Paul Mills

Biography

Veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics, with special interest in transdermal drug delivery, pulmonary therapeutics and the control of inflammation. An additional interest includes wildlife ecology and therapeutics. Paul Mills graduated from UQ School of Veterinary Science in 1987 and, after a period in clinical practice, completed a PhD investigating pharmacological control of inflammation in racing animals. He undertook a 3 year postdoctoral position at The Animal health Trust in the United Kingdom and established the Oxidative Stress research group. He was also the team veterinarian on a study of heat and humidity in horses towards the Atlanta Olympic Games. He returned to Australia and undertook positions as a NHMRC Senior Research Officer at the Princess Alexandria Hospital and as a Senior Government Veterinary Officer with Racing Queensland. A/Prof Mills re-joined the School of Veterinary Science in 2001 and established the Pharmacology Research Unit to focus research into veterinary pharmacology. He was also a co-founder of Veterinary Marine Animal Research, Teaching and Investigation (Vet-MARTI; http://www.uq.edu.au/vetschool/vet-marti) in 2008. He has attracted over $2 million in research funding during this time and is the author on more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications. A/Prof Mills is a member (by examination) of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists for Veterinary Pharmacology and an external reviewer for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. He currently teaches veterinary pharmacology and anatomy, receiving UQ and ALTC awards and funding for teaching innovations.Qualifications Master of Philosophy, The University of Queensland Graduate Certificate in Education, The University of Queensland PhD, The University of Queensland Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours), The University of Queensland

Research Interest

Researcher: Dr Paul Mills Collaborator: Professor Brian Hills (Mater Hospital) Synopsis: Surfactants have been shown to contribute to lubrication and normal function in human joint fluid. We have detected surfactant in equine tendon sheath fluid and synovial fluid. Degradation of surfactant may contribute to the aetiogenesis of joint and tendon disease while replacing surfactant may enhance recovery from injury. The role of surfactant in the lung has been long understood, but we are now also investigating the effects of pulmonary diseases on surfactant in parallel with current human research. Professor Hills has recently demonstrated that asthma in humans is related to degradation of surfactant and exposure of receptors lining the airways. This research may lead to novel therapeutic options for veterinary pulmonary diseases. Publications: Mills P.C., Hills Y.C. and Hills B.A. (2004) Surface-active Phospholipid (surfactant) in equine tendon and tendon sheath fluid). New Z Vet.J. (in press). Hills BA, Chen Y, Hills YC. (2003) Adsorption of surfactant to bronchial epithelium: possible role of receptor 'unmasking' in asthma. J Asthma. 40(4):445-50. Chang AB, Gibson PG, Masters IB, Dash P, Hills BA. (2003) The relationship between inflammation and dipalmitoyl phosphatidycholine in induced sputum of children with asthma. J Asthma. 40(1):63-70. Hills, B.A. Surface-active phospholipid: A Pandora's box of clinical applications. Part II. Barrier and Lubricating properties. Intern Med J 2002 May-Jun;32(5-6):242-51. Purbach B, Hills BA, Wroblewski BM. Surface-active phospholipid in total hip arthroplasty. Clin Orthop 2002 Mar;(396):115-8. Hills BA. Identity of the joint lubricant. J Rheumatol 2002 Jan;29(1):200-1. Vecchio P, Thomas R, Hills BA. Surfactant treatment for osteoarthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 1999 Oct;38(10):1020-1. Hills BA, Monds MK. Deficiency of lubricating surfactant lining the articular surfaces of replaced hips and knees. Br J Rheumatol 1998 Feb;37(2):143-7.