NUTRACEUTICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTION IN NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
Dr Virginie Lam, Research Fellow
Curtin Medical Research Institute, Curtin University &
Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science
Perth, Western Australia
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Perth, Australia | August 2025
Dr Virginie Lam is a neuroscientist and cerebrovascular biologist with over 15 years of research experience, including more than seven years post-PhD. She co-leads the Neurovascular and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory at the Curtin Medical Research Institute and holds an affiliate appointment at the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science. Her research focuses on the interface between neurovascular health, cognitive function, and therapeutic translation in neurodegenerative disorders.
Dr Lam is the scientific project manager and co-investigator of a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)-supported Phase II randomised controlled trial in Alzheimer’s disease. She has led the expansion of this study into a multi-site trial involving centres across Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. She also established the trial’s first international collaboration in New Zealand, supporting a trans-Tasman research network across academic, hospital, and clinical trial partners.
Dr Lam has secured over AUD$6 million in competitive research funding as chief investigator, including grants from the MRFF, NHMRC, Raine Foundation, WA Future Health Research and Innovation Fund, and the Bryant Stokes Neurological Research Fund. Her expertise spans clinical trial coordination, human research ethics, neuroimaging, cognitive assessment, and the translation of preclinical findings into early-phase interventions. She has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and currently leads a multidisciplinary team of scientists, clinicians, and research personnel.
She serves on the National Imaging Facility (WA Node) Advisory Board, Curtin University’s human and animal research ethics committee, and multiple NHMRC peer review panels. Dr Lam is actively engaged in research governance and capacity building, having founded and co-chaired several early-to-mid-career researcher (EMCR) committees and national working groups. Her research program continues to inform the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for neurovascular and cognitive disorders through rigorous translational science and cross-sector collaboration.
Source: Supplied
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8463-645X
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Oral administration of insulin for Type 1 Diabetes
Huiwen Pang is a 3rd year PhD candidate in the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, focusing on biomedical health research. Prior to commencing his PhD, Huiwen studied animal genetics in his Masters degree at Huazhong Agriculture University in China.
People with diabetes, especially Type 1 diabetes, largely rely on the insulin injections or insulin pumps to control their high blood glucose levels, which is painful and has a high risk of infections.
Huiwen Pang is conducting research on nano-based drug formulations for Type 1 diabetes treatment, with a focus on using nanomaterials to load insulin for oral administration and employing anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory approaches to mitigate damage to beta cells.
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Next Generation Condom Contraception, Dr Simon Cook
Dr. Simon Cook, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Operations at Eudaemon Technologies, has had a diverse and impactful career journey. Beginning with a background in biotechnology from the University of Wollongong, his focus on bacterial pathogenesis during his PhD led him to study Group A Strep and the streptokinase protein.
Subsequently, Dr. Cook ventured into a unique project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he became involved in the development of a next-generation condom to address existing issues such as feel, odour, and taste.
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Blister management and impact on firefighters
David Burns, a Senior Paramedic with LifeAid, a private paramedicine company in Victoria and, has a diverse background in healthcare. He began his career as a registered nurse, progressing to critical care nursing specialising in liver transplants and cardiovascular surgery.
At the Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference, David presented research focused on the foot care of firefighters during prolonged bushfire campaigns. During the 2019-2020 bushfires, over 10,000 firefighters sought care, with nearly 50% requiring attention for foot-related issues. David emphasised that inadequate foot care could bench firefighters for up to 10 days, diminishing their ability to protect communities and critical infrastructure. Recognising the economic benefits of prioritising firefighter health, David advocates that ensuring their well-being allows communities to recover effectively and enhances safety for all involved in firefighting efforts.
