The University of Newcastle / Hunter Medical Research Institute
Background
Dr Vanessa Murphy is a research scientist investigating the management of asthma exacerbations during pregnancy and their health impact on both the mother and baby. She graduated with a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Hons I and University Medal) from the University of Wollongong, Australia (1998) and completed a PhD in Medicine at the University of Newcastle, Australia (2004). Vanessa has worked as a respiratory researcher at the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute under the supervision of Professor Gibson since 2004. She has held National Health and Medical Council (NHMRC) project grants (2 x CIA, 1x CIB) and fellowships from the NHMRC (Early career 2007-2013, Career Development 2015-2019) and was awarded a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Investigator grant for 2021-2025. She is the course coordinator of the fourth-year medical student’s research project of enquiry course at the University of Newcastle and has a passion for training the next generation of medical researchers, particularly women.
Research Interest
Vanessa’s research interests focus on asthma in pregnant women. Her research is trialling new approaches to the management and treatment of asthma during pregnancy, with a focus on reducing the rate of asthma exacerbations in pregnancy and improving health outcomes for the baby. Vanessa is also interested in the long-term impacts of novel approaches to asthma management in pregnancy and whether adjusting treatment based on lung inflammation is an effective prevention strategy for asthma in childhood.