Eric Morand

Professor Morand is Head of the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University's largest clinical school, and a physician-scientist. 

He is a clinical rheumatologist, and Head of the Monash Health Rheumatology Unit, the largest in Australia. He specialises in research and clinical care of systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as complex rheumatic diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. He is founder of the Monash Lupus Clinic, Australia's largest research-grounded clinic for patients with SLE, a founding member of the Australian Lupus Registry & Biobank, and Chair of the AsiaPacific Lupus Collaboration. 

His lab at Monash has studied the biology of glucocorticoids in rheumatic disease and lupus since 1996. 

Professor Morand's is a physician-scientist whose key interests are clinical outcome measurement and biological profiling in SLE, and the actions of glucocorticoid induced proteins on the immune system. 

His group has pioneered the development of treat-to-target outcome measures in SLE, via the AsiaPacific Lupus Collaboration, which has over 1800 patients under study. 

Biomarker studies in SLE are also a major interest, with 000s of samples linked to longitudinal clinical data archived in the Australian Lupus Registry & Biobank, headquartered at Monash. 

His lab discovered the role in rheumatic disease of multiple important glucocorticoid-regulated proteins. Most recently his group defined the role of GILZ in RA, Th17 pathways, B cell activation, and lupus, and are working on exploiting its actions to develop a safe glucocorticoid mimic. His lab also works on innate immunity including the actions of the unique pro-inflammatory protein, MIF. 

Professor Morand is Head of Rheumatology, Monash Health. He works in clinics servicing lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and complex rheumatology cases, and undertakes ward duty inpatient care in the largest service in the country. 

Advisory expertise and research collaboration experience with international biotech and Pharma companies including AstraZeneca, Janssen, BMS, UCB, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, GSK, CSL. 

Special interests include Lupus / SLE outcome measures, trials, translational research and biomarkers. 

Professor Morand is a Board member of Rare Voices Australia, has served on the board of the Australian Rheumatology Association and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the ARA Research Trust.