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).

Professor Alan Cass AO
Research Themes
  1. Cass, A., Feyer, A.M., Brown, A., Snelling, P., & Howard, K. (2011). Central Australia Renal Study. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing.
  2. Baigent, C., Landray, M.J., Reith, C., Emberson, J., Wheeler, D.C., Tomson, C., Wanner, C., Krane, V., Cass, A., et al. (2011).The effects of lowering LDL cholesterol with simvastatin plus ezetimibe in patients with chronic kidney disease (Study of Heart and Renal Protection): A randomised placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet, 377(9784), 2181-2192.
  3. Cass, A., Chadban, S., Gallagher, M., Howard, K., Jones, A., McDonald, S., et al. (2010). The economic impact of end-stage kidney disease in Australia: Projections to 2020. Victoria: Kidney Health Australia.
  4. Bellomo, R., Cass, A., Cole, L., Finfer, S., Gallagher, M., Lo, S., et al. (2009). Intensity of continuous renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients. The New England Journal of Medicine, 361 (17), 1627-38.
  5. Cass, A., Chadban, S., Gallagher, M., Howard, K., Kneipp, E., McDonald, S., et al. (2007). Queensland Statewide Renal Health Services Plan, 2008–1. Brisbane: Queensland Government.
  6. White, S.L., Chadban, S.J., Jan, S., Chapman, J.R., & Cass, A. (2008). How can we achieve global equity in provision of renal replacement therapy? Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, 86(3), 229-37.
  7. Anderson, K., Devitt, J., Cunningham, J., Preece, C., & Cass, A. (2008). "All they said was my kidneys were dead": Indigenous Australian patients' understanding of their chronic kidney disease. Medical  Journal of  Australia, 189(9), 499-503.
  8. Howard, K., Salkeld, G., White, S., Chadban, S., Craig, J., McDonald, S., Perkovic, V., & Cass, A. (2006). Cost-effectiveness of early detection and intervention to prevent the progression of chronic kidney disease in Australia. Victoria: Kidney Health Australia.
  9. Cass, A., Cunningham, J., Snelling, P., Wang, Z., & Hoy, W. (2004). Exploring the pathways leading from disadvantage to ESKD for Indigenous Australians. Social Science and Medicine, 58(4), 767-85.
  10. Cass, A., Lowell, A., Christie, M., Snelling, P.L., Flack, M., Marrnganyin, B., et al. (2002). Sharing the true stories: improving communication between Aboriginal patients and healthcare workers. Medical Journal of Australia, 176(10), 466-70.
Click here to view more Alan Cass publications in PubMed.
  1. MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies’ CRESTRA part of newly funded national consortium to improve primary healthcare
  2. MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies unveils new brand in 40th year
  3. MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies researchers in the top 2 per cent
  4. MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies renews MoU with Timor-Leste Ministry of Health
  5. DILI POST | Menzies- MS Asina MoU Ba Tinan Tolu
  6. Sunday Territorian | Medical school critical for NT
  7. NT News | School's strategic board appointed
  8. CDU Newsroom | New Board appointed to CDU Menzies School of Medicine
  9. Territory Kidney Care: integrated chronic disease support in the NT
  10. HEAL network to tackle health impacts of climate change
  11. Researchers at CDU some of the most influential in their fields
  12. CDU announces new School of Medicine for the Territory
  13. New network to protect the health of Australians impacted by climate change
  14. $10 million national network to build resilience to the human health impacts of environmental change
  15. Delivering a local medical program for the Territory
  16. ABC News | 2021 NT Order of Australia recipients include scientists, space researchers and police
  17. Territory Q | NT Digital Excellence Awards
  18. Worimi Man Associate Professor Kelvin Kong Takes Menzies Medallion
  19. The Segment - Professor Alan Cass, Menzies School of Health Research
  20. CDU academics named among world’s most influential
  21. University of Newcastle | Aboriginal ear surgeon honoured with Menzies Medallion
  22. Acclaimed surgeon wins prestigious award
  23. Aboriginal ear surgeon honoured with Menzies Medallion
  24. Ex-bank boss to help pick CDU chief
  25. Interpreters for Aboriginal people in hospital
  26. AAMRI’s budget priority: secure the future of Australia’s next generation of talent
  27. $5.6m for medical research projects
  28. Five medical research projects recognised in the Northern Territory
  29. $400 million funding boost for health and medical research
  30. Australian doctors aid Timor Leste in COVID-19 fight
  31. Australian doctors aim to stop COVID-19 from 'tearing through' Timor-Leste
  32. Expert opinion - Kidney disease and COVID-19
  33. A new action plan to tackle kidney disease
  34. Trial shows using two drugs not better than one when treating MRSA blood infections
  35. Trial shows using two drugs not better than one when treating MRSA blood infections
  36. Director’s Communiqué | Issue 21 November 2019
  37. Ramaciotti Biomedical Award worth $1 million granted to Northern Territory research team
  38. Radio National Breakfast | The corrosive impact of racism
  39. Directors Statement National Reconciliation Week 2019 27 May – 3 June
  40. SMH | Hope and healing
  41. Centralian Advocate | New role for Professor in Alice
  42. Professor of Remote and Rural Health Services Research appointed in Alice Springs
  43. Sport a boost to Menzies Indigenous health research
  44. Menzies secures NHMRC funding to continue ground breaking research
  45. CDU E-news | Menzies rewards commitment to health research
  46. Sun Newspapers | Recognised for hard work
  47. NT News | Researcher recognised for his hard work
  48. Health system struggling with organ donation success
  49. The ‘Communicate’ Study : Poster
  50. F&P| Balnaves Foundation contributes $2.5m to treating Indigenous hearing loss
  51. Sounds Like Progress | NT News 15 August 2018
  52. Investing in Territory Kids and Generational Change – Hearing for Learning
  53. 'Our kids need proper water': Families plead for action over uranium in drinking water
  54. Budget 2018: Aboriginal patients convinced the Government to help them get home
  55. Win for dialysis patients in Northern Territory
  56. Roundtable Towards Roadmap For Renal Health - Media Release
  57. 2017 Menzies Oration: Democratising Indigenous Data
  58. Longest running Aboriginal health study to enter new stage
  59. $12 Million NT Investment aims to save lives
  60. Menzies secures funding to improve Indigenous child health
  61. CAAMA |  Great potential to learn from Aboriginal people
  62. NT News - Kidney research wins prize
  63. Professor Alan Cass, wins clinical science award
  64. Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation teams with Menzies
  65. Indigenous voices to be heard
  66. QLD Government | B.Strong training program release
  67. Dr G Yunupingu chose to leave dialysis knowing he would die, doctor says
  68. Medicare Review Taskforce’s recommendation  for ‘on country’ dialysis
  69. Menzies director Alan Cass podcast on Territory FM
  70. Kids get kidney message
  71. 'Institutionalised racism' reason for fewer Indigenous kidney transplants
  72. Garma: art and politics come together for a moving Arnhem Land festival
  73. Dialysis urged for remote communities
  74. Menzies leaders inducted into important new health and medical academy
  75. World first research shows shocking numbers of preventable deaths from gaps in kidney failure treatment
  76. Anti-alcohol campaigners honoured with Menzies Medallion
  77. National boost for new Indigenous and tropical health research
  78. National boost for new Indigenous and tropical health research
  79. Pioneering skin sores research to improve health of children globally
  80. Menzies research shines on the national stage
  81. 730NT: Fight against kidney disease scourge
  82. Esteemed kidney specialist conferred national health science award
  83. SBS World News: Dr Yunupingu's death highlights health disparities
  84. Condolence Statement - Dr M Yunupingu
  85. Reconciliation through social media
  86. Esteemed kidney specialist recognised with national health science award
  87. 730NT: New Director of the Menzies School of Health Research
  88. Esteemed kidney specialist appointed as new Director of Menzies School of Health Research
  89. A bold new vision