Overview
Background
Emeritus Professor Maree Smith AC FTSE FAHMS is a full-time researcher and Director, CIPDD, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland.
In the 12 years prior to her current appointment, Professor Smith led a high-performing team in building the CIPDD and its commercial interface TetraQ, recognized as a unique, GLP-accredited drug development Centre in Australia. Professor Smith has considerable expertise in biomedical discovery/translation with specialist expertise in the novel pain therapeutics discovery/translation field encompassing a portfolio of 16 rodent pain models that mimic individual human pain conditions. This portfolio of models conducted in a purpose-built facility operated in accordance with the requirements of our Quality Management System, making the CIPDD unique in Australia and rare internationally.
In the 15 years prior to establishing the CIPDD, Professor Maree Smith was a full-time academic in the School of Pharmacy. In brief, she joined the School of Pharmacy as a Lecturer in 1989 and was successively promoted through the academic ranks to Professor in 2004. Prior to that she undertook a PhD and early postdoctoral training in clinical pharmacology with specialist expertise in bioanalytical method development, bioanalysis of human plasma samples, drug metabolism and clinical pharmacokinetics. Her second postdoc was in the field of pain management and pain pharmacology.
In the years, 1990-2005, Maree Smith taught in the Drug Discovery stream of the 2nd, 3rd & 4th years of the undergraduate Pharmacy program and she was instrumental in developing innovative courses for the final year of the undergraduate Pharmacy curriculum. She was also instrumental in the development of a course for the M Biotech program at UQ entitled “Quality Systems in Biotechnology” which continues to this day and is a compulsory course in the Program. Maree has successfully advised/co-advised to completion 33 PhD students, 2 Research Masters students and ~50 Honours students. She also served for 14 years as an external evaluator for the TGA.
Maree's Current Research Interests are as follows:
1. Subtle differences in the pathobiology of individual chronic pain conditions
2. Improving preclinical to clinical translation in novel analgesics development
3. Preclinical drug development of novel pain therapeutics
4. Preclinical drug development
Awards
2021 UQ Fellowship
2019 Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List
2018 Honorary Bragg Membership (The Royal Institution of Australia)
2016 Bowl of Hygeia Award (Pharmaceutical Society of Australia)
2016 Clunies Ross Knowledge Commercialisation Award (ATSE)
2015 Honoured to be included in inaugural list of Australia's top Innovators; viz Knowledge Nation 100
2015 Inaugural Inductee into the Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ) Hall of Fame
2015 Johnson and Johnson Innovaton AusBiotech Industry Excellen Award - Outstanding Leader category.
2015 Elected Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS)
2015 Australian Pain Society Distinguished Member Award - For services to the promotion, treatment and science of pain management and lifelong contribution to the Australian Pain Society
2013 UQ Top 5 Inventor - Award by Thomson Reuters and UQ at inaugural Awards
2013 UQ Top 5 Innovator - Award by UniQuest Pty Ltd and UQ at inaugural Awards
2012 Queensland Life Sciences Industry Excellence Award jointly with Dr Jim Aylward
2011 Elected Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (ATSE)
2009 Honorary Fellowship, Faculty of Pain Medicine, ANZCA (Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists).
2008 WiT (Women in Technology): Biotech Outstanding Achievement Award
2002 Meritorious Mention for Sustained Excellence in Research Higher Degree Supervision
2001 Meritorious Mention for Sustained Excellence in Research Higher Degree Supervision
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Maree Smith is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Maree is a leading researcher internationally in the pain field. Spinifex Pharmaceuticals was formed in 2005 to commercialize her angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonists technology for neuropathic pain and subsequently chronic inflammatory pain. Spinifex was acquired by Novartis in mid-2015 on the basis of successful early phase clinical trials in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia, a type of peripheral neuropathic pain that is often intractable.
Also, she has highly specialized expertise in the pain field encompassing a portfolio of 15 innovative rodent pain models that closely mimic individual human pain conditions. These models combined with the OECD GLP accreditation of the CIPDD facility means that these capabilities are unique in Australia and rare outside of large pharmaceutical companies internationally.
Works
Search Professor Maree Smith’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Journal Article
Establishment and characterization of a novel rat model of mechanical low back pain using behavioral, pharmacologic and histologic methods
Muralidharan, Arjun, Park, Thomas S. W., Mackie, John T., Gimenez, Luiz G. S., Kuo, Andy, Nicholson, Janet R., Corradini, Laura and Smith, Maree T. (2017). Establishment and characterization of a novel rat model of mechanical low back pain using behavioral, pharmacologic and histologic methods. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 8 493, 493.1-493.12. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00493
2016
Journal Article
High-throughput assay for quantification of the plasma concentrations of thiopental using automated solid phase extraction (SPE) directly coupled to LC–MS/MS instrumentation
Moosavi, Seyed Mojtaba, Shekar, Kiran, Fraser, John, Smith, Maree T. and Ghassabian, Sussan (2016). High-throughput assay for quantification of the plasma concentrations of thiopental using automated solid phase extraction (SPE) directly coupled to LC–MS/MS instrumentation. Journal of Chromatography B, 1038, 80-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.10.038
2016
Journal Article
The Walker 256 breast cancer cell-induced bone pain model in rats
Shenoy, Priyank A., Kuo, Andy, Vetter, Irina and Smith, Maree T. (2016). The Walker 256 breast cancer cell-induced bone pain model in rats. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 7 (AUG) 286, 286. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00286
2016
Journal Article
Bioerodable PLGA-based microparticles for producing sustained-release drug formulations and strategies for improving drug loading
Han, Felicity Y., Thurecht, Kristofer J., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Smith, Maree T. (2016). Bioerodable PLGA-based microparticles for producing sustained-release drug formulations and strategies for improving drug loading. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 7 (JUN) 185, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00185
2016
Journal Article
Comparison of burrowing and stimuli-evoked pain behaviors as end-points in rat models of inflammatory pain and peripheral neuropathic pain
Muralidharan, Arjun, Kuo, Andy, Jacob, Meera, Lourdesamy, Jacintha S., Melo Sores Pinho De Carvalho, Lara, Nicholson, Janet R., Corradini, Laura and Smith, Maree T. (2016). Comparison of burrowing and stimuli-evoked pain behaviors as end-points in rat models of inflammatory pain and peripheral neuropathic pain. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 10 (88) 88, 88. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00088
2016
Conference Publication
In vivo biodistribution of the nitric oxide donor, PRG150, using PET imaging in rats
Pippin, Adam, Voll, Ronald, Liotta, Dennis, Smith, Maree and Goodman, Mark (2016). In vivo biodistribution of the nitric oxide donor, PRG150, using PET imaging in rats. RESTON: SOC NUCLEAR MEDICINE INC.
2016
Journal Article
In Vitro Metabolic Stability and in Vivo Biodistribution of 3‑Methyl-4- furoxancarbaldehyde Using PET Imaging in Rats
Pippin, Adam B., Mohd Arshad, Zaira Hidayah, Vol, Ronald J., Nye, Jonathon A., Ghassabian, Sussan, Williams, Craig M., Mancini, Alessandra, Liotta, Dennis C., Smith, Maree T. and Goodman, Mark M. (2016). In Vitro Metabolic Stability and in Vivo Biodistribution of 3‑Methyl-4- furoxancarbaldehyde Using PET Imaging in Rats. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 7 (6), 563-567. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5b00410
2016
Journal Article
Frontispiece: Validating Eaton's Hypothesis: Cubane as a Benzene Bioisostere
Chalmers, Benjamin A., Xing, Hui, Houston, Sevan, Clark, Charlotte, Ghassabian, Sussan, Kuo, Andy, Cao, Benjamin, Reitsma, Andrea, Murray, Cody-Ellen P., Stok, Jeanette E., Boyle, Glen M., Pierce, Carly J., Littler, Stuart W., Winkler, David A., Bernhardt, Paul V., Pasay, Cielo, De Voss, James J., McCarthy, James, Parsons, Peter G., Walter, Gimme H., Smith, Maree T., Cooper, Helen M., Nilsson, Susan K., Tsanaktsidis, John, Savage, G. Paul and Williams, Craig M. (2016). Frontispiece: Validating Eaton's Hypothesis: Cubane as a Benzene Bioisostere. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 55 (11), 8359-8359. doi: 10.1002/anie.201681161
2016
Journal Article
Evaluation of a high-throughput peptide reactivity format assay for assessment of the skin sensitization potential of chemicals
Wong, Chin Lin, Lam, Ai Leen, Smith, Maree T. and Ghassabian, Sussan (2016). Evaluation of a high-throughput peptide reactivity format assay for assessment of the skin sensitization potential of chemicals. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 7 (MAR) 53, 53. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00053
2016
Journal Article
Validating Eaton's hypothesis: cubane as a benzene bioisostere
Chalmers, Benjamin A., Xing, Hui, Houston, Sevan, Clark, Charlotte, Ghassabian, Sussan, Kuo, Andy, Cao, Benjamin, Reitsma, Andrea, Murray, Cody-Ellen P., Stok, Jeanette E., Boyle, Glen M., Pierce, Carly J., Littler, Stuart W., Winkler, David A., Bernhardt, Paul V., Pasay, Cielo, De Voss, James J., McCarthy, James, Parsons, Peter G., Walter, Gimme H., Smith, Maree T., Cooper, Helen M., Nilsson, Susan K., Tsanaktsidis, John, Savage, G. Paul and Williams, Craig M. (2016). Validating Eaton's hypothesis: cubane as a benzene bioisostere. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 55 (11), 3580-3585. doi: 10.1002/anie.201510675
2016
Journal Article
Selective small molecule angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonists for neuropathic pain: preclinical and clinical studies
Smith, Maree T., Anand, Praveen and Rice, Andrew S. C. (2016). Selective small molecule angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonists for neuropathic pain: preclinical and clinical studies. Pain, 157 (Supplement 1), S33-S41. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000369
2015
Journal Article
Why different pain-killers are only effective for certain types of pain
Smith, Maree (2015, 12 14). Why different pain-killers are only effective for certain types of pain
2015
Journal Article
A novel fully validated LC-MS/MS method for quantification of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate concentrations in samples of human whole blood
Ghassabian, Sussan, Griffiths, Lyn and Smith, Maree T (2015). A novel fully validated LC-MS/MS method for quantification of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate concentrations in samples of human whole blood. Journal of Chromatography B: Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences, 1000, 77-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2015.07.019
2015
Journal Article
Topical application of a novel oxycodone gel formulation (tocopheryl phosphate mixture, TPM) in a rat model of peripheral inflammatory pain produces localized pain relief without significant systemic exposure
Smith, Maree T., Wyse, Bruce D., Edwards, Stephen R., El-Taminy, Mahmoud, Gaetano, Giacinto and Gavin, Paul (2015). Topical application of a novel oxycodone gel formulation (tocopheryl phosphate mixture, TPM) in a rat model of peripheral inflammatory pain produces localized pain relief without significant systemic exposure. Journaal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 104 (7), 2388-2396. doi: 10.1002/jps.24502
2015
Journal Article
Novel polymeric bioerodable microparticles for prolonged-release intrathecal delivery of analgesic agents for relief of intractable cancer-related pain
Han, Felicity Y., Thurecht, Kristofer J., Lam, Ai-Leen, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Smith, Maree T. (2015). Novel polymeric bioerodable microparticles for prolonged-release intrathecal delivery of analgesic agents for relief of intractable cancer-related pain. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 104 (7), 2334-2344. doi: 10.1002/jps.24497
2015
Journal Article
The Furoxan Nitric Oxide Donor, PRG150, Evokes Dose-Dependent Analgesia in a Rat Model of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (PDN)
Huang, Lillian Y., Tsui, Debbie Y., Williams, Craig M., Wyse, Bruce D. and Smith, Maree T. (2015). The Furoxan Nitric Oxide Donor, PRG150, Evokes Dose-Dependent Analgesia in a Rat Model of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (PDN). Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 42 (9), 921-929. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.12442
2015
Journal Article
In vivo High Angular Resolution Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Mouse Brain at 16.4 Tesla
Alomair, Othman I, Brereton, Ian M, Smith, Maree T, Galloway, Graham J and Kurniawan, Nyoman D (2015). In vivo High Angular Resolution Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Mouse Brain at 16.4 Tesla. Plos One, 10 (6) e0130133, e0130133. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130133
2015
Journal Article
Neurotrophins and neuropathic pain: role in pathobiology
Khan, Nemat and Smith, Maree T. (2015). Neurotrophins and neuropathic pain: role in pathobiology. Molecules, 20 (6), 10657-10688. doi: 10.3390/molecules200610657
2015
Journal Article
Antiallodynic effects of alpha lipoic acid in an optimized RR-EAE mouse model of MS-neuropathic pain are accompanied by attenuation of upregulated BDNF-TrkB-ERK signalling in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
Khan, Nemat, Gordon, Richard, Woodruff, Trent M. and Smith, Maree T. (2015). Antiallodynic effects of alpha lipoic acid in an optimized RR-EAE mouse model of MS-neuropathic pain are accompanied by attenuation of upregulated BDNF-TrkB-ERK signalling in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Pharmacology Research and Perspectives, 3 (3) e00137, 1-16. doi: 10.1002/prp2.137
2015
Journal Article
In vitro methods for hazard assessment of industrial chemical - opportunities and challenges
Wong, Chin Lin, Ghassabian, Sussan, Smith, Maree T. and Lam, Ai-Leen (2015). In vitro methods for hazard assessment of industrial chemical - opportunities and challenges. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 6 (94) 94, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00094
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Maree Smith is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Pathobiology of Neuropathic (nerve damage) Pain
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Novel neuropathic pain therapeutics discovery
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Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: Towards Improved Drug Treatments
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and Pharmacological Evaluation of Novel Analgesics for the Relief of Ross River Virus Induced Chronic Pain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate Schroder, Dr Andy Kuo, Dr Mohammad Zafar Imam
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel long-acting and orally delivered conotoxin-based peptides with both analgesic efficacy and disease modifying potential
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Dr Andy Kuo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and development of an Antibiotic Modulator to Break Antibiotic Resistance in a Mouse Infection Model
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Walker, Dr Suzanne Parker, Dr Andy Kuo, Dr David De Oliveira
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Doctor Philosophy
A novel treatment for chronic pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Dr Andy Kuo, Dr Amanda Kijas, Dr Felicity Han
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role acid-sensing ion channels in disease progression and pain associated with neuroinflammatory conditions.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Neville Butcher, Dr Nemat Khan, Dr Lachlan Rash
Completed supervision
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novel prolonged-release polymeric particles for relief of intractable neuropathic pain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Dr Felicity Han
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Analgesic efficacy of novel opioid compounds relative to adverse effects in rats
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andy Kuo
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Chronic low back pain: pathobiological investigations towards improved treatments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andy Kuo
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Insight into the Pathobiology of Breast Cancer Induced Bone Pain in a Rat Model
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nemat Khan
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Cancer Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN): Preclinical Studies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristofer Thurecht, Professor Andrew Whittaker
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Cellular and molecular insights into multiple sclerosis-induced neuropathic pain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Establishment, optimisation and pharmacological characterisation of rat model of postherpetic neuralgia pain with varicella zoster virus
Principal Advisor
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS CONTRIBUTING TO PROSTATE CANCER-INDUCED BONE PAIN
Principal Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Systematic evaluation of in vitro and in vivo opioid profiling
Principal Advisor
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Utilisation of nitric oxide donors for the relief of mechanical allodynia in a rat model of painful diabetic neuropathy
Principal Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Painful diabetic neuropathy: preclinical studies to improve therapeutic insight
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Preclinical Studies in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gregory Monteith, Professor Peter Cabot
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2005
Master Philosophy
PHARMACOKINETIC-PHARMACODYNAMIC MODELLING OF ANTI-ALLODYNIC EFFECTS OF GABAPENTIN AND OXYCODONE IN A RODENT MODEL OF PERSISTENT NERUOPATHIC PAIN
Principal Advisor
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
Studies investigating (i) The development of antinociceptive tolerance to oxycodone and cross-tolerance with morphine in rats (ii) Elucidation of opioid receptors mediating oxycodone's antinociception using radioligand binding and (iii)antiallodynia of oxycodone and morphine in a rat model of neuropathic pain
Principal Advisor
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
NEUROPHARMACOLOGY OF MORPHINE-3-glucuronide (M3G)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gregory Monteith
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Analgesic Drug Discovery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Advanced Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Ultrahigh Field to Investigate Neurological Microstructural Changes in an EAE Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nyoman Kurniawan
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Bioanalytical method development and validation to investigate cytochrome P450 mediated drug metabolism in patients receiving extracorporeal life support.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kiran Shekar
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Establishment, optimization and characterization of a rat model of breast cancer induced bone pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andy Kuo, Professor Irina Vetter
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Skin sensitisation prediction using in vitro screening methods
Associate Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Development of magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging at 16.4T to assess neurological degeneration in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nyoman Kurniawan, Professor Graham Galloway
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
"Phantom Skin Pain" - Neuropathic Pain Following Burn Injury: An Examination of Incidence and Treatment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot, Professor Jeffrey Lipman
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of Fucoidin efficacy in A-peptide induced Alzheimer¿s disease rodent model
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot
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2002
Doctor Philosophy
QUALITY USE OF MEDICINES: FROM DUE TO RURAL COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Sue Tett
Media
Enquiries
Contact Emeritus Professor Maree Smith directly for media enquiries about:
- Bioanalysis - drugs
- Clinical trials - drug development
- Drug analysis
- Drug development
- Efficacy models - pharmacology
- Opioid pharmacology
- Pain management - pharmacy
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Preclinical drug development
- Preclinical efficacy models
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