Prof Kathryn North
Prof Kathryn North
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Director
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Director's Office
Professor Kathryn North AC is Director of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and David Danks Professor of Child Health Research at The University of Melbourne. An internationally recognised clinician-scientist, she is a global leader in genomic medicine, child health research and the translation of scientific discovery into improved health outcomes.
Trained in paediatrics, neurology and clinical genetics, Professor North completed a research doctorate in neurogenetics and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Harvard Genetics Program. She has built an internationally distinguished career spanning clinical care, research leadership, health policy and implementation science.
As Director of MCRI, she leads more than 1,800 researchers and professional staff across one of the world's leading child health research institutes. Under her leadership, MCRI has strengthened its focus on genomics, stem cell medicine, population and global health, computational biology and clinical translation.
Professor North is widely recognised for her leadership in the implementation of genomic medicine. As founding Lead of Australian Genomics, she established and led a nationwide network of more than 100 organisations that generated the evidence and implementation frameworks underpinning the integration of genomic testing into Australia's healthcare system. Internationally, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) and Co-Chair of the GA4GH National Initiatives Forum, advancing collaboration among national genomics programs worldwide.
A highly respected advisor on health and medical research policy, Professor North chairs the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board and has played a leading role in shaping Australia's 10-Year National Health and Medical Research Strategy and the strategic direction of the Medical Research Future Fund. She also serves on several national and international boards and advisory committees.
Her achievements have been recognised through numerous honours, including appointment as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and election as a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, reflecting her international leadership in genomic medicine and her role in shaping research policy, healthcare delivery, and the future of precision child health globally.
Trained in paediatrics, neurology and clinical genetics, Professor North completed a research doctorate in neurogenetics and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Harvard Genetics Program. She has built an internationally distinguished career spanning clinical care, research leadership, health policy and implementation science.
As Director of MCRI, she leads more than 1,800 researchers and professional staff across one of the world's leading child health research institutes. Under her leadership, MCRI has strengthened its focus on genomics, stem cell medicine, population and global health, computational biology and clinical translation.
Professor North is widely recognised for her leadership in the implementation of genomic medicine. As founding Lead of Australian Genomics, she established and led a nationwide network of more than 100 organisations that generated the evidence and implementation frameworks underpinning the integration of genomic testing into Australia's healthcare system. Internationally, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) and Co-Chair of the GA4GH National Initiatives Forum, advancing collaboration among national genomics programs worldwide.
A highly respected advisor on health and medical research policy, Professor North chairs the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board and has played a leading role in shaping Australia's 10-Year National Health and Medical Research Strategy and the strategic direction of the Medical Research Future Fund. She also serves on several national and international boards and advisory committees.
Her achievements have been recognised through numerous honours, including appointment as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and election as a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, reflecting her international leadership in genomic medicine and her role in shaping research policy, healthcare delivery, and the future of precision child health globally.
Professor Kathryn North AC is Director of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and David Danks Professor of Child Health Research at The University of Melbourne. An internationally recognised clinician-scientist, she is a global leader in...
Professor Kathryn North AC is Director of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and David Danks Professor of Child Health Research at The University of Melbourne. An internationally recognised clinician-scientist, she is a global leader in genomic medicine, child health research and the translation of scientific discovery into improved health outcomes.
Trained in paediatrics, neurology and clinical genetics, Professor North completed a research doctorate in neurogenetics and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Harvard Genetics Program. She has built an internationally distinguished career spanning clinical care, research leadership, health policy and implementation science.
As Director of MCRI, she leads more than 1,800 researchers and professional staff across one of the world's leading child health research institutes. Under her leadership, MCRI has strengthened its focus on genomics, stem cell medicine, population and global health, computational biology and clinical translation.
Professor North is widely recognised for her leadership in the implementation of genomic medicine. As founding Lead of Australian Genomics, she established and led a nationwide network of more than 100 organisations that generated the evidence and implementation frameworks underpinning the integration of genomic testing into Australia's healthcare system. Internationally, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) and Co-Chair of the GA4GH National Initiatives Forum, advancing collaboration among national genomics programs worldwide.
A highly respected advisor on health and medical research policy, Professor North chairs the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board and has played a leading role in shaping Australia's 10-Year National Health and Medical Research Strategy and the strategic direction of the Medical Research Future Fund. She also serves on several national and international boards and advisory committees.
Her achievements have been recognised through numerous honours, including appointment as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and election as a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, reflecting her international leadership in genomic medicine and her role in shaping research policy, healthcare delivery, and the future of precision child health globally.
Trained in paediatrics, neurology and clinical genetics, Professor North completed a research doctorate in neurogenetics and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Harvard Genetics Program. She has built an internationally distinguished career spanning clinical care, research leadership, health policy and implementation science.
As Director of MCRI, she leads more than 1,800 researchers and professional staff across one of the world's leading child health research institutes. Under her leadership, MCRI has strengthened its focus on genomics, stem cell medicine, population and global health, computational biology and clinical translation.
Professor North is widely recognised for her leadership in the implementation of genomic medicine. As founding Lead of Australian Genomics, she established and led a nationwide network of more than 100 organisations that generated the evidence and implementation frameworks underpinning the integration of genomic testing into Australia's healthcare system. Internationally, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) and Co-Chair of the GA4GH National Initiatives Forum, advancing collaboration among national genomics programs worldwide.
A highly respected advisor on health and medical research policy, Professor North chairs the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board and has played a leading role in shaping Australia's 10-Year National Health and Medical Research Strategy and the strategic direction of the Medical Research Future Fund. She also serves on several national and international boards and advisory committees.
Her achievements have been recognised through numerous honours, including appointment as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and election as a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, reflecting her international leadership in genomic medicine and her role in shaping research policy, healthcare delivery, and the future of precision child health globally.
Top Publications
- Akouri, H, Mandal, A, Writer, M, Buczek, M, Sotardi, S, Vossough, A, Padmanabhan, V, Williams, R, Ball, G, Payne, J, et al. Developing NF1-specific Brain Growth Charts from Clinical Brain MRIs: A Framework for Classifying Image Pathology and Suitability for Quantitative Image Processing (S13.008). Neurology 106(11_Supplement_1) : 2026 view publication
- Pride, NA, Payne, JM, Haebich, K, Arnold, SS, Bournazos, A, Habib, J, Yates, C, Guzzetti, JR, Darke, H, Pascouau, R, et al. Sleep-wake dysregulation and altered melatonin in neurofibromatosis type 1.. Sleep 49(5) : 2026 view publication
- Haebich, KM, Hocking, DR, Darke, H, Mackenzie, R, North, KN, Vivanti, G, Payne, JM. Socially oriented attention in young children with neurofibromatosis type 1: An eye-tracking study.. Dev Med Child Neurol 68(4) : 541 -548 2026 view publication
- Mandal, AS, Shinohara, RT, Jung, B, Gardner, M, Akouri, HE, Yerys, BE, Low, KJ, Cole, TJ, Guthrie, W, Janke, KM, et al. NF1-Specific Growth Charts for Head Circumference Over the First 3 Years of Life.. Neurology 106(2) : e214480 2026 view publication
- Kiriaev, L, North, KN, Head, SI, Houweling, PJ. Twisting Paths: The Paradox of Fiber Branching in Muscle Regeneration.. Int J Mol Sci 27(2) : 2026 view publication
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