Dr Kathy Gatford
Associate Prof/Reader
School of Biomedicine
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Assoc. Prof. Kathy Gatford. Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons I, dux), PhD. I am an Associate Professor in the School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide and research group leader in the Robinson Research Institute. My research focuses on understanding how the environment in early life programs subsequent function including metabolic homeostasis, and testing interventions to prevent these adverse effects of a poor pregnancy in pre-clinical models. Since 2007, I have been awarded over $13 million in research funding, including from NHMRC, Diabetes Australia Research Trust and the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund. I currently lead a project seeking to develop a new therapy that maintains the benefits of current antenatal glucocorticoids for lung maturation whilst avoiding off-target effects (CIA, NHMRC, 2025-2028, $2.3M). My work also translates to improving animal well-being and productivity, and I am part of a team seeking to mitigate impacts of heat stress and climate change on sheep reproduction (co-CI, Future Drought Fund, $7.9M). In my teaching role (since 2008), I lead curriculum development in reproduction-related courses within the Bachelor of Biomedical and Health Science program, which launches at Adelaide University in 2026, and for the Bachelor of Medical Studies-Doctor of Mediine program. I coordinate, lecture in and manage and moderate assessment in the level 3 Bachelor of Health & Medical Sciences course Infant, Child & Adolescent Health, and teach into all of these programs. I am Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Health & Medical Sciences (advanced) program at the University of Adelaide (since 2017).
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
Early Origins of Health and Disease Research Group
The Early Origins of Health and Disease Research Group aims to understand how exposures in pregnancy impact later health, and to develop and test interventions during and after pregnancy to reduce the impact of these exposures and improve health of offspring from birth to adulthood. We use intensive studies in preclinical models with a large network of collaborators to investigate mechanisms and evaluate interventions independent of potential confounding, as well as evaluating evidence from human cohorts.
Project 1
Title: Maturing the preterm lung while protecting the brain
Description: Antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone in Australia) are routinely given to mothers at risk of preterm birth, to mature the fetal lungs. This therapy is very effective at reducing risks of lung disease and death in newborn babies, but also impacts the developing brain. As a result, antenatal corticosteroid use is associated with increased risk of behavioural problems in children. We will use a preclinical model of preterm birth to test a new prodrug therapy to mature the lungs without disrupting brain development. Multiple projects are available, covering enzyme activity and pharmacokinetics, large animal physiology and surgery, gene and protein expression, receptor isoform and phosphorylation, and newborn ventilation. Specific Honours and HDR projects will be developed in consultation with students to match interest areas.
Projects available for: 3rd year research placement, Honours, HDR
Location: SAHMRI Gilles Plains/Adelaide Health & Medical Sciences building (potential for collaborative research at University of South Australia)
Research Project Start: available currently
Special Requirements: Some out-of-hours work will be required
Project 2
Title: Heat and drought resilience of sheep production systems
Description: Australian sheep production systems are under stress due to increasing heat and drought exposure, with heat impacting the entire reproductive cycle. Within this project we will seek to identify heat-tolerant sheep and assess underlying mechanisms and reproductive outcomes, and assess impacts of providing shade and shelter at different stages of reproduction. Students will work within an interdisciplinary team with assessment of physiological and behavioural outcomes and of interactions between animals and other components of the systems including use of shade and forage shrubs and trees.
Projects available for: 3rd year research placement, Honours, HDR
Location: Roseworthy campus
Research Project Start: available currently
Special Requirements: Some out-of-hours work will be required. A current driver's license and access to own transport is likely to be needed.
Project 3
Title: Gut adaptations during pregnancy
Description: Successful pregnancy requires increased nutrient absorption by the mother to meet demands of the growing fetus. As well as increasing the efficiency of nutrient absorption from the gut, a pregnant mother needs to increase how much she eats. This means that satiety (fullness) pathways need to be down-regulated, to allow increasing food intake. How nutrient absorption increases and satiety pathways down-regulate in the gut is not well-understood. This project will study changes during pregnancy in preclinical models, in collaboration with Prof Amanda Page at SAHMRI.
Projects available for: 3rd year research placement, Honours and HDR (subject to project funding)
Location: SAHMRI / Adelaide Health & Medical Sciences building
Research Project Start: please contact me to discuss project options and availability
Special Requirements: Some out-of-hours work will be required
-
Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2022 - ongoing Associate Professor University of Adelaide 2020 - 2021 Associate Professor University of Adelaide 2017 - ongoing Program Coordinator, Bachelor of Health & Medical Sciences (advanced) University of Adelaide 2016 - ongoing Program Coordinator, Bachelor of Health Science (advanced) University of Adelaide 2010 - 2013 NHMRC-funded Research fellow University of Adelaide 2009 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide 2008 - 2009 University Research Fellow (Academic Level B) University of Adelaide 2007 - 2007 University Research Associate (Academic Level A) University of Adelaide 2005 - 2006 NHMRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide 2001 - 2005 Hilda Farmer Medical Research Associate University of Adelaide 1997 - 2001 NHMRC Australian Postdoctoral Fellow University of Adelaide 1996 - 1997 PRDC Postdoctoral Fellow University of Adelaide 1990 - 1992 Research Assistant (Grade 2) University of Melbourne -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2019 Award Women’s Research Excellence Award University of Adelaide Australia $5000 2013 Award Special Teaching Award University of Adelaide Australia - 2000 Award National Association of Research Fellows Postdoctoral Young Investigator Award National Association of Research Fellows Australia - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 1993 - 1996 University of Melbourne Australia PhD 1985 - 1989 University of Melbourne Australia Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons I, dux) -
Research Interests
-
Journals
-
Book Chapters
-
Conference Papers
Year Citation 2023 Roff, A. J., Robinson, J. L., Hammond, S. J., Davies, A., Clifton, V. L., Wallace, M. J., . . . Donnelley, M. (2023). X-ray Velocimetry Detects Changes in Local Airflow in a Sheep Model of Asthma During Pregnancy. In REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES Vol. 30 (pp. 61A-62A). Brisbane, AUSTRALIA: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. 2018 Gatford, K., Roberts, C., Kind, K., & Hynd, P. (2018). Off to the right start: how pregnancy and early life can determine future animal health and production. In Proceedings of the 31st Biennial Conference of Australian Society of Animal Production (ASAP 2016) / Joint Conference of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production (NZSAP), as published in Animal Production Science Vol. 58 (pp. 459-475). Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.
DOI Scopus5 WoS42016 Kaur, M., Wooldridge, A. L., Wilkes, M. J., Hynd, P. I., McConell, G. K., & Gatford, K. L. (2016). Restricted placental growth does not reduce spontaneous activity in the adolescent or young adult sheep. In CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY Vol. 84 (pp. 9). Adelaide, AUSTRALIA: WILEY. 2016 Gatford, K. (2016). GH in pregnancy - how does it change and what is it doing?. In CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY Vol. 84 (pp. 17). Adelaide, AUSTRALIA: WILEY. 2007 Gatford, K., De Blasio, M., Harland, M., Roberts, C., Heinemann, G., Nottle, M., . . . Owens, J. (2007). Effects of maternal somatotropin injections or feeding ractopamine in early-mid pregnancy in gilts and sows -UTV-AC-8/05. In J. Paterson, & J. Barker (Eds.), Proceedings of Manipulating Pig Production XI (pp. 1). Victoria: Australasian Pig Science Association. 2006 Dalitz, P. A., Rees, S. M., Gatford, K., Henschke, P., Owens, J., & Harding, R. (2006). Brief episodes of ethanol exposure can result in growth restriction, cerebral white matter injury and decreased levels of igf in late-gestation sheep. In ALCOHOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH Vol. 30 (pp. 175A). Sydney, AUSTRALIA: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING. 2005 De Blasio, M. J., Walker, M. R., Taylor, R. L., Grant, P. A., Gatford, K. L., Owens, P. C., . . . Owens, J. A. (2005). Placenta] restriction impairs insulin-like growth factor (IGF) action on lucose metabolism but enhances that on lipolysis and adipose tissue postnatally in the sheep. In PEDIATRIC RESEARCH Vol. 58 (pp. 1055-1056). Toronto, CANADA: INT PEDIATRIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. 2005 Gatford, K. L., Owens, J. A., Dalitz, P. A., Cock, M. L., & Harding, R. (2005). Moderate fetal alcohol exposure in late gestation reduces fetal IGF-II abundance and alters circulating IGFBPs. In PEDIATRIC RESEARCH Vol. 58 (pp. 1056). Toronto, CANADA: INT PEDIATRIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. 2005 Dalitz, P. A., Cock, M. L., Duncan, J. R., Rees, S. M., Gatford, K. L., Owens, J. A., & Harding, R. (2005). Moderate fetal alcohol exposure in late gestation induces white matter injury and increases apoptosis in the fetal brain. In PEDIATRIC RESEARCH Vol. 58 (pp. 1080). Toronto, CANADA: INT PEDIATRIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. 2003 Gatford, K. L., De Blasio, M. L., Thavaneswaran, P., McMillen, I. C., Robinson, J. S., & Owens, J. A. (2003). Restricted fetal growth and neonatal catchup growth are associated with sexually dimorphic outcomes for insulin secretion in the young adult sheep. In PEDIATRIC RESEARCH Vol. 53 (pp. 41A-42A). BRIGHTON, ENGLAND: INT PEDIATRIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. 1994 GATFORD, K. L., HOSKING, B. J., EGAN, A. R., CLARKE, I. J., & FLETCHER, T. P. (1994). Sexual dimorphism of circulating growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and composition in cross-bred lambs. In N. D. Costa (Ed.), PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA, VOL 18 Vol. 18 (pp. 78). NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA: NUTRITION SOC AUSTRALIA. -
Conference Items
Year Citation 2020 Li, H., Christie, S., Clarke, G., Watson, O., Young, R., Gatford, K., & Page, A. (2020). Gastric vagal afferent satiety signals are attenuated during pregnancy. Poster session presented at the meeting of NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY. WILEY. 2018 Swinbourne, A. M., Flinn, T., McCarthy, N., Kelly, J., Gatford, K., Kind, K., . . . Van Wettere, W. (2018). The effects of maternal melatonin supplementation on blood glucose and thermoregulation in neonatal lambs. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Joint Annual Scientific Meetings of the Endocrine Society of Australia and the Society for Reproductive Biology. 2018 Flinn, T., Swinbourne, A., McCarthy, N., Kelly, J., Gatford, K., Kind, K., . . . Van Wettere, W. (2018). The effects of maternal melatonin supplementation in mid to late gestating singleton and twin-bearing merino ewes on growth parameters at birth. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Joint Annual Scientific Meetings of the Endocrine Society of Australia and the Society for Reproductive Biology. Adelaide, South Australia. 2017 Gatford, K. L., Muhlhausler, B. S., Sim, P. S. -L., Roberts, C. T., Veldhuis, J. D., Huang, L., & Chen, C. (2017). Pulsatile GH profiles in the pregnant mouse reveal marked increases in circulating GH and GH secretion between early and mid-pregnancy. Poster session presented at the meeting of CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2017 Gatford, K. L., Wooldridge, A. L., Kaur, M., Rice, J., Le-Ber, A., Falcao-Tebas, F., . . . McConell, G. K. (2017). Sex-dependent impairment of metabolic responses to exercise training in adult sheep offspring of placentally-restricted pregnancies. Poster session presented at the meeting of CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2017 Varcoe, T. J., Gatford, K. L., Liu, H., Kuchel, T. R., & Kennaway, D. J. (2017). Simulated Shift Work in the Pregnant Sheep Disrupts Maternal Rhythms and Metabolism.. Poster session presented at the meeting of REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES. Orlando, FL: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC. 2015 Andraweera, P. H., Gatford, K., Dekker, G., Leemaqz, S., McCowan, L., & Roberts, C. (2015). Insulin family gene polymorphisms in pregnancies complicated by small for gestational age infants. Poster session presented at the meeting of Proceedings of the Annual Scientific Sessions of the Australian Society for Medical Research-SA meeting. Adelaide, Australia. 2015 Andraweera, P., Dekker, G., Gatford, K., Leemaqz, S., McCowan, L., Jayasekara, R., . . . Roberts, C. (2015). INSR rs2059806 polymorphism and the risk of preeclampsia. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of Annual Conference of the International Federation of Placental Associations (IFPA) 2015, as published in Placenta. Brisbane, Australia: Elsevier.
DOI2014 Zhuang., Rodriguez Lopez., Chiam, K., Harryanto, H., Ryan, N., Jindal, S., . . . Bianco-Miotto. (2014). A high fat diet early in life and prostate cancer risk. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Australian Health and Medical Research Congress. Melbourne, Australia. 2014 Mcconell, G. K., Kaur, G., Falcao-Tebas, F., Hong, Y. H., & Gatford, K. L. (2014). Acute Exercise Increases Whole-Body Insulin Sensitivity in Adult Sheep. Poster session presented at the meeting of ENDOCRINE REVIEWS. ENDOCRINE SOC. 1998 Owens, J. A., McMillen, C., Gatford, K., Moore, V., Robinson, J., Kind, K., & Clifton, P. (1998). Prenatal programming of metabolic homeostasis: Comparative studies in the guinea pig, sheep and human. Poster session presented at the meeting of Equine Veterinary Journal. -
Working Paper
Year Citation 2015 Kaur, M., Wooldridge, A. L., Wilkes, M., Pitchford, W. S., Hynd, P. I., McConell, G. K., & Gatford, K. L. (2015). Experimental restriction of placental function in sheep increases spontaneous physical activity in young adult female offspring.
Current funding:
- Maturing the preterm lung without damaging the brain. KL Gatford, JS Morrison, MJ Stark, MD Wiese, J Davidson, SD McBride, MC Lock. NHMRC Ideas Grant (2025-2028, ID: 2038332, $2.3M)
- Drought and Climate Resilient Sheep Farms and Landscapes Tailor-made for low rainfall farming. CIs: WHEJ van Wettere, W Pitchford, K Delaporte, M Denton, M Hebart, S Leu, KL Gatford, K Kind. Partner Investigator: A Thompson. AIs: S Lee, R Woodgate, B-J Brougham, BE Lewis Baida, MR Tscharke. Future Drought Fund (DAFF): Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Program (ID: 4-KN6XMB9, 2025-2030, $7.9M)
Recent funding:
- Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation, A new therapy to mature preterm lungs without damaging the brain (2023-2024, ID23812748, CIA Gatford, AIs Morrison, Stark, Tai, Wiese, Clifton, Wallace, Cole, Darby, Meakin, $100,000)
- Meat and Livestock Australia (2019-2022, MLA Project grant #901611, A novel amino acid approach to increase lamb survival, co-CI, $880,481)
- Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation Pilot study – Testing the first treatment to protect babies of asthmatic women from lung disease, (2020-2021, App. No. 12712295, CIA Gatford, $85,000)
- Meat and Livestock Australia (2017/18 MLA Annual call project 2018-2020 Project #105, New approaches to increase the weaning rate of the national sheep-flock, co-CI, $803,012)
- Ian Potter Medical Research Grants (2018, ID 20190089, Vevo 3100 ultrasound biomicroscope for the Adelaide Biomed city precinct, CIA, $200,000)
- Robinson Research Institute Innovation Seed funding, (2020, Exercising the Immune System to Prevent Preeclampsia, CIB $25,000)
- Robinson Research Institute Investment for Success, (2018, Preventing IUGR, CIA $26,939)
- NHMRC (Project Grant 2016-2018 ID 1106674, Impact of disrupted sleep and rhythms during pregnancy on the mother and her offspring, CIB, $769,979)
- Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation, CIA 2017-18 $75,000
- Australian Pork Limited (Research & Development Grant 2015-2018 Grant ID 787, CIB, $122,144)
| 2025 | Co-lead for development of Reproduction & Developmental Biology (2nd year core, Reproductive & Childhood health major, B Biomed Health Sc) |
| 2025 | Co-lead for development of First 1000 days (1st year elective, B Biomed Health Sc) |
| 2021-2024 | Co-lead for development of Medical Studies 3A (semester 1, 3rd year, new B Med Studies-MD program) |
| 2019-2023 | Course co-coordinator, HLTH SC 3102 Innovating Health |
| 2018- | Course co-coordinator HLTH SC 3103 Infant, Child and Adolescent Health |
| 2018-2020 | Course coordinator, PAEDIAT 3000 Biology of Childhood Growth, Development and Health |
-
Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2024 Principal Supervisor Investigating the variable response of preterm infants to treatment with antenatal corticosteroids. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Yoshi Tan 2021 Principal Supervisor Asthma during pregnancy and pregnancy during asthma Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Andrea Jane Roff 2021 Principal Supervisor Sex-specific epigenetic programming of offspring pancreatic beta-cells by maternal diet Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Stephanie Elise O'Hara -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2021 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Evaluating the Impact of Maternal Asthma on Neonatal and Childhood Lung Function and Its Underlying Mechanisms Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Joshua Luke Robinson 2020 - 2024 Principal Supervisor Adaptations of small intestinal nutrient absorption during pregnancy in mice Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Teunis Sebastian Overduin 2020 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Adaptations in gastrointestinal satiety during pregnancy in mice Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Georgia Sheridan Clarke 2017 - 2020 Principal Supervisor A novel intervention strategy to prevent intrauterine growth restriction Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Harleen Kaur 2016 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Perinatal Programming of Metabolic Health in Guinea Pigs Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Dane Horton 2013 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Developmental Programming of Allergic Susceptibility Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Amy Louise Wooldridge 2011 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Neurodevelopmental effects of placental restriction in sheep Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Damien Seth Hunter 2009 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Early life determinants of beta-cell function in the sheep Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Siti Aishah Sulaiman 1999 - 2004 Co-Supervisor Placental Restriction and Endocrine Control of Postnatal Growth Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Miles De Blasio
-
Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2015 - 2015 Member External Animal Ethics Review Committee Department of Environment and Heritage, SA Government Australia 2013 - 2013 Member Program Organising Committee: Fetal and Neonatal Workshop, 2013 Satellite meeting of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia 2011 - 2012 Member Working group chapter 6, review and development of the 8th edition of the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes NHMRC Australia 2010 - 2012 Chair Program Organising Committee, Endocrine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting Endocrine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting Australia 2010 - 2010 Member External Animal Ethics Review Committee member Department of Environment and Heritage, SA Government Australia 2007 - 2014 Member University of Adelaide Animal Ethics Committee University of Adelaide Australia 2007 - 2007 Member Program Organising Committee: Society for Reproductive Biology Annual Conference, 2007 Society for Reproductive Biology Australia -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2007 - 2010 Director Australian Women in Endocrinology Australia 2001 - ongoing Member Australian Women in Endocrinology Australia 1994 - ongoing - Endocrine Society of Australia Australia -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2014 - ongoing Board Member American Journal of Physiology American Physiological Society United States 2014 - ongoing Board Member Reproduction - United Kingdom
Connect With Me
External Profiles
