Susan Prescott

Susan Prescott is a Professor of Planetary Health at The University of Western Australia (UWA) School of Medicine. She holds roles as Senior Principal Research Fellow in the UWA Medical School, Paediatrics, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Challenges journal and founding Director of the Nova Network. Her research focuses on early environmental determinants of health, particularly noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like allergy, obesity, and mental health. She leads the $30M ORIGINS Project, examining lifelong health impacts of early-life environmental factors.

Education: BMedSc MB BS PhD (UWA), Fellowships include FRACP, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

• Key achievements: Over $52M in research grants, authored 350+ publications, and books like The Secret Life of Your Microbiome (2018 Gold Medal winner).
• Leadership roles: Founding President of DOHaD Australia/New Zealand, Scientific Advisory Board member of the Ekskäret Foundation, and Heidelberg University.

Research Interests:
Susan’s work bridges personal and planetary health, emphasizing holistic approaches to social and ecological justice. Her expertise spans microbiome dynamics, early-life immune development, and the impacts of ultra-processed foods on public health. She advocates for transdisciplinary solutions addressing climate change and health equity.

Grants & Collaborations:
Lead investigator in major projects like the Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) initiative (NHMRC-funded). Collaborations span global institutions, including the NOVA Institute for Health in Baltimore.

Awards:
Winston Churchill Fellowship, NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship (2009–2018), and recognition in Australia’s “10 of the Best” (2010).

Labs & Networks:
ORIGINS Project (KIDS Research Institute), Nova Network (global planetary health initiatives), and the AIRWAY EPITHELIUM RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES AND ALLERGY (AERIAL) cohort.