Rate My Professor Danny Eckert

Professor Danny Eckert is the Matthew Flinders Professor in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University and Director of the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health. He holds a PhD in Sleep and Respiratory Physiology from the University of Adelaide, awarded in 2006, along with a BSc (Hons) in Respiratory Physiology with first-class honours from the same institution in 2002 and a BAppSc in Human Movement and Exercise Physiology from the University of South Australia completed in 2000. His research focuses on improving understanding of obstructive sleep apnoea pathophysiology, identifying novel therapeutic targets, and developing precision medicine approaches, including work on upper airway neuromuscular control, respiratory mechanics, arousal mechanisms, and pharmacotherapy. He leads a translational research program that spans basic human physiology experiments to multicentre clinical trials.

Eckert has held appointments including postdoctoral training and faculty positions at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, as well as roles at Neuroscience Research Australia. He serves as an NHMRC Leadership Fellow and holds honorary affiliations with institutions such as the University of New South Wales and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. His contributions have been recognised with numerous awards, including the 2026 William C. Dement Excellence in Research Award from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Fellowship of the American Thoracic Society, the 2023 European Respiratory Society Gold Medal in Sleep Disordered Breathing, and the 2023 Flinders University Vice Chancellor’s Award for Research Leadership. He has authored or co-authored hundreds of publications with over 14,000 citations and serves on the board of the Australasian Sleep Association as Research Committee Chair.