Rachel Skinner

Professor Rachel Skinner is a Professor in Child and Adolescent Health in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. She earned her MBBS from the University of Melbourne in 1989, PhD from the same institution in 2003, and became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1999. With over 25 years as a clinician-researcher, she holds positions as Senior Staff Specialist in Adolescent Medicine and Clinical Stream Medical Director for Priority Populations at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. Until 2023, she served as Senior Clinical Advisor for Youth Health and Wellbeing at the NSW Ministry of Health. She is also Deputy Director of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Adolescent Health (Wellbeing Health & Youth, WH&Y), leading the Pathways and Costs research stream.

Her research focuses on adolescent sexual and reproductive health, encompassing medical, public health, psychosocial, and ethical aspects; adolescent health and wellbeing trajectories; health risk behaviours; pregnancy and parenting; sexual health, sexuality, and gender diversity; and vaccination programs, especially HPV immunization in schools. Her findings have informed policies with global impact on young women's health, including for marginalized groups. Notable publications include contributions to the PATRICIA trial, such as 'Efficacy of human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine against cervical infection and precancer caused by oncogenic HPV types (PATRICIA): final analysis of a double-blind, randomised study' (Lancet Oncology, 2009), cited over 2200 times; 'Efficacy of a prophylactic adjuvanted bivalent L1 virus-like-particle vaccine against infection with human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in young women: an interim analysis' (Lancet, 2007), cited over 1750 times; and analyses on cross-protection and herd immunity (2012, 2014). She has received the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence and contributes to professional leadership and public discourse on adolescent health issues.

Professional Email: rachel.skinner@sydney.edu.au