvements in our capacity to diagnose and treat male infertility. My laboratory has pioneered the proteomic analyses of spermatozoa and oocytes and has just released the first inventory of proteins comprising the human sperm proteome into the public domain. We have also been instrumental in developing techniques for the identification of spermatogonial stem cells and in defining key elements of the developmental niches that both preserve these cells stem cell status and drive some of their daughter cells to differentiation and the ultimate morphogenesis of spermatozoa. The functional maturation of spermatozoa in the epididymis and their subsequent capacitation in the female tract have also been a key point of interest for our laboratory. In the course of these studies we have proposed novel models for the control of mammalian sperm function based on the selective the partitioning of key proteins into lipid rafts on the sperm plasma membrane. Clinically, we have pioneered the notion that oxidative stress plays a key role in the aetiology of defective sperm function as well as DNA damage in the male germ line. These studies have lead to new developments in the treatment of such patients that are now beginning to enter clinical practice.

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
111400	Paediatrics And Reproductive Medicine	50
060100	Biochemistry And Cell Biology	35
060699	Physiology Not Elsewhere Classified	15

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Hunter Medical Research Institute
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science (RS)

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Pregnancy and Reproduction

Memberships

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• Director - ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development
• Scientific Advisory Board - Andrology Australia
• Scientific Advisory Board - CSIRO /CRC for the Biological Control of Pest Animal Species
• Scientific Advisory Board - Hunter Medical Research Institute
• Co-Director - Mothers and Babies Research Group
• Co-Director - Priority Research Centre in Reproductive Science

Editorial Board.

• Editorial Board - Asian Journal of Andrology
• Editorial Board - Journal of Andrology
• Editorial Board - Molecular Human Reproduction
• Editorial Board - Reproductive Medicine Reviews

Learned Academy.

• Fellow (Australian Academy of Science)
• Fellow - Royal Society of Edinburgh

Appointments

Professor of Biological Sciences University of Newcastle (Australia)	01/09/1998
Laureate Professor University of Newcastle (Australia)	01/05/2005

Awards

Honours.

2007	Honorary Professorship University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom) Honorary Professorship, Faculty of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, one of the most prestigious Medical Faculties in the world.
2007	The Bruce Stewart Memorial Lecture American Urology Society (United States) The Bruce Stewart Memorial Lecture Reactive Oxygen Species and Spermatozoa. The most prestigious lecture offered by the American Urology Society. Presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Annual meeting Cincinnati, OH, USA.
2007	The Jennifer Hallum Memorial Lecture Family Planning Association (United Kingdom) The Jennifer Hallum Memorial Lecture. Most prestigious annual lecture awarded by the Family Planning Association of the United Kingdom, presented at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London.
2006	The 2006 Keynote Address to the American Society of Andrology, Chicago. From proteomics to peroxidat American Society of Andrology (United States) Most prestigious lecture given at the Annual meeting of the American Society of Andrology
2005	2005 Scientist-of-the-year Hunter Medical Research Institute (Australia) Awarded the 2005 Scientist-of-the-year Award for Research Excellence by the Hunter Medical Research Institute.
2005	ST Huang-Chan Memorial lecture and Medal University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong) The 2005 ST Huang-Chan Memorial lecture and Medal , Annual lecture delivered to University of Hong Kong. DNA damage in the germ line: a gathering storm?
2005	The 2005 Monash Industry Engagement Award Monash University (Australia) The 2005 Monash Industry Engagement Award for the Australian Reproductive Healthcare network (Risbridger, Aitken, Salamonsen, McLachlan, Roberston and Simpson) for the teams collaboration with Schering AG, Berlin.
2004	Founder's Lecture Society for Reproductive Biology (Australia) The 2004 Founders Lecture. Most prestigious annual lecture awarded by the Society for Reproductive Biology. Presented at the Joint Annual Scientific Conference with the Endocrine Society of Australia, Darling Harbour Convention Centre, Sydney. Fruits of Creation Seeds of Doubt
2003	Lloyd Cox Oration University of Adelaide (Australia) The 2003 Lloyd Cox Memorial Lecture. Annual Oration to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Adelaide. The male germ line and its part in our downfall
1999	M.J. Edwards Lecture Australian Birth defects Society (Australia) The 1999 M.J. Edwards Lecture. Australian Birth Defects Society Annual Lecture. University of Sydney.
1998	Amoroso Lecture Society for the Study of Fertility (United Kingdom) The 1998 Amoroso Lecture. The human spermatozoon-a cell in crisis? The most prestigious annual lecture awarded by the Society for the Study of Fertility. Presented at University of Glasgow, UK
1990	The Puvan Memorial Lecture Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society of Malaysia (Malaysia) The Puvan Memorial Lecture. Keynote Address of the 27th Malaysian Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
1989	University of Catania Prize University of Catania (Italy) University of Catania Prize, Scientific Committee, Faculty of Medicine. University of Catania, Italy.

Recognition.

2006	2006 Faculty Award for Research Excellence University of Newcastle, NSW (Australia) Reflection of post-graduate student completions

Research Award.

1987	Walpole Prize Society for the Study of Fertility (United Kingdom) Walpole prize Society for the study of Fertility Henderson, C.J., Hulme, M.J. & Aitken, R.J. (1987) Development of a contraceptive vaccine: antibodies to a 32 KDa polypeptide from the porcine zona pellucida prevent human gamete interaction in vitro. Society for the Study of Fertility Annual Conference, University of York.
1986	The Walpole Prize Society for the Study of Fertility (United Kingdom) The Walpole Prize Society for the Study of Fertility for paper entitled: Cellular basis of defective sperm function and its association with genesis of reactive oxygen species by human spermatozoa. Annual award for best paper submitted to teh Society.

Invitations

Various Various (Conference Presentation - non published.)

2007

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

I am Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development, Co-Director of the Priority Research Centre in Reproductive Science and Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Newcastle. I am a member of the University of Newcastle Research Portfolio Committee, the Biomedical Research Fund Committee, the Faculty of Science and IT Research Committee and the Executive of the School of Environmental and Life Sciences.

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Biotechnology
• Cell Biology
• Reproductive Biology

Teaching expertise

The emphasis of my teaching activities has been in the area of postgraduate teaching particularly with respect to the supervision of Honours, MSc and PhD students. I am co-ordinator for the MSc-by-research degree offered by the Faculty of Science and IT. I have also participated in the teaching of biological sciences at 1st, 2nd and 3rd year levels. Currently, I lecture to first year biology students and assist in the delivery of a 3rd year course on Reproductive Physiology.

Courses

• BIOL1002 - Organisms to Ecosystems