Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major side effect of chemotherapy. It causes nerve damage including numbness, sensation and balance problems in 40% of cancer survivors. One in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. As such, the prevalence of CIPN is increasing, with more and more survivors left with long-term functional disability and reduced quality of life.

Our translational research program addresses substantial knowledge gaps in this largely underexplored area. In fact, we are the first research group in Australia working to understand, predict and ultimately prevent nerve damage in patients receiving chemotherapy. A large part of our work also focuses on developing more effective interventions for neuroprotection and designing better methods to measure CIPN.

To this end, our research is underpinned by a strong, multidisciplinary team with broad expertise in translational oncology, neuroscience, clinical neurology, genomics, neurophysiology and health service research.