Associate Professor Leo Leader
Honorary Associate Professor

Associate Professor Leo Leader

Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

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

Phone
(02) 9382 6677
Location
Royal Hospital for Women Barker Street Randwick NSW 2031
  • Book Chapters | 2016
    2016, 'The potential value of habituation in the fetus', in Reissland N; Kisilevsky B (ed.), Fetal Development: Research on Brain and Behavior, Environmental Influences, and Emerging Technologies, Springer International Publishing, pp. 189 - 209, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22023-9_11
    Book Chapters | 2006
    2006, 'Intrapartum fetal scalp lactate sampling for fetal assessment in the presence of a non-reassuring fetal heart rate trace', in East CE (ed.), , John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd006174
    Book Chapters | 2005
    2005, 'Vibroacoustic stimulation for fetal assessment in labour in the presence of a nonreassuring fetal heart rate trace.', in , pp. CD004664, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004664.pub2
    Book Chapters | 2003
    2003, 'Vibroacoustic stimulation for fetal assessment in labour', in , John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd004664
    Book Chapters | 1995
    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
    Book Chapters | 1989
    1989, 'Abnormal labour', in Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Springer US, pp. 166 - 188, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7202-6_7
    Book Chapters | 1989
    1989, 'Normal labour and delivery', in Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Springer US, pp. 117 - 149, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7202-6_5
    Book Chapters | 1989
    1989, 'The puerperium', in Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Springer US, pp. 207 - 234, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7202-6_9
  • Journal articles | 2016
    Murphy TV; Kanagarajah A; Toemoe S; Bertrand PP; Grayson TH; Britton FC; Leader L; Senadheera S; Sandow SL, 2016, 'TRPV3 expression and vasodilator function in isolated uterine radial arteries from non-pregnant and pregnant rats', Vascular Pharmacology, 83, pp. 66 - 77, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vph.2016.04.004
    Journal articles | 2015
    Dean RG; Dean J; Heller GZ; Leader LR, 2015, 'A mass shooting at Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia: A study of its impact on early pregnancy losses using a conception time-based methodology', Human Reproduction, 30, pp. 2671 - 2676, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dev200
    Journal articles | 2015
    Holobotovskyy V; Chong YS; Burchell J; He B; Phillips M; Leader L; Murphy TV; Sandow SL; McKitrick DJ; Charles AK; Tare M; Arnolda LF; Ganss R, 2015, 'Regulator of G protein signaling 5 is a determinant of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia', Science Translational Medicine, 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aaa5038
    Journal articles | 2013
    East CE; Smyth RM D; Leader LR; Henshall NE; Colditz PB; Lau R; Tan KH, 2013, 'Vibroacoustic stimulation for fetal assessment in labour in the presence of a nonreassuring fetal heart rate trace', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004664.pub3
    Journal articles | 2013
    Oliver M; McNally G; Leader L, 2013, 'Accuracy of sonographic prediction of birth weight', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 53, pp. 584 - 588, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajo.12128
    Journal articles | 2013
    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, 305, pp. R917 - R926, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00225.2013
    Journal articles | 2013
    2013, 'Pregnancy-induced remodelling and enhanced endothelium-derived hyperpolarization-type vasodilator activity in rat uterine radial artery: transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 channels, caveolae and myoendothelial gap junctions', Journal of Anatomy, 223, pp. 677 - 686, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joa.12127
    Journal articles | 2012
    2012, 'Parental care and control during childhood: Associations with maternal perinatal mood disturbance and parenting stress', Archives of Women's Mental Health, 15, pp. 297 - 305, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0292-0
    Journal articles | 2010
    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, 36, pp. 108 - 114, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0756.2009.01113.x
    Journal articles | 2010
    2010, 'Intrapartum fetal scalp lactate sampling for fetal assessment in the presence of a non-reassuring fetal heart rate trace', COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006174.pub2
    Journal articles | 2010
    2010, 'Intrapartum fetal scalp lactate sampling for fetal assessment in the presence of a non-reassuring fetal heart rate trave (Review)', The Cochrane Library, 2015, pp. 1 - 28, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006174.pub3
    Journal articles | 2010
    2010, 'Management of subsequent pregnancy after an unexplained stillbirth', Journal of Perinatology, 30, pp. 305 - 310, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jp.2009.133
    Journal articles | 2009
    2009, 'Maternal prenatal anxiety, postnatal caregiving and infants' cortisol responses to the still-face procedure', Developmental Psychobiology, 51, pp. 625 - 637, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dev.20397
    Journal articles | 2009
    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, 49, pp. 642 - 646, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2009.01092.x
    Journal articles | 2005
    Austin MP; Leader LR; Reilly N, 2005, 'Prenatal stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and fetal and infant neurobehaviour', Early Human Development, 81, pp. 917 - 926, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2005.07.005
    Journal articles | 2005
    2005, 'Diagnosis of and screening for cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women', Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 43, pp. 4713 - 4718, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.43.9.4713-4718.2005
    Journal articles | 2005
    2005, 'Maternal trait anxiety, depression and life event stress in pregnancy: relationships with infant temperament', Early Human Development, 81, pp. 183 - 190, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2004.07.001
    Journal articles | 2004
    2004, 'Breast cancer in premenopausal women: recurrence and survival rates and relationship to hormone replacement tharapy', Climacteric, 7, pp. 284 - 291, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13697130400001380
    Journal articles | 2003
    Hayes TM; Underhill CR; Clarke K; Tattersall MH N; 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, 178, pp. 412 - 413, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05265.x
    Journal articles | 2003
    2003, 'Hormone replacement therapy after a diagnosis of breast cancer: cancer recurrence and mortality - In reply', MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, 178, pp. 413 - 413, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05266.x
    Journal articles | 2002
    2002, 'Functional data analysis with application to periodically foetal rate data. II: Functional logistic regression', Statistics in Medicine, 21, pp. 1115 - 1127, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sim.1068
    Journal articles | 2002
    2002, 'Functional data analysis with application to periodically stimulated foetal heart rate data:. I: Functional regression', Statistics in Medicine, 21, pp. 1103 - 1114, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sim.1067
    Journal articles | 2002
    2002, 'Hormone replacement therapy after diagnosis of bresat cancer:cancer reccurence and mortality', Medical Journal of Australia, 177, pp. 347 - 351
    Journal articles | 2002
    2002, 'Quality of life of breast cancer survivors:the impact of hormonal replacement therapy', Climacteric, 5, pp. 266 - 276, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/cmt.5.3.266.276
    Journal articles | 2000
    Austin M-P; Leader L, 2000, 'Maternal stress and obstetric and infant outcomes: epidemiological findings and neuroendocrine mechanisms', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 40, pp. 331 - 337, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2000.tb03344.x
    Journal articles | 2000
    2000, 'Attitudes of Parents of donor insemination children to disclosure and donor registries', Reproductive Techologies, 10, pp. 224 - 230
    Journal articles | 1997
    Durna EM; Bebe J; Steigrad SJ; Leader LR; Garrett DK, 1997, 'Donor insemination:attitudes of parents towards disclosure', Medical Journal of Australia, 167, pp. 256 - 259
    Journal articles | 1996
    1996, 'Fetal habituation', Fetal and Maternal Medicine Review, 8, pp. 109 - 123
    Journal articles | 1995
    1995, 'Donor insemination: effects on parents', Medical Journal of Australia, 163, pp. 248 - 251
    Journal articles | 1995
    1995, 'Studies in fetal behaviour', British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 102, pp. 595 - 597, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1995.tb11394.x
    Journal articles | 1993
    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, 33, pp. 367 - 370, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1993.tb02111.x
    Journal articles | 1992
    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, 32, pp. 158 - 160, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1992.tb01930.x
    Journal articles | 1992
    Miller M; Leader LR, 1992, 'Vaginal Delivery After Caesarean Section', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 32, pp. 213 - 215, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1992.tb01949.x
    Journal articles | 1991
    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, 31, pp. 142 - 144, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1991.tb01803.x
    Journal articles | 1990
    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, 152, pp. 344 - 349, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1990.tb125181.x
    Journal articles | 1990
    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, 36, pp. 87 - 95, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0028-2243(90)90054-5
    Journal articles | 1989
    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, 56, pp. 218 - 227, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000243126
    Journal articles | 1989
    1989, 'The Changes in Fetal Habituation Patterns Due to a Decrease in Inspired Maternal Oxygen', Obstetric Anesthesia Digest, 9, pp. 21 - 21, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00132582-198904000-00022
    Journal articles | 1988
    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, 95, pp. 664 - 668, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1988.tb06527.x
    Journal articles | 1988
    Leader LR; Stevens AD; Lumbers ER, 1988, 'Measurement of fetal responses to vibroacoustic stimuli. Habituation in fetal sheep', Biology of the Neonate, 53, pp. 73 - 85
    Journal articles | 1984
    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, 24, pp. 251 - 256, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.1984.tb01505.x
    Journal articles | 1982
    LEADER LR; BAILLIE P; MARTIN B; VERMEULEN E, 1982, 'Fetal habituation in high‐risk pregnancies', BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 89, pp. 441 - 446, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1982.tb03633.x
    Journal articles | 1982
    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, 7, pp. 211 - 219, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-3782(82)90084-6
    Journal articles | 1981
    Leader LR; Baillie P; van Schalkwyk DJ, 1981, 'Fetal movements and fetal outcome: A prospective study', Obstetrics and Gynecology, 57, pp. 431 - 436
    Journal articles | 1980
    1980, 'Comparison of fetal movements and human placental lactogen as predictors of fetal outcome. A prospective study.', S Afr Med J, 58, pp. 609 - 610, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7423302
    Journal articles | 1980
    1980, 'The site of placental insertion and fetal growth.', S Afr Med J, 57, pp. 1087 - 1088, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7404101
    Journal articles | 1979
    1979, 'The accuracy of maternal observation of fetal movements.', S Afr Med J, 55, pp. 836 - 837, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/472912
    Journal articles | 1978
    1978, 'Haemodialysis in pregnancy. A case report.', S Afr Med J, 53, pp. 871 - 872, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/694644
  • Conference Abstracts | 2016
    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 November 2016 - 30 November 2016, http://www.asceptasm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ASCEPT-MPGPCR-Book-of-oral-abstracts-final-2.pdf
    Conference Papers | 2015
    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 (ed.), Proceedings of the Australian Physiology Society, Australian Physiology Society, Hobart, pp. 122P - 122P, presented at Australian Physiology Society Conference 2015, Hobart, 29 November 2015 - 02 December 2015, http://aups.org.au/Proceedings/46/122P
    Conference Papers | 2003
    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, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000186635700095&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Proceedings (Editor of) | 2003
    Austin M; Hadzi-Pavlovic D; Saint K; Leader LR; Parker GB, (eds.), 2003, 'Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry', Sage Publications, United Kingdom, presented at RANZCP: 38th Congress mutual interests, Tasmania, 12 March 2003 - 15 March 2003
    Conference Papers | 1993
    1993, 'FETAL HABITUATION IN GROWTH-RETARDATION AND HYPOXIA', in Lou HC; Greisen G; Larsen JF (eds.), BRAIN LESIONS IN THE NEWBORN, MUNKSGAARD, DENMARK, ROYAL DANISH ACAD SCI & LETT, COPENHAGEN, pp. 326 - 339, presented at 37th Benzon Symposium on Brain Lesions in the Newborn: Hypoxic and Haemodynamic Pathogenesis, DENMARK, ROYAL DANISH ACAD SCI & LETT, COPENHAGEN, 15 August 1993 - 19 August 1993, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:A1994BA54U00023&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 1988
    1988, 'THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THE RATES OF HABITUATION OF CHRONICALLY CATHETERIZED FETAL SHEEP', in TERATOLOGY, WILEY-LISS, pp. 197 - 197, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:A1988P542800014&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 1983
    1983, 'MEASUREMENT OF FETAL RESPONSES TO VIBROTACTILE STIMULATION - HABITUATION IN FETAL SHEEP', in AUSTRALIAN PAEDIATRIC JOURNAL, BLACKWELL SCIENCE, pp. 261 - 261, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:A1983RU86600021&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1