Professor Danny Eckert

Matthew Flinders Professor

College of Medicine and Public Health

+61 8 74219780

danny.eckert@flinders.edu.au

Mark Oliphant Building (2A06)

GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

My research aims to improve understanding of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and respiratory disease pathophysiology, identify novel therapeutic targets, and develop new-targeted therapies. To do this, I lead a comprehensive translational research program. My team uses a variety of experimental approaches to measure upper airway neuromuscular control and respiratory mechanics in humans to advance knowledge of basic mechanisms through to multicentre clinical trials to test new therapies. I am most well-known for my respiratory phenotyping work which has led to a new precision medicine therapeutic framework to understand and treat OSA and for my research on the role of arousal mechanisms and hypnotics in OSA pathogenesis and treatment. This work has had a major impact in advancement of OSA pathophysiology and realignment of the therapeutic agenda for this common, chronic health condition.

Qualifications

Higher Education

2003-2006 Ph.D. Sleep/Respiratory Physiology, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, Adelaide University

2002 B.Sc. (Hons) Respiratory Physiology, 1st Class Honours, Adelaide University

1998-2000 B.App.Sc. Human Movement/Exercise Physiology, University of South Australia

Honours, awards and grants

Most recent awards and Honours

2023 Gold Medal in Sleep Disordered Breathing Award, European Respiratory Society

2023 Flinders University Vice Chancellor’s Award for Research Leadership

2023 Vice President and Executive Dean Award for Fearless Leadership, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University

2023 Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (FAASM)

2022 Meier-Ewert-Preis Award, German Society of Dental Sleep Medicine (DGZS), granted for outstanding research in the field of dental sleep medicine

2022 Social Accountability Award, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University

2019 Pierre Robin Award, American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine for exceptional initiative and progress in the areas of education and academic research with original contributions to dental sleep medicine

2016 University of New South Wales Post Graduate Research Supervision Award

2015 University of New South Wales Outstanding Excellence in Post Graduate Research Supervision Award

2014 European Sleep Research Society Young Scientist Award

2012 Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand/Japanese Resp. Society Early Career Development Award

2011 Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders Section Investigator Award, American Academy of Sleep Medicine

2011 Ann Elizabeth Suratt Young Investigator Award, 12th International Symposium on Sleep and Breathing

Key responsibilities

Current Appointments

Director, Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health: A Flinders Centre for Research Excellence
Professor, College of Medicine and Public Health and Matthew Flinders Fellow, Flinders University
Deputy Director and Clinical Translation Theme Leader, Flinders Health & Medical Research Institute (FHMRI)
Principal Research Scientist and Director for the Sleep Program, Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)
Adjunct Professor, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales
Leadership Fellow, National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
Honorary Affiliate, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research