Murdoch’s Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences is the perfect place for Dr Jacqueline Phillips to continue her research career.

Originally trained as a veterinarian, Dr Phillips made the transition to human medical research as a post-doctoral fellow at Auckland University.

Currently, her main research focus is investigating the ways that nerves control the human blood supply.

“By examining cells in the central nervous system in the ‘normal state’, we can then determine how changes in gene expression and functional responses affect blood control mechanisms during a disease condition such as hypertension,” said Dr Phillips.

“We can therefore find out how to develop more specific treatments, without the side effects seen with commonly prescribed drugs, such as low blood pressure.”

Dr Phillips is also interested in the impact of the peripheral nerves on smooth muscle (the muscles working without conscious control).

By comparing the differences between the muscles of blood vessels and other parts of the body, treatments that target individual organs can be developed.

As one of her first projects, Dr Phillips hopes to collaborate with Dr Kate Creed at Murdoch University to investigate smooth muscle responses in bladders.

Dr Phillips has joined Murdoch as lecturer in Veterinary and Biomedical Physiology.