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Professor Allan E Herbison FRSNZ focuses on understanding the properties and functioning of key neural populations controlling fertility in mammals, particularly gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons and kisspeptin neurons. His research addresses critical questions regarding the neural circuitry that produces abrupt episodes of GnRH secretion and generates the 'surge' pattern of GnRH secretion that triggers ovulation in female cycles. Additionally, he investigates how steroid hormones such as estrogen and progesterone modulate this neural circuitry and the implications of its dysfunction in conditions such as infertility and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Prof. Herbison utilizes a variety of genetically-modified mouse models and advanced techniques including tissue clearing, expansion microscopy, single-cell electrophysiology, calcium imaging, RNA sequencing, and in vivo imaging to study the activity of selected neurons in free-behaving mice, as well as CRISPR-based gene editing methodologies.
Standard postgraduate requirements for Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) and related humanities departments.