Key personnel
Professor
Ross McKinnon
Director
Head of the Sansom Institute since its inception, Ross is a prolific
researcher with particular interests in the genetic basis of variability in
response to drugs and skin cancer chemoprevention. President of the
Australian Pharmaceutical Science Association and a member of the
Therapeutic Goods Administration’s Pharmaceutical Subcommittee, Ross is also
the principal scientist and joint founder of
PharmaQest.
Professor
Doug Brooks
Molecular medicine
Doug Brooks brings over 25 years experience in medical research to his role
as head of the Institute’s molecular medicine sector. An NHMRC-funded senior
research fellow with a background in immunology and cancer research, Doug
guides a swathe of research activities into areas including genetic disease,
the early origins of adult health, infection and immunity, autism, ion
channels, experimental therapeutics and clinical pharmacogenomics.
Professor
Andrew Gilbert
Quality use of medicines and pharmacy research
Head of the Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Group, Professor
Andrew Gilbert is an award-winning researcher whose focus is on improving
policies and systems to maximise the efficacy of medicines in the community.
Andrew leads the Veterans’ MATES (Medicines Advice and Therapeutics
Education Services) project and was named Pharmacist of the Year by the
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia in 2005.
Associate
Professor Bob Milne
Pharmaceutical science
Head of the Sansom’s pharmaceutical science sector, Associate Professor Bob
Milne is a talented researcher whose focus lies on the fate of drugs and
their metabolites in human, animals and isolated perfused organs. A
consultant on the quality of drug products, Bob has conducted numerous
clinical and pre-clinical studies and is active in the Australasian
Pharmaceutical Science Association.
Jason
Valentine
CPR executive
As general manager of the Institute’s contract services arm, Jason is
responsible for both the day-to-day running and strategic direction of the
CPR’s consulting and technical services. He has extensive experience in
business management and in the pharmaceutical industry, and has been with
the CPR since 1999.
Professor
Allan Evans
Various roles
A professor in pharmaceutical science and head of the School of Pharmacy and
Medical Sciences, Professor Allan Evans is an accomplished researcher and
leading consultant with a particular interest in the mechanisms by which
drugs are transported in the intestine, liver and kidney. Together with Ross
McKinnon, he has developed an interest in cancer chemoprevention, and is R&D
director of PharmaQest.
Rachael
Penning-Bourne
Business development and management
With a background in health and business and wide-ranging experience in the
tertiary research sector in Australia and abroad, Rachael Penning-Bourne is
the Institute’s business development manager. As well as driving the
Sansom’s strategic and marketing activities, Rachael works closely with
researchers and external stakeholders on a range of business development
activities including commercial agreements, research proposals and business
plans.
Jayne
Skinner
Technical support
An experienced university ‘techie’ with a background in animal care, Jayne
provides practical technical support to Sansom Institute researchers and
students. Processing purchase orders and maintaining the Reid building store
are just two of her major roles.
Deborah
Williams
Administration and reception
Deborah is a multi-skilled administrator and friendly first point of contact
at the Sansom Institute. She has an Honours degree in biotechnology and
diverse employment history including several years at the CSIRO. Her many
roles at the Sansom include running the Reid building reception and
supporting the director and business coordinator in their activities, as
well as acting as executive officer on several Sansom committees.