Gary’s own research has centred on using genetic disease models to understanding molecular mechanisms of disease induction, progression, severity and exacerbation in asthma and COPD. He co-discovered the role of Fas in lung inflammation, IL-4 in immune biasing in asthma models and the bronchoprotective PAR receptor system in the airway epithelium. Recent research has explored how blood growth factors control innate immunity in asthma and COPD; IL-17 in persistent inflammation; linking mutations in src-kinases to non-T cell determinants of very severe lung disease; plasticity and heterogeneity of lung macrophage progenitors; novel blood biomarkers in COPD exacerbations; molecular determinants of muscle wasting in COPD, GM-CSF as a therapeutic target; genetic reprogramming of lung stem cells and the molecular co-determinants of emphysema and lung cancer; and, the role of SAA in lung inflammation and allosteric block of catabasis. In 2008 he proposed the widely cited endotype (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endotype) concept of asthma (Lancet). He works closely with clinical colleagues in Melbourne’s preeminent Hospitals, especially the Departments of Respiratory Medicine and Clinical Immunology at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (www.rmh.mh.org.au ), on translational lung disease research. He is the author of more than 150 highly cited manuscripts on lung disease research and is a recipient of the Research Medal of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) for his contribution to lung disease research.

Prior to returning in Australia Gary worked in the Swiss Pharmaceuticals Industry (Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy, now Novartis) for about 10 years and he maintains close links with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies interested in advance lung health. His basic and applied translational work has contributed to the discovery and development of number of new medicines for respiratory disease that are widely used in current clinical practice.

He co-founded, and served as Research Director of, the Cooperative Research Centre for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases (CRC-CID), and has served at executive level on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia. He serves on the Board of Directors of TSANZ, where he is Chair of the Research Committee, and on the Council of the Lung Foundation Australian.