Sonia Saad

Associate Professor Sonia Saad is an academic at the University of Sydney, affiliated with the Northern Clinical School and the Department of Medicine. She also holds an adjunct position at the University of Technology Sydney. Her research focuses on metabolic diseases, renal pathology, and the developmental origins of chronic kidney disease. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and holds an h-index of 31. Her work has led to over 3,000 citations and has been recognized with prestigious awards, including being named a top future research leader by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Professor Saad's research interests include maternal programming effects on offspring health, diabetic kidney disease, and the role of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. She has pioneered studies on the impact of maternal obesity, smoking, and particulate matter exposure on offspring kidney health. Her lab develops novel diagnostic tools, such as urinary exfoliated kidney cell analysis and multispectral imaging techniques, for early disease detection.

Her current projects include investigating the role of SIRT1, Lox inhibitors, and nutritional supplements in preventing kidney disease. Collaborations span academic, industrial, and international networks, including with Professors Hui Chen (UTS), Ewa Goldys (Macquarie University), and biotech/pharmaceutical companies. She has secured grants from NHMRC, JDRF, and Diabetes Australia, among others.

Professor Saad has supervised 9 PhD, 6 MSc, and 3 Honours students, with a current focus on renal physiology and pathophysiology teaching. Her teaching excellence is reflected in a 4.42/5 score. Her work bridges clinical nephrology with translational research, aiming to improve maternal and offspring health outcomes through innovative therapies and preventive strategies.