• Biography/ Background

  Researcher profile

  A molecular pharmacologist trained in one of the world’s most renowned research laboratories, Dr Sanam Mustafa now leads a program of independent research. Working closely with the Neuroimmunopharmacology group led by Prof Mark Hutchinson, her research focusses on determining the fundamental biological processes governing the communication between the brain and immune system. 

  While the immune system critically influences pain, sleep, fertility and protective responses to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) exposure, researchers lack the technologies to better understand the fundamental process involved in immune signalling and regulation. New tools that provide detailed real-time characterisation of immune signalling are urgently needed. Due to Sanam's unique skillset and experience in developing tools for probing complex intracellular signalling, in response to this problem she has developed a platform technology named illuminating TLR4 assay (iTLR4 assay). Utilising iTLR4 assay, her team has generated data which for the first time allows real-time measurement of a key innate immune receptor, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). iTLR4 is the only assay that can measure real-time ligand dependent conformation changes in TLR4. 

  Recognised as a scientific leader, Sanam was awarded the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (FHMS) Executive Dean’s medal for Engagement & Advancement and Science & Technology Australia (STA) named her an inaugural ‘Superstar of STEM’. Sanam has built strong industry and professional networks serving as Vice President for BLiSS Science & Innovation Inc - a non-profit organisation fostering & enabling multidisciplinary collaborations and has also fostered ongoing engagement with Defence Science & Technology Group (DSTG) as a key academic contact in Adelaide.
  
  A passionate advocate for human rights and gender equity, Sanam has served on multiple committees including STA’s Diversity and Inclusion committee and is currently on the board of Academics for Palestine-South Australia and aKIDemic Life. As a successful first-generation woman in STEM, Sanam leads by positive example to mentor the next generation of researchers and represents her peers at executive levels across the sector. 

  Background

  Dr Sanam Mustafa completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 2004 with a M.Sci (Honours) in Genetics. This included an Industrial work placement year at the Comparative Genomics department of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Sanam then trained in one of the world's leading laboratories researching GPCRs under the supervision of Prof Graeme Milligan and Dr Alan Wise. This PhD studentship was co-funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and GSK. During her case studentship, Sanam had the invaluable opportunity to spend 3 months in the high throughput-screening department of GSK.

  Following a short postdoctoral position in collaboration with Almiral, in 2009 Sanam joined A/Prof Kevin Pfleger's group at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research at the University of Western Australia. Here Sanam expanded her skill-set to encompass the study of protein-protein interactions at a more detailed level. Alongside academic research projects, Sanam managed contract research work for Dimerix Bioscience. This included project management of a research contract outsourced by Takeda Cambridge. Other responsibilities included the teaching and examination of undergraduate students.

  In her role as Research Fellow at the Australian Research Council, Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP), University of Adelaide, Sanam worked closely with physicists and chemists to develop novel light based technologies for sensing and investigating intracellular signalling. 

  Her skill-set includes techniques such as molecular biology (PCR, RT-PCR), confocal microscopy, immunocytochemistry, Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET), chemotaxis, ERK, [32P] orthophosphate phosphorylation and ELISA assays. 

   

  School of Biomedicine

  Discipline of Physiology

  School of Medical Sciences

  Level 5, Medical School North, N531, Frome Rd

  Adelaide, South Australia, Australia 5005

  Ph    : +61 8 8313 4101

  e-mail: sanam.mustafa@adelaide.edu.au

   

• Publications

  1.         Watkins LR, Wang X1, Mustafa S, Hutchinson MR. In vivo veritas: (+)-Naltrexone’s actions define translational importance (Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, article in press)

   

  2.         Mustafa S, Hannagan J, Rigby P, Pfleger KDG, Corry B. Quantitative Forster Resonance Energy Transfer efficiency measurements using simultaneous spectral unmixing of excitation and emission spectra. Journal of Biomedical Optics. 2013;18(2):online 

   

  3.         Brown RM, Mustafa S, Ayoub MA, Dodd PR, Pfleger KDG, Lawrence AJ. mGlu5 Receptor Functional Interactions and Addiction. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2012;3(84):1-9. 

   

  4.         Mustafa S, See HB, Seeber RM, Armstrong SP, White CW, Ventura S, et al. Identification and profiling of novel α1A-adrenoceptor-CXC chemokine receptor 2 heteromer. The Journal of biological chemistry. 2012;287(16):12952–65.

   

  5.         Tarrasón G, Aulí M, Mustafa S, Dolgachev V, Domènech MT, Prats N, et al. The sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 antagonist, W146, causes early and short-lasting peripheral blood lymphopenia in mice. International immunopharmacology. 2011;11(11):1773–9.

   

  6.         Mustafa S, Pfleger KDG. G protein-coupled receptor heteromer identification technology: identification and profiling of GPCR heteromers. Journal of laboratory automation. Elsevier Inc; 2011;16(4):285–91. 

   

  7.         Mustafa S, Ayoub MA, Pfleger KDG. Uncovering GPCR heteromer-biased ligands. Drug Discovery Today: Technologies. Elsevier Ltd; 2010;7(1):e77–e85.

Entry last updated: Friday, 14 Nov 2025

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