Professor Eric Morand

Professor Eric Morand is Head of the School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University's largest clinical school, and Head of Rheumatology at Monash Health, Australia’s largest rheumatology department.

He graduated in Medicine from Monash University in 1984, trained as a rheumatologist in Australia and at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, United Kingdom before completing his Doctor of Philosophy back at Monash University. He has led Rheumatology research at Monash Health since then.

As a clinician, he specialises in the care of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), complex rheumatic diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. As an educator, he has served as Year 3 coordinator and Clinical Skills Theme director of the Monash Medical School. As a researcher, his key interests are clinical outcome measurement in SLE, and the actions of glucocorticoid-induced proteins on the immune system.

He is Founder of the Monash Lupus Clinic, Australia's first research-focussed clinic for patients with SLE, a founding member of the Australian Lupus Registry and Biobank, and Chair of the Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration, which is now curating the world’s largest longitudinal cohort of lupus patients. His group has pioneered the development and validation of treat-to-target outcome measures in SLE, and discovered the role in rheumatic disease of four glucocorticoid-regulated proteins. He has been a co-founder of two start-up companies and is currently working on a third, while also acting as an advisor to global companies developing drugs for lupus. He was principal investigator of the global TULIP-2 trial which led to the 2021 approval of the breakthrough lupus drug, Anifrolumab.

Professor Morand has published over 280 peer reviewed papers, reviews, book chapters and patents. His awards include: The Lupus Research Alliance (US) William E Paul Distinguished Innovator Award and Global Team Science Award, and the Parr Prize of the Australian Rheumatology Association. In 2021 he was inducted into the Honour Roll of Monash University, and in 2022 was made a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and awarded the Evelyn Hess award of the Lupus Foundation of America.

When not working, Professor Morand enjoys reading, running, cycling, and playing saxophone, drums, and percussion (though never at the same time). While he loves helping grow the careers of younger clinicians and scientists, his greatest source of pride remains his own three children.