Donna Sellers

My research interests are focussed on the physiology and pharmacology of the urogenital tract and cardiovascular system in health and disease, and in particular the mechanisms that underlie bladder dysfunction such as overactive bladder, which can lead to incontinence, as well as atherosclerosis and the complications of diabetes. The aim of this research is to increase our understanding of how these bodily systems function and are altered in disease, in order to aid the development of new or novel treatments, or enhance the effectiveness of currently available treatments.

I am a member of a number of professional organisations including the International Continence Society, European Association of Urology, British Pharmacological Society, Continence Foundation of Australia and Australasian Society for Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT). I am also the current secretary of the ASCEPT Special Interest Group for Urogenital and Gastrointestinal Research, which I have previously co-chaired.

I have served as Associate Editor for Life Sciences, am a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods and a Review Editor for Frontiers in Pharmacology (Cardiovascular and Smooth Muscle Pharmacology) and Frontiers in Physiology (Clinical and Translational Physiology).

HDR students are one of the most enjoyable aspects of my research. I have supervised 5 PhD students to successful completion as principal supervisor, an additional 3 PhD students as co-supervisor, 4 Honours research students to first class honours degrees and many other Masters Research students.

My past students have completed projects in a number of areas including pharmacology of the lower urinary tract, particularly with relation to stress urinary incontinence and faecal incontinence and ureteral (kidney) stones,and mechanisms to modulate smooth muscle tone in these conditions. Other projects include the physiology and pathophysiology of the steptozotocin-induced diabetic rat bladder, mechanisms underlying the development of atherosclerosis, pharmacological investigation of porcine bladder function and sensory activity, effects of low testosterone on bladder function and mechanisms linking erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate. Nearly all of my past students now work in academia or research.

Along with Russ Chess-Williams  and Catherine McDermott I am currently supervising 3 PhD students in the Centre for Urology Research.  Contact us if you are interested in any of the above topics.