Neuroscience and Pain Research
At the Kolling, we have world-leading expertise driving innovative research to better understand disorders that effect the brain, muscles and nerves.
Neurodegenerative disorders, mental health disorders and pain management represent some of the greatest health challenges today.
Our neuroscience research focuses on the diseases, disorders and injuries of the nervous system such as Parkinson’s, mitochondrial diseases, mental health disorders, spinal cord injury, brain cancer and pain.
Our pain management team is recognised as national leaders in pain research, effectively translating biomedical research into improved clinical care and education programs. An estimated one in five Australians suffer from chronic pain, locking many patients in to a cycle of medication, depression and bed rest, and costing the economy billions of dollars a year. We bring together a multidisciplinary group of clinicians, researchers and educators to improve our understanding of all forms of pain and their treatments, from acute to chronic pain and cancer pain management.
Areas of strength
Leadership Group
Professor Jose Antonio Lopez-Escamez
Co-Chair, Neuroscience and Pain
Head, Meniere Disease Neuroscience Program
Associate Professor Sanaa Zaki
Co-Chair, Neuroscience and Pain
Postdoctoral Scientist
Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research
Leadership Group members:
Professor James Elliott
Academic Director Kolling Institute
Academic Director Northern Sydney (Arabanoo) Precinct
Neuromuscular Imaging Research Laboratory
Professor Sarah Hilmer
Head of the Laboratory of Ageing and Pharmacology
Professor Lisa Harvey
Senior Researcher
John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research
Professor Paul Glare
Head of the Pain Management Research Institute
Dr Edwin Tan
Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy
Pain Management Research Institute
Dr Ryan Davis
Senior Research Fellow
School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney
Neurogenetics Research Group
Visiting Scientist, Genomics and Inherited Diseases Program, Garvan Institute
Professor Gin Malhi MB ChB, MD, FRCPsych, FRANZCP.
Psychiatry Chair, Northern Clinical School
CADE Clinic
Professor Christine Lu
School of Pharmacy, University of Sydney
Chair of Clinical Pharmacy, Northern Sydney Local Health District
Clinical Pharmacology Research Group















