Paul Rolan

Paul Rolan

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Professor Paul Rolan
◾MBBS Adelaide (1978)
◾Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (General Medicine/Clinical Pharmacology) (1985)
◾MD Adelaide (1995)
◾Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, United Kingdom (1997)
◾Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Adelaide (2005)
◾Senior Consultant, Pain Management Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital (2005)
◾Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (2014)
◾Head of School of Medical Sciences (2014)
◾ Director of Innovation, Faculty of Health Sciences (2016)

Paul is a clinical pharmacologist, drug developer and pain management physician. After obtaining specialist qualifications in general medicine and clinical pharmacology he spent two years as Director of Medicine at Cairns Base Hospital. Subsequently Paul joined the pharmaceutical industry in the UK, initially working for Wellcome Research Laboratories where he was Head of Clinical Pharmacokinetics. In 1994 he became Medical Director of Medeval, a clinical pharmacology contract research organisation spun out of the University of Manchester. Under Paul's leadership, Medeval became the largest clinical pharmacology contract research organisation in the United Kingdom. He was part of a management buy out team of the Company from the University and a subsequent trade sale three years later to ICON Clinical Research. he has been Principal Investigator in over 700 clinical research studies and has been an active Consultant, both to the pharmaceutical industry as well as an invited speaker to the FDA.

Paul returned to the University of Adelaide in 2005. His major clinical and academic interest is in chronic pain and headache, focusing on the development of biomarkers, evaluation of novel therapies and mechanisms of disease.

Paul continues to advise on drug development for the international pharmaceutical industry.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 Co-Supervisor Effectiveness of Exercise to Improve Patient-Reported and Central Pain Modulation Outcomes in Chronic Neck Pain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Kexun Kenneth Chen
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2017 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Improving Breast Health: The Use of Hormonal Combinations to Reduce Mammographic Breast Density and the Utility of Shear Wave Elastography as a Biomarker of the Effects of these Interventions Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Daniella Dougherty
    2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Renal Denervation: A Therapeutic Option for Resistant Hypertension Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sinny Delacroix
    2013 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Investigations into the Lived Experience and Aetiology of Dysmenorrhoea and Pelvic Pain in Young Women Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time APrf Susan Evans
    2010 - 2013 Principal Supervisor Neuro-endocrine Function in Older Men with Chronic Pain - Effects of Chronic Opioid Usage Master of Medical Science Master Part Time Ms Clare Haylock
    2010 - 2015 Principal Supervisor The thermal grill as a tool to investigate analgesic clinical pharmacology Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Nicole Martha Sumracki
    2010 - 2014 Principal Supervisor A pilot study assessing fentanyl dose requirements in opioid-maintained individuals Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Dr Muhammad Imran Ahmad
    2010 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Sex Differences in Allodynia: A complex Interaction Between 17beta-Oestradiol and the Innate Immune System Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Lauren Louise Nicotra
    2010 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Codeine, heightened pain sensitivity and medication overuse headache: A neuroimmune hypothesis and novel treatment strategy. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jacinta Lee Johnson
    2009 - 2014 Principal Supervisor Potential peripheral biomarkers for chronic pain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Yuen Kwok
    2007 - 2011 Principal Supervisor Two methods of biomarker discovery: applications in neuropathic pain and pharmacotherapy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Peter Grace

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