I am a molecular pharmacologist who works at the University of Adelaide, Australia. I have a broad interest in the understanding of how surface receptors can modulate neuronal function and survival, as well as interests in natural product pharmacology and drug design. As well I am interested in evolutionary biology, science communication (committee member of SA Science Communicators) and am an avid amateur astronomer. My astronomy blog is astroblog.
I did postdoctoral work in the Institute of Pharmacology at the Free University of Berlin in 1991-1994, returning to Australia in 1994. I have collaborated with Professor John Carver, Dr. Scot Smid and Professor Colin Barrow on using natural products to attack the neurodegeneration process in Alzheimer’s Disease. I was recently elected as convenor of the Toxicology Special Interest Group of the Australasian Society for Pharmacology and Toxicology. I am also collaborating with Professor Roger Byard on the forensic implications of herbal medicines. I have held NH&MRC funding and currently hold ARC funding.
Experience
2001–present
Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide
Education
1989
University of Melbourne, PhD (Pharmacology)
Publications
2016
Caffeine toxicity in forensic practice: possible effects and under-appreciated sources., Forensic Sci Med Pathol
2016
Evidence For and Against a Pathogenic Role of Reduced γ-Secretase Activity in Familial Alzheimer's Disease., J Alzheimers Dis.
2016
Bioactive polyphenol interactions with β amyloid: a comparison of binding modelling, effects on fibril and aggregate formation and neuroprotective capacity., Food Funct.
2016
The Amyloid Fibril-Forming Properties of the Amphibian Antimicrobial Peptide Uperin 3.5., Chembiochem.
2015
Alzheimer's disease-related peptide PS2V plays ancient, conserved roles in suppression of the unfolded protein response under hypoxia and stimulation of γ-secretase activity., Hum Mol Genet.
2015
A comparison of patterns of spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting with St. John's Wort and fluoxetine during the period 2000-2013., Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol.
2015
Combined DNA, toxicological and heavy metal analyses provides an auditing toolkit to improve pharmacovigilance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)., Sci Rep
2014
Forensic problems with the composition and content of herbal medicines., J Forensic Leg Med.
2014
Hemin as a generic and potent protein misfolding inhibitor., Biochem Biophys Res Commun.
2014
SEVI, the semen enhancer of HIV infection along with fragments from its central region, form amyloid fibrils that are toxic to neuronal cells., Biochim Biophys Acta.
2014
Lethal hepatocellular necrosis associated with herbal polypharmacy in a patient with chronic hepatitis B infection., Forensic Sci Int.
2010
alphaB-Crystallin inhibits the cell toxicity associated with amyloid fibril formation , Cell Stress Chaperones
2010
Herbal medicines and forensic investigations, Forensic Sci Med Pathol.
2009
(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) maintains kappa-casein in its pre-fibrillar state ..., J Mol Biol
Grants and Contracts
2016
In vitro toxicology assessment of herbal medicines
Role:
Co-investigator
Funding Source:
Curtin University Small Grant
2014
New Models of Alzhemier's disease
Role:
Co-investigator
Funding Source:
University of Adelaide Internal Grant
2013
APP1061329 Development of 'omics-based approaches to investigate labelling accuracy and legality of herbal medicine in Australia
Role:
Co-investigator
Funding Source:
National Health and Medical Research Council
2010
Enzymatic synthesis, microencapsulation and biological evaluation of a new class of ...
Role:
Co-investigator
Funding Source:
ARC
Professional Memberships
Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists