Alan Cass

Professor Alan Cass AO

Director

Qualifications:

PhD, University of Sydney, 2003; Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology, Newcastle University, 2000; Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 1998; Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, University of Sydney, 1989; Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney, 1989.

Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:

Principal Supervisor for PhD

Location:

Darwin - Royal Darwin Hospital campus

Biography:

Professor Cass AO is the Director of Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies). Headquartered in Darwin, Menzies employs over 330 staff across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Since opening its doors in 1985, Menzies core commitment has been undertaking research in partnership with communities, health services and policy-makers to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and addressing the highest priority health problems of communities across northern Australia and our region.

Having trained as a kidney specialist at Sydney University, Prof Cass has pursued a research career with a focus on the prevention and management of chronic disease; addressing the social and systems determinants of health; and improving access to essential health care for people living with kidney and related chronic diseases. Prof Cass has been instrumental in leading the conduct of national and international clinical trials; conducting research to improve the provision of care to patients with low health literacy, who speak a different language and have different understandings of health and illness. 

In 2021, Prof Cass was made an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to medical research, particularly to the prevention and management of chronic kidney disease, to improved Indigenous clinical care and health outcomes, and as a mentor. In 2022, he was awarded the Priscilla Kincaid Smith Medal, Kidney Health Australia’s highest accolade to an Australian citizen or resident for outstanding clinical and scientific achievement in research into the treatment of kidney diseases. He is Deputy Chair of the NT Clinical Senate and a Council Member for the Central Australia Academic Health Science Network (CAAHSN).

Prof Cass has published more than 350 peer-reviewed papers and seminal reports for governments and NGOs. He was President of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (2014-16), a founding Director of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (2012-17), Board Director for Top End Area Health Service (2015-17) and Chair of the National Advisory Committee for the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (2019-22). He is Deputy Chair of the NT Clinical Senate and a Council Member for the Central Australia Academic Health Science Network (CAAHSN).