
Overview
Background
I am an NHMRC Leadership Fellow with joint apointments at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and School of Pharmacy, UQ. My research interests lie in the fields of peripheral pain mechanisms, target identification and analgesic drug discovery. I investigate the contribution of ion channels to sensory neuronal physiology using highly subtype-selective toxins isolated from venomous animals with the aim to develop novel analgesics with improved efficacy and tolerability.
Availability
- Professor Irina Vetter is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Understanding pain pathways
Pain is a major medical and socio-economic issue affecting one in five Australians. Our research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms behind pain. The current focus of the lab is to use toxins from plants and venomous animals to understand the molecular pharmacology of pain. These toxins are highly selective for ion channels and receptors found in the sensory neurons that detect pain and can potentially be developed into novel analgesics. Our research also investigates the mechanisms contributing to chemotherapy-induced pain, cancer-associated pain, inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and the painful marine toxin disease known as ciguatera. To investigate the neuropharmacology of pain we use a range of techniques including: in vivo pain pathway characterisation, high-content imaging of cultured sensory neurons, high-throughput screening using calcium and membrane potential assays, and traditional pharmacological assays. While all pain has similar symptoms, it is becoming clear that the underlying mechanisms behind pain can vary. Our research has already challenged traditional understanding of pain pathways and sensory neuronal physiology. We work in collaboration with other leading Australian and international researchers to identify novel therapeutic pain pathways and targets. By uncovering these new pain pathways, as well as identifying novel targets on peripheral sensory neurons, we aim to develop more effective pain therapies that treat the underlying cause of the pain, not just the symptoms.
Works
Search Professor Irina Vetter’s works on UQ eSpace
2011
Book Chapter
Natural product ligands of TRP channels
Vetter, Irina and Lewis, Richard J. (2011). Natural product ligands of TRP channels. Transient receptor potential channels. (pp. 41-85) edited by Md. Shahidul Islam. New York, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-0265-3_3
2011
Conference Publication
Conotoxins - blueprints for GPCR drug discovery?
Muttenthaler, M., Gruber, C. W., Andersson, A., Vetter, I., Nevin, S. T., Grishin, A. A., Dutertre, S., Daly, N. L., Craik, D. J., Adams, D. J., Lewis, R. J. and Alewood, P. F. (2011). Conotoxins - blueprints for GPCR drug discovery?. 22nd American Peptide Symposium, San Diego, CA, United States, 25-30 June 2011. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons.
2011
Conference Publication
Expression of the G Protein-Coupled Receptor 68 is Increased by TNF-Mediated Inflammatory Signalling
DE Valliere, C, Hiller, C, Kellermeier, S, Crucet, M, Vetter, I, Inserra, M, Lewis, RJ, Cooper, MA, Vidal, S, Seuwen, K, Wagner, CA, Fried, M, Kullak-Ublick, GA, Rogler, G and Eloranta, JJ (2011). Expression of the G Protein-Coupled Receptor 68 is Increased by TNF-Mediated Inflammatory Signalling. Conference on Digestive Disease Week 2011, Chicago Il, May 07-10, 2011. PHILADELPHIA: W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC.
2011
Conference Publication
Expression of Proton-Sensing G Protein-Coupled Receptor 68 (ogr1) Is Increased by Tnf-Mediated Inflammatory Signalling
De Valliere, C., Hiller, C., Kellermeier, S., Vetter, I., Inserra, M., Lewis, R.J., Cooper, M.A., Vidal, S., Seuwen, K., Wagner, C.A., Fried, M., Kullak-Ublick, G.A., Rogler, G. and Eloranta, J.J. (2011). Expression of Proton-Sensing G Protein-Coupled Receptor 68 (ogr1) Is Increased by Tnf-Mediated Inflammatory Signalling. 2011 Joint Annual Meeting of the German, Swiss, and Austrian Societies for Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zurich, Switzerland, 20-22 October 2011. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2011
Journal Article
Venomics: A new paradigm for natural products-based drug discovery
Vetter, Irina, Davis, Jasmine L., Rash, Lachlan D., Anangi, Raveendra, Mobli, Mehdi, Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J. and King, Glenn F. (2011). Venomics: A new paradigm for natural products-based drug discovery. Amino Acids, 40 (1), 15-28. doi: 10.1007/s00726-010-0516-4
2011
Conference Publication
Accelerated biodiscovery of ion channel modulators
Vetter, Irina and Lewis, Richard J. (2011). Accelerated biodiscovery of ion channel modulators. 84th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society/11th Southeast Asian Western Pacific Regional Meeting of Pharmacologists, Yokohama, Japan, 22-24 March 2011. Kyoto, Japan: Nihon Yakuri Gakkai Henshuubu.
2010
Journal Article
Golgi calcium pump secretory Pathway calcium ATPase 1 (SPCA1) is a key regulator of Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor (IGF1R) processing in the basal-like breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231
Grice, Desma M., Vetter, Irina, Faddy, Helen M., Kenny, Paraic A., Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. and Monteith, Gregory R. (2010). Golgi calcium pump secretory Pathway calcium ATPase 1 (SPCA1) is a key regulator of Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor (IGF1R) processing in the basal-like breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285 (48), 37458-37466. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.163329
2010
Journal Article
Chemical synthesis and structure of the prokineticin Bv8
Morales, Rodrigo A. V., Daly, Norelle L., Vetter, Irina, Mobli, Mehdi, Napier, Ian A., Craik, David J., Lewis, Richard J., Christie, MacDonald J., King, Glenn F., Alewood, Paul F. and Durek, Thomas (2010). Chemical synthesis and structure of the prokineticin Bv8. ChemBioChem, 11 (13), 1882-1888. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201000330
2010
Journal Article
The response of dorsal root ganglion axons to nerve growth factor gradients depends on spinal level
Vetter, I, Pujic, Z and Goodhill, GJ (2010). The response of dorsal root ganglion axons to nerve growth factor gradients depends on spinal level. Journal of Neurotrauma, 27 (8), 1379-1386. doi: 10.1089/neu.2010.1279
2010
Journal Article
Characterization of endogenous calcium responses in neuronal cell lines
Vetter, Irina and Lewis, Richard J. (2010). Characterization of endogenous calcium responses in neuronal cell lines. Biochemical Pharmacology, 79 (6), 908-920. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2009.10.020
2010
Journal Article
Axon guidance by growth-rate modulation
Mortimer, D., Pujic, Z., Vaughan, T., Thompson, A. W., Feldner, J., Vetter, I. and Goodhill, G. J. (2010). Axon guidance by growth-rate modulation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107 (11), 5202-5207. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0909254107
2010
Conference Publication
Consequences of siRNA-mediated inhibition of the secretory pathway calcium ATPase 1 in human breast cancer cell line
Grice, Desma, Vetter, Irina, Faddy, Helen, Paraic, Kenny A, Monteith, Gregory R. and Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. (2010). Consequences of siRNA-mediated inhibition of the secretory pathway calcium ATPase 1 in human breast cancer cell line. New Horizons in Calcium Signaling, Beijiing, China, October 10-13 2010.
2010
Conference Publication
Oxytocin agonist design - A selenocysteine mimetic reveals a functional selectivity switch for the human oxytocin receptor
Muttenthaler, M. M., de Araujo, A. D., Andersson, A., Vetter, I., Gruber, C., Ramos, Y. Garcia, Feytens, D., Bergmayr, C., Freissmuth, M., Lewis, R. and Alewood, P. (2010). Oxytocin agonist design - A selenocysteine mimetic reveals a functional selectivity switch for the human oxytocin receptor. 31st European Peptide Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark, 5-9 September 2010. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/psc.1303
2010
Conference Publication
The golgi-localised calcium atpase in breast cancer
Grice, Desma, Vetter, Irina, Faddy, Helen, Kenny, P.A, Monteith, Gregory R. and Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. (2010). The golgi-localised calcium atpase in breast cancer. OzBio 2010 - The Molecules of Life - from Discovery to Biotechnology, Melbourne, 26th September to 1st October 2010.
2009
Journal Article
A Bayesian model predicts the response of axons to molecular gradients
Mortimer, Duncan, Feldner, Julia, Vaughan, Timothy, Vetter, Irina, Pujic, Zac, Rosoff, William J., Burrage, Kevin, Dayan, Peter, Richards, Linda J. and Goodhill, Geoffrey J. (2009). A Bayesian model predicts the response of axons to molecular gradients. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106 (25), 10296-10301. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0900715106
2008
Journal Article
Rapid, Opiod-sensitive mechanisms involved in transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 sensitization
Vetter, Irina, Cheung, Wei, Peiris, Madusha, Wyse, Bruce D., Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J., Zheng, Jie, Monteith, Gregory R. and Cabot, Peter J (2008). Rapid, Opiod-sensitive mechanisms involved in transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 sensitization. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283 (28), 19540-19550. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M707865200
2008
Journal Article
Mechanisms involved in potentiation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 responses by ethanol
Vetter, Irina, Wyse, Bruce D., Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J., Monteith, Gregory R. and Cabot, Peter J. (2008). Mechanisms involved in potentiation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 responses by ethanol. European Journal of Pain, 12 (4), 441-454. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2007.07.001
2007
Other Outputs
Mechanisms involved in functional interactions between the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 and μ opioid receptor
Vetter, Irina (2007). Mechanisms involved in functional interactions between the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 and μ opioid receptor. PhD Thesis, School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/158764
2006
Journal Article
The μ opioid agonist morphine modulates potentiation of capsaicin-evoked TRPV1 responses through a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A pathway
Vetter, Irina, Wyse, Bruce D., Monteith, Gregory R., Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. and Cabot, Peter J. (2006). The μ opioid agonist morphine modulates potentiation of capsaicin-evoked TRPV1 responses through a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A pathway. Molecular Pain, 2 (22) 22, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-2-22
2006
Journal Article
The Effects of pH on Beta-Endorphin and Morphine Inhibition of Calcium Transients in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons
Vetter, I., Kapitzke, D., Hermanussen, S., Monteith, G. R. and Cabot, P. J. (2006). The Effects of pH on Beta-Endorphin and Morphine Inhibition of Calcium Transients in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons. The Journal of Pain, 7 (7), 488-499. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2006.01.456
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Irina Vetter is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating ion channel function and pathology using toxins as tools
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Angelo Keramidas
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the function of sodium channel accessory proteins to develop new treatments for chronic pain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing long-term side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structure and function of ion channels in pain pathways: a toxin perspective
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
Master Philosophy
Neuro-immune mechanisms of peripheral neuropathy: a novel target offering new prevention and treatment strategies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
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Master Philosophy
Using peptide toxins to understand the nociceptor signallosome
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing Models of Cancer Therapy-Induced Late Effects
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and characterisation of multi-valent peptides
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding pain mechanisms in the path towards target-specific analgesic agent design
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of bivalency in disulfide-rich peptides
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of novel family of voltage-gated sodium channel toxins from ant venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sam Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Accessing structurally elusive states of sodium channels as novel analgesic targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek, Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and characterisation of new pain-causing toxins from animal venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Sam Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Probing ion channel function using venom peptides
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angelo Keramidas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and characterisation of new pain-causing toxins from animal venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Sam Robinson
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Doctor Philosophy
Using genomics to predict the mechanism-of-action of a chemical entity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Shah
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Doctor Philosophy
Evolutionary shifts in venom function and chemistry within Bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker, Dr Sam Robinson
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Doctor Philosophy
New Toxin Tools for Dissecting Pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek, Dr Sam Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using toxins as tools to understand sodium channel structure and function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
Doctor Philosophy
Chemotherapy-induced motor neuropathy: towards improved understanding of motor neuron dysfunction during chemotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Development of peptides as gating modifiers to inhibit the voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.7
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Probing the mechanisms underlying physiological and pathological neuronal excitability
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Novel heterodimeric ion channel modulators derived from conotoxins and spider toxins
Principal Advisor
-
2022
Master Philosophy
Investigating the role of the novel GABAA receptor variant, ß2(L51M), in the pathophysiology of epilepsy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angelo Keramidas
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a high-throughput pipeline for the discovery of NaV1.9 modulators from animal venoms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate Schroder
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Engineering an optimized analgesic from the NaV1.7 selective spider venom peptide Pn3a
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Professor Mehdi Mobli
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the role of NaV1.6 in peripheral sensory neurons
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek
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2018
Master Philosophy
Identification of pain genes contributing to ciguatoxin-induced pain using haplotype-based computational genetic mapping in mice
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Establishment, optimization and characterization of a rat model of breast cancer induced bone pain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Maree Smith, Dr Andy Kuo
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
A Pharmacological and Transcriptomic approach to exploring Novel Pain Targets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot, Dr Fernanda Cardoso
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of venom-derived peptides that target acid-sensing ion channels
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli, Dr Lachlan Rash
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution and Diversification of the Anguimorphan Lizard Venom System
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of the function of peptide inhibitors targeting voltage-gated sodium channel
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Solving painful problems: Developing potent and selective NaV channel inhibitors from animal venom
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Craik
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising venom variation and antivenom effectiveness within the "True" vipers (Viperinae: Viperidae)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of Australian snake venoms on coagulation: Differential potency, biochemistry, and antivenom efficacy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Using toxins to elucidate the role of voltage-gated sodium channels in pain
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novelty in three-finger toxin evolution
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
A Blood Bond: Evolutionary, Pathophysiological and Biodiscovery implications of coagulotoxic snake venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution of the venom system in aculeate hymenoptera
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
A philosophical and empirical investigation of the evolution of the toxicoferan reptile venom system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King, Professor Bryan Fry
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and Characterisation of Novel Analgesic Neurotoxins, hCav2.2 Channel inhibitors, from Cone Snail and Spider Venoms
Associate Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and characterization of NaV modulatory venom peptides
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lachlan Rash
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacological characterisation of alpha-conopeptides with therapeutic potential
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Irina Vetter directly for media enquiries about:
- analgesics
- cancer
- cancer pain
- chemotherapy pain
- chronic pain
- ciguatera
- diabetes
- drug development
- drug discovery
- ion channels
- irritable bowel syndrome
- neuropathic pain
- neuropathy
- neuropharmacology
- toxins
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