Anna Leonard

Associate Professor Anna Leonard is part of the School of Biomedicine at the University of Adelaide, within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. She leads the Spinal Cord Injury Research Group, focusing on understanding secondary injury processes post-SCI, particularly oedema, haemorrhage, and neuroinflammation. Her research utilizes porcine and rodent models to explore translational therapies and chronic outcomes like cognition and neuropathic pain. Dr. Leonard completed her PhD in 2012 (awarded Dean’s commendation and University Doctoral Medal) and has held postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Adelaide and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She currently supervises research students at all levels and holds national recognition in neurotrauma research.

Educational background: PhD (2012, University of Adelaide), postdoctoral training at UoA and UAB. Research interests include: neuroinflammation, spinal cord trauma mechanisms, neuroprotective interventions, and translational clinical models.

Scientific achievements: Developed Australia’s first clinically relevant large-animal spinal cord injury model. Awards include the University Doctoral Medal (2012). Active in mentoring HDR students and grant acquisition. Currently investigates peripheral stimulation therapies, aging effects on SCI recovery, and concomitant brain injury impacts.