I am Professor within the Department of Neuroscience at the School of Translational Medicine (STM), with an internationally recognised laboratory for the study of neurodevelopmental plasticity.  My laboratory uses extensive behavioural, epigenetic, imaging and neuropathological techniques to examine the influences of early experiences on long-term outcomes. We are particularly interested in understanding how early environmental manipulations (i.e. stress, drug exposure, diet) modify brain development and recovery from brain injury, as well as the risk for chronic pain and mental health disorders. In addition, we closely collaborate with the STM departments of Gastroenterology and Immunology as part of the new GIN (Gastroenterology-Immunology-Neuroscience) initiative which is designed to further understand the gut-brain-immune axis and rapidly translate research from the bench to the bedside.

I have held continuous national competitive funding throughout my academic career. As principal investigator, I was awarded an EL2 Investigator Grant from the NHMRC for $1.45M, a Canadian Institute for Health Research project grant for $1.2M, and a National Science and Engineering Research Council operating grant for $130K. I am the co-applicant on additional NHMRC Ideas grants examining the neurological consequences of traumatic brain injury (~$3M) neonatal infant abusive head injury ($1.2M), a CIHR Project grant ($600K), and a Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans grant ($300K). I have also secured supplemental funding from three commercial/pharmacological sources (>$300K) and a co-PI on a 4th for $1.1M.

I was awarded the ‘Health Science Research Mentor Award’ from the
Faculty of Medicine (Calgary, CA) for my supervision of Honours students, in 2022 was nominated for Supervisor of the Year, at Monash University, and was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion (Monash University, 2022).

Investigating the Role of the Circadian System in Traumatic Brain Injury