Researching bodily systems that maintain life

We're unlocking the body’s vital systems to address disease challenges.

We are a federation of small research teams concerned with the organisation of the bodily systems that maintain life. Dysfunction of these systems leads to common and debilitating conditions such as:

  • heart disease
  • stroke
  • kidney failure.

These conditions are drivers of cardiovascular complications in conditions such as sleep apnoea, obesity and diabetes.

We use a range of models and technologies and are eager to recruit MRes and PhD students to join our team. Contact us to visit our laboratories and talk about postgraduate study.

Research groups

Our research groups include:

Our laboratory takes a basic science approach to cardiovascular haemodynamics but achieving translational application. The laboratory has a strong biophysical sciences and engineering background. However, research is foremost grounded and informed by physiology. Research spans:

  • in-clinic and out-of-clinic aortic and peripheral blood pressure assessment
  • arterial waveform and stiffness quantification
  • autonomic dysfunction
  • rodent models of vascular disease.

Group lead: Associate Professor Mark Butlin

We use a combination of neuroanatomy, electrophysiology and optogenetics to study the brain circuits that control the cardiorespiratory system. We are particularly interested in understanding how these systems distribute information to different parts of the body and how they interact with each other.

Group lead: Professor Simon McMullan

Our research studies how the mammalian brain regulates our upper airways, breathing, blood pressure and sleep. Our work spans basic, human and translational research utilising electrophysiology, optogenetics and anatomical methods.

A key focus of our current work is studying obstructive sleep apnoea pathophysiology and hypoxia-induced neuroplasticity.

Group lead: Dr Peter Burke

We use neuroanatomy, physiology, molecular, optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches to interrogate how brain regions that control the cardiovascular system are impacted in disease.

One focus is how systems that regulate cardiovascular function, fluid intake and stress responses are disturbed in kidney disease, contributing to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in this patient population.

Group lead: Associate Professor Cara Hildreth

Our work delves into the intricate connections between the brain, heart, and kidneys, with a special focus on polycystic kidney disease (PKD). We use physiological studies, molecular biology, assays and imaging techniques to do this work.

Our goal is to lay the ground work for targeted therapies that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Group lead: Professor Jacqueline Phillips

We study the ancient neural circuits in the hindbrain responsible for the motor control of ingestion. Using genetic and electrophysiology techniques, we explore how these circuits are established during development and how they function across early and later life to support feeding.

Group lead: Dr Bowen Dempsey

Our research is generally focused on understanding how obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) impacts the cardiovascular and metabolic system. We are exploring:

  • the use of near-infrared spectroscopy to determine whether treatment of OSA with continuous positive airway pressure improves neurovascular function during cognitive tasks
  • the impact of CPAP withdrawal on the glymphatic clearance of dementia causing neuro-metabolites during the sleep and wake periods
  • the effectiveness of incretins for weight loss as an alternative therapy to CPAP for OSA.

Group lead: Associate Professor Craig Phillips