About Us

Professor Graeme Polglase

Professor Graeme Polglase is Deputy Director of The Ritchie Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University and Hudson Institute for Medical Research, and is Head of the Perinatal Transition Laboratory, Hudson Institute. Prof Polglase has published more than 190 papers and book chapters, the majority focusing on respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological challenges that occur in preterm and vulnerable infants around the time of birth. His research aims to reduce lung, heart and brain injury resultant from the initial delivery and resuscitation of preterm infants, as well as those exposed to an adverse uterine environment, including growth restriction, asphyxia or intrauterine inflammation. His pre-clinical studies have resulted in the initiation of clinical trials, both National and International, and has resulted in changes and recommendations to National and International Resuscitation Guidelines (American, European, United Kingdom). Prof Polglase has attracted significant grant and fellowship support from the NHMRC (including ECF, CDFs 1 & 2 and Leadership fellowship 1), NIH, Heart Foundation and Cerebral Palsy Foundation, but is most proud of being awarded the inaugural Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation, Al and Val Rosenstrauss fellowship in 2012. Since then Prof Polglase has maintained a strong relationship with the Foundation and has held the position of Head of Lung Diseases on the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee for Fellowships and Project Grants since 2018. Appointed to the Board of Directors on 18 September 2020

Professor Brian Dean

Professor Brian Dean is Head of the Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, is an Honorary Professorial Fellow in University of Melbourne Department of Psychiatry Florey and Mental Health, is a Professorial Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Swinburne University and is Deputy Director of the Victorian Brain Bank Network. Professor Dean has published more than 250 papers and book chapters. These publications are mostly in the fields of biological psychiatry and neuropsychopharmacology which reflects a research focus of the pathologies of major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorders and the mechanisms by which drugs act to lessen the symptoms of those disorders. Professor Dean is recognised both internationally and nationally and this is reflected in him being a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (UK), the Treasurer of the CINP (the world neuropsychopharmacology society) and the Foundation President of Biological Psychiatry Australia, the national biological psychiatry society. Professor Dean has a long history with the Foundation, winning the first of his many grants from the Foundation in 1989. Professor Dean was Head of the Rebecca Cooper Research Laboratories at the Mental Health Research Institute from 1995 to 2011. Professor Brian Dean is also the current Chair of the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee. In 2019 Brian received the Outstanding Basic Research Scientist Award from the Schizophrenia International Research Society, the Lundbeck Basic Science Award from the Asian College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the Isaac Schweitzer Award from Biological Psychiatry Australia.  Brian had previously received the Lilly Oration Award from the Australian Society of Psychiatric Research and had presented the University of Melbourne Beattie Smith Lecture. Appointed to the Board of Directors on 12 November 2009

Steven Rosenstrauss

Steven has qualifications in law, accounting and for 30 years practiced as a specialist Taxation advisor in a Chartered Accounting firm before commencing a new career as a High School Teacher.  In a professional capacity, Steven assisted the Foundation with its successful appeal against the Australian Taxation Office, resulting in a significant outcome for the Foundation. Steven knew the late Rebecca Cooper and has been associated with the Foundation for most of his adult life. Steven is passionate about the Foundation fulfilling its mandate to fund medical research whilst preserving the unique culture which it has developed. Outside of work, Steven is an avid 4WD'er and enjoys rugby, skiing and the cinema. Appointed to the Board of Directors on 8 March 2012.

Dr Thomas Cromer

Tom is a retired Endocrinologist whose medical interests are in diabetes, erectile dysfunction and thyroid disease.

Tom is one of the founding directors of the Foundation, appointed as director on 13 January 1984

Patrick O’Brien

Patrick is the principal of O’Brien Legal, solicitors, and has acted as the Foundation's commercial and litigation lawyer for a number of years. Patrick has wide experience in a number of legal disciplines and has practised continuously as a solicitor in private practice since 1983. Patrick was successful in having an application launched by Woollahra Municipal Council to seize a parcel of the Foundation’s land in Paddington defeated in the Land and Environment Court of NSW in 2001. Appointed to the Board of Directors on 19 March 2011

Marisa Broome

Marisa Broome is a Certified Financial Planner and owner of Wealthadvice, a holistic financial planning practice. She has over 35 years experience in financial services. Marisa is also currently the Chair of the Financial Planning Association of Australia Ltd, the Chair of the Regulatory Advisory Panel for the Financial Planning Standards Board and a member of the Advisory Board for the Conexus Institute, a think tank focussed on the retirement and advice sectors in Australia. Marisa brings to the Cooper Foundation her extensive experience in investment and portfolio management as well as a focus on risk management. Her interest in medical research has been fostered by her daughter who is a scientist and PhD candidate. Appointed to the Board of Directors on 18 September 2020.