Professor Ed Mitchell

BSc, MB BS, DCH, FRACP,FRCPCH, DSc (Med), FRSNZ
Department of Paediatrics
School of Medicine
University of Auckland

Key highlights for 2010:

• Awarded three HRC grants and other grants, worth $1.315M
• High publication rate maintained (n=15)
• Guest editor for series on SIDS for Current Paediatric Reviews
   

Review of 2010

In 2010 Professor Mitchell maintained his high success rate for grant applications, being awarded three grants by Cure Kids, three grants by the Health Research Council (HRC) and these together with other grants, were worth $1.315M.  In addition, two Expressions of Interest to the HRC were successful; one for a nationwide case-control study of sudden and unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI), and the other a study of live microorganisms thought to be beneficial (Probiotics) for the prevention of atopy (a strong family tendency to develop classic allergic conditions). The full proposals for these studies are being developed.

Professor Mitchell also maintained his high publication rate in 2010, publishing 15 papers (see Publications). He was also Guest Editor for a special series on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome for Current Paediatric Reviews.

Significant progress has been made with all of the research projects for which Professor Mitchell is the lead (see Research Projects box). In addition, all five of Professor Mitchell’s post-graduate students have made considerable progress in their research and three of the research fellows and students being supervised by him have received awards: Tomasina Stacey (Young Investigator Prize), Dr Rebecca Slykerman (New Investigators Award) and Ms Charlotte Rea (Wallath Prize).

Professor Mitchell is the President of the International Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Deaths (ISPID). Their biennial conference was held in Sydney in October 2010 and Professor Mitchell presented the plenary lecture (see Conference presentations).

Finally a highlight for Professor Mitchell and his team was the Cure Kids Board and staff visit to their unit at the University of Auckland in December when his research team gave a number of short presentations to showcase their work.

All this was achieved even though Professor Mitchell had a three months sabbatical in 2010 and despite tragically losing his colleague, collaborator, fellow intellect and close friend, Professor Peter Black, early in 2010. Professor Black’s sad passing has required Professor Mitchell to take over the leadership role for a number of studies.

Professor Mitchell also serves on the Medical & Scientific Advisory Committee.