Head of research and innovation
by
Geraldine Hinter
UniSA’s newly appointed Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President: Research and Innovation, Professor Caroline McMillen, will be working to ensure that targets for the long-term health of research are met through strategies that support research and innovation.
A science and medical graduate of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Prof McMillen will be leaving her position as Head and Professor of Physiology at the University of Adelaide to take on her new role in early December 2005.
“One of the key drivers for the University in the current climate is the foreshadowed research quality framework and the shift from the traditional focus on research inputs, to the importance of the quality and impact of our research outputs.
“As we learn more about the final shape of the framework, it is likely that we will have to realign some of our support, funding and strategic processes to meet the challenges of the framework,” Prof McMillen said.
While she sees this as a real challenge for the University, Prof McMillen believes it is important to keep the culture and values of the institution and to be very clear about what distinguishes UniSA’s research efforts from those of other institutions.
“I am committed to ensuring that the strong culture and ethos of this institution and its important partnerships with industry are maintained.
“The research quality framework is going to be a major focus for the University in 2007 and my goal is to work very hard towards that, but to recognise that 2010 is the time when we will realise the important outcomes from strategies implemented from next year,” she said.
As well as leading the research portfolio, Prof McMillen has established an international reputation as a health researcher, attracting more than $11 million in research grants over the past 15 years.
A major research program undertaken by Prof McMillen focused on how babies respond to nutrition from their mothers before birth and how the nutritional environment before birth impacts on health after birth.
Babies born with a high birth weight have an increased risk in later life of obesity and associated health risks including diabetes.
"More women are entering pregnancy with a high body mass index and a range of studies worldwide have shown that heavier mothers generally have heavier babies who grow up to be heavier adults with resultant health risks," Prof McMillen said.