Peter Gluckman is a research scientist who originally trained as a paediatrician and developmental physiologist and is now Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. His current research centres on what gives us a healthy start in life and began with an investigation into the development of hormonal systems in babies in the womb and how this controls their growth.
During the course of his research, Peter developed the first effective treatment for brain damage at birth. His main interest now lies in evolutionary biology and the perspective that this can provide on the determinants of health and disease — a field known as evolutionary medicine.
Although still based in New Zealand, Peter works internationally and passionately believes in the importance of collaboration amongst individual scientists, centres and scientific disciplines. Peter is also committed to the promotion of science in the community and has developed a pioneering programme of experiential involvement in science for schoolchildren. He is a prolific science communicator and regularly tweets.
Subject groups
- Anatomy, physiology and neurosciences
Endocrinology and reproduction (non-clinical), Physiology incl biophysics of cells (non-clinical)
- Health and human sciences
Clinical endocrinology, Clinical neuroscience
