Rate My Professor Jon Hirst

Hirst's research interests encompass fetal and neonatal physiology, the endocrinology of pregnancy, birth, and preterm labour, employing animal models to advance therapies for preterm labour. Central to his work is the investigation of neurosteroids' role in pregnancy and fetal brain development. These steroids regulate arousal-like activity, suppress fetal brain activity for neuroprotection, and their downregulation by chronic stress or preterm birth increases brain injury risk. His team, comprising seven staff and students at the Mothers and Babies Research Centre, explores neurosteroid replacement therapies to mitigate these effects and improve neonatal outcomes. Collaborative projects include preventing preterm labour with Associate Professor Zakar and examining the uterine prorenin/renin receptor system with Professor E Lumbers. Hirst has led or contributed to numerous NHMRC-funded projects totaling over $8.4 million, such as "Neonatal therapy for improving myelination and long term outcome following preterm birth" (2021, $822,403), "Perinatal stress leads to neurosteroid deficits and adverse behavioural outcomes" (2015, $1,198,425), and "Replacement therapies for improving outcome following preterm birth" (2019, $917,949). Notable publications include "Neuropeptide Pathways Controlling the Timing of Birth" (2024), "Models of perinatal compromises in the guinea pig: Their use in showing the role of neurosteroids in pregnancy and the newborn" (2016), "Neurosteroid replacement therapy using tiagabine and zuranolone restores cerebellar neurodevelopment and reduces hyperactive behaviour following preterm birth" (2025), and over 140 peer-reviewed articles. He coordinates three pharmacology courses annually in Biomedical Science and Master of Pharmacy programs. Hirst serves on the NHMRC grant review panel, PSANZ abstract and student prize panels, and the Animal Ethics committee. He has delivered invited lectures, including at the 6th International Congress on Neuroendocrinology (2006) and the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (1999).