Associate Professor Nicola Smith

Associate Professor Nicola Smith

Associate Professor

PhD, University of Melbourne, 2007
BSc (First Class), University of Melbourne, 2002
BSc, University of Melbourne, 2001
BA, University of Melbourne, 2001

Medicine & Health
School of Biomedical Sciences

Dr Nicola J. Smith 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 courses. 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 is also very active within the pharmacology community and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Australasian Society for Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT), where she is also Scientific Advisory Committee Chair-Elect. In recognition of her contribution to research, teaching and community engagement, Nicola was promoted to Associate Professor at the beginning of 2022.

 

For current projects, please contact Nicola for more information.

Phone
+61-2-9065 0370
Location
Rm 323, Wallace Wurth 3East UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052 AUSTRALIA
  • Books | 2020
    Ngo T; Coleman JLJ; Smith NJ, 2020, Correction to: Using Constitutive Activity to DefinAppropriate High-Throughput Screening Assays for Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptors (Methods in Molecular Biology, 1272, 10.1007/978-1-4939-2336-6_7), http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2336-6_20
  • Book Chapters | 2020
    Ngo T; Coleman JLJ; Smith NJ, 2020, 'Correction to: Using Constitutive Activity to Define Appropriate High-Throughput Screening Assays for Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptors', in Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer New York, pp. C1 - C1, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2336-6_20
    Book Chapters | 2020
    So SS; Ngo T; Keov P; Smith NJ; Kufareva I, 2020, 'Chapter 16 Tackling the complexities of orphan GPCR ligand discovery with rationally assisted approaches', in GPCRs, Elsevier, pp. 295 - 334, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-816228-6.00016-7
    Book Chapters | 2019
    So SS; Ngo T; Keov P; Smith NJ; Kufareva I, 2019, 'Tackling the complexities of orphan GPCR ligand discovery with rationally assisted approaches', in GPCRs: Structure, Function, and Drug Discovery, pp. 295 - 334, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816228-6.00016-7
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Patel K; Smith NJ, 2024, 'Primary cilia, A-kinase anchoring proteins and constitutive activity at the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR161: A tale about a tail', British Journal of Pharmacology, 181, pp. 2182 - 2196, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.16053
    Journal articles | 2023
    Machet J; Park M; Richardson A; Carnell M; Mouat MA; Smith NJ; Turner N; Cochran BJ; Rye KA; Di Girolamo N, 2023, 'Type 2 diabetes influences intraepithelial corneal nerve parameters and corneal stromal-epithelial nerve penetration sites', Journal of Diabetes Investigation, 14, pp. 591 - 601, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jdi.13974
    Journal articles | 2023
    Stavrou MR; So SS; Finch AM; Ballouz S; Smith NJ, 2023, 'Gene expression analyses of TAS1R taste receptors relevant to the treatment of cardiometabolic disease.', Chem Senses, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjad027
    Journal articles | 2023
    Zeng YC; Sobti M; Quinn A; Smith NJ; Brown SHJ; Vandenberg JI; Ryan RM; O’Mara ML; Stewart AG, 2023, 'Structural basis of promiscuous substrate transport by Organic Cation Transporter 1', Nature Communications, 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42086-9
    Journal articles | 2022
    Bursill CA; Smith NJ; Palpant N; Tan I; Sunde M; Harvey RP; Lewis B; Figtree GA; Vandenberg JI, 2022, 'Don't Turn Off the Tap! The Importance of Discovery Science to the Australian Cardiovascular Sector and Improving Clinical Outcomes Into the Future', Heart Lung and Circulation, 31, pp. 1321 - 1332, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2022.06.669
    Journal articles | 2022
    Mouat MA; Wilkins BP; Ding E; Govindaraju H; Coleman JLJ; Graham RM; Turner N; Smith NJ, 2022, 'Metabolic Profiling of Mice with Deletion of the Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor, GPR37L1', Cells, 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cells11111814
    Journal articles | 2022
    Nicks AM; Holman SR; Chan AY; Tsang M; Young PE; Humphreys DT; Naqvi N; Husain A; Li M; Smith NJ; Iismaa SE; Graham RM, 2022, 'Standardised method for cardiomyocyte isolation and purification from individual murine neonatal, infant, and adult hearts', Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 170, pp. 47 - 59, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.05.012
    Journal articles | 2022
    Wilkins BP; Finch AM; Wang Y; Smith NJ, 2022, 'Orphan GPR146: an alternative therapeutic pathway to achieve cholesterol homeostasis?', Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 33, pp. 481 - 492, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2022.04.008
    Journal articles | 2021
    Mouat MA; Coleman JLJ; Wu J; dos Remedios CG; Feneley MP; Graham RM; Smith NJ, 2021, 'Involvement of GPR37L1 in murine blood pressure regulation and human cardiac disease pathophysiology', American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 321, pp. H807 - H817, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00198.2021
    Journal articles | 2021
    Mouat MA; Jackson KL; Coleman JLJ; Paterson MR; Graham RM; Head GA; Smith NJ, 2021, 'Deletion of Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR37L1 in Mice Alters Cardiovascular Homeostasis in a Sex-Specific Manner', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.600266
    Journal articles | 2021
    Ngo T; Ilatovskiy AV; Stewart AG; Coleman JLJ; McRobb FM; Riek RP; Graham RM; Abagyan R; Kufareva I; Smith NJ, 2021, 'Retraction Note: Orphan receptor ligand discovery by pickpocketing pharmacological neighbors (Nature Chemical Biology, (2017), 13, 2, (235-242), 10.1038/nchembio.2266)', Nature Chemical Biology, 17, pp. 501, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00746-1
    Journal articles | 2021
    Ngo T; Wilkins BP; So SS; Keov P; Chahal KK; Finch AM; Coleman JLJ; Kufareva I; Smith NJ, 2021, 'Orphan receptor GPR37L1 remains unliganded', Nature Chemical Biology, 17, pp. 383 - 386, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00748-z
    Journal articles | 2021
    Nicks AM; Holman SR; Chan AY; Pang C-HJ; Tsang M; Naqvi N; Husain A; Li M; Humphreys DT; Smith NJ; Iismaa SE; Graham RM, 2021, 'Abstract 11948: A Standardized Method to Isolate and Purify Cardiomyocytes from Individual Mouse Hearts Irrespective of Postnatal Age', Circulation, 144, http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/circ.144.suppl_1.11948
    Journal articles | 2021
    Smith NJ; Grant JN; Moon JI; So SS; Finch AM, 2021, 'Critically evaluating sweet taste receptor expression and signaling through a molecular pharmacology lens', FEBS Journal, 288, pp. 2660 - 2672, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/febs.15768
    Journal articles | 2021
    Wang Z; Chan HW; Gambarotta G; Smith NJ; Purdue BW; Pennisi DJ; Porrello ER; O'Brien SL; Reichelt ME; Thomas WG; Paravicini TM, 2021, 'Stimulation of the four isoforms of receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB4, but not ErbB1, confers cardiomyocyte hypertrophy', Journal of Cellular Physiology, 236, pp. 8160 - 8170, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcp.30487
    Journal articles | 2020
    Coleman J; Ngo T; Smythe R; Cleave A; Jones N; Graham R; Smith N, 2020, 'The N-terminus of GPR37L1 is proteolytically processed by matrix metalloproteases', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.27.174847
    Journal articles | 2020
    Coleman JLJ; Ngo T; Smith NJ, 2020, 'Corrigendum to “The G protein-coupled receptor N-terminus and receptor signalling: N-tering a new era” [Cellular Signalling 2017 May;33:1–9](S0898656817300451)(10.1016/j.cellsig.2017.02.004)', Cellular Signalling, 68, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.109510
    Journal articles | 2020
    Coleman JLJ; Ngo T; Smythe RE; Cleave AJ; Jones NM; Graham RM; Smith NJ, 2020, 'The N-terminus of GPR37L1 is proteolytically processed by matrix metalloproteases', Scientific Reports, 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76384-9
    Journal articles | 2020
    Ng CA; Perry MD; Liang W; Smith NJ; Foo B; Shrier A; Lukacs GL; Hill AP; Vandenberg JI, 2020, 'High-throughput phenotyping of heteromeric human ether-à-go-go-related gene potassium channel variants can discriminate pathogenic from rare benign variants', Heart Rhythm, 17, pp. 492 - 500, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2019.09.020
    Journal articles | 2020
    Ngo T; Wilkins B; So S; Keov P; Chahal K; Finch A; Coleman JLJ; Kufareva I; Smith N, 2020, 'Orphan G protein-coupled receptor, GPR37L1: pharmacological toolbox empty once again', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.11.290486
    Journal articles | 2020
    Nicks AM; Kesteven SH; Li M; Wu J; Chan AY; Naqvi N; Husain A; Feneley MP; Smith NJ; Iismaa SE; Graham RM, 2020, 'Pressure overload by suprarenal aortic constriction in mice leads to left ventricular hypertrophy without c-Kit expression in cardiomyocytes', Scientific Reports, 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72273-3
    Journal articles | 2019
    Coleman JLJ; Ngo T; Schmidt J; Mrad N; Liew CK; Jones NM; Graham RM; Smith NJ, 2019, 'Retraction: Metalloprotease cleavage of the N terminus of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR37L1 reduces its constitutive activity (Science Signaling (2016) 9 (ra36) DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aad1089)', Science Signaling, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aba2063
    Journal articles | 2019
    Montgomery MK; Osborne B; Brandon AE; O'Reilly L; Fiveash CE; Brown SHJ; Wilkins BP; Samsudeen A; Yu J; Devanapalli B; Hertzog A; Tolun AA; Kavanagh T; Cooper AA; Mitchell TW; Biden TJ; Smith NJ; Cooney GJ; Turner N, 2019, 'Regulation of mitochondrial metabolism in murine skeletal muscle by the medium-chain fatty acid receptor Gpr84', FASEB Journal, 33, pp. 12264 - 12276, http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fj.201900234R
    Journal articles | 2019
    Sobti M; Ishmukhametov R; Bouwer JC; Ayer A; Suarna C; Smith NJ; Christie M; Stocker R; Duncan TM; Stewart AG, 2019, 'Cryo-EM reveals distinct conformations of E. coli ATP synthase on exposure to ATP', eLife, 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.43864
    Journal articles | 2018
    Coleman JLJ; Mouat MA; Wu J; Jancovski N; Bassi JK; Chan AY; Humphreys DT; Mrad N; Yu ZY; Ngo T; Iismaa S; Dos Remedios CG; Feneley MP; Allen AM; Graham RM; Smith NJ, 2018, 'Orphan receptor GPR37L1 contributes to the sexual dimorphism of central cardiovascular control', Biology of Sex Differences, 9, pp. 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13293-018-0173-y
    Journal articles | 2018
    Mouat MA; Coleman JLJ; Smith NJ, 2018, 'GPCRs in context: sexual dimorphism in the cardiovascular system', British Journal of Pharmacology, 175, pp. 4047 - 4059, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.14160
    Journal articles | 2018
    Wirasinha RC; Vijayan D; Smith NJ; Parnell GP; Swarbrick A; Brink R; King C; Stewart G; Booth DR; Batten M, 2018, 'GPR65 inhibits experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through CD4+ T cell independent mechanisms that include effects on iNKT cells', Immunology and Cell Biology, 96, pp. 128 - 136, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/imcb.1031
    Journal articles | 2017
    Coleman JLJ; Ngo T; Smith NJ, 2017, 'The G protein-coupled receptor N-terminus and receptor signalling: N-tering a new era', Cellular Signalling, 33, pp. 1 - 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2017.02.004
    Journal articles | 2017
    Ngo T; Ilatovskiy AV; Stewart AG; Coleman JLJ; McRobb FM; Riek RP; Graham RM; Abagyan R; Kufareva I; Smith NJ, 2017, 'Orphan receptor ligand discovery by pickpocketing pharmacological neighbors', Nature Chemical Biology, 13, pp. 235 - 242, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.2266
    Journal articles | 2016
    Chowdhury MKH; Wu LE; Coleman JLJ; Smith NJ; Morris MJ; Shepherd PR; Smith GC; Chowdhury M, 2016, 'Niclosamide blocks glucagon phosphorylation of Ser552 on β-catenin in primary rat hepatocytes via PKA signalling', Biochemical Journal, 473, pp. 1247 - 1255, http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20160121
    Journal articles | 2016
    Coleman JLJ; Ngo T; Schmidt J; Mrad N; Liew CK; Jones NM; Graham RM; Smith NJ, 2016, 'Metalloprotease cleavage of the N terminus of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR37L1 reduces its constitutive activity', Science Signaling, 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aad1089
    Journal articles | 2016
    Grundmann M; Tikhonova IG; Hudson BD; Smith NJ; Mohr K; Ulven T; Milligan G; Kenakin T; Kostenis E, 2016, 'A Molecular Mechanism for Sequential Activation of a G Protein-Coupled Receptor', Cell Chemical Biology, 23, pp. 392 - 403, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2016.02.014
    Journal articles | 2016
    McNamara JW; Li A; Smith NJ; Lal S; Graham RM; Kooiker KB; van Dijk SJ; Remedios CGD; Harris SP; Cooke R, 2016, 'Ablation of cardiac myosin binding protein-C disrupts the super-relaxed state of myosin in murine cardiomyocytes', Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 94, pp. 65 - 71, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2016.03.009
    Journal articles | 2016
    Ngo T; Kufareva I; Coleman JLJ; Graham RM; Abagyan R; Smith NJ, 2016, 'Identifying ligands at orphan GPCRs: current status using structure-based approaches', British Journal of Pharmacology, 173, pp. 2934 - 2951, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.13452
    Journal articles | 2016
    Soetanto R; Hynes CJ; Patel HR; Humphreys DT; Evers M; Duan G; Parker BJ; Archer SK; Clancy JL; Graham RM; Beilharz TH; Smith NJ; Preiss T, 2016, 'Role of miRNAs and alternative mRNA 3'-end cleavage and polyadenylation of their mRNA targets in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy', Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1859, pp. 744 - 756, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagrm.2016.03.010
    Journal articles | 2015
    Coleman JLJ; Brennan K; Ngo T; Balaji P; Graham RM; Smith NJ, 2015, 'Rapid knockout and reporter mouse line generation and breeding colony establishment using EUCOMM conditional-ready embryonic stem cells: A case study', Frontiers in Endocrinology, 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2015.00105
    Journal articles | 2015
    Foster SR; Porrello ER; Stefani M; Smith NJ; Molenaar P; Dos Remedios CG; Thomas WG; Ramialison M, 2015, 'Cardiac gene expression data and in silico analysis provide novel insights into human and mouse taste receptor gene regulation', Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 388, pp. 1009 - 1027, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00210-015-1118-1
    Journal articles | 2015
    Ngo T; Coleman JLJ; Smith NJ, 2015, 'Using constitutive activity to defi ne appropriate high-throughput screening assays for orphan G protein-coupled receptors', Methods in Molecular Biology, 1272, pp. 91 - 106, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2336-6_7
    Journal articles | 2015
    Smith NJ, 2015, 'Drug discovery opportunities at the endothelin B receptor-related orphan g protein-coupled receptors, GPR37 and GPR37L1', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2015.00275
    Journal articles | 2014
    Yu ZY; Tan JC; McMahon AC; Iismaa SE; Xiao H; Kesteven SH; Reichelt ME; Mohl MC; Smith NJ; Fatkin D; Allen D; Head SI; Graham RM; Feneley MP, 2014, 'RhoA/ROCK signaling and pleiotropic α1A-adrenergic receptor regulation of cardiac contractility', PLoS ONE, 9, pp. e99024, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099024
    Journal articles | 2012
    Smith NJ, 2012, 'Low affinity GPCRs for metabolic intermediates: Challenges for pharmacologists', Frontiers in Endocrinology, 3, pp. 1, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2012.00001
    Journal articles | 2011
    Flores-Muñoz M; Smith NJ; Haggerty C; Milligan G; Nicklin SA, 2011, 'Angiotensin1-9 antagonises pro-hypertrophic signalling in cardiomyocytes via the angiotensin type 2 receptor', Journal of Physiology, 589, pp. 939 - 951, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2010.203075
    Journal articles | 2011
    Hudson BD; Smith NJ; Milligan G, 2011, 'Experimental Challenges to Targeting Poorly Characterized GPCRs. Uncovering the Therapeutic Potential for Free Fatty Acid Receptors', , 62, pp. 175 - 218, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-385952-5.00006-3
    Journal articles | 2011
    Schmidt J; Smith NJ; Christiansen E; Tikhonova IG; Grundmann M; Hudson BD; Ward RJ; Drewke C; Milligan G; Kostenis E; Ulven T, 2011, 'Selective orthosteric free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2) agonists: Identification of the structural and chemical requirements for selective activation of FFA2 versus FFA3', Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286, pp. 10628 - 10640, http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.210872
    Journal articles | 2011
    Smith NJ; Bennett KA; Milligan G, 2011, 'When simple agonism is not enough: Emerging modalities of GPCR ligands', Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 331, pp. 241 - 247, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2010.07.009
    Journal articles | 2011
    Smith NJ; Chan HW; Qian H; Bourne AM; Hannan KM; Warner FJ; Ritchie RH; Pearson RB; Hannan RD; Thomas WG, 2011, 'Determination of the exact molecular requirements for type 1 angiotensin receptor epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy', Hypertension, 57, pp. 973 - 980, http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.110.166710
    Journal articles | 2011
    Smith NJ; Ward RJ; Stoddart LA; Hudson BD; Kostenis E; Ulven T; Morris JC; Tränkle C; Tikhonova IG; Adams DR; Milligan G, 2011, 'Extracellular loop 2 of the free fatty acid receptor 2 mediates allosterism of a phenylacetamide ago-allosteric modulator', Molecular Pharmacology, 80, pp. 163 - 173, http://dx.doi.org/10.1124/mol.110.070789
    Journal articles | 2011
    Tikhonova IG; Smith NJ; Ward RJ; Stoddart LA; Hudson BD; Kostenis E; Ulven T; Morris JC; Adams DR; Milligan G, 2011, 'Probing Allosteric Binding Site Mapping in the Free Fatty Acid 2 receptor', Biophysical Journal, 100, pp. 52a - 52a, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2010.12.483
    Journal articles | 2010
    Jenkins L; Brea J; Smith NJ; Hudson BD; Reilly G; Bryant NJ; Castro M; Loza MI; Milligan G, 2010, 'Identification of novel species-selective agonists of the G-protein-coupled receptor GPR35 that promote recruitment of β-arrestin-2 and activate Gα13', Biochemical Journal, 432, pp. 451 - 459, http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BJ20101287
    Journal articles | 2010
    Schröder R; Janssen N; Schmidt J; Kebig A; Merten N; Hennen S; Müller A; Blättermann S; Mohr-Andrä M; Zahn S; Wenzel J; Smith NJ; Gomeza J; Drewke C; Milligan G; Mohr K; Kostenis E, 2010, 'Deconvolution of complex G protein-coupled receptor signaling in live cells using dynamic mass redistribution measurements', Nature Biotechnology, 28, pp. 943 - 949, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt.1671
    Journal articles | 2010
    Smith NJ; Milligan G, 2010, 'Allostery at G protein-coupled receptor homo- and heteromers: Uncharted pharmacological landscapes', Pharmacological Reviews, 62, pp. 701 - 725, http://dx.doi.org/10.1124/pr.110.002667
    Journal articles | 2009
    Milligan G; Stoddart LA; Smith NJ, 2009, 'Agonism and allosterism: The pharmacology of the free fatty acid receptors FFA2 and FFA3', British Journal of Pharmacology, 158, pp. 146 - 153, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00421.x
    Journal articles | 2009
    Smith NJ; Stoddart LA; Devine NM; Jenkins L; Milligan G, 2009, 'The action and mode of binding of thiazolidinedione ligands at free fatty acid receptor 1', Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284, pp. 17527 - 17539, http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M109.012849
    Journal articles | 2008
    Stoddart LA; Smith NJ; Jenkins L; Brown AJ; Milligan G, 2008, 'Conserved polar residues in transmembrane domains V, VI, and VII of free fatty acid receptor 2 and free fatty acid receptor 3 are required for the binding and function of short chain fatty acids', Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283, pp. 32913 - 32924, http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M805601200
    Journal articles | 2008
    Stoddart LA; Smith NJ; Milligan G, 2008, 'International union of pharmacology. LXXI. Free fatty acid receptors FFA1, -2, and -3: Pharmacology and pathophysiological functions', Pharmacological Reviews, 60, pp. 405 - 417, http://dx.doi.org/10.1124/pr.108.00802
    Journal articles | 2007
    Milligan G; Smith NJ, 2007, 'Allosteric modulation of heterodimeric G-protein-coupled receptors', Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 28, pp. 615 - 620, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2007.11.001
    Journal articles | 2006
    Chan HW; Smith NJ; Hannan RD; Thomas WG, 2006, 'Tackling the EGFR in pathological tissue remodelling', Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 19, pp. 74 - 78, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pupt.2005.04.005
    Journal articles | 2006
    Smith NJ; Luttrell LM, 2006, 'Signal switching, crosstalk, and arrestin scaffolds: Novel G protein-coupled receptor signaling in cardiovascular disease', Hypertension, 48, pp. 173 - 179, http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.HYP.0000232641.84521.92
    Journal articles | 2004
    Devlin MG; Smith NJ; Ryan OM; Guida E; Sexton PM; Christopoulos A, 2004, 'Regulation of serotonin 5-HT 2C receptors by chronic ligand exposure', European Journal of Pharmacology, 498, pp. 59 - 69, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.07.102
    Journal articles | 2004
    Smith NJ; Chan HW; Osborne JE; Thomas WG; Hannan RD, 2004, 'Hijacking epidermal growth factor receptors by angiotensin II: New possibilities for understanding and treating cardiac hypertrophy', Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 61, pp. 2695 - 2703, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00018-004-4244-3
    Journal articles | 2004
    Thomas WG; Qian H; Smith NJ, 2004, 'When 6 is 9: 'Uncoupled' AT1 receptors turn signalling on its head', Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 61, pp. 2687 - 2694, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00018-004-4245-2
    Journal articles | 2003
    Smith NJ; Hannan RD; Thomas WG; Lew RA, 2003, 'AngiotensinII mediates cardiomyocyte hypertrophic growth pathways via MMP-dependent HB-EGF liberation', International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, 10, pp. 431 - 435, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10989-004-2398-3
    Journal articles | 2003
    Smith NJ; Hannan RD; Thomas WG; Lew RA, 2003, 'AngiotensinII mediates cardiomyocyte hypertrophic growth pathways via MMP-dependent HB-EGF liberation', Letters in Peptide Science, 10, pp. 431 - 435, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02442574
  • Preprints | 2021
    Nicks A; Holman S; Chan A; Tsang M; Young P; Humphreys D; Naqvi N; Husain A; Li M; Smith N; Iismaa S; Graham R, 2021, Standardised method for cardiomyocyte isolation and purification from individual murine neonatal, infant, and adult hearts, http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.30.462562
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Nicks AM; Holman SR; Chan AY; Pang C-HJ; Tsang M; Naqvi N; Husain A; Li M; Humphreys DT; Smith NJ; Iismaa SE; Graham RM, 2021, 'A Standardized Method to Isolate and Purify Cardiomyocytes from Individual Mouse Hearts Irrespective of Postnatal Age', in CIRCULATION, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000752020004371&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2020
    Mouat M; Jackson K; Coleman J; Paterson M; Graham R; Head G; Smith N, 2020, 'Deletion of orphan GPCR, GPR37L1, alters autonomic control of cardiovascular homeostasis in mice', in BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, WILEY, ELECTR NETWORK, Vol. 178, pp. 444 - 445, presented at 2000 Meeting of the British-Pharmacological-Society (PHARMACOLOGY), ELECTR NETWORK, 14 December 2020 - 18 December 2020, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000603490400089&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2018
    Mouat M; Coleman J; Wu J; Jancovski N; Feneley M; Allen A; Graham R; Smith N, 2018, 'SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC ROLES FOR GPR37L1, AN ORPHAN GPCR IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM', in JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, PEOPLES R CHINA, Beijing, pp. E7 - E7, presented at 27th Scientific Meeting of the International-Society-of-Hypertension, PEOPLES R CHINA, Beijing, 20 September 2018 - 23 September 2018, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.hjh.0000548013.63617.a8
    Conference Papers | 2018
    Nicks AM; Humphreys DT; Holman SR; Chan AY; Djordjevic D; Naqvi N; Husain A; Smith NJ; Ho JW; Iismaa SE; Graham RM, 2018, 'Transcription Factors Driving Postnatal Cardiomyocyte Maturation', in CIRCULATION, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000528619405230&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2017
    Coleman JL; Mouat MA; Wu J; Jancovski N; Humphreys DT; Stefani M; Dos Remedios CG; Feneley MP; Allen AM; Graham RM; Smith NJ, 2017, 'Blood Pressure is Increased in Female Mice Lacking Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor Gpr37L1', in CIRCULATION, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, VA, Pentagon City, presented at Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions, VA, Pentagon City, 02 April 2017 - 03 April 2017, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000396815605115&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2016
    Montgomery MK; Brandon AE; O'Reilly L; Osborne B; Fiveash CE; Brown SH; Smith NJ; Mitchell TW; Biden TJ; Cooney GJ; Turner N, 2016, 'The free fatty acid receptor GPR84: A new player in glucose tolerance and mitochondrial function?', in DIABETOLOGIA, SPRINGER, GERMANY, Munich, Vol. 59, pp. S322 - S322, presented at 52nd Annual Meeting of the European-Association-for-the-Study-of-Diabetes (EASD), GERMANY, Munich, 12 September 2016 - 16 September 2016, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000398373702048&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Nicks AM; Holman SR; Chan A; Humphreys DT; Smith NJ; Ho JW; Naqvi N; Husain A; Graham RM; Iismaa SE, 2016, 'Distinct Transcriptomic Signatures Across Postnatal Cardiomyocyte Development', in CIRCULATION, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, LA, New Orleans, presented at Scientific Sessions of the American-Heart-Association / Resuscitation Science Symposium, LA, New Orleans, 12 November 2016 - 16 November 2016, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000396816606015&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2014
    Foster SR; Porrello ER; Stefani M; Smith NJ; Molenaar P; dos Remedios CG; Thomas WG; Ramialison M, 2014, 'Transcriptional Regulation of Taste Receptor Genes: Novel Insights From In Silico and Cardiac Gene Expression Analyses', in CHEMICAL SENSES, OXFORD UNIV PRESS, AUSTRALIA, Brisbane, Vol. 40, pp. 366 - 367, presented at 15th Scientific Meeting of the Australasian-Association-for-ChemoSensory-Science (AACSS), AUSTRALIA, Brisbane, 03 December 2014 - 05 December 2014, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000357868900036&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2014
    Nicks AM; Li M; Wu J; Kesteven SH; Fenely MP; Smith NJ; Iismaa SE; Graham RM, 2014, 'A SURGICAL MODEL OF HYPERTENSION AND LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY IN MICE BY SUPRARENAL AORTIC CONSTRICTION', in HYPERTENSION, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, AUSTRALIA, Adelaide, Vol. 65, pp. E39 - E39, presented at 36th Annual Scientific Meeting of the High-Blood-Pressure-Research-Council-of-Australia (HBPRCA), AUSTRALIA, Adelaide, 26 November 2014 - 28 November 2014, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000352490400055&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Smith NJ; Schmidt J; Mrad N; Coleman JL; Hynes CJ; Wu J; Stefani M; Yu Z-Y; Liew CK; dos Remedios C; Graham RM, 2013, 'N-Terminal Processing of an Orphan GPCR: A Novel Mechanistic Target for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease?', in CIRCULATION, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, TX, Dallas, presented at Scientific Sessions and Resuscitation Science Symposium of the American-Heart-Association, TX, Dallas, 16 November 2013 - 17 November 2013, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000332162903173&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Yu Z-Y; Tan J-C; McMahon AC; Lismaa SF; Xiao X-H; Kesteven SH; Reichelt ME; Mohl MC; Dai Y; Sketchley AE; Yanq LL; Gong H; Smith NJ; Fatkin D; Allen D; Head SI; Graham RM; Feneley MP, 2013, 'Critical Role of RhoA/ROCK Signaling in Cardiac Contractility', in CIRCULATION, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, TX, Dallas, presented at Scientific Sessions and Resuscitation Science Symposium of the American-Heart-Association, TX, Dallas, 16 November 2013 - 17 November 2013, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000332162903138&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2010
    Flores-Munoz M; Smith NJ; Haggerty C; Thomas WG; Baker AH; Milligan G; Nicklin SA, 2010, 'Angiotensin1-9 Antagonises Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy via the Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor', in HYPERTENSION, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, DC, Washington, pp. E130 - E131, presented at High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions 2010, DC, Washington, 13 October 2010 - 16 October 2010, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000283240400362&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2006
    Chan H-W; Jenkins A; Pipolo L; Hannan RD; Thomas WG; Smith NJ, 2006, 'Effect of dominant-negative epidermal growth factor receptors on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy', in JOURNAL OF RECEPTORS AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, SWITZERLAND, Univ Basel, Pharmacenter, Basel, pp. 659 - 677, presented at 10th Swiss Receptor Workshop, SWITZERLAND, Univ Basel, Pharmacenter, Basel, 12 March 2006 - 15 March 2006, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10799890600923187
    Conference Papers | 2006
    Chan HW; Jenkins A; Pipolo L; Hannan RD; Thomas WG; Smith NJ, 2006, 'Effect of dominant-negative epidermal growth factor receptors on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy', in Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction, pp. 659 - 677, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10799890600923187

National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship (Level 2) “Understanding orphan G protein-coupled receptors in cardiovascular health and disease” (2017-2021)
NHMRC Project Grant 1120483 (CIC) “Role of RNA-binding proteins in cardiomyocyte physiology” (2017-2020)
St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation Froulop Research Grant (CIA) “Investigating the interplay between the sympathetic nervous system, anxiety and gender on blood pressure homeostasis” (2018)
Australian Government (CIA) Global Connections Fund Seed Grant (2017)
St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation Annual Grant 6 (CIA) “A new cardioprotective factor in left ventricular hypertrophy?” (2016)
Mostyn Family Foundation Ongoing Bequest (CIA) “To fund drug discovery addressing the underlying causes of hypertension”
NHMRC Project Grant 1061804 (CIB) “Does GPR84 mediate the beneficial effects of medium chain fatty acids?” (2014-2016)
NHMRC/NHF CJ Martin Fellowship (459413) “Molecular determinants of GPR40 signalling and regulation in disease” (2007-2013)
UNSW Research Infrastructure Scheme 2016 Grant #RG 163080, Housley, Bryce, Finch, Jones, Liu, Moorhouse, Ong, Power, SMITH, Turner, Vandenberg “Faculty infrastructure project: benchtop system integrating multi-mode microplate optics with precision, programmable liquid handling”.

2015 Garvan Institute Oral Prize
2014 St Vincent’s Precinct Rising Star
2012 Paul Korner Seminar Speaker Award, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
2012 37th Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function Young Investigator Award
2011 Young Tall Poppy Award, NSW
2011 ASCEPT Denis Wade New Investigator Award
2009 ‘Paper of the Week’, Journal of Biological Chemistry
2007 Highest ranked applicant for the National Heart Foundation of Australia Overseas Fellowship (accepted joint funding with NHMRC)
2004 Winner of the Best Poster Prize, Gordon Research Conference on Angiotensin
2004 Winner, Rod Andrews Poster Prize at the Baker Heart Research Institute
2001 Awarded the Pharmacology Prize for top final year student, University of Melbourne

My Research Supervision

Ms Margaret (Meg) Mouat, PhD student
Mr Sean Souchiart So, PhD student
Mr Brendan Wilkins, PhD student
Ms Kinjal Patel, PhD student
Ms Mariah Stavrou, PhD student
Mr Alexander Lara-Watson, Hons student
Mr Jack (Hejie) Zhang, Hons student
Mr Henry Parkins, Hons student (School of Chemistry)

Lab alumni:
James Coleman, post-doc, PhD and Hons
Tony Ngo, PhD
Amy Nicks, PhD (Uni Leeds)
Brendan Wilkins, Research Assistant
Peter Keov, post-doc
Margaret (Meg) Mouat, Hons
Eric Cheung, Hons
Rhyll Smythe, Hons
Andrew Cleave, Hons
Theodore Nettleton, Hons
Justin Moon, Hons student
Annie Chen, co-supervised Hons student
Jennifer Grant, co-supervised Hons student
Mariah Stavrou, Hons student
Ms Georgia Crowley, Hons student

My Teaching

I mainly teach 3rd year undergraduate pharmacology courses, contributing lectures, tutorials, practicals, online lessons, assessment task design and marking. I also teach some subjects within the medicine and optometry courses. My main area of expertise is molecular pharmacology, particularly G protein-coupled receptors.

Current subjects:

PHAR3102 Molecular Pharmacology
PHAR3101 Drug Discovery, Design & Development
PHAR3521 Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology
PHAR3306 Pharmacology for Optometry
BGD-B Beginnings, Growth & Development - B
PHAR2111 Introduction to Pharmacology