“My research focuses on the role of oxidative stress (OS) in brain cell degeneration and its contribution to the development of dementia—one of the top five causes of death in Australia, with incidence increasing due to an aging population. While OS is widely recognized as a key factor in neurodegeneration, the timing of its onset and the behaviours that influence its progression in the human brain remain poorly understood. My work seeks to address these gaps by identifying early-life contributors to OS, with the goal of informing strategies to preserve brain and cellular function across the lifespan. I am actively involved in laboratory-based teaching and supervision of PhD, Master’s, Honours, and ILP students, with research interests spanning chemical and drug interactions, diseases and disorders, life sciences, and psychiatric disorders. I am a member of several professional societies, including the American Alzheimer’s Association, the Australian Neuroscience Society, the Australian Society for Medical Research, the International Society for Tryptophan Research, the Neurotoxicity Society, and the International College for Geriatric Psychoneuropharmacology (ICGP).“
