Sensory, Neuroscience, Ageing, Pain and Psychiatry
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, Sensory, Neuroscience, Ageing, Pain and Psychiatry
Head, Meniere’s Disease Neuroscience Group
Faculty of Medicine and Health
The University of Sydney
Associate Professor Sanaa Zaki
Co-Chair, Sensory, Neuroscience, Ageing, Pain and Psychiatry
Research Associate
Sydney School of Veterinary Science
The University of Sydney
Leadership Group members:
Professor James Elliott
Academic Director, Kolling Institute
Academic Director, Northern Sydney (Arabanoo) Precinct
Faculty of Medicine and Health
The University of Sydney
Professor Sarah Hilmer
Head, Ageing and Pharmacology Laboratory
Conjoint Professor of Geriatric Pharmacology
The University of Sydney
Head of Department of Clinical Pharmacology
Royal North Shore Hospital
Professor Susan Kurrle
Director, Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre
Curran Professor in Health Care of Older People
Member of the Charles Perkins Centre
The University of Sydney
Professor Paul Glare
Head, Pain Management Research Institute
Chair, Pain Medicine
The University of Sydney
Adjunct Associate Professor Karin Aubrey
Postdoctoral Scientist
Pain Management Research Institute
Professor Gin Malhi
Psychiatry Chair
Executive and Clinical Director
CADE Clinic
Faculty of Medicine and Health
The University of Sydney
Dr Eindra Aung
Postdoctoral Scientist
Pain Management Research Institute
Associate Professor Edwin Tan
Mid-Career Research Fellow
Dementia Australia Research Foundation
Associate Professor
Faculty of Medicine and Health
The University of Sydney








