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A/Prof Matthew Kemp

A/Prof Matthew Kemp

A/Prof Matthew Kemp

kemma@nus.edu.sg

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the National University of Singapore. My primary research focus is developing interventions and treatments to improve outcomes for preterm babies and their families. In addition, I maintain a strong interest in the design and execution of doctoral (PhD) education systems in the biomedical sciences. A key element of my current work is to develop strategic links and to build capacity in perinatal research between Japan, Singapore and Australia.

I completed undergraduate studies at the University of Otago (NZ) before completing PhDs in Medicine (UNSW, AU) and in Education (UWA, AU). I undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford (UK) and am a Harvard Business School (US) alumnus (PLD25). I spent twelve years leading the Western Australian Perinatal Sheep Research Program, before being recruited to the National University of Singapore in September 2021. My new role sees me maintain my core laboratory group in Perth, whilst working collaboratively with industry and academic groups in Singapore, the US, Japan and Europe to explore translational and fundamental questions relating to fetal growth, development and well-being.

A key element of my team's work is to leverage advanced molecular and pharmacogenomic strategies to develop antenatal interventions and post-natal therapies to improve outcomes for preterm infants. My team's work has been supported by competitive grants awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (AU), the National Institutes of Health (US), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (US), the Royal Society (UK) and FTSE-listed pharmaceutical companies. Our work is regularly featured at international meetings (Society for Reproductive Investigation, Japan Society for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Global Obstetrics Update) and in leading journals (Am J. Obgyn, Ped Res, Am. J. Physiol-LCMP). Current lead-projects include the development of an artificial placenta-based life support platform for extremely preterm infants, minimally invasive fetal diagnostics, the personalisation of antenatal corticosteroid therapy, and targeted anti-inflammatory interventions in pregnancy.

Publications

  1. Kemp MW, Saito M, Schmidt AF, et al. The duration of fetal antenatal steroid exposure determines the durability of preterm ovine lung maturation. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2020;222:183-e1
  2. Kemp MW, Saito M, Usuda H, et al. Maternofetal pharmacokinetics and fetal lung responses in chronically catheterized sheep receiving constant, low-dose infusions of betamethasone phosphate. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2016;215:775-e1
  3. Kemp MW, Saito M, Usuda H, et al. The efficacy of antenatal steroid therapy is dependent on the duration of low-concentration fetal exposure: evidence from a sheep model of pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2018;219:301-e1
  4. Takahashi T, Fee EL, Takahashi Y, et al. Betamethasone phosphate reduces the efficacy of antenatal steroid therapy and is associated with lower birthweights when administered to pregnant sheep in combination with betamethasone acetate. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2021.10.001
  5. Takahashi T, Saito M, Schmidt AF, et al. Variability in the efficacy of a standardized antenatal steroid treatment was independent of maternal or fetal plasma drug levels: evidence from a sheep model of pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2020;223:921-e1
  6. Usuda H, Watanabe S, Miura Y, et al. Successful maintenance of key physiological parameters in preterm lambs treated with ex vivo uterine environment therapy for a period of 1 week. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2017;217:457-e1
  7. Usuda H, Watanabe S, Saito M, et al. Successful use of an artificial placenta–based life support system to treat extremely preterm ovine fetuses compromised by intrauterine inflammation. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2020;223:755-e1
  8. Usuda H, Watanabe S, Saito M, et al. Successful use of an artificial placenta to support extremely preterm ovine fetuses at the border of viability. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2019;221:69-e1
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