Associate Professor Leo Leader

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Contact Category:

Academic

Discipline:

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Qualifications: MB ChB CapeT, MD UNSW, FRANZCOG, FRCOG, FCOG(SA), DA RCP&S Lond

Dr Leo Leader is an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Women's and Children's Health. He is also a senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Royal Hospital for Women.

Dr Leader’s undergraduate training in medicine was at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He completed a Diploma in Anaesthesia (DA) through the Royal College of Surgeons in London in 1974. His postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology was both in London and at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town.

After working as a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Groote Schuur Hospital, he was appointed as a Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UNSW at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney in 1981. He was awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree by the University of New South Wales in 1988 for his thesis entitled “Fetal Habituation”

He has served as an invited assessor for national medical research organisations in Australia, the United States and Hong Kong and is an invited reviewer for a number of leading international scientific journals.

He used to conduct a fertility clinic at the Royal Hospital for Women as well as a clinic in the gynaecology department providing specialist colposcopy services for women with abnormal Pap smears. Dr Leader also used to conduct a high risk obstetric clinic.

Research Interests:

Assessment of fetal brain function during pregnancy using habituation to repeated stimulation. This is used to predict infant intellectual development. Research so far indicates that habituation is a sensitive predictor of development at 18mths and 3 years of age. The effects of prenatal maternal stress and anxiety on pregnancy and infant development and temperament. Vibroacoustic stimulation in labour as a predictor of fetal condition.

Society Memberships & Professional Activities:

Fertility Society of Australia
Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand
International Society of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine
Australian Menopause Society

Specific Research Keywords:

Fetal behaviour. fetal vibroacoustic stimulation and fetal habituation.The effects of maternal stress and anxiety on fetal behaviour and infant outcome and development. Sex differences in fetal outcomes. Outcomes in couples undergoing donor insemination. Vascular remodelling in pregnancy

School:

Sch Women's&Children's Health

Phone:

(02) 9382 6677

Email:

l.leader@unsw.edu.au

University role:

Honorary Associate Professor

Research

Socio-economic Objective (SEO) tags:

Women's Health

Field of Research (FOR) Tag:

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Publications related to this Person

Book Chapters

Leader LR, 2016, 'The potential value of habituation in the fetus', in Fetal Development: Research on Brain and Behavior, Environmental Influences, and Emerging Technologies, pp. 189 - 209, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22023-9_11

Leader LR, 1995, 'The potential use of habituation in the prenate', in Fetal Development: A Phychobiological perspective, edn. Original, Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 383 - 404

Journal articles

Oliver M; McNally G; Leader L, 2013, 'Accuracy of sonographic prediction of birth weight', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 53, pp. 584 - 588, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajo.12128

Senadheera S; Bertrand PP; Grayson TH; Leader L; Murphy TV; Sandow SL, 2013, 'Pregnancy-induced remodelling and enhanced endothelium-derived hyperpolarization-type vasodilator activity in rat uterine radial artery: Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 channels, caveola', Journal of Anatomy, vol. 223, pp. 677 - 686, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joa.12127

Senadheera S; Bertrand PP; Grayson TH; Leader L; Tare M; Murphy TV; Sandow SL, 2013, 'Enhanced contractility in pregnancy is associated with augmented TRPC3, L-type, and T-type voltage-dependent calcium channel function in rat uterine radial artery', American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol. 305, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00225.2013

Grant KA; Bautovich A; McMahon C; Reilly N; Leader L; Austin MP, 2012, 'Parental care and control during childhood: Associations with maternal perinatal mood disturbance and parenting stress', Archives of Women's Mental Health, vol. 15, pp. 297 - 305, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0292-0

Robson SJ; Leader LR, 2010, 'Management of subsequent pregnancy after an unexplained stillbirth', Journal of Perinatology, vol. 30, pp. 305 - 310, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jp.2009.133

Robson SJ; Leader LR; Bennett MJ; Dear KBG, 2010, 'Do women's perceptions of care at the time of unexplained stillbirth influence their wishes for management in subsequent pregnancy? An Internet-based empirical study', Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, vol. 36, pp. 108 - 114, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0756.2009.01113.x

Robson SJ; Leader LR; Dear KBG; Bennett MJ, 2009, 'Women's expectations of management in their next pregnancy after an unexplained stillbirth: An Internet-based empirical study', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 49, pp. 642 - 646, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2009.01092.x

Grant KA; McMahon C; Austin MP; Reilly N; Leader L; Ali S, 2009, 'Maternal prenatal anxiety, postnatal caregiving and infants' cortisol responses to the still-face procedure', Developmental Psychobiology, vol. 51, pp. 625 - 637, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dev.20397

Munro SC; Hall B; Whybin LR; Leader L; Robertson P; Maine GT; Rawlinson WD, 2005, 'Diagnosis of and screening for cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women', Journal of Clinical Microbiology, vol. 43, pp. 4713 - 4718, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.43.9.4713-4718.2005

Austin MP; Hadzi-Pavlovic D; Leader L; Saint K; Parker G, 2005, 'Maternal trait anxiety, depression and life event stress in pregnancy: Relationships with infant temperament', Early Human Development, vol. 81, pp. 183 - 190, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2004.07.001

Austin MP; Leader LR; Reilly N, 2005, 'Prenatal stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and fetal and infant neurobehaviour', Early Human Development, vol. 81, pp. 917 - 926, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2005.07.005

Durna EM; Heller GZ; Leader LR; Sjoblom P; Eden JA; Wren BG, 2004, 'Breast cancer in premenopausal women: Recurrence and survival rates and relationship to hormone replacement therapy', Climacteric, vol. 7, pp. 284 - 291, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13697130400001380

Hayes TM; Underhill CR; Clarke K; Tattersall MHN; Durna EM; Wren BG; Heller GZ; Leader LR; Sjoblom P; Eden JA, 2003, 'Hormone replacement therapy after a diagnosis of breast cancer: Cancer recurrence and mortality (multiple letters)', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 178, pp. 412 - 413

Ratcliffe SJ; Heller GZ; Leader LR, 2002, 'Functional data analysis with application to periodically stimulated foetal heart rate data. II: Functional logistic regression', Statistics in Medicine, vol. 21, pp. 1115 - 1127, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sim.1068

Ratcliffe SJ; Leader LR; Heller GZ, 2002, 'Functional data analysis with application to periodically stimulated foetal heart rate data. I: Functional regression', Statistics in Medicine, vol. 21, pp. 1103 - 1114, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sim.1067

Durna EM; Wren BG; Heller GZ; Leader LR; Sjoblom P; Eden JA, 2002, 'Hormone replacement therapy after a diagnosis of breast cancer: Cancer recurrence and mortality', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 177, pp. 347 - 351

Durna EM; Crowe SM; Leader LR; Eden JA, 2002, 'Quality of life of breast cancer survivors: The impact of hormonal replacement therapy', Climacteric, vol. 5, pp. 266 - 276, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/cmt.5.3.266.276

Austin MP; Leader L, 2000, 'Maternal stress and obstetric and infant outcomes: Epidemiological findings and neuroendocrine mechanisms', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 40, pp. 331 - 337, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2000.tb03344.x

Durna EM; Bioeth M; Gyn FO; Leader LR, 2000, 'Attitudes of parents of donor insemination children to disclosure and donor registries', Reproductive Technologies, vol. 10, pp. 224 - 230

Durna EM; Bebe J; Steigrad SJ; Leader LR; Garrett DK, 1997, 'Donor insemination:attitudes of parents towards disclosure', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 167, pp. 256 - 259

Hepper PG; Leader LR, 1996, 'Fetal habituation', Fetal and Maternal Medicine Review, vol. 8, pp. 109 - 123

Durna EM; Bebe J; Leader LR; Steigrad SJ; Garrett DG, 1995, 'Donor insemination: Effects on parents', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 163, pp. 248 - 251

Leader LR, 1995, 'Studies in fetal behaviour', BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, vol. 102, pp. 595 - 597, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1995.tb11394.x

Peres MF; Fisher CC; Leader LR, 1993, 'Continuous Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring: A Prospective Randomized Comparison of 2 Types of Fetal Scalp Electrode', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 33, pp. 367 - 370, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1993.tb02111.x

Miller M; Leader LR, 1992, 'Vaginal Delivery After Caesarean Section', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 32, pp. 213 - 215, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1992.tb01949.x

Leader LR; Russell T; Stenning B, 1992, 'The Use of Clearplan Home Ovulation Detection Kits in Unexplained and Male Factor Infertility', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 32, pp. 158 - 160, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1992.tb01930.x

Leader LR; Russell T; Clifford K; Stenning B, 1991, 'The Clinical Value of Clearplan Home Ovulation Detection Kits in Infertility Practice', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 31, pp. 142 - 144, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1991.tb01803.x

Gudgeon K; Leader L; Howard B, 1990, 'Evaluation of the accuracy of the home ovulation detection kit, Clearplan, at predicting ovulation', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 152, pp. 344 - 349

Leader LR; Smith FG; Lumbers ER, 1990, 'The effect of ethanol on habituation and the cardiovascular response to stimulation in fetal sheep', European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, vol. 36, pp. 87 - 95, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0028-2243(90)90054-5

Leader LR; Smith FG; Lumbers ER; Stevens AD, 1989, 'Effect of hypoxia and catecholamines on the habituation rates of chronically catheterized ovine fetuses', Biology of the Neonate, vol. 56, pp. 218 - 227

LEADER LR; BAILLIE P, 1988, 'The changes in fetal habituation patterns due to a decrease in inspired maternal oxygen', BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, vol. 95, pp. 664 - 668, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1988.tb06527.x

Leader LR; Stevens AD; Lumbers ER, 1988, 'Measurement of fetal responses to vibroacoustic stimuli. Habituation in fetal sheep', Biology of the Neonate, vol. 53, pp. 73 - 85

Leader LR; Baillie P; Martin B; Molteno C; Wynchank S, 1984, 'Fetal Responses to Vibrotactile Stimulation, A Possible Predictor of Fetal and Neonatal Outcome', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 24, pp. 251 - 256, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1984.tb01505.x

LEADER LR; BAILLIE P; MARTIN B; VERMEULEN E, 1982, 'Fetal habituation in high‐risk pregnancies', BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, vol. 89, pp. 441 - 446, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1982.tb03633.x

Leader LR; Baillie P; Martin B; Vermeulen E, 1982, 'The assessment and significance of habituation to a repeated stimulus by the human fetus', Early Human Development, vol. 7, pp. 211 - 219, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-3782(82)90084-6

Leader LR; Baillie P; van Schalkwyk DJ, 1981, 'Fetal movements and fetal outcome: A prospective study', Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 57, pp. 431 - 436

Conference Papers

Sandow SL; Hinkley V; Leader L; Grayson TH; Murphy TV, 2015, 'IKCa-IP3R myoendothelial microdomains in the uterine radial arteriole are present in normal, and absent in gestational and pre-eclamptic hypertensive pregnancies: Targets for therapy?', in Allen DG; Davey DF (eds.), Proceedings of the Australian Physiology Society, Australian Physiology Society, Hobart, pp. 122P - 122P, presented at Australian Physiology Society Conference 2015, Hobart, 29 November - 02 December 2015, http://aups.org.au/Proceedings/46/122P

Austin MP; Hadzi-Pavlovic D; Saint K; Leader L; Parker G, 2003, 'Maternal depression, trait anxiety, cognitive style and perceived stress in pregnancy and infant temperament', in AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, BLACKWELL PUBLISHING ASIA, pp. A27 - A27, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000186635700095&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a

Conference Abstracts

Murphy TV; Kanagarajah A; Toemoe S; Bertrand PP; Grayson TH; Britton FC; Leader L; Senadheera S; Sandow SL, 2016, 'TRPV3 control of uterine blood vessels', in ASCEPT-MPGPCR Book of Oral Abstracts, ASCEPT ASM, Melbourne, Vol. 413, pp. 70 - 70, presented at Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists and Molecular Pharmacology of GPCRs Joint Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, 27 - 30 November 2016, http://www.asceptasm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ASCEPT-MPGPCR-Book-of-oral-abstracts-final-2.pdf

School of Women's and Children's Health

Associate Professor Leo Leader

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