Cabrini Research Committee
Cabrini Research is guided by scientists, clinicians, and professionals, leading and shaping their respective fields.
Our research committee is made up of leaders across medical, research, and business sectors and advises on key strategic decisions while ensuring alignment with organisational priorities shared across the Cabrini Health network.
Professor David Copolov
MBBS PhD FRANZCP FRACP AO
Professor David Copolov is the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Major Campuses and Student Engagement at Monash University, Professor of Psychiatry at Monash and at the University of Melbourne, and is an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health.
He was the Executive Director of the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria between 1985 and 2004. At the Institute, his research focused on the clinical and neurobiological aspects of schizophrenia. In 2020, he was appointed as a Director of Cabrini Health having served as Director of the Board for the Royal Women’s Hospital (RWH) from 2014 to 2020. For nine years until 2013, Professor Copolov was a Director of the Board for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute (Peter Mac), the last six as Deputy Chair. He was also Chair of the Research Committees for both RWH and Peter Mac. From 2008 to 2016, he was a Director of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and has held several advisory appointments to the Commonwealth and State Governments, including 12 years as a member of the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee on Mental Health and eight years as the psychiatric expert on the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee. In 2016, Professor Copolov was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2016 for his distinguished service to tertiary education, medicine, mental health research, and the community.
Professor Warwick Anderson
BSc PhD FAHA FRCPA FAHMS AO
Professor Warwick Anderson AO is Emeritus Professor at Monash University.
After completing postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, the University of Sydney, and the Baker Medical Research Institute, he was Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences and Professor of Physiology at Monash University. His research examined the renal causes of high blood pressure. From 1997 to 2003, Professor Anderson chaired the NHMRC Research Committee and was the inaugural CEO of the newly independent NHMRC from 2006 to 2015. During his tenure, he implemented sweeping changes to both review and funding processes, expanded NHMRC’s global reach, and introduced a number of Indigenous health research programs. He served as the Secretary General of the International Human Frontier Science Program Organisation from 2015 until 2021. He has been a member of numerous international and national scientific bodies, including the Prime Minister’s Science Engineering and Innovation Council and currently chairs the Global Biodata Coalition. In 2023, Professor Anderson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to health and medical research organisations, and professional associations.
Associate Professor Caroline Brand
MBBS BA MPH FRACP
Associate Professor Caroline Brand is a consultant rheumatologist and holds appointments with the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at Monash University and the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
Throughout her career, she has had extensive inpatient and outpatient experience across both public and private healthcare sectors. Her work has focused upon the design, implementation, and evaluation of new models of care for patients with chronic conditions. More broadly, she has actively contributed towards quality and safety improvements in a number of healthcare setting across Australia. She was previously Director of the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation Unit, the predecessor to Melbourne EpiCentre, between 2004 and 2010. Professor Brand has contributed to several professional organisations and government committees including as president of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Rheumatology Association, the Cabrini Patient Experience and Clinical Governance Committee, and as Chair of the Cabrini Research Committee.
Professor Sally Green
BAppSc (Physio) PGDipPhty PhD
Professor Sally Green is the Co-Director of Cochrane Australia and Deputy Head (Research) of the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University.
Upon completing clinical qualifications in physiotherapy and doctoral studies in epidemiology and preventive medicine, she has conducted over 60 competitively funded research projects across a diverse portfolio that includes Indigenous health, behavioural determinants of disease, and health systems management. Throughout much of her work, Professor Green has investigated effective and efficient translational pathways that take research outcomes through to sustained change, both in clinical practice and policy. This is underpinned by her commitment towards improve health outcomes through research. Professor Green is a member of the NHMRC Synthesis and Translation of Research Evidence (SToRE) Advisory Group and Cochrane’s International Governing Board, while also an active Cochrane reviewer.
Associate Professor James Lee
MBBS PhD FRACS
Associate Professor James Lee is an academic endocrine surgeon at the Alfred Hospital, Monash Health, and Epworth HealthCare.
He underwent training at the Mayo Clinic, and the Austin and Royal North Shore Hospitals, and is the only Australian to have received the T.S. Reeve International Endocrine Surgery Fellowship. His research focuses on the development of precision medicine in thyroid cancer care, with his current research developing molecular biomarkers to improve the diagnosis of thyroid cancer on cytology. Professor Lee examined mRNA biomarkers of papillary thyroid cancer towards his doctoral degree and was a previously a recipient of the Surgery Senior Lecturer Fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Foundation. He has secured support for his current research through grants from Aftershock, IMPACT Philanthropy, and the Epworth Research Institute. Other areas of research include patient reported outcomes in collaboration with the Australian and New Zealand Thyroid Cancer Registry (ANZTCR) and the application of artificial intelligence in endocrine surgery. Professor Lee serves on the RACS Court of Examiners, is an executive committee member for Australia and New Zealand Endocrine Surgeons, and on the steering committee of the ANZTCR.
Professor Stephen Nicholls
MBBS PhD FRACP FACC FESC FAHA FAHMS
Professor Stephen Nicholls serves as the Director of both MonashHeart and the Victorian Heart Institute, and is Professor of Cardiology at Monash University.
He completed specialty training in cardiology at John Hunter Hospital and his doctoral research at the University of Adelaide, prior to holding a postdoctoral fellowship and faculty appointment at the Cleveland Clinic and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. His research interests focus on the role of metabolic risk factors and imaging in atherosclerosis, spanning across basic science through to large clinical trials. He is Chair of the Australian Atherosclerosis Society Clinical Council, Australia and New Zealand Alliance for Cardiovascular Trials, Asia Pacific Cardiometabolic Consortium, and Secretary of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Professor Nicholls is also Fellow of a number of professional associations including the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
Professor Gary Richardson OAM
MBBS FRACP
Professor Gary Richardson OAM joined Cabrini in 2001 as Director of the Cabrini Monash University Department of Medical Oncology before becoming Group Director of Cabrini Research in 2019.
A Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Professor Richardson has trained at St Vincent’s Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, and the National Cancer Institute in the United States. As Professor of Medicine at Monash University, he developed the clinical research program in haematology and oncology at Cabrini and continues to be involved in clinical trials. Outside of Cabrini, Professor Richardson has actively contributed to men’s health, previously serving as Chairman of Foundation 49 while also an advisory board member for the National Male Health Policy and the Victorian Men’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 for services to medical oncology.Bob Santamaria
Bob Santamaria
BCom LLB
Bob Santamaria has over 40 years’ experience across a diverse portfolio that includes landmark transactions that gave shaped the corporate Australia.
He retired as ANZ Group General Counsel in 2019, after 12 years in that role. During this time, he oversaw all major litigation for ANZ and led its response to the Banking Royal Commission. Prior to ANZ, he was a partner at Allens Arthur Robinson for 20 years, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, and corporate reconstructions, and was the Executive Partner for the firm’s Corporate Department. Since retirement, Santamaria has actively contributed to the community, joining the Cabrini Research Committee upon its formation after having served on the Board of Cabrini Australia. In addition to these roles, he is on the board of Villa Maria Catholic Homes, which delivers aged care services and support for disability and homeless groups, and the Orygen Youth Mental Health Foundation.
Sue Williams
BBus MBA AMP GAICD
Sue Williams was appointed Chief Executive of Cabrini in 2019, transitioning from her previous role as Chief of Health Operations.
She has over 25 years’ experience in the healthcare industry at the senior management level in both public and private sectors. She has held various roles including as Director of Nursing at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Chief Operating Officer of Hospitals at Healthscope, and Group General Manager at Spotless Group. Previous to joining Cabrini, she served as Chief Executive Officer for Peninsula Health, where she oversaw the delivery of mental health and community services to a patient population of over 300 000 people. Clinically trained as a nurse, Williams has received postgraduate qualifications in business management, from Monash University, Harvard Business School, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Underpinning her numerous executive achievements is a commitment to patient-centric care, resonating across the Cabrini Health network.
Kee Wong
BE MBA FAICD
Kee Wong is the founder of e-Centric Innovations – a technology consulting firm that operates in Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore, serving large multinational enterprises and governments.
He invests across a broad portfolio of industries that include technology, retail, property, professional services, and food and beverage services in Australia and abroad. He also plays an active role in supporting socially impactful start-ups. Wong is a currently a board member for ASX100 listed companies Carsales.com and Invocare. He also holds numerous directorships, with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, the Arts Centre Melbourne, the Victorian Government Investment Fund, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, only a few of the organisations he serves. Amidst these commitments, Wong is also Adjunct Professor of Computer Science and Information Technology at La Trobe University
Professor Sophia Zoungas
MBBS PhD FRACP
Professor Sophia Zoungas is an endocrinologist as both a clinician and scientists across basic, translational, and clinical-stage research. She is currently Head of the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Professor of Diabetes, Vascular Health, and Ageing at Monash University.
Her research focuses upon the design and implementation of evidence-based frameworks for the prevention, screening, and management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, and their co-morbidities with kidney and cardiovascular disease. She holds clinical appointments as a senior staff specialist in endocrinology and diabetes at Alfred and Monash Health hospitals. Through her various roles, Professor Zoungas directs and supports research and educational programs in healthcare delivery as well as advising on clinical epidemiological methods and the design, delivery, and monitoring of clinical trials. Amongst her work, she is the Principal Investigator of STAREE, the world’s largest study exploring the preventive effects of statins in healthy populations aged over 70. She is also the immediate past President of the Australasian Diabetes Society while continuing as its Clinical Director, while also leading the Australian National Diabetes Audit and Diabetes Clinical Quality Registry.