Dr Donovan is a respiratory pharmacologist, Senior Lecturer, and Group Leader of the ImmunoPharmacology Research Group (IPRG) at the University of Technology Sydney, and Research Leader at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. She received her PhD (Pharmacology) from The University of Melbourne, and post-doctoral training at Monash University and The University of Newcastle (Immunology & Microbiology). She was then awarded an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship and NHMRC New Investigator grant, and was recruited to UTS in 2019, where she now leads her research team focused on novel approaches for targeting lung diseases. She is entrenched in the scientific community, including shaping future research through her internal and external board and policy positions. Recent recognitions of her research include the 2025 American Thoracic Society Ann Woolcock Memorial Award, 2025 British Pharmacological Society Rand Prize, and 2023 Australian Society of Medical Research Alan Skyring Memorial Award.
Research
Asthma is a chronic lung disease affecting 1 in 9 Australians, and results in more than 1 death every day (>400/year in Aus). For many patients, asthma remains a lifelong condition, profoundly impacting quality of life and placing significant psychological and financial strain on individuals and families. Although often perceived as a manageable or even minor illness, the reality is that many patients face unpredictable, life-threatening exacerbations and a daily reliance on inhaled, oral, or injectable medications. Asthma and related lung diseases therefore represent a substantial and enduring health burden, with no current cures and an urgent need for innovative approaches that move beyond symptom management.
Dr Donovan’s vision is to redefine the future of asthma by targeting an unexpected, yet influential site of intervention, the gastrointestinal tract. This research program builds upon strong evidence of the communication between the gut and lung. Through the support of the Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellowship, Dr Donovan’s research will investigate how specialised molecular targets within the gut can be harnessed to prevent the onset of asthma or provide more effective, long-term treatments. This represents a paradigm shift in lung research, opening new avenues for therapeutic discovery that extend far beyond the lungs themselves. With the Foundation’s support, Dr Donovan’s research will integrate cutting-edge technologies, including custom-designed in vitro and in vivo models, innovative drug delivery approaches, and advanced computational methods, to uncover how gastrointestinal targets can be leveraged to modulate the lung and asthma. These discoveries will lay the foundation for future clinical translation, with the long-term aim of delivering practical, accessible therapies that meaningfully improve patient outcomes. Ultimately, this research aims to reduce the heavy personal and societal burden of lung disease and move us closer to a future in which patients can breathe freely without lifelong dependence on current medications.