Dr. Gary Housley

Biography

Gary Housley holds a chair in Physiology and is the director of the Translational Neuroscience Facility at the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney. His research program focuses broadly on molecular and cellular systems physiology of the nervous system, especially neuroprotection within the central nervous system and the auditory system. He has significantly contributed to the understanding of how hearing adapts to noise and ageing. His work also studies neural development and synaptic plasticity, particularly informing gene targets for neural repair. Housley's applied research has led to innovations in bionics and cochlear implants, contributing to a gene therapy platform for auditory nerve regeneration, which is currently undergoing first-in-human clinical trials. His research team explores neural plasticity mechanisms associated with input-driven rehabilitation (for example, cochlear implants) and investigates the role of calcium signaling in excitotoxicity and brain injury. Furthermore, Housley is working on a novel DNA-based therapy to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of profound vision impairment, showcasing how his research is broadly relevant and supports both scientific advancement and commercialization paths.

Research Interests

Experience