The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Partnerships) provides leadership to develop University wide initiatives and strategies to enhance quality and impact of our research through partnerships/collaborations and an understanding of national and international research landscape.
Professor Alastair Sloan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Partnerships), plays a pivotal role in supporting the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) in achieving the University's research strategy.
As a key member of the Melbourne Research & Enterprise (MRE) portfolio, Alastair provides leadership and academic direction to develop and mature University-wide strategies, targets and initiatives, enhancing the quality and impact of our research through collaboration and a comprehensive understanding of the national and international research landscape.
Alastair joined the University from Cardiff University, UK in 2020 as Head of Melbourne Dental School within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences having previously served as Dean of the School of Dentistry at Cardiff University. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Wales and a PhD in Oral Pathology from the University of Birmingham.
His research focuses on tissue repair and regeneration, the role of stem cells in oral tissue repair, development of innovative materials for clinical use, and 3D organotypic culture systems for tissue repair and engineering.
Alastair is the current President of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Australia and New Zealand Division. In recognition of his research contributions, he received the prestigious IADR Distinguished Scientist Award (The Isaac Schour Memorial Award) in 2021 and the Leo Sheridan Medal of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland (RCSI) in 2024, where he also holds an Honorary Fellowship. In 2025 he was awarded the highest accolade in Australian and New Zealand dental research, the Alan Docking Science Award. Between 2023-2026 Alastair was Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART)