Professor Suzanne Nielsen (BPharmSc[Hons] PhD MPS) is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow and the Deputy Director of the Monash Addiction Research Centre in Melbourne.

She has published over 250 peer-reviewed publications, recevied AUD$35M in reserach funding, and given over 80 invited national and international conference presentations. Her research has led to a greater understanding of how to identify and respond to prescription, over-the-counter and illicit drug-related harm.  She has informed legislative change in Australia to reduce pharmaceutical drug harm (e.g. rescheduling of codeine and alprazolam), expanded overdose prevention with naloxone in primary care settings, and informed clinical guidelines on the use of opioid agonist treatment for prescribed opioids dependence.  

Prof Nielsen leads a high-impact research program focused on reducing opioid-related harm, including routine monitoring of emerging synthetic opioids, evaluating policy impacts, and strengthening pharmacy-based prevention strategies. Her work also advances evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders, with a particular focus on improving and implementing models of care for opioid dependence, overdose prevention, and broader system-level responses. She is committed to promoting health equity for marginalised and vulnerable populations, and her research actively addresses stigma as a barrier to accessing compassionate, effective healthcare.