Dr Vijay Suppiah
Senior Lecturer, Pharmacy
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
College of Health
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr Vijay Suppiah is a pharmacy‑trained educator and researcher focused on improving how medicines are selected and used to achieve outcomes. His work centres on precision medicine, pharmacogenomics and mental health. As passionate educator, he coordinates courses in pharmacotherapeutics and dosage form design.
His research examines how genetic information can be used to personalise drug therapy and reduce medication‑related harm, particularly for people living with mental illness and other chronic conditions. Earlier work in immunogenetics helped identify genetic markers predicting response to hepatitis C treatment and supported the introduction of pharmacogenomic testing into clinical practice in Australia, contributing to advances in personalised medicine.
Dr Suppiah leads industry‑connected, multidisciplinary research programs that bring together pharmacists, clinicians and policymakers to address challenges such as psychotropic polypharmacy, medication safety and adverse drug effects. His research emphasises translating evidence into practical tools, models of care and clinical guidance across hospital and community settings.
Dr Suppiah shares his passion for research with undergrad and postgrad students both within Adelaide University and externally. He continues to supervise innovative projects which have resulted in several joint publications with students. As a primary supervisor, he has supervised several higher degree students to completion. His team provides a supportive and nurturing environment to cultivate independent thinkers.
Overall Impact:
My research projects not only advance scientific knowledge but also address urgent real‑world problems in healthcare delivery. The scope of the studies that I lead range from the personalised therapeutics to the evolving scope and wellbeing of the pharmacy profession.
My research portfolio directly contributes to the following streams:
- Pharmacogenomics in multi-morbidity
- Evidence‑based mental health care and psychotropic monitoring
- Strengthening Pharmacy Practice and Workforce Wellbeing
Pharmacogenomics in multi-morbidity
My research contributions in pharmacogenomics have shaped understanding of how genetic variation influences treatment outcomes across diverse therapeutic areas. This body of work strengthens the evidence base required to integrate pharmacogenomics into routine clinical decision‑making, and supports a future in which therapy is tailored to each patient’s genetic profile.
The projects I lead have:
- Identified genetic determinants of response to antiviral therapy, opioids, and psychotropic medications.
- Contributed to genome‑wide association studies that deepen understanding of disease susceptibility and treatment response.
- Informed precision dosing strategies, paving the way for safer and more effective personalised medication use.
Evidence‑based mental health care and psychotropic monitoring
A significant focus of my recent research is on the safe use of psychotropic medicines, particularly among people living with serious mental illness. These studies directly support system‑level improvements in medication safety, monitoring protocols, and clinical guidelines, leading to better health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
The projects I lead have:
- Highlighted gaps in metabolic and physical health monitoring for patients receiving second‑generation antipsychotics.
- Identified contributors to sedative burden and psychotropic polypharmacy in hospital and community settings.
- Evaluated patient knowledge, beliefs, and experiences relating to mental health medication.
Strengthening Pharmacy Practice and Workforce Wellbeing
My research on pharmacy practice addresses the evolving role of pharmacists within contemporary healthcare systems. My projects contribute to designing more resilient, supportive, and sustainable models of pharmacy care—benefiting both the profession and the communities pharmacists serve.
My projects have examined:
- The impact of crises such as bushfires, pandemics, and medicine shortages on pharmacists’ wellbeing and professional identity.
- The role of peer support and workplace culture in sustaining mental health across the pharmacy workforce.
- Community awareness of pharmacists’ roles in mental health promotion and support.
- The feasibility of pharmacist‑led interventions, including physical health monitoring and adherence‑support technologies.
I would like to share my vision with students and colleagues in Australia as well as internationally. I collaborate widely with academics and industrial partners who are inspired to lead change for a better future world.
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Tamil | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 - 2006 | Queen's University Belfast | United Kingdom | PhD |
| 1999 - 2003 | National University of Singapore | Singapore | BSc (Hons)(Pharmacy) |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Diploma in Health Counselling | Medical Register of Australia | - |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Pell, L. L., Varkey, A. A., Powell, M. G., & Suppiah, V. V. (2022). Prevalence of fluoropyrimidine-induced toxicities in patients receiving fluoropyrimidine-based treatment. In ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY Vol. 18 (pp. 222). WILEY. |
| 2015 | Matti, N., Khoo, S. N., Wiese, M., King, C., & Suppiah, V. (2015). Teaching of Pharmacogenomics in Australian Pharmacy Schools. In PUBLIC HEALTH GENOMICS Vol. 18 (pp. 47-48). KARGER. WoS2 |
| 2013 | Eslam, M., Leung, R., Berg, T., Irving, W. L., Mangia, A., Sheridan, D., . . . Ahlenstiel, G. (2013). Association of <i>IFNL3</i> polymorphisms with fibrosis progression in viral and non-viral chronic liver disease. In JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY Vol. 28 (pp. 67). WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| 2012 | Patin, E., Kutalik, Z., Guergnon, J., Bibert, S., Nalpas, B., Jouanguy, E., . . . Bochud, P. -Y. (2012). GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDY IDENTIFIES VARIANTS ASSOCIATED WITH LIVER FIBROSIS PROGRESSION IN HCV-INFECTED PATIENTS. In JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY Vol. 56 (pp. S551). Barcelona, SPAIN: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. DOI WoS1 |
| 2011 | Grebely, J., Matthews, G. V., Hellard, M., Suppiah, V., Petoumenos, K., Applegate, T., . . . Dore, G. J. (2011). IL28B GENOTYPE HAS VARIABLE INFLUENCE ON EARLY VIRAL KINETICS, BUT NO INFLUENCE ON SUSTAINED VIROLOGICAL RESPONSE DURING TREATMENT FOR RECENT HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION. In JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY Vol. 54 (pp. S524). Berlin, GERMANY: ELSEVIER. DOI WoS1 |
| 2011 | Feld, J. J., Grebely, J., Applegate, T., Matthews, G. V., Hellard, M., Suppiah, V., . . . Dore, G. J. (2011). IP-10 IS ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY VIRAL KINETICS, BUT NOT SUSTAINED VIROLOGICAL RESPONSE DURING TREATMENT FOR RECENT HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION. In JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY Vol. 54 (pp. S455). Berlin, GERMANY: ELSEVIER. DOI |
| 2011 | Sacks-Davis, R., Aitken, C., Higgs, P., Moneer, S., Flynn, J., Suppiah, V., . . . Hellard, M. (2011). HEPATITIS C VIRUS-SPECIFIC CELLULAR IMMUNITY DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST FUTURE HCV INFECTION IN ANTI-HCV NEGATIVE INJECTING DRUG USERS. In JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY Vol. 54 (pp. S326). Berlin, GERMANY: ELSEVIER. DOI |
| 2011 | Sacks-Davis, R., Aitken, C., Higgs, P., Spelman, T., Pedrana, A., Bowden, S., . . . Hellard, M. (2011). HEPATITIS C CLEARANCE AND REINFECTION IN A COHORT OF PEOPLE WHO INJECT DRUGS: BEHAVIOURAL AND GENETIC CORRELATES. In HEPATOLOGY Vol. 54 (pp. 1180A). San Francisco, CA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| 2011 | Fischer, J., Boehm, S., Mueller, T., van Boemmel, F., Fueloep, B., Migaud, P., . . . Berg, T. (2011). COMBINED EFFECTS OF IL28B GENETIC VARIANTS (SNPS RS12979860 AND RS8099917) ON OUTCOME OF STANDARD HCV-TREATMENT. In HEPATOLOGY Vol. 54 (pp. 829A). San Francisco, CA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| 2011 | Applegate, T., Gaudieri, S., Pham, S., White, P., Grebely, J., Hellard, M., . . . Matthews, G. V. (2011). Impact of host and viral characteristics on treatment outcome within hepatitis C transmission clusters in HIV-positive individuals with recently acquired HCV. In ANTIVIRAL THERAPY Vol. 16 (pp. A87). Los Cabos, MEXICO: INT MEDICAL PRESS LTD. |
| 2010 | Smith, K. R., Suppiah, V., Stewart, G., Booth, D. R., George, J., & Bahlo, M. (2010). Refining Genetic Associations with Hepatitis C Treatment Response Using Massively Parallel Sequencing of Pooled DNA Following a Genome Wide Association Study. In GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY Vol. 34 (pp. 926). Boston, MA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| 2009 | Moldovan, M., Suppiah, V., Booth, D., George, J., & Bahlo, M. (2009). Prediction Modeling in the Context of Pharmacogenomic Genome-wide Association Study: Identifying Non-responders to PegINF-alpha/ribavirin Treatment Among Chronic Genotype 1 Hepatitis C Virus Infected Individuals. In GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY Vol. 33 (pp. 808). Honolulu, HI: WILEY-LISS. |
| 2005 | Suppiah, V., Heggarty, S., Droogan, A., McDonnell, G., Hawkins, S., Goris, A., . . . Vandenbroeck, K. (2005). Interlukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) polymorphisms: Influence on clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS). In JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY Vol. 76 (pp. 1320). Queen Univ Belfast, Belfast, IRELAND: B M J PUBLISHING GROUP. |
| 2005 | Vandenbroeck, K., Alloza, I., Heggarty, S., Goris, A., Suppiah, V., & Rooney, M. (2005). High-resolution identification of an interferon-gamma gene haplotype associated with rheumatoid arthritis in male but not female patients.. In ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Vol. 52 (pp. S148). San Diego, CA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| 2005 | Suppiah, V., Heggarty, S., O'Doherty, C., Rooney, M., & Vandenbroeck, K. (2005). CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms in chronic inflammatory arthropathies.. In ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Vol. 52 (pp. S147). San Diego, CA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| 2005 | Suppiah, V., Heggarty, S., Alloza, I., Patterson, C., Rooney, M., & Vandenbroeck, K. (2005). Polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 and interleukin-4 receptor genes are associated with chronic inflammatory arthropathies. In ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Vol. 52 (pp. S147). San Diego, CA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| - | Lloyd, R., Petito, E., Suppiah, V., Hall, C., Williams, M., & Hotham, E. (n.d.). An audit of medications across two sites of an aged care organization in South Australia. In RESEARCH IN SOCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACY Vol. 12 (pp. E38). ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Aburas, D., Prosser, A., Hendrix, I., Suppiah, V., & Johnson, J. (2019). THE PAIN OF OPIOIDS ON DISCHARGE: EXPLORING PRESCRIBING PATTERNS AND HANDOVER TO PRIMARY CARE FOR GERIATRIC PATIENTS. Poster session presented at the meeting of RESEARCH IN SOCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACY. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. |
| 2019 | Bony, H., Searle, K., Zuher, H., Suppiah, V., & Hotham, E. (2019). DETERMINATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF COMMUNITY PHARMACY CLIENTS IN RELATION TO MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES.. Poster session presented at the meeting of RESEARCH IN SOCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACY. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. |
| 2019 | Baker, M. L., Leiblich, H., Paulose, M. A., Schiller, C., Pegoli, M., Panagopoulos, L., . . . Suppiah, V. (2019). AUDIT ON THE INCIDENCE & MANAGEMENT OF DRUG-RELATED HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR DRUG-INDUCED GASTRO-INTESTINAL BLEEDING.. Poster session presented at the meeting of RESEARCH IN SOCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACY. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. |
| 2019 | Suppiah, V., Bony, H., Corre, L. J., & Hotham, E. (2019). PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS USE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA: COMPARISON OF RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE RESIDENTS WITH COMMUNITY DWELLERS.. Poster session presented at the meeting of RESEARCH IN SOCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACY. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. |
| 2013 | Wiese, M., Alotabi, N., O'Doherty, C., Sorich, M., Suppiah, V., Cleland, L., & Proudman, S. (2013). Variability in genes that encode N-acetyl transferase 2 and ABCG2 and disease outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian Rheumatology Association in conjunction with the Rheumatology Health Professionals Association 54th Annual Scientific Meeting, as published in Internal Medicine Journal. Perth, W.A.: Wiley-Blackwell. DOI |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Stacey, D., Suppiah, V., Benyamin, B., Lee, H., & Hyppönen, E. (2024). In-silico functional analyses identify<i>TMPRSS15</i>-mediated intestinal absorption of lithium as a modulator of lithium response in bipolar disorder. DOI |
- Prevalence of psychotropic polypharmacy and its chronic health implications in South Australian prisons, South Australian Prison Health Service, 02/02/2024 - 31/12/2027
- Minimising Adverse drug Reactions and Verifying Economic Legitimacy – Pharmacogenetic Implementation in Children (MARVEL-PIC), MRFF - Genomics Health Futures Mission, 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2026
- The Pharmacy Guild of Australia Scholarship, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, 01/04/2022 - 31/12/2024
- Evaluation of Hand'n'Hand Services, HAND N HAND SERVICES LTD, 01/06/2024 - 20/12/2024
- Optimization and validation of assay of French protocol for phenotyping patient samples for treatment optimization, Pari-Passou Medical Consultancy, 03/08/2020 - 31/12/2020
- Cost effectiveness analysis of NPS MedicineWise app in the management of heart failure patients, DISER-Innovation Connections Grant, 06/05/2019 - 04/05/2020
Courses I teach
- PHAR 3022 Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 2 (2025)
- PHAR 3024 Dosage Form Design 3 (2025)
- PHAR 3022 Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 2 (2024)
- PHAR 3024 Dosage Form Design 3 (2024)
Programs I'm associated with
- IHPC - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
- IBPA - Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science
- IHPP - Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Novel neurotherapeutics for the treatment of Parkinson's disease | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Rasha Abu Thawabeh |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Improving the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: strategies to enhance the use of non-pharmacological interventions | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Hunduma Dinsa Ayeno |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Elucidating the genetic association between clozapine use and cardiometabolic dysfunction in treatment-resistant schizophrenia | - | Master | Full Time | Mr Rory Shepherd |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Pharmacogenomics of chemotherapy induced ototoxicity | - | Master | Part Time | Mr David Brock Harman |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Exploring the role of community pharmacists in supporting cancer survivorship care | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Ola Taleb |
| 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Psychotropic pharmacotherapy and its chronic health implications for people in custody in South Australian prisons | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Joel William Moore |
| 2022 | Principal Supervisor | Peer support as a strategy for mitigating stress and burnout, and enhancing job satisfaction in early-career community pharmacists | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Maria Bernadette Cooper |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 - 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Changes in QT prolonging drugs and associated patient characteristics in antipsychotic-treated patients at Top-End Mental Health Units | University of Tasmania | - | Master | Full Time | Teena Jacobs |
| 2023 - ongoing | External Supervisor | Personalised therapy for people with cystic fibrosis: beyond the CFTR modulators | RMIT University | - | Master | Part Time | Theeba Thiruchelvam |
| 2020 - 2024 | External Supervisor | Genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms in pain control and adverse effects of morphine among cancer pain patients in Malaysia | Taylors University, Malaysia | - | Master | Part Time | Shobha Elizabeth Satkunananthan |
| 2020 - 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Expanding the role of community pharmacists in mental health: addressing gaps in medication knowledge & physical health monitoring of consumers living independently in the community | University of South Australia | - | Doctorate | Full Time | Tien Bui |
| 2020 - 2022 | Principal Supervisor | Sedative burden in hospitalised patients taking at least one antipsychotic medication | University of South Australia | - | Master | Full Time | Ruby Tszwai Au |
| 2019 - 2020 | Co-Supervisor | Development and proof-of-concept of a smartphone selfmanagement program to support adherence to oral chemotherapy in young and adults with cancer | University of South Australia | - | Doctorate | Full Time | Xiomara Skrabal Ross |
| 2019 - 2022 | Principal Supervisor | A pilot study to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and value of the NPS MedicineWise application in supporting medication adherence in patients with chronic heart failure | University of South Australia | - | Master | Full Time | Jessica Chapman-Goetz |
| 2011 - 2014 | Co-Supervisor | Pharmacogenomics of interferon-beta treatment in Caucasian multiple sclerosis patients | University of South Australia | - | Doctorate | Full Time | Sunil Mahurkar |
Connect With Me
External Profiles
Available For Media Comment.