To Elva science is about imagination and curiosity. Research gives her the opportunity to use her knowledge to decipher the unknown. Her research interest is in regulation of cellular signaling, and how these complex events can translate into human physiology and pathophysiology. Her receptors of interest are called protease-activated receptors (PARs). PARs plays critical role in regulating inflammation and pain signaling. To understand how PARs function at cellular, tissue and whole animal level will provide novel mechanisms in pain transmission and further facilitate the development of new pain therapies.

Dr Burger is an NHMRC Emerging Leader Fellow and Senior Research Officer at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne, Australia. He completed his Master’s degree at Leiden University, followed by a PhD at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University. His research focuses on the structural mechanisms underlying Wnt signalling, with particular emphasis on how Frizzled receptors mediate this process, using a combination of structural biology and pharmacological approaches.

Dr Arisbel Batista Gondin is an NHMRC EL1 Investigator and ARC DECRA Fellow at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University. Her research focuses on opioid receptor pharmacology within the broader field of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), integrating structural biology, quantitative pharmacology, and data-driven analysis to elucidate mechanisms of biased signalling and allosteric modulation. She applies advanced pharmacological models to dissect receptor function and ligand behaviour, with the goal of informing the development of safer and more selective therapeutics.

Professor Ross Bathgate is a group leader at the Florey Institute and is an Honorary Professorial Fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He is a molecular pharmacologist with broad expertise in bioactive peptides and their G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). He has authored over 300 publications, is an inventor on 15 patents and was listed in the 2019 and 2020 world's most highly cited researchers for Pharmacology and Toxicology (Web of Science). He works closely with a number of pharmaceutical companies interested in the clinical development of GPCR-targeted therapeutics.

Dr Predrag Kalaba is a medicinal chemist with a strong interest in multidisciplinary research, especially in the fields of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and neuroscience. His core interests include the synthesis and characterisation of small molecules and neuropeptides, structure-activity relationship studies, and the development of molecular tools to study neurobiological processes. His background in biochemistry and medicinal chemistry allows him to tackle these problems from different angles and to develop innovative therapeutic strategies for diseases with an unmet medical need. He is also passionate about teaching, and supervising and mentoring students.

Michaela graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Deakin University followed by a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Honours, First Class) at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She has recently completed her PhD in the Analytical and Structural Neuropharmacology laboratory at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Michaela’s doctoral research focused on targeting the M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor for the treatment of schizophrenia, where she applied structural biology and molecular pharmacology techniques to understand novel drug action at this receptor.