Sarah Robertson

Professor Sarah Robertson is an NHMRC Extensively Funded Research Fellow in the School of Biomedicine at the University of Adelaide’s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. She holds a BSc (1983) and PhD (1993) from the University of Adelaide, with postdoctoral training at the University of Alberta and University of Gothenburg. Previously Director of the Robinson Research Institute (2013–2021), she now focuses on her NHMRC Investigator Award-funded research. Her work explores immune regulation in reproduction, particularly mechanisms governing embryo implantation, pregnancy tolerance, and associated complications like preterm birth and preeclampsia.

Research Themes:

• Immune control of female reproduction and pregnancy
• Pregnancy tolerance perturbations and their impacts
• Immune interventions for infertility and pregnancy loss
• Seminal fluid effects on female immune responses

Key Achievements:

• Developed EmbryoGen, an immune-based therapy for IVF failure and miscarriage
• Secured a $3.5M NHMRC Investigator Grant (2021–2025)
• 2024 Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
• Fellowships from the Australian Academies of Science and Health and Medical Sciences

Grants & Funding: NHMRC, ARC, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation.

Publications: Over 250 peer-reviewed articles, 5 patents, H-index 87 (23,300+ citations).