I am a neuroscientist who specialises in acute brain injury research. After completing my BSc (Hons) and PhD at Griffith University in Brisbane (Aust), I was awarded a Sandoz Postdoctoral Neuroscience Fellowship in the Neurology Department at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where at the end of that fellowship I was appointed as an Assistant Research Professor. I was then fortunate to be awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship (Aust) which allowed me to return to Australia and undertake research at James Cook University in Townsville, North Queensland, focusing on magnetic resonance studies of traumatic brain injury. At the conclusion of my fellowship, I was appointed as... Read more
About me
I am a neuroscientist who specialises in acute brain injury research. After completing my BSc (Hons) and PhD at Griffith University in Brisbane (Aust), I was awarded a Sandoz Postdoctoral Neuroscience Fellowship in the Neurology Department at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where at the end of that fellowship I was appointed as an Assistant Research Professor. I was then fortunate to be awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship (Aust) which allowed me to return to Australia and undertake research at James Cook University in Townsville, North Queensland, focusing on magnetic resonance studies of traumatic brain injury. At the conclusion of my fellowship, I was appointed as an academic staff member and over time became an Associate Professor and Head of Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. A period of sabbatical research as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, Washington DC, inspired me to move to the University of Adelaide in 2001 where I again focused on research in the Department of Pathology. I was subsequently appointed to be the NRF Chair of Neurosurgical Research and the Head of the School of Medical Sciences. In 2014, I took the opportunity to join the University of South Australia as the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Health Sciences and following my retirement from academia in 2019, was honoured with an Emeritus Professor position.
My research has always focused on identifying secondary injury factors following CNS injury, and the associated development of novel pharmacotherapies that improve functional outcome. During my early career, most of my time was spent characterising the role of magnesium in traumatic brain injury. In the second half of my career, my research time was spent characterising neurogenic inflammation in acute and chronic brain injury, particularly its role in brain oedema, the development of elevated intracranial pressure and in repeated concussion / chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A couple of patents in this area have been licensed to pharmaceutical industry and are happily progressing through clinical development (phase II trials have commenced).
Along the way, there have been a few honours and awards including being the invited Japanese Society for Neurotraumatology Visiting Professor in 2001, and presenting the Jamieson Memorial Lecture and receiving the associated medal at the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia annual meeting in 2009. In 2012, the University of Adelaide awarded me a DSc for my international contributions to neurotrauma research. The Australasian Neuroscience Society and the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia gave me the honour of presenting the Eccles Lecture at their annual meetings in 2015, where the Australasian Neuroscience Society also awarded me their Society medal. Later that year, I was inducted as a fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. In 2018 I was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
In terms of service to organisations, I am a member of the Board of Officers for the International Neurotrauma Society and a regular member of the scientific committee of the International Society for Development of Research on Magnesium. Nationally, I am the Chair of the Board of Connectivity: Traumatic Brain Injury Australia and am the Co-Chair of the $50 M Federal MRFF Traumatic Brain Injury Mission.
About me
Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (2015-)
Honorary Secretary, International Neurotrauma Society (2015-)
President, Neurosurgical Research Foundation (2015-)
Member, American Society for Neuroscience
Member, International Society for Neurochemistry
Member, International Society for Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
Member, Australasian Society for Neuroscience
Member, National Neurotrauma Society (USA)
About me
Doctor of Philosophy Griffith University
Doctor of Science University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Science Griffith University
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Improving clinical translation in stroke: targeting cerebral oedema in a large animal model, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2017
Centre for Research Excellence for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, NHMRC - Centre for Research Excellence Grant, 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2017
Pharmacological Intervention for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: a Mechanistic Approach, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2017
A novel approach to improving clinical translation in stroke: targeting cerebral oedema in large animal models, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/2015 - 31/12/18
Preclinical evaluation of the novel therapeutic compound APP96-110 in an ovine model of traumatic brain injury, NHMRC - Project Grant, 01/01/18 - 31/12/20
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
Year | Output |
---|---|
2017 |
Open access
25
21
|
2016 |
Open access
237
226
|
2016 |
Open access
68
69
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2019 |
1
|
2013 |
|
2012 |
1
|
2012 |
|
2011 |
Open access
15
|
2011 |
Open access
13
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2024 |
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
1
|
2023 |
Open access
1
|
2022 |
Open access
1
|
2021 |
4
5
|
2021 |
Open access
13
13
|
2019 |
Open access
32
27
|
2019 |
Open access
12
12
|
2019 |
Open access
11
11
|
2019 |
Open access
55
45
|
2018 |
11
9
|
2018 |
14
13
|
2018 |
Open access
7
6
|
2018 |
9
5
|
2018 |
Open access
16
14
|
2018 |
Open access
72
71
|
2018 |
Open access
101
93
|
2017 |
11
11
|
2017 |
Open access
23
20
|
2017 |
Open access
25
21
|
2017 |
36
35
|
2017 |
116
114
|
2017 |
Open access
47
41
|
2017 |
4
6
|
2016 |
Open access
10
11
|
2016 |
Open access
237
226
|
2016 |
Open access
53
46
|
2016 |
Open access
6
6
|
2016 |
7
4
|
2016 |
Open access
68
69
|
2016 |
34
33
|
2015 |
Open access
6
5
|
2015 |
47
43
|
2015 |
1
|
2015 |
Open access
19
19
|
2014 |
Open access
46
45
|
2014 |
Open access
12
10
|
2014 |
23
22
|
2014 |
18
15
|
2013 |
Open access
21
20
|
2013 |
7
7
|
2013 |
4
9
|
2013 |
Open access
71
60
|
2013 |
35
|
2013 |
7
|
2013 |
7
|
2013 |
Open access
21
15
|
2013 |
Open access
12
13
|
2013 |
15
14
|
2013 |
26
20
|
2013 |
Open access
23
18
|
2012 |
21
14
|
2012 |
1
1
|
2012 |
23
18
|
2012 |
23
21
|
2012 |
27
26
|
2012 |
Open access
24
22
|
2012 |
35
34
|
2012 |
66
64
|
2012 |
17
17
|
2012 |
10
10
|
2012 |
66
56
|
2012 |
58
55
|
2012 |
Open access
143
130
|
2012 |
8
5
|
2012 |
8
|
2012 |
Open access
75
74
|
2012 |
29
27
|
2012 |
8
6
|
2012 |
Open access
49
49
|
2011 |
22
22
|
2011 |
33
28
|
2011 |
65
65
|
2011 |
3
1
|
2011 |
53
50
|
2011 |
24
23
|
2011 |
18
|
2011 |
23
20
|
2011 |
52
46
|
2011 |
23
18
|
2011 |
68
52
|
2010 |
Open access
18
17
|
2010 |
34
31
|
2010 |
294
269
|
2010 |
11
9
|
2010 |
39
35
|
2010 |
40
33
|
2010 |
Open access
37
38
|
2010 |
Open access
48
39
|
2009 |
|
2009 |
31
24
|
2009 |
24
|
2009 |
Open access
20
14
|
2009 |
43
43
|
2009 |
Open access
129
111
|
2009 |
115
109
|
2009 |
18
17
|
2009 |
Open access
6
3
|
2009 |
55
|
2009 |
Open access
129
116
|
2009 |
Open access
42
10
|
2009 |
|
2009 |
46
17
|
2008 |
14
18
|
2008 |
9
8
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2016 |
Open access
6
|
2011 |
Open access
|
Research
Details | Registry | Status |
---|---|---|
Brain, spinal and nerve injury treatment Vink, Robert; Nimmo, Alan |
AU | Granted |
Brain, spinal and nerve injury treatment Vink, Robert; Nimmo, Alan |
CA | Granted |
Brain, spinal and nerve injury treatment Vink, Robert; Nimmo, Alan |
CN | Granted |
Brain, spinal and nerve injury treatment Nimmo, Alan; Vink, Robert |
US | Granted |
Brain, spinal and nerve injury treatment Vink, Robert; Nimmo, Alan |
WO | Filed |
Vink, Robert; Nimmo, Alan John |
EP | Granted |
Method and composition for reducing reperfusion injury Nimmo, Alan John; Whitfield, Karen Margaret; Turner, Renée Jade; Vink, Robert |
EP | Filed |
Method and composition for reducing reperfusion injury Nimmo, Alan John; Whitfield, Karen Margaret; Turner, Renée Jade; Vink, Robert |
US | Filed |
Method and composition for reducing reperfusion injury Nimmo, Alan John; Whitfield, Karen Margaret; Turner, Renée Jade; Vink, Robert |
WO | Filed |
Vink, Robert; Thornton, Emma |
WO | Filed |
Method for reducing inflammatory responses and inflammation Nimmo, Alan John; Whitfield, Karen Margaret; Reardon, Konrad; Vink, Robert |
EP | Filed |
Method for reducing inflammatory responses and inflammation Nimmo, Alan John; Whitfield, Karen Margaret; Reardon, Konrad; Vink, Robert |
US | Filed |
Method for reducing inflammatory responses and inflammation Nimmo, Alan John; Whitfield, Karen Margaret; Reardon, Konrad; Vink, Robert |
WO | Filed |
Method for reducing intracranial pressure Vink, Robert |
CA | Filed |
Method for reducing intracranial pressure Vink, Robert |
CN | Filed |
Method for reducing intracranial pressure Vink, Robert |
EP | Filed |
Method for reducing intracranial pressure Vink, Robert |
US | Filed |
Method for reducing intracranial pressure Vink, Robert |
WO | Filed |
External engagement & recognition
Organisation | Country |
---|---|
Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
Boston Children's Hospital | UNITED STATES |
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | UNITED KINGDOM |
Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School | UNITED STATES |
Edith Cowan University | AUSTRALIA |
Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | AUSTRALIA |
Forensic Science SA | AUSTRALIA |
Georgetown University | UNITED STATES |
Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy | ROMANIA |
Hanson Institute | AUSTRALIA |
Hanson Institute Centre for Neurological Diseases | AUSTRALIA |
Harvard University | UNITED STATES |
Institute of Medical and Veterinary Sciences | UNITED STATES |
James Cook University | AUSTRALIA |
Johns Hopkins University | UNITED STATES |
Karolinska Institute | SWEDEN |
King's College London | UNITED KINGDOM |
La Trobe University | AUSTRALIA |
Massachusetts General Hospital | UNITED STATES |
Mental Health Research Institute | UNITED STATES |
Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
Nihon University | JAPAN |
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council | AUSTRALIA |
Rady Children's Hospital | UNITED STATES |
Roskamp Institute | UNITED STATES |
Royal Adelaide Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
Royal Darwin Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
SA Pathology | AUSTRALIA |
South Australian Health and Medical and Research Institute (SAHMRI) | AUSTRALIA |
South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology | AUSTRALIA |
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
Uniformed Services University | UNITED STATES |
University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
University of British Columbia | CANADA |
University of California | UNITED STATES |
University of Cambridge | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Maryland | UNITED STATES |
University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
University of Nottingham | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Pennsylvania | UNITED STATES |
University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
University of the Sunshine Coast | AUSTRALIA |
University of Victoria | CANADA |
University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
Thesis title | Student status |
---|---|
Pathological investigations differentiating the causes and characteristics of sudden accidental and inflicted early childhood deaths from sudden infant death syndrome | Completed |