My research program is dedicated to unravelling the complex mechanisms of neuroimmune signalling, particularly its role in the development and maintenance of exaggerated pain states and addiction. A core component of this work involves the innovation and application of sophisticated, precision measurement technologies to objectively quantify pain in both humans and animals. This pioneering work has garnered international acclaim and has delivered substantial knowledge, economic, and societal impacts.

A significant breakthrough from my laboratory has been the paradigm-shifting discovery of how glial cells – the non-neuronal cells of the nervous system – actively modulate immune signalling within the brain and spinal cord. This research has fundamentally altered the understanding of pain and addiction, revealing that glial cells are critical in driving exaggerated pain sensitivity and are key to the processes underlying drug dependence. Notably, we discovered that opioid-induced immune signalling involving glia occurs rapidly (within minutes) and even with a single drug exposure, modifying both the beneficial analgesic effects and the detrimental misuse potential of opioids. These insights have identified novel therapeutic targets for a range of debilitating conditions. The economic impact of this foundational research is evidenced by over 108 patents citing 30 of my publications, and the translation of compounds from my lab into clinical agents. For instance, new drug indications identified through my research led to NIH-sponsored Phase II clinical trials, with one company (MediciNova) experiencing a 30% market capitalisation increase (approx. $90M USD) following public disclosure of these developments in March 2016.

I have a strong track record of leading and directing major national and international multidisciplinary research initiatives. As Director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP) from 2014 to 2024, I led a diverse team of over 200 scientists and students across multiple institutions. Under my leadership, the CNBP produced over 550 publications, maintained a relative citation index of 1.6 compared to similar international institutes, and leveraged its initial ARC funding to secure an additional $155 million in competitive, industry, and collaborative research funds. A key initiative I established within the CNBP was the "Bench to Boardroom" program, which has directly resulted in the creation of 19 start-ups and spin-out companies. These ventures have achieved a collective market capitalisation and demonstrated new market impact value exceeding $500 million, representing a greater than 20-fold return on the initial ARC investment and creating over 100 new industry-placed jobs. My own laboratory work has seen the translation of 3 medicines to Investigational New Drug (IND) stage clinical trials in the USA for conditions including chronic pain.

My leadership extends to establishing and chairing significant national alliances, including the Safeguarding Australia through Biotechnology Response and Engagement (SABRE) Alliance, launched in 2022 in collaboration with Defence Science Technology Group (DSTG), and the Australian Pain Solutions Research Alliance (APSRA). These initiatives foster collaboration across academia, industry, and government to address critical national challenges. I also currently serve as the interim Director of The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) at the University of Adelaide.

My research program has been exceptionally well-funded, securing over $73 million from a diverse range of prestigious national and international competitive funding organisations. I have a prolific publication record with over 270 outputs (averaging 53.1 citations per paper, Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 1.8), including over 250 peer-reviewed publications, with 40% as lead or senior author. My work consistently involves extensive national (95% of papers) and international (40% of papers) collaboration, leading research activities in countries such as Canada, USA, Japan, UK, Singapore, China, and Malaysia. I am ranked in the Top 1% of authors in the ESI field of Neuroscience and Behaviour, and three of my papers are classified as "highly cited" (top 1%, Incites). My contributions have been recognised through numerous awards and over 150 invited presentations at national and international conferences since 2013, including 15 plenary lectures and 32 keynote addresses, such as presentations at the last six biennial World Congress on Pain meetings.