Professor Irina Vetter
Professor

Irina Vetter

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 62660

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

Clinical sciences Neurosciences Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • 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.

Search Professor Irina Vetter’s works on UQ eSpace

249 works between 2004 and 2024
All (249) Journal Article (196) Book Chapter (13) Conference Publication (39) Other Outputs (1)

241 - 249 of 249 works

2006

Conference Publication

Modulation of TRPV1-mediated capsaicin responses potentiated through PKC and camp-dependent PKA pathways by the Mu opioid receptor agonist morphine

Vetter, I., Wyse, B. D., Monteith, G. R., Roberts-Thomson, S. J. and Cabot, P. J. (2006). Modulation of TRPV1-mediated capsaicin responses potentiated through PKC and camp-dependent PKA pathways by the Mu opioid receptor agonist morphine. ComBio 2006, Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia, 24-28 September, 2006. Kent Town, South Australia: Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Modulation of TRPV1-mediated capsaicin responses potentiated through PKC and camp-dependent PKA pathways by the Mu opioid receptor agonist morphine

2006

Conference Publication

Effects of the Mu opioid receptor agonist morphine on TRPV1-mediated capsaicin responses potentiated through PKC and cAMP-dependent PKA pathways

Vetter, I., Wyse, B. D., Monteith, G. R., Roberts-Thomson, S. J. and Cabot, P. J. (2006). Effects of the Mu opioid receptor agonist morphine on TRPV1-mediated capsaicin responses potentiated through PKC and cAMP-dependent PKA pathways. 2006 Neuroscience, Georgia World Congress Center / Altana, Georgia, U.S.A., 11-18 October, 2006. Washington DC, U.S.A.: Society for Neuroscience.

Effects of the Mu opioid receptor agonist morphine on TRPV1-mediated capsaicin responses potentiated through PKC and cAMP-dependent PKA pathways

2005

Journal Article

Endogenous opioid analgesia in peripheral tissues and the clinical implications for pain control

Kapitzke, Daniel, Vetter, Irina and Cabot, Peter J. (2005). Endogenous opioid analgesia in peripheral tissues and the clinical implications for pain control. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 1 (4), 279-297.

Endogenous opioid analgesia in peripheral tissues and the clinical implications for pain control

2005

Conference Publication

Acidic pH enhances morphine inhibition of high-K2+ induced Ca2+ responses in dorsal root ganglion neurons

Kapitzke, D., Hermanussen, S.F., Jenkins, N., Hua, S., Vetter, I., Monteith, G.R. and Cabot, P.J. (2005). Acidic pH enhances morphine inhibition of high-K2+ induced Ca2+ responses in dorsal root ganglion neurons. 11th World Congress on Pain, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 21-26 August, 2005. Seattle, WA, U.S.A.: IASP Press.

Acidic pH enhances morphine inhibition of high-K2+ induced Ca2+ responses in dorsal root ganglion neurons

2005

Conference Publication

Opioid inhibition of TRPV1-mediated calcium currents in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones and a HEK293 cell line stably expressing TRPV1 and MOR

Vetter, I., Wyse, B. D., Monteith, G. R., Roberts-Thomson, S. J. and Cabot, P. J. (2005). Opioid inhibition of TRPV1-mediated calcium currents in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones and a HEK293 cell line stably expressing TRPV1 and MOR. 11th World Congress on Pain, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 21-26 August, 2005. Seattle, WA, U.S.A.: International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Press.

Opioid inhibition of TRPV1-mediated calcium currents in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones and a HEK293 cell line stably expressing TRPV1 and MOR

2004

Conference Publication

Drug utilisation evaluation of parenteral proton pump inhibitors

Chan, J, Sturtevant, JM, Pillans, PI, Vetter, I, Kane, L and Du, L (2004). Drug utilisation evaluation of parenteral proton pump inhibitors. 8th World Congress of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Brisbane Australia, Aug 01-06, 2004. BLACKWELL PUBLISHING ASIA.

Drug utilisation evaluation of parenteral proton pump inhibitors

2004

Conference Publication

Beta-endorphin inhibition of capsaicin induced calcium responses in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones is enhanced at acidic pH

Vetter, I., Hermanussen, S. F., Monteith, G. R. and Cabot, P. J. (2004). Beta-endorphin inhibition of capsaicin induced calcium responses in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones is enhanced at acidic pH. 4th Annual Queensland Health and Medical Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, 30th November - 1st December, 2004. Brisbane: Queensland Government.

Beta-endorphin inhibition of capsaicin induced calcium responses in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones is enhanced at acidic pH

2004

Conference Publication

Drug utilization evaluation of parenteral proton pump inhibitors

Chan, J., Sturtevant, J. M., Pillans, P., Vetter, I., Kane, L. and Du, L. (2004). Drug utilization evaluation of parenteral proton pump inhibitors. 8th World Congress on Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Brisbane, Australia, 1-7 Augus,t 2004. Oxford: Blackwell Synergy. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2004.v31_i11_abs.x

Drug utilization evaluation of parenteral proton pump inhibitors

2004

Conference Publication

Beta -endorphin inhibition of capsaicin induced calcium responses in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones is enhanced at acidic pH's

Vetter, I., Hermanussen, S. F., Monteith, G. R. and Cabot, P. J. (2004). Beta -endorphin inhibition of capsaicin induced calcium responses in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones is enhanced at acidic pH's. CPT2004: 8th World Conference on Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2004, Brisbane, Qld, Australia, 1-6 August, 2004. Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Blackwell Publishing.

Beta -endorphin inhibition of capsaicin induced calcium responses in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones is enhanced at acidic pH's

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Super-resolution platform to accelerate biological and molecular research
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Defining a new family of sodium channel accessory proteins
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    DISCERN - Disciplinary Integration to Solve the Enigma of Chronic Pain: Evaluating Personalised Care and its Impact with Innovative Clinical Trials and Research in Neurobiology, Psychology and Society
    NHMRC Synergy Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Studying the basis of and developing new therapies to treat heart disease
    IPF Healthy - Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Tuning the activating stimulus of voltage-gated sodium channels
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Mechanistic and pharmacological insights into peripheral sensory neuron function in physiological and pathological pain
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    IL-1RAP: novel target for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
    Cantargia AB
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    A humanised sensory neuron high-throughput screening platform
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Reducing long-term side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors
    The Kid's Cancer Project
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Bivalent analgesics: rational design of selective ion channel inhibitors with optimised mechanism of action
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Electrophysiology Platform for Ion-channel Characterisation
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2020
    New VAST frontiers in non-opioid pain therapies
    VAST Biosciences Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    An integrated, multi-node bio-layer interferometry facility
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Mechanism-based treatments for chemotherapy-induced pain
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Toxins from Down Under: Novel tools to understand and modulate ion channels
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Developing treatments for vincristine-induced neuropathy
    The Kid's Cancer Project
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Gain from pain: new tools from venomous animals for exploring pain pathways
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Chemical Purification Network
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019
    In vivo imaging system for tracking inflammation, infection, cancer, pain and bioactive molecules
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    The role of ion channels in pain pathways
    NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Vevo 3100 Imaging System for ultrahigh resolution and frame rate echocardiographic assessment of small animals.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Coagulotoxic effects of Brazilian snake venoms: Role in adaptive evolution and human pathophysiological implications
    UQ-FAPESP Strategic Research Fund SPRINT
    Open grant
  • 2018
    High-throughput ion channel pharmacology
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Multichannel peptide synthesiser to accelerate UQ's biodiscovery pipeline and peptide drug development programs
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Novel non-opioid analgesics
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Silencing visceral nociceptors by targeting NaV1.1: A novel therapeutic approach for treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (NHMRC Project Grant led by The Flinders University of South Australia)
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2024
    ACRF Cancer Ultrastructure and Function Facility
    Australian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Novel analgesic approaches: harnessing functional interactions between sodium channels and opioids
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    The role of Nav1.6 in peripheral pain pathways
    International Association for the Study of Pain
    Open grant
  • 2016
    4D Mass Spectrometer
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    A pharmacological approach to define the contribution of Nav1.7 to pain pathways
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Establishing a High-Throughput, Microwave-Assisted Automated Peptide Synthesis Facility at PACE
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Integrative blood coagulation research core facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Patch-clamp electrophysiology platform for drug and insecticide discovery
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Murine behavioural phenotyping facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Protein Analysis Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    The assessment of mitochondrial oxygen consumption and cytoplasmic glycolysis in cells to identify and characterize new therapeutic targets for diseases
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    TRPC5 in teeth - a novel target for tooth pain treatment
    Go8 Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    Using toxins to understand the mechanisms of pain
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2014
    A medium-throughput cell isolation and analysis suite
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    A VAST potential for ion channel drug discovery
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2018
    Efficacy Profiling Innovation in Novel Pain Therapeutics Discovery
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    The role of sodium channels in pain and cold allodynia
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Understanding the fundamental molecular basis of sensory perception
    Ramaciotti Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    High throughput identification of novel analgesic peptides from cone snail and spider venom
    Queensland Pharmacy Research Trust
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Structure-activity relationship of the novel uO-conotoxin MfVIA
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    The pharmacology and molecular mechanisms of ciguatoxin-induced cold allodynia
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Development of a mouse model of ciguatoxin-induced cold allodymia to dissect the underlying mechanisms of cold pain
    IASP Early Career Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Molecular Targets and Mechanisms involved in ciguatoxin-induced cold allodynia
    Go8 Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    ResTeach 2010 0.1 FTE School of Pharmacy
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2013
    NHMRC Training Fellowship: Using conesnail venom to better understand chronic pain
    NHMRC Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowship
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Irina Vetter is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Structure and function of ion channels in pain pathways: a toxin perspective

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding pain mechanisms in the path towards target-specific analgesic agent design

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova

  • Master Philosophy

    Neuro-immune mechanisms of peripheral neuropathy: a novel target offering new prevention and treatment strategies

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Reducing long-term side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Discovery and characterisation of multi-valent peptides

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing Models of Cancer Therapy-Induced Late Effects

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova

  • 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

    Characterization of bivalency in disulfide-rich peptides

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating ion channel function and pathology using toxins as tools

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Angelo Keramidas

  • Master Philosophy

    Using peptide toxins to understand the nociceptor signallosome

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis

  • 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

  • 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

    Using genomics to predict the mechanism-of-action of a chemical entity

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Shah

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterization of novel family of voltage-gated sodium channel toxins from ant venoms

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Sam Robinson

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Evolutionary shifts in venom function and chemistry within Bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes)

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker, Dr Sam Robinson

Completed supervision

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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