Our Scientists
Dr Vikram Tallapragada
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Dr Vikram Tallapragada is an integrative physiologist and pharmacologist by training, with expertise in in-vivo and in-vitro electrophysiology. He completed his PhD in cardiovascular and respiratory neuroscience at Macquarie University, Australia in 2012.
Dr Tallapragada is accomplished in several techniques, including, animal handling (mice, rats and frogs), in-vivo and in-vitro electrophysiology, and in-vivo tract tracing using lentiviral vectors.
As a research fellow with Professor Jane Hanrahan in the Faculty of Pharmacy (University of Sydney), Dr Tallapragada’s focus was on in-vitro patch clamp electrophysiology. This project combined reactive cysteine labelling whilst using genetic manipulations to create various cysteine mutants (PCR, DNA/RNA extraction and cell transfection, gene cloning, manipulation and expression). He also investigated the structural relationships of ligands at the anaesthetic binding site (benzodiazepine sites) on GABAA receptors expressed in xenopus laevis eggs.
Dr Tallapragada moved back to cardiovascular physiology by studying how cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure would induce neurodegenerative diseases. He worked with Professor David Celermajer (Heart Research Institute) and Professor Jonathan Stone (University of Sydney) before joining the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in 2018. Working with Professor Richard Harvey, Dr Tallapragada focusses on delicate microsurgical techniques that help in understanding the plasticity of adult cardiac stem cells, and cardiac regeneration.
![Dr Vikram Tallapragada Portrait Dr Vikram Tallapragada Portrait](https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=138&q=60&w=120 120w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=276&q=60&w=240 240w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=415&q=60&w=360 360w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=553&q=60&w=480 480w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=691&q=60&w=600 600w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=829&q=60&w=720 720w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=967&q=60&w=840 840w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1105&q=60&w=960 960w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1244&q=60&w=1080 1080w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1382&q=60&w=1200 1200w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1520&q=60&w=1320 1320w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1658&q=60&w=1440 1440w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1796&q=60&w=1560 1560w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1935&q=60&w=1680 1680w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2073&q=60&w=1800 1800w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2211&q=60&w=1920 1920w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Vikram-T-lowres.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2280&q=60&w=1980 1980w)
![Richard Harvey](https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=240&q=60&w=240 240w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=360&q=60&w=360 360w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=480&q=60&w=480 480w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=600&q=60&w=600 600w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=720&q=60&w=720 720w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=840&q=60&w=840 840w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=960&q=60&w=960 960w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=1080&q=60&w=1080 1080w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=1200&q=60&w=1200 1200w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/ib4-brady-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4745&fp-y=0.3001&h=1280&q=60&w=1280 1280w)
Professor Richard Harvey
Head, Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Laboratory
![David Humphreys](https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=240&q=60&w=240 240w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=360&q=60&w=360 360w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=480&q=60&w=480 480w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=600&q=60&w=600 600w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=720&q=60&w=720 720w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=840&q=60&w=840 840w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=960&q=60&w=960 960w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=1080&q=60&w=1080 1080w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=1200&q=60&w=1200 1200w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/DavidHumphreys_0877crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4487&fp-y=0.3044&h=1280&q=60&w=1280 1280w)
Dr David Humphreys
Senior Staff Scientist
![Dr Jane Yu | Victor Chang Cardiac Institute](https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=240&q=60&w=240 240w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=360&q=60&w=360 360w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=480&q=60&w=480 480w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=600&q=60&w=600 600w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=720&q=60&w=720 720w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=840&q=60&w=840 840w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=960&q=60&w=960 960w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=1080&q=60&w=1080 1080w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=1200&q=60&w=1200 1200w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/150216_18_JaneYu_1005crop.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5454&fp-y=0.1843&h=1280&q=60&w=1280 1280w)
Dr Jane Yu
Senior Staff Scientist
![](https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=60&w=240 240w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=60&w=360 360w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=480&q=60&w=480 480w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=600&q=60&w=600 600w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=720&q=60&w=720 720w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=840&q=60&w=840 840w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=60&w=960 960w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=60&w=1080 1080w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&q=60&w=1200 1200w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Dr-Nicola-Smith.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=60&w=1280 1280w)
Dr Nicola Smith
Group Leader, Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory
Acknowledgement of Country
The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.