Helen's current research centres on understanding inflammatory signals at the molecular level to develop new and improved approaches to managing inflammatory conditions. Inflammation is generally a good process that helps us as individuals cope with infection and disease. However, inflammatory responses can go wrong generating either too much or too little inflammation. Many diseases are associated with mistakes in the inflammatory process such as chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis) or inadequate inflammatory responses (e.g. some cancers). Helen’s lab uses a combination of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology approaches to investigate the molecular interactions in signal transduction networks regulating inflammation in these diseases.

Helen is also involved in other collaborative projects including: 1. Regulating brown adipose tissue activity by caffeine and other compounds to improve metabolic diseases; and 2. Probing novel roles of serotonin (5-HT) receptors, especially the 5-HT3 receptor and its effects on cellular organelles.

Helen's research has been supported by various funding bodies including Australian Research Council Discovery Projects and USA Department of Defense Army Research Projects.

Key words: innate immune system, inflammation, pharmacology, serotonin receptors, brown adipose tissue