Prince Henry’s Institute

 

Rob McLachlan

 

Appointments

• NHMRC Principal Research Fellow

• Director, Andrology Australia

• Deputy Director, Endocrinology, Monash Medical Centre

• Honorary Professor, Dept Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Monash University

• Consultant Andrologist, Monash IVF Program  

 

Profile

Prof McLachlan joined PHI in 1983 and is a physician-scientist and Principal Research Fellow with a programme of basic and clinical research.

He has made major contributions to scientific discovery, translation into clinical practice and education in male reproductive health. His particular interests are male fertility regulation, the genetics of male infertility and androgen physiology.

He is Deputy Director of Endocrinology at Monash Medical Centre, Consultant Andrologist to the Monash IVF program, consultant to the WHO and is the Director of Andrology Australia, a Federal Government initiative committed to research and community & professional education in male reproductive health.

 

Research Interests

Prof McLachlan has a strong track record of clinical research into male contraception, androgen physiology and male infertility, including its genetics and its management by assisted reproduction. His research program has been supported by continuous NHMRC funding for past 25 years and in addition through other peer reviewed and industry-funded sources.

The current translational research effort focuses on the hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis and new methods for male fertility regulation.The group's basic research in animal models is consistently extended to studies in man, resulting in major contributions to methods of evaluating spermatogenesis, its endocrine regulation and application to male hormonal contraception.

Androgen physiology and the role of testosterone in ageing and metabolism are a major focus with several clinical interventional studies looking at a range of endpoints including quality of life, body composition and cardiovascular risk. These studies involve close collaboration with various departments at the Monash Medical Centre.

Finally the genetic aspects of male infertility is a longstanding interest and utilises a large collection of clinical data and DNA from men and offspring with various types of infertility and links with collaborators at Monash IVF and the University.

Prof McLachlan is also a recognised authority in the field of andrology. He facilitates research and education in male reproductive health as Director of Andrology Australia, the latter having made significant and internationally recognised contributions in the public health field.

He also make contributes to the research and education through membership of the World Health Organisation subcommittee for Research on Methods for the Regulation of Male Fertility and as Secretary of the International Society of Andrology.

 

Expertise

clinical research, andrology, endocrinology testosterone, infertility, spermatogenesis, androgens

 

Recent Achievements

• Appointed as Director of Andrology Australia in 2006. This is a Federal Government sponsored program promoting research and professional & community education in male reproductive health.

• Invited member WHO Male Fertility Regulation Sub-committee and participant in forthcoming international WHO/CONRAD-sponsored field trial of male hormonal contraception

 

Current Research

• Genetics of male infertility

• Developing new reversible male contraceptives

• Testosterone replacement therapy in obese men

 

Service to the Scientific Community

• Chairman of Lead Organising Committee, International Congress of Andrology. Melbourne 2013

• 2005-2009, Secretary, International Society of Andrology

• 2005 - Director, Andrology Australia

• Research Committee, Monash IVF programme

• Member, Research on Methods for the Regulation of Male Fertility of the World Health Organisation

• Editor, Male Endocrinology section www.ENDOTEXT.org

• Associate Editor, Journal of Andrology

• Associate Editor, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

 

Selected Publications

Matthiesson KL, McLachlan RI, O'Donnell L, Frydenberg M, Robertson DM, Stanton PG, , Meachem SJ. (2006) The relative roles of FSH and LH in maintaining spermatogonial populations and spermiation in normal men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 91:3962-9.

Holden C, McLachlan RI, Pitts M, Cumming R, Wittert G, Handelsman D, de Kretser D. (2005) A national survey of the reproductive health and concerns of middle aged and older Australian men. The Lancet 366:218-224.

Matthiesson KL, Stanton PG, O'Donnell L, Amory JK, Berger R, Bremner WJ, McLachlan RI. (2005) Effects of testosterone and levonorgestrel combined with a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor or GnRH antagonist on spermatogenesis and intratesticular steroid levels in normal men. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 90:5647-5655.

Lynch M, Cram DS, Reilly A, O'Bryan MKO, Baker HWG, de Kretser DM, RI McLachlan. (2005) The Y chromosome gr/gr subdeletion is associated with male infertility. Molecular Human Reproduction 11:507-512.

McLachlan RI, Robertson DM, Pruysers E, Ugoni A, Matsumoto AM, Anawalt BD, Bremner WJ, Meriggiola C. (2004) Relationship between serum gonadotropins and spermatogenic suppression in men undergoing steroidal contraceptive treatment. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 89:142-9.

Turner L, Conway AJ, Jimenez M, Liu P, Forbes E, McLachlan RI, Handelsman DJ. (2003) Contraceptive efficacy of a depot progestin and androgen combination in men. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 88: 4659-67.