Professor Harvey obtained his PhD in Natural Sciences (Biochemistry) from the University of Cambridge and carried out postdoctoral studies at the Institute for Cell biology and Clinical Neurobiology in Hamburg and the Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt.
Prior to his appointment at UniSC, he was Professor of Molecular Neuroscience and Genetics at the UCL School of Pharmacy (London, UK). He was also Associate Director for Research, Chair of Research Committee and Research Excellence Framework Impact co-ordinator. He also served on several Departmental and Faculty committees including: the Athena Swan Committee, the UCL Open Access Academic Advisory Group and the UCL Faculty of Life Sciences Senior Management group.
In 2017, he relocated to the University of the Sunshine Coast where he became Discipline Lead for Biomedical Science (2017-2022) running a research group at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute. He is currently Professor of Pathophysiology, Associate Dean (Research) for the School of Health and UniSC Laboratories Lead at the Sunshine Coast Heath Institute (SCHI). He serves on several committees including: UniSC School of Health Board, UniSC School of Research Committee (Chair), UniSC Research Committee, UniSC Moreton Bay Research Laboratory Advisory Group and SCHI Laboratory Operations Group. Professor Harvey is also currently the Field Chief Editor of the open access journal Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. He is also peer reviewer for the NHMRC and a member of the ARC College of Experts.
Professor Robert Harvey's specialist areas of knowledge include neuroscience, genetics, synaptic receptors / ion channels / transporters and childhood neurological disorders. In particular, he studies receptors and transporters for GABA, glycine and glutamate, using bioinformatics, molecular and cellular biology, electrophysiology, genetics and molecular modelling to understand the genetic basis of disease.
He is internationally known for his work on startle disease in humans and animals, as well as mouse models of glycine receptor dysfunction. The latter has revealed roles for the glycine receptor α2 and α3 subunits in interneuron migration in the developing brain, human neurological disorders (autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, developmental delay, intellectual disability) and neuronal pathways involved in rhythmic breathing.
In addition, Professor Harvey has a keen interest in animal health and disease, researching feline and canine genetic disorders, and environmentally significant parasites such as varroa mites in honey bees. Professor Harvey's research has a strong translational aspect: he aims to convert basic science discoveries into clinical applications, such as improved genetic diagnostics, animal / patient care, and new pharmacological treatments.
He has published >190 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact papers in Cell, Cell Reports, Nature Cell Biology, Nature Communications, Nature Genetics, Nature Neuroscience, Nature Reviews in Drug Discovery, Neuron and Science.
Honours and HDR Research Projects:
- Understanding pathomechanisms of novel gene variants underlying childhood cognitive disorders - with Prof Tony Roscioli and colleagues at Neuroscience Research Australia.
- Understanding pathogenic mechanisms of glycine and GABAA receptor mutations in autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, developmental delay and intellectual disability - with Dr Nela Durisic and Prof Megan O'Mara at the University of Queensland.
- Characterising glycine receptor interactomes - with Prof August Smit and Dr Remco Klaassen at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Characterising the ligand-gated chloride gene family varroa mites as new targets for miticides - with Dr Kate Mounsey at UniSC and Prof Robert Vandenberg at the University of Sydney.
Teaching areas
Professor Robert Harvey's specialist areas of knowledge include neuroscience, genetics, synaptic receptors, ion channels and transporters and childhood neurological disorders. In particular, he is an expert in the role of inhibitory glycine and GABAA receptor complexes in startle disease, neurodevelopmental disorders, and epilepsy. In addition, Professor Harvey has a keen interest in animal health and disease, researching feline and canine genetic disorders, and environmentally significant parasites such as varroa mites in honey bees. His primary research methods include bioinformatics, molecular and cellular biology, electrophysiology, genetics and molecular modelling. Professor Harvey's research has a strong translational aspect: he aims to convert basic science discoveries into clinical applications, such as improved genetic diagnostics, animal / patient care, and new pharmacological treatments. He has published >190 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact papers in Cell, Cell Reports, Nature Cell Biology, Nature Communications, Nature Genetics, Nature Neuroscience, Nature Reviews in Drug Discovery, Neuron and Science.
In the news
Research fights skin disease killing Australia’s wombats
2 Aug 2023University of the Sunshine Coast research into a mite that causes itchy, infectious skin diseases in humans and mammals is now helping Australia’s effort to stop a deadly mange in wombats.
Scientists reveal new cell pathways involved in Parkinson's disease
30 Mar 2022USC Professor Robert Harvey is part of an international collaboration that has discovered new cell pathways connected with defects in mitochondria – the power source for cells – which may hold clues for drug treatments for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.