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
2018
Journal Article
Pain-causing venom peptides: insights into sensory neuron pharmacology
Jami, Sina, Erickson, Andelain, Brierley, Stuart M and Vetter, Irina (2018). Pain-causing venom peptides: insights into sensory neuron pharmacology. Toxins, 10 (1) 15, 15. doi: 10.3390/toxins10010015
2017
Journal Article
Subtle modifications to oxytocin produce ligands that retain potency and improved selectivity across species
Muttenthaler, Markus, Andersson, Asa, Vetter, Irina, Menon, Rohit, Busnelli, Marta, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Bergmayr, Christian, Arrowsmith, Sarah, Deuis, Jennifer R., Chiu, Han Sheng, Palpant, Nathan J., O'Brien, Margaret, Smith, Terry J., Wray, Susan, Neumann, Inga D., Gruber, Christian W., Lewis, Richard J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2017). Subtle modifications to oxytocin produce ligands that retain potency and improved selectivity across species. Science Signaling, 10 (508) eaan3398, 1-13. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.aan3398
2017
Journal Article
Conotoxin Φ-MiXXVIIA from the superfamily G2 employs a novel cysteine framework that mimics granulin and displays anti-apoptotic activity
Jin, Ai-Hua, Dekan, Zoltan, Smout, Michael J., Wilson, David, Dutertre, Sébastien, Vetter, Irina, Lewis, Richard J., Loukas, Alex, Daly, Norelle L. and Alewood, Paul F. (2017). Conotoxin Φ-MiXXVIIA from the superfamily G2 employs a novel cysteine framework that mimics granulin and displays anti-apoptotic activity. Angewandte Chemie, 129 (47), 15169-15172. doi: 10.1002/ange.201708927
2017
Journal Article
Toxins in neurobiology: new tools from old molecules
Vetter, Irina (2017). Toxins in neurobiology: new tools from old molecules. Neuroscience Letters, 679, 1-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.11.002
2017
Journal Article
Conotoxin Φ-MiXXVIIA from the Superfamily G2 Employs a Novel Cysteine Framework that Mimics Granulin and Displays Anti-Apoptotic Activity
Jin, Ai-Hua, Dekan, Zoltan, Smout, Michael J., Wilson, David, Dutertre, Sébastien, Vetter, Irina, Lewis, Richard J., Loukas, Alex, Daly, Norelle L. and Alewood, Paul F. (2017). Conotoxin Φ-MiXXVIIA from the Superfamily G2 Employs a Novel Cysteine Framework that Mimics Granulin and Displays Anti-Apoptotic Activity. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English), 56 (47), 14973-14976. doi: 10.1002/anie.201708927
2017
Journal Article
Burn pain: a systematic and critical review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment
Morgan, Michael, Deuis, Jennifer R., Frøsig-Jørgensen, Majbrit, Lewis, Richard J., Cabot, Peter J., Gray, Paul D. and Vetter, Irina (2017). Burn pain: a systematic and critical review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment. Pain Medicine, 19 (4), 708-734. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx228
2017
Journal Article
Discovery and mode of action of a novel analgesic β-toxin from the African spider Ceratogyrus darlingi
Sousa, Silmara R., Wingerd, Joshua S., Brust, Andreas, Bladen, Christopher, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Herzig, Volker, Deuis, Jennifer R., Dutertre, Sebastien, Vetter, Irina, Zamponi, Gerald W., King, Glenn F., Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2017). Discovery and mode of action of a novel analgesic β-toxin from the African spider Ceratogyrus darlingi. PLoS One, 12 (9) e0182848, e0182848. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182848
2017
Journal Article
Methods used to evaluate pain behaviors in rodents
Deuis, Jennifer R., Dvorakova, Lucie S. and Vetter, Irina (2017). Methods used to evaluate pain behaviors in rodents. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10 284, 284. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00284
2017
Journal Article
Optimization and in vivo profiling of a refined rat model of Walker 256 breast cancer cell-induced bone pain using behavioral, radiological, histological, immunohistochemical and pharmacological methods
Shenoy, Priyank, Kuo, Andy, Vetter, Irina and Smith, Maree T. (2017). Optimization and in vivo profiling of a refined rat model of Walker 256 breast cancer cell-induced bone pain using behavioral, radiological, histological, immunohistochemical and pharmacological methods. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 8 (JUL) 442, 442. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00442
2017
Journal Article
Δ-Myrtoxin-Mp1a is a helical heterodimer from the venom of the jack jumper ant that has antimicrobial, membrane-disrupting, and nociceptive activities
Dekan, Zoltan, Headey, Stephen J., Scanlon, Martin, Baldo, Brian A., Lee, Tzong-Hsien, Aguilar, Marie-Isabel, Deuis, Jennifer R., Vetter, Irina, Elliott, Alysha G., Amado, Maite, Cooper, Matthew A., Alewood, Dianne and Alewood, Paul F. (2017). Δ-Myrtoxin-Mp1a is a helical heterodimer from the venom of the jack jumper ant that has antimicrobial, membrane-disrupting, and nociceptive activities. Angewandte Chemie, 56 (29), 8495-8499. doi: 10.1002/anie.201703360
2017
Journal Article
Pathophysiology of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Starobova, Hana and Vetter, Irina (2017). Pathophysiology of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10 174. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00174
2017
Journal Article
Corrigendum: Pharmacological characterisation of the highly Na v 1.7 selective spider venom peptide Pn3a (Scientific Reports (2017) 7 (40883)
Deuis, Jennifer R., Dekan, Zoltan, Wingerd, Joshua S., Smith, Jennifer J., Munasinghe, Nehan R., Bhola, Rebecca F., Imlach, Wendy L., Herzig, Volker, Armstrong, David A., Rosengren, K. Johan, Bosmans, Frank, Waxman, Stephen G., Dib-Hajj, Sulayman D., Escoubas, Pierre, Minett, Michael S., Christie, Macdonald J., King, Glenn F., Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J., Wood, John N. and Vetter, Irina (2017). Corrigendum: Pharmacological characterisation of the highly Na v 1.7 selective spider venom peptide Pn3a (Scientific Reports (2017) 7 (40883). Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 46816, 46816. doi: 10.1038/srep46816
2017
Journal Article
Modulatory features of the novel spider toxin μ-TRTX-Df1a isolated from the venom of the spider Davus fasciatus
Cardoso, Fernanda Caldas, Dekan, Zoltan, Smith, Jennifer J., Deuis, Jennifer R., Vetter, Irina, Herzig, Volker, Alewood, Paul F., King, Glenn F and Lewis, Richard J. (2017). Modulatory features of the novel spider toxin μ-TRTX-Df1a isolated from the venom of the spider Davus fasciatus. British Journal of Pharmacology, 174 (15), 2528-2544. doi: 10.1111/bph.13865
2017
Journal Article
The Evolution of Fangs, Venom, and Mimicry Systems in Blenny Fishes (vol 27, pg 1184, 2017)
Casewell, Nicholas R., Visser, Jeroen C., Baumann, Kate, Dobson, James, Han, Han, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Morgan, Michael, Romilio, Anthony, Weisbecker, Vera, Mardon, Karine, Ali, Syed A., Debono, Jordan, Koludarov, Ivan, Que, Ivo, Bird, Gregory C., Cooke, Gavan M., Nouwens, Amanda, Hodgson, Wayne C., Wagstaff, Simon C., Cheney, Karen L., Vetter, Irina, van der Weerd, Louise, Richardson, Michael K. and Fry, Bryan G. (2017). The Evolution of Fangs, Venom, and Mimicry Systems in Blenny Fishes (vol 27, pg 1184, 2017). Current Biology, 27 (10), 1549-1550. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.009
2017
Journal Article
The pharmacology of voltage-gated sodium channel activators
Deuis, Jennifer R., Mueller, Alexander, Israel, Mathilde R. and Vetter, Irina (2017). The pharmacology of voltage-gated sodium channel activators. Neuropharmacology, 127, 87-108. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.04.014
2017
Journal Article
Lethal effects of an insecticidal spider venom peptide involve positive allosteric modulation of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Windley, Monique J., Vetter, Irina, Lewis, Richard J. and Nicholson, Graham M. (2017). Lethal effects of an insecticidal spider venom peptide involve positive allosteric modulation of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Neuropharmacology, 127, 224-242. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.04.008
2017
Journal Article
Sodium Channels and Venom Peptide Pharmacology
Israel, Mathilde R., Tay, Bryan, Deuis, Jennifer R. and Vetter, Irina (2017). Sodium Channels and Venom Peptide Pharmacology. Advances in Pharmacology, 79, 67-116. doi: 10.1016/bs.apha.2017.01.004
2017
Journal Article
Pharmacological screening technologies for venom peptide discovery
Prashanth, Jutty Rajan, Hasaballah, Nojod and Vetter, Irina (2017). Pharmacological screening technologies for venom peptide discovery. Neuropharmacology, 127, 4-19. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.03.038
2017
Journal Article
The evolution of fangs, venom, and mimicry systems in blenny fishes
Casewell, Nicholas R., Visser, Jeroen C., Baumann, Kate, Dobson, James, Han, Han, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Morgan, Michael, Romilio, Anthony, Weisbecker, Vera, Ali, Syed A., Debono, Jordan, Koludarov, Ivan, Que, Ivo, Bird, Gregory C., Cooke, Gavan M., Nouwens, Amanda, Hodgson, Wayne C., Wagstaff, Simon C., Cheney, Karen L., Vetter, Irina, van der Weerd, Louise, Richardson, Michael K. and Fry, Bryan G. (2017). The evolution of fangs, venom, and mimicry systems in blenny fishes. Current Biology, 27 (8), 1184-1191. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.067
2017
Journal Article
The structure, dynamics and selectivity profile of a NaV 1.7 potency-optimised huwentoxin-IV variant
Rahnama, Sassan, Deuis, Jennifer R., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Ramanujam, Venkatraman, Lewis, Richard J., Rash, Lachlan D., King, Glenn F., Vetter, Irina and Mobli, Mehdi (2017). The structure, dynamics and selectivity profile of a NaV 1.7 potency-optimised huwentoxin-IV variant. PLoS One, 12 (3) e0173551, e0173551. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173551
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Irina Vetter is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Modulation of voltage-gated sodium ion channels by venom-derived peptides and fixed channel charges
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
Master Philosophy
Using peptide toxins to understand the nociceptor signallosome
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
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
Developing Models of Cancer Therapy-Induced Late Effects
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor 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 the long-term side effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Hon Assoc Professor Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using toxins as tools to understand sodium channel structure and function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
Doctor Philosophy
Probing ion channel function using venom peptides
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Chemotherapy-induced motor neuropathy: towards improved understanding of motor neuron dysfunction during chemotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hana Starobova
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and biophysical characterisation of pain- inducing peptides from the Australian stinging tree
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek, Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
New Toxin Tools for Dissecting Pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek, Dr Sam Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of novel family of voltage-gated sodium channel toxins from ant venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sam Robinson
-
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
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Delineating the role of E-selectin in vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Hon Assoc Professor Ingrid Winkler, Dr Hana Starobova
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Structure and function of ion channels in pain pathways: a toxin perspective
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of bivalency in disulfide-rich peptides
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
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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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate Schroder, Dr Rink-Jan Lohman
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the role of NaV1.6 in peripheral sensory neurons
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Durek
-
2018
Master Philosophy
Identification of pain genes contributing to ciguatoxin-induced pain using haplotype-based computational genetic mapping in mice
Principal Advisor
-
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
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
A Pharmacological and Transcriptomic approach to exploring Novel Pain Targets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot, Dr Fernanda Cardoso
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and characterisation of pain-causing toxins from Hymenoptera venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Dr Sam Robinson
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Using toxins to elucidate the role of voltage-gated sodium channels in pain
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Using genomics to predict the mechanism-of-action of a chemical entity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Shah
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of venom-derived peptides that target acid-sensing ion channels
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli, Dr Lachlan Rash
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution and Diversification of the Anguimorphan Lizard Venom System
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of the function of peptide inhibitors targeting voltage-gated sodium channel
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Solving painful problems: Developing potent and selective NaV channel inhibitors from animal venom
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Craik
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising venom variation and antivenom effectiveness within the "True" vipers (Viperinae: Viperidae)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of Australian snake venoms on coagulation: Differential potency, biochemistry, and antivenom efficacy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novelty in three-finger toxin evolution
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
A Blood Bond: Evolutionary, Pathophysiological and Biodiscovery implications of coagulotoxic snake venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution of the venom system in aculeate hymenoptera
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bryan Fry
-
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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