I graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2003 with an Honours degree in Pharmacy. Immediately upon graduation I commenced a PhD at the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The PhD project investigated the shared immunogenetics of autoimmune diseases, namely multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
In 2006, I joined the University of Sydney as a post docotoral scientist working on the pharmacogenetics of Hepatitis C therapy, which was funded by an ARC linkage grant working together with our industrial partner, Roche Pharmaceuticals. This project identified the role of IL28B in Hepatitis C treatment outcome.
I joined the School of Pharmacy at UniSA as ... Read more
About me
I graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2003 with an Honours degree in Pharmacy. Immediately upon graduation I commenced a PhD at the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The PhD project investigated the shared immunogenetics of autoimmune diseases, namely multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
In 2006, I joined the University of Sydney as a post docotoral scientist working on the pharmacogenetics of Hepatitis C therapy, which was funded by an ARC linkage grant working together with our industrial partner, Roche Pharmaceuticals. This project identified the role of IL28B in Hepatitis C treatment outcome.
I joined the School of Pharmacy at UniSA as a lecturer in Pharmacy in June 2011. I am currently the course coordinator for Dosage Form Design 3 (PHAR 3024) and Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 2 (PHAR 3022), courses taught in the third year of the Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science degrees. I also teach into Dosage Form Design 4 and Health Professional Essentials. I am currently the stream coordinator of the Dosage Form Design stream for the undergraduate pharmacy program.
About me
Genetics Society of Australasia (GSA)
Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA)
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
About me
Doctor of Philosophy The Queen's University of Belfast
Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) with Honours National University of Singapore
Pharmacogenomics
I am interested in identifying genetic targets for both treatment response as well as adverse drug reactions. With the advancement of genetic technologies and the reduction in costs for genetic projects, it is fast becoming a reality to do these projects within a reasonable time frame and budget. The implications of these projects will revolutionise the way doctors prescribe drugs for their patients.
Currently I am working with Dr Libby Hotham and community partners on a project aimed at personalising treatment for older Australians on multiple drugs.
Genetics of human diseases
We have now come to understand that complex diseases are multigenic and as we find out more about the genetic make up of humans,... Read more
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Identification of DEPDC5 and PRRT2 deletions and duplications in causing childhood epilepsies, Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation of SA, 01/01/2014 - 30/06/2016
Best practice in relation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service Medical Chest Contents and Supply Chain, Royal Flying Doctor Service, 01/02/2013 - 30/09/2013
Frontiers in Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Science (PHAR 4025) Projects 2018/9
1. Use of opioids in opioid naive patients post surgery
2. Audit of anti-psychotic drug usage in South Australian hospitals
Other projects for URE and summer scholarship students (2018)
1. Designing educational materials for allied health professionals working in aged care facilities
2. Health promotion in community pharmacies
Intern projects (2018)
1. Enhancing the role of pharmacists within the community
Research
Research since 2008 is shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2017 |
4
1
13
|
| 2009 |
1522
1392
36
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2017 |
|
| 2017 |
4
1
13
|
| 2017 |
Open access
2
3
39
|
| 2015 |
Open access
66
65
23
|
| 2015 |
36
33
3
|
| 2014 |
Open access
5
2
3
|
| 2014 |
6
5
1
|
| 2014 |
29
25
3
|
| 2014 |
9
8
2
|
| 2014 |
10
10
1
|
| 2014 |
12
10
|
| 2014 |
2
1
1
|
| 2014 |
7
6
4
|
| 2013 |
Open access
9
8
|
| 2013 |
Open access
30
29
15
|
| 2013 |
3
2
|
| 2012 |
66
61
5
|
| 2012 |
71
64
5
|
| 2011 |
Open access
54
49
4
|
| 2011 |
Open access
83
78
7
|
| 2010 |
141
120
1
|
| 2009 |
1522
1392
36
|
2012 Finalist of the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for medical research translation.
2010 Westmead Science Prize for best research paper in 2009/2010 for the Nature Genetics paper
You can hear more about my research here: http://www.unisa.edu.au/research/talking-papers/
Research
Pharmacogenomics
I am interested in identifying genetic targets for both treatment response as well as adverse drug reactions. With the advancement of genetic technologies and the reduction in costs for genetic projects, it is fast becoming a reality to do these projects within a reasonable time frame and budget. The implications of these projects will revolutionise the way doctors prescribe drugs for their patients.
Currently I am working with Dr Libby Hotham and community partners on a project aimed at personalising treatment for older Australians on multiple drugs.
Genetics of human diseases
We have now come to understand that complex diseases are multigenic and as we find out more about the genetic make up of humans, indirectly we are also finding out more about the genetics of diseases. This information is useful in designing new drug targets.
Currently I am working with Dr Catherine King and A/Prof Michael Wiese on a project aimed at establishing the role of immunogenes in rheumatoid arthritis.
Health applications of mobile phone apps
This project is interested in quantifying the cost effectiveness of using a mobile phone app to enhance treatment adherence and thereby reduce the overall burden on the health system. This is a multi-centre clinical trial involving an industrial partner and a hospital collaborator.
Role of pharmacists in mental health
In collaboration with other UniSA academics, community and hospital pharmacists, I am interested in exploring the role of pharmacists in the area of mental health within the community as well as hospital settings. There are several projects at various levels (undergraduate, intern and postgraduate levels) that I am currently involved in.
Genotyping service
In collaboration with Dr Catherine King and A/Prof Michael Wiese, I am providing genotyping service using various array technologies. This service is available to researchers within as well as outside the University.
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Burnet Institute | AUSTRALIA |
| Centenary Institute | AUSTRALIA |
| Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin | GERMANY |
| Curtin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Gastroenteroligische Ambulanz der Kinderklinik | GERMANY |
| Hopital Pitie-Salpetriere | FRANCE |
| J. W. Goethe-University Hospital Frankfurt | GERMANY |
| Minia University | EGYPT |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Murdoch University | AUSTRALIA |
| National Neuroscience Institute | SINGAPORE |
| Necker Medical School | FRANCE |
| Nepean Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Newcastle University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Prince of Wales Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Princess Alexandra Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Rockefeller University | UNITED STATES |
| Royal Adelaide Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| SA Pathology | AUSTRALIA |
| San Raffaele Scientific Institute | ITALY |
| Universitatsklinikum Leipzig | GERMANY |
| Universitatsmedizin Berlin | GERMANY |
| University Hospital Geneva | SWITZERLAND |
| University Hospital of Zurich | SWITZERLAND |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Bern | SWITZERLAND |
| University of Bonn | GERMANY |
| University of Lausanne | SWITZERLAND |
| University of Leipzig | GERMANY |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
| University of New Southy Wales | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Nottingham | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Turin | ITALY |
| Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory | AUSTRALIA |
| Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
| Westmead Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student LearningUniversity of South Australia Teaching Awards |
2017 |
Genetics Society of Australasia (GSA)
Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA)
Scientist in Schools programme
UniSA Human Research Ethics Committee
I am currently the course coordinator for Dosage Form Design 3 and Pharmacotherapeutics Theory 2. I also teach into the following courses: Dosage Form Design 4 and Health Professional Essentials.
2017 Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning UniSA Teaching Awards for the development of program wide pharmaceutical compounding practicals using the scaffold learning approach to improve student learning outcome
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Personalized-treatment strategies of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis patients | Current |
| Pharmacogenomics of interferon-beta treatment in Caucasian multiple sclerosis patients | Completed |
