Hugh has been a biomedical research fellow for much of his career, supported via the NIH, National Heart Foundation, NHMRC and industry. His research has focussed on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism combined with mathematical modelling, using compartment models. His research career began at the BakerIDI, moved to the University of Washington and more recently the University of Western Australia, where he was also the Associate Dean, Research in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

His research has contributed to understanding lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in a variety of human dyslipidemic states and under various interventions designed to reduce cardiovascular disease burden. Using tracer methodologies his research has described the mechanism of action of statins, fibrates, CETP inhibitors, new PPAR agonists and other lipid lowering agents on lipoprotein kinetics, primarily in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. In addition, his research and modelling of tracer data in human, animal and in vitro systems has provided insight into the pathways that are responsible for the regulation of lipid metabolism.

His present role is Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health at UNE. His strengths and interests include:

• Mentoring ECR/MCR and HDR students - grants, fellowships, careers
• Research Performance and Strategy
• ERA
• Animal Ethics 
• Mathematical modelling

2020 - 2021 Interim Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England Australia

2018 - Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England Australia

2018 - Adjunct Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia

1989-1991 Senior Fellow, Center for Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle

1991-1997 Research Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle

1996 -1998 Co-Director, Resource Facility for Kinetic Analysis

1997- 1999 Research Associate Professor of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle

1998 Raine Visiting Professor, University Department of Medicine, University of Western Australia

1999 - 2006 Associate Professor, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia

1999 - 2007 Affiliate Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle

2001 - 2018 Director, Lipoprotein Research Unit, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia

2001 - 2011 Director, Biostatistics and Mathematical Modeling Unit, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia

2002 - 2005 Career Development Fellow, National Heart Foundation of Australia

2005 - 2016 Senior Research Fellow, National Health & Medical Research Council

2005 - 2010 & 2014-2015 Director of Research, School of Medicine and Pharmacology

2006 - Professor in Systems Biology, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia

2008 – 2016 Affiliate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle

2016 - Acting Associate Dean (Research) Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

2016-18 Chair, Animal Ethics Committees, University of Western Australia

2017-18 Professor in Systems Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia

2017-18 Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia

Design and analysis of lipoprotein metabolic studies to identify and quantitate metabolic pathways in basal states and following intervention. Past research projects with Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Merck and ongoing projects with Amgen, Regeneron and Esperion.

Hugh’s research focus is on the development of mathematical models, using a systems biology approach, to describe the metabolic pathways of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. As one of the authors of the SAAM program he uses complex compartmental models to describe lipid and lipoprotein metabolism within individuals. In addition, he is developing models using population kinetics, in collaboration with the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, Seattle that use data sets from large numbers of individuals and permit the identification of new covariates that are associated with lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. In addition, Hugh has a number of research collaborations with other lipid groups and with research in non-lipid areas including hormone metabolism.