top of page

Professor Kevin Pfleger

Research Profile

Professor Kevin Pfleger’s research focuses on the study of receptors, large molecules (proteins) on the surface of our cells that bind many different hormones, neurotransmitters and pharmaceuticals and transfer the resultant signal into the cell.

Until recently, drug discovery and development programs considered many of these receptors in isolation and in terms of only activating a single signalling pathway. However, it is now clear that this approach dramatically underestimates the complexity of receptor signalling. Receptors function in combination with other receptors, and this changes how they work. Many drugs targeting these receptors have unexplained side effects due to a lack of understanding of their mechanism of action at the molecular level.

 

By understanding the complexities of pharmacology at the molecular level, Kevin’s objective is to develop improved treatments and better clinical management for a range of conditions, focusing on kidney and lung disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

 

Kevin is strongly committed to the translation of research into clinical practice. He is Director Biomedical and Health Innovation of the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, and Chair of Perth Biodesign and Biodesign Australia. Kevin is also Chief Scientific Advisor to Dimerix Limited, an ASX-listed spin-out company. Dimerix is a clinical stage biotechnology company that is focused on developing new therapeutics discovered using its proprietary drug development platform, Receptor-Heteromer Investigation Technology (HIT), invented by Kevin and colleagues. Kevin is also a co-founder of RAGE Biotech and Chairs the Advisory Board of VeinTech.

bottom of page