My research program focuses on identifying mechanistic drivers of hypertension to enable earlier detection and targeted prevention of its complications. Hypertension remains the leading risk factor for global mortality, yet in approximately 90% of cases, its origins are unknown.

At La Trobe University’s Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, I lead the Hypertension and Immunobiology Division, integrating vascular biology, immunology, and pharmacology to discover novel therapeutic targets. Our work has revealed that non-classical pathways—such as inflammation, immune activation, fibrosis, and gut microbiome dysbiosis—are major contributors to hypertension and related organ damage.

We have identified key mechanisms involving the NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18), which drive vascular, cardiac, and renal pathology. These discoveries have led to partnerships with industry to develop IL-18-, inflammasome-, and NOX-targeting agents.

To achieve these insights, we employ several pre-clinical models of hypertension (angiotensin II infusion, DOCA-salt, metabolic syndrome) combined with advanced in vivo technologies such as radiotelemetry for continuous blood pressure monitoring, high-resolution ultrasound imaging for cardiac and vascular function, and transdermal GFR assessment for renal health. These models allow us to validate mechanistic targets and test novel pharmacological interventions.

Recent technological advances have transformed our approach. We use single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to map the aortic cellulome during hypertension and identify fibrogenic drivers of aortic stiffening. Additionally, we apply metagenomic sequencing to characterise the gut virome, uncovering bacteriophages that disrupt protective bacterial communities and may represent new therapeutic targets. These cutting-edge tools enable us to define cellular and molecular signatures that precede overt hypertension, creating opportunities for predictive biomarkers and precision interventions.