Rate My Professor Basil Roufogalis

Professor Basil Roufogalis is Emeritus Professor in the Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, where he previously held the position of Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He completed his Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney in 1965 and earned his PhD in medicinal chemistry in 1968. He was awarded a Doctor of Science (DSc) for his sustained research on the regulation of cellular function by calcium ions.

His academic career began with postdoctoral research at the University of Ottawa, followed by appointment as an MRC Scholar and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, where he rose to full Professor. Returning to Australia in 1986 as an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, he joined the University of Sydney in 1989 as Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He served as Head of Department from 1993 to 1995, overseeing the introduction of a four-year pharmacy curriculum, and as Pro-Dean when the school transitioned to Faculty of Pharmacy status. From 1997 to 2011, he established and directed the Herbal Medicines Research and Education Centre (HMREC). In 2012, he was conferred Professor Emeritus status and currently holds an Adjunct Professor position at the NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University.

Roufogalis specializes in pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacology, with research focused on developing herbal therapies for diabetes, pain, inflammation, hyperlipidemia, and cancer. Key projects include antidiabetic agents from Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Western plants; cholesterol-lowering agents; TRPV-1 receptor analgesics; immune stimulation for chemotherapy; calcium signaling and ATP-dependent pumps; and cardiovascular agents from Australian native plants such as Grevillea. His 2012 study demonstrated that ginger extracts enhance insulin-independent glucose uptake in muscle cells via GLUT4 translocation (Planta Medica). He has produced over 250 peer-reviewed publications, garnering more than 15,000 citations, and holds five international patents. Editorial roles include Chief Guest Editor for a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology (2013) and Guest Editor for Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (2011). Awards encompass the Varro Tyler Award for herbal medicine (2007), NHMRC and MRC fellowships, Killam Foundation Senior Fellowship (1982-1983), and NICM commendations for research excellence.