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Doctor Annie McDougall

Senior Research Fellow and Team Leader - Medicines in Pregnancy Research
Background

Dr Annie McDougall completed her PhD in 2012, investigating molecular factors involved in fetal lung development. She has over seven years' experience as a post-doctoral biomedical scientist working at Monash University and the Ritchie Centre.

Annie’s research was focused on investigating the cellular and molecular factors involved normal lung development and neonatal lung and cerebellar injury. Her research utilised various models, such as primary cell cultures, knock-out mice and animal models of adverse perinatal conditions, including IUGR and ventilator-induced lung injury.

In 2019 Annie undertook a Masters of Public Health, and has made the career transition from the bench to applied public health research.

Her research interests include global health, improving outcomes for women and babies, maternal medicine development, guideline development, preterm birth and maternal mental health.

Annie is an active member of the perinatal research community. From 2014 – 2018, Annie co-chaired the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Early Career Researchers committee.

In addition, she is a community champion volunteer with Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) and has previously volunteered with the United Nations Development Programme, researching and preparing UNDP reports on the effects of tobacco control on the Sustainable Development Goals in LMICs.

Appointments
  • 2014-2018 Co-chair, Early Career Researchers committee, Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand
Positions
  • 2021 – current Research Officer, Global Women’s and Newborn Health, Burnet Institute
  • 2020 – 2021 Health and Medical Research Pre-submission Grant Advisor, The Granted Group
  • 2016-2019 Post-doctoral research associate, Fetal and Neonatal health group, The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
  • 2012-2015 Post-doctoral research associate, Improving Perinatal Outcomes (NHMRC Program Grant – AI), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University and The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Qualifications
  • 2019 – current Master of Public Health (Monash University)
  • 2007 – 2012 PhD (Monash University); Doctoral thesis title: The role of Trop2 in fetal lung development; Supervisors: Dr. Megan Wallace and Professor Stuart Hooper
  • 2003-2006 Bachelor of Science with Honours (First Class; Highest ranked student) Monash University; Honours thesis title: TROP2 – a potential mediator of fetal lung development
Awards
  • 2024: Lady Potter, Burnet Emerging Leader Fellowship
  • 2014-2015: McDougall, ARA. David Henderson-Smart Scholarship, The Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand. “Trop2: A novel regulator of cerebellar granule cell migration”. $5000/yr.
  • 2014: McDougall, ARA, Moss, TJM, Wallace, MJ and Nold, M. Centre for Neonatal Research and Education, University of Western Australia, Project seed funding. “Identifying novel targets for increasing surfactant production in preterm infants.” $10,000
  • 2014: Cerebral Palsy Alliance Highest commended abstract ($1000), Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand, Perth, Australia
  • 2011: Best oral presentation ($500), Fetal and Neonatal workshop of Australia and New Zealand, Hobart, Australia
  • 2011: International Biomedical Science Award ($5000), Golden Key Honour Society. Only one award is given globally, per year.
  • 2010: Young Investigator Award ($1000), Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (best presentation, basic science)
  • 2010: Poster Prize first place (PhD student; $300), Healthy Start to Life annual13 scientific meeting
  • 2010: Best presentation (Fourth year student; $300), Monash Institute of Medical Research, Postgraduate Student Symposium
  • 2009: McDougall, ARA. NGED laboratory interchange travel grant ($2000) – to visit and learn techniques in the laboratories of Dr. Carole Mendelson, UT Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas USA
  • 2007 Australian Postgraduate Award and Postgraduate excellence award, (The Postgraduate excellence award was a $5000/year top-up of the APA scholarship) Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health science
  • 2006 G.D. Thorburn Prize for top Honours student in Physiology, Monash University
  • 2004-2005 Faculty of Science Dean’s list member, Monash University
  • 2005 Prize for top 3rd year student in Physiology, Monash University
  • 2004 MacLab award for top 2nd year student in Physiology, Monash University