Roderick Clifton-Bligh

Prof Roderick Clifton-Bligh is Head of the Department of Endocrinology at Royal North Shore Hospital and a conjoint professor in Medicine at the University of Sydney. He holds dual roles in clinical practice and academia, with a focus on endocrine neoplasms and metabolic bone disease. He completed a PhD in thyroid disorder genetics at the University of Cambridge and leads research groups investigating genetic bases of endocrine cancers and metabolic bone disorders.

Research interests include molecular mechanisms of thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes, adrenal cancer, pituitary neoplasms, and calcium-sensing receptor mutations. Current projects explore hereditary endocrine cancer models, FOXE1 transcription factors in thyroid cancer, TERT roles in endocrine neoplasms, and osteoporosis treatment barriers. He is affiliated with the Kolling Institute of Medical Research and multiple professional societies including the Endocrine Society of Australia and The Endocrine Society (US).

Publications span cancer genetics, metabolic bone disease, and endocrine surgery. Over 10 completed PhDs supervised, with five in endocrinology. Awards include the NSW Premier’s Excellence Award (2013) and Endocrine Society of Australia’s Outstanding Practitioner Award (2021). Maintains strong teaching and mentoring roles for young physicians.

Labs/teams: Leads the Cancer Genetics Unit and Metabolic Bone Research Unit at the Kolling Institute. Collaborates internationally on genetic and clinical studies of endocrine tumors.