Irina Vetter

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. 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.

[2026] No gain from pain: Lack of nociceptor activation suggests no adaptation for defence in the evolution of European viper venoms [2026] Electrostatic tuning of NaV channel activation by the domain II S3–S4 extracellular loop [2026] Senecioylcholine in Heterometrus spinifer scorpion venom activates vertebrate nicotinic acetylcholine receptors [2026] Why pharmacogenomic biomarkers for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy fail: a systematic review of genetic associations, replication, and clinical translation [2026] Distinct neuroinflammatory effects of individual chemotherapeutics shape chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in a novel mouse model of CVAD combination regimen [2026] Venom composition of the ant Tetraponera rufonigra reveals insights into the evolution of dimeric