Padma Murthi

Dr Murthi is a Senior Research Fellow within the Fibrosis Laboratory at the Department of Pharmacology. Dr Murthi is working with A/Prof Chrishan Samuel on the NHMRC funded project on "enhancing the anti-fibrotic and regenerative capcity of bone-marrow derived stem cells". Dr Murthi will also "evaluate the peptide-based anti-fibrotics in treating cardiac, kidney and lung fibrosis".

Dr Murthi is a reproductive biologist and placentologist with research expertise in placental development and function in human idiopathic fetal growth restriction (FGR) and has generated more than 100 publications in this field. FGR significantly contributes to higher incidence of metabolic, renal and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) later in life. Dr Murthi's long term research aim is to develop and deliver novel peptides as targted therapeutics to improve cardiac and vascular structure and function in individuals with FGR. A more detailed knowledge of underlying disease mechanisms is likely to advance prevention and treatment of FGR and its complications, and thereby improve long-term out-comes for patients with FGR.

Dr Murthi was awarded a PhD in 1995 from the University of Melbourne under the supervision of Prof Richard Larkins. From 2000 to 2014, Dr Murthi was employed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne and the Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Royal Women's Hospital. In 2015-2018, she was recruited to Monash University within the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences and the Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research as a Senior Research Fellow and as a Teaching Associate. 

Dr Murthi also serves on the editorial boards of reproductive biology journals, Placenta and International Journal of Reproductive Sciences and Scientific Reprots. She is the elected secretary of International Federation of Placental Associations (IFPA) and act as a chair person of the IFPA award committee.