Emeritus Professor Ian Gibbins

Ian retired in March 2014, having been at Flinders since 1984, and Professor of Anatomy and Histology from 1993. His research on the microscopic structure and function of autonomic and visceral sensory nerves has been internationally recognised, accruing more than 4,500 citations. Ian taught extensively across a wide range of courses, covering anatomy, biomechanics, neuroscience and embryology. He played a large role in the development of the Graduate Entry Medical Program and coordinated a ground-breaking course in the neuroscience of learning for school teachers.

Ian has much "public science", especially in the fields of neuroscience and anatomy, often in collaboration with artists. He is a widely published poet and electronic musician. Post-retiremnet, these activities will be his major focus.  

For Ian's creative work, see: http://www.iangibbins.com.au  and  http://www.facebook.com/IanGibbins.poetry.music.science

I am no longer doing any laboratory based research.

My main areas of interest have been:

Structure and function of the peripheral autonomic nervous system.

• sympathetic pathways regulating gastro-intestinal activity
• pelvic pathways to female genital tract
• ganglionic transmission

Organisation of peripheral sensory neurons and their projections to the spinal cord.

• peptidergic and non-peptidergic pain pathways
• sensory innervation of female genital tract

Interactions between peripheral sensory and autonomic pathways.

Neuropeptides and non-synaptic transmission.

• quantitative confocal microscopy of peptide diffusion and receptor binding
• Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy, Raster Image Correlation Spectroscopy