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 Health Australia and Australasian Society for Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT). I have served as chair and secretary of the ASCEPT Special Interest Group for Urogenital and Gastrointestinal Pharmacology, and have held positions on a number of external advisory boards.

I am a co-editor for Continence, the official journal of the International Continence Society, and have served as Associate Editor for Life Sciences, am a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods and BMC Urology, 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 12 HDR students to successful completion, 7 as principal supervisor, 8 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 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. All of my past research students have gone on to have success in academia,  research or industry.

I am currently supervising research students in the Centre for Urology Research.  Contact me if you are interested in any of the above topics.