Professor Eric Morand
Professor Eric Morand is a Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor at Monash University and Head of Rheumatology at Monash Health, Australia’s largest health service.
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. Professor Morand and his team manage national and multinational longitudinal cohort studies, lead global clinical trials and international multi-omics collaborations, and have launched three venture-funded spinoff companies. He was principal investigator of the global clinical trial which led to the approval of the breakthrough lupus drug, anifrolumab, which in 2024 became the first drug for lupus listed on the Australian PBS.
Professor Morand has published over 370 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, the Parr Prize of the Australian Rheumatology Association, the Evelyn Hess award of the Lupus Foundation of America, and the Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation. 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.
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 three children.