About
Associate Professor Sebastian Furness is an academic at the University of Queensland's School of Biomedical Sciences, specializing in molecular pharmacology of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and the gut-brain axis. He holds an ARC Future Fellowship and leads a laboratory investigating receptor-transducer coupling mechanisms.
Education: BSc(Hons) and PhD from University of Adelaide, postdoctoral research at University of British Columbia and Monash University.
Research Interests: Focuses on GPCR signaling in metabolic disorders, appetite regulation (ghrelin, melanocortin receptors), and drug development. Key projects include: cholesterol-dependent modulation of CCK1R, dopamine/ghrelin receptor interactions, and structural biology of GPCRs.
Publications: Over 60 peer-reviewed articles (2011-2025), including high-impact studies on GPCR dynamics, receptor heteromerization, and pharmacological modulation. Recent work explores G protein selectivity and gut-brain axis signaling.
Awards: ARC Future Fellowship (2019-2022), NHMRC grants, and collaborations with institutions like Mayo Clinic and Florey Institute.
Grants & Funding: Current projects include NHMRC grants on receptor dynamics and NIH-funded studies on Parkinson's disease constipation. Seed grants for fluorophore development and GPCR structural studies.
Advising: Supervising 4 PhD students (e.g., Noah Piper, Jingjing Xing) and mentoring alumni (e.g., Dr. Emma Dal Maso). Offers Honours/PhD positions in receptor signaling and biophysical methods.
Lab Collaborations: Partners with Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (structural studies), Florey Institute (defecation control), and Austin Health (calcitonin receptor in glioblastoma).
