Lachlan Moldenhauer

Dr Lachlan Moldenhauer

Grant-Funded Researcher (B)

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Lachlan's research explores how a mother's immune system supports pregnancy, to develop a healthy baby. 

During pregnancy, the mum's immune system is activated and play a critical role in regulating the uterine environment to allow for successful embryo implantation and growth of the baby and placenta. However, in some women the immune cells and molecules do not function as expected, creating a hostile uterine environment. This immune imbalance can cause infertility or lead to pregnancy complications miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and preterm birth.

Lachlan's research investigates the causes of immune dysfunction during pregnancy, including metabolic, genetic and male partner factors, and studies potential therapeutics for women who struggle to become pregnancy or suffer from pregnancy complications. 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2014 - ongoing Senior Research Associate University of Adelaide
    2012 - 2013 Post-doctoral Researcher Centre for Cancer Biology
    2009 - 2011 Post-doctoral Researcher University of Adelaide

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2008 University of Adelaide Adelaide PhD
    2003 University of Adelaide Australia BSc (Hons)

  • Research Interests
    Immunology Reproductive Biology
  • $1.65M (2025-28) as Chief Investigator on the project "Miscarriage – defining clinical subtypes based on immune-metabolic dysfunction" from the NHMRC Ideas Grant Scheme
  • $99K (2024-25) as an Investigator on the project “Immune determinants of preterm birth susceptibility” from the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation
  • $38K (2024) as the Investigator on a grant development application from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (UoA) 
  • $36K (2024) as the Investigator on a Project Development Step Funding application from the from the Robinson Research Institute (UoA)
  • $920K (2021-24) as a Chief Investigator on the project “A novel interaction between the immune and vascular systems in early-onset preeclampsia; an opportunity for new treatments” from the NHMRC Ideas Grant Scheme
  • $60K (2021-23), as the Investigator on a Invest for Success application for grant development, from the Robinson Research Institute (UoA)  
  • $34K (2021) as the Investigator on a grant development application from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
  • 608K (2020-2025) as an Investigator on the “Study of the Mechanism of the Fertility Enhancing Effect of Lipiodol” from Guerbet Pharmaceuticals
  • $1.48M (2018-21) as an Associated Investigator on the project “The male partner contribution to pregnancy immune tolerance deficit in women” from the NHMRC Project Grant Scheme
  • $400K (2017-2020) as an Investigator on the study “Potential immunotherapies in pregnancy complications” from Ferring Pharmaceuticals 

Lachlan is available to supervise students, in a range of laboratory-based discovery and clinical projects, undertaking either Honours, Masters, or PhD studies.

He has supervised 3 PhD students through to completion and is currently supervising 5 PhD students. Lachlan has supervised 15 Honours students. 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Principal Supervisor Recurrent pregnancy loss Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Cristina Norzel Arriaran Scott
    2024 Co-Supervisor Delineating the relationship between metabolic and immune dysfunction that underpins recurrent pregnancy loss. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Rashmi Baid
    2021 Co-Supervisor Regulatory T cell contributions to maternal immune system dysfunction in preterm birth Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jessie Rose Walker
    2019 Co-Supervisor Mechanisms of Action of Lipiodol in Women Undergoing Reproductive Therapy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Faizz Fattah

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Peri-conception Contributions to the Origins of Autoimmunity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Stacey Jasmin Savin
    2015 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Progesterone control of regulatory T cell abundance, phenotype and stability for pregnancy success Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ella Shana Green
    2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Toll-Like Receptor 4 Signalling in Inflammation Pathways to Term and Preterm Delivery Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Hanan Hamimi Binti Wahid

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2018 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Macrophage alterations in microRNA deficient mouse models of endometriosis The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Honours) (First Class Honours Award) Honours Full Time Kavita Bikram Shah
  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (B)
  • Phone: 83134100
  • Email: lachlan.moldenhauer@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences, floor 6
  • Org Unit: Medical Sciences
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