Associate Professor Nicola J. Smith is Head of the Department of Pharmacology in the School of Biomedical Sciences and member-elected 2026-2028 President of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT). She is a molecular pharmacologist who is passionate about all things G protein-coupled receptor – the largest family of membrane proteins in the human genome.

Nicola completed her undergraduate training in pharmacology and biochemistry at the University of Melbourne in 2002 (first class Honours) before commencing a PhD at the Baker Heart Research Institute under the tutelage of Profs Walter Thomas and Ross Hannan, where she studied the role of EGFR transactivation by the angiotensin II receptor in left ventricular hypertrophy (Uni Melb, 2003-7). In 2006, Nicola was awarded a joint NHMRC/NHF CJ Martin Overseas Fellowship to work in the laboratory of Prof Graeme Milligan, a world expert on G protein-coupled receptors (University of Glasgow, 2007-2011). In early 2011, Nicola returned to the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute to join the laboratory of Prof Robert Graham, a leader in the role of G protein-coupled receptors in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology, where she established a research program based upon orphan, or un-liganded, receptors (2011-2015). Nicola was appointed Group Leader in 2016 and was awarded a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship the following year. In mid-2019, Nicola accepted a senior lecturer appointment at UNSW Sydney School of Medical Sciences where she has established the Orphan Receptor Laboratory, as well as teaching into several pharmacology and pharmacy courses. Nicola is actively involved in peer review for major funding agencies (NHMRC, National Heart Foundation of Australia, Medical Research Council UK, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, NWO and others) and journals and has served on university and external committees including HDR review panels, Gene Technology Research Committees, AthenaSWAN Self-Assessment Team, UNSW Health 25 Strategy Project Lead and the Australian Cardiovascular Association's inaugural Emerging Leaders Committee, Basic Science Advisory Group and Disease Mechanisms Flagship. In recognition of her contribution to research, teaching and community engagement, Nicola was promoted to Associate Professor at the beginning of 2022.

In addition to her pharmacological studies, Nicola is a passionate science communicator and has worked as a radio science presenter, acted as Ambassador for IMB’s ‘When I Grow Up’ campaign and has spoken to many school and community groups about the joys of science and discovery; she received a 2012 NSW Young Tall Poppy Award in recognition of this work. She is very active within the pharmacology community having served several roles within ASCEPT since she was elected to the Board of Directors, including Chair/Co-chair roles for the 2021 ASCEPT Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting, 2022 APSA-ASCEPT Annual Scientific Meeting, 2023 ASCEPT Annual Scientific Meeting and 2024 ASCEPT-APFP-APSA Joint Congress, as well as terms as Prize Co-ordinator and Chair of the Student Forum. She is highly motivated to serve her pharmacology community after benefiting from the collegiality, support and wisdom of those senior to her throughout her own research career.

For current projects, please contact Nicola for more information.