About
Robert Widdop is a Professor of Pharmacology at Monash University, affiliated with the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Victorian Heart Institute. His research focuses on the renin-angiotensin system, particularly the role of angiotensin receptor subtypes (AT1, AT2) in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, atherosclerosis, and stroke. He investigates AT2 receptor agonists as potential anti-fibrotic therapies for conditions like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic kidney disease. His work also explores insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) inhibition as a novel treatment for diabetes-induced cardiovascular dysfunction.
Key collaborations include projects on engineered mesenchymal stromal cells for renal fibrosis, neuroprotective spider venom peptides, and diagnostic platforms for fibrosis assessment. Over 200 research outputs span articles, reviews, and abstracts, with recent emphasis on anti-fibrotic mechanisms, receptor crosstalk, and translational therapies. Widdop has led and contributed to 51 research projects since 2000, addressing hypertension, renal disease, and cardiovascular remodeling.
Notable contributions include developing novel AT2 receptor agonists (e.g., β-Pro7AngIII) and demonstrating their efficacy in preclinical models of fibrosis and hypertension. His Integrative Cardiovascular Pharmacology Laboratory bridges basic science and clinical applications, emphasizing sustainable development goals related to good health and well-being (SDG 3).
