Christie is a cellular and molecular neuropharmacologist with research interests including cellular and molecular mechanisms of opioid receptor signalling in neurons and synapses in pain pathways, the biological basis of adaptations producing chronic pain and drug dependence, and preclinical development of novel pain therapeutics derived from conotoxins. He is the Professor of Pharmacology in the Sydney Medical School and is Associate Dean (Research). He is currently a Chief Investigator on a NH&MRC Program Grant to identify novel pain therapeutics based on conopeptides ($6.4 million over 5 years). He is a past editorial board member for Pain and currently serves on Editorial Boards of several international journals including British Journal of Pharmacoogy. He has served as the chair of scientific advisory boards and an Executive member of the International Narcotics Research Conference, the peak international opioid research organisation.