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’s Disease Neuroscience Group
School of Medical Sciences
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

Associate Professor Edwin Tan

Sydney Pharmacy School
The University of Sydney

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