Professor Christie’s research training in behavioural pharmacology, neurochemistry and electrophysiology underscore his most important research achievements on the molecular nature and integrated function of signalling elements in neurons of the mammalian nervous system and relating those changes to ongoing behaviour. His team currently focuses on how molecular properties of nerve signalling elements can be translated into knowledge of the pharmacological modulation of the electrical behaviour of real neurons, organised systems of neurons, animal behaviour and the genetically modified models that most closely resemble real nerve cells in models of chronic pain and opioid dependence. Using molecular, pharmacological, electrophysiological and behavioural tools, he has developed a range of new models of neural function from introduction of genes encoding native modified proteins into cell lines and neuronal cultures to phenotypically defined neurons and synapses in organised neuronal networks.

A range of neuropathic and inflammatory pain models, already established at PMRI in the Christie laboratory , will be used to identify conotoxins (or other venom peptides) that are antinociceptive in specific pain states. Such conotoxins will be of particular value in differentiating the roles of specific ion channels and receptors in ascending and descending pain pathways. These chronic pain models likely represent different physiological responses and involve distinct cellular adaptations that may be amenable to intervention by conotoxins.