Sutherland, Struan

Struan Sutherland was Director of the Australian Venom Research Unit from 1994-1999. Prior to this he spent 28 years conducting venom research at CSL and advised on patient care. He and his colleagues developed the Sydney Funnel-web spider antivenom in 1980. Professor Sutherland was one of the key men behind CSL's fruitful venom and antivenom research. He and his research team at CSL Ltd were involved in a number of important developments in these fields. He oversaw the successful preparation of an antivenom to the Sydney Funnel-web spider, the development of Australia's unique Snake Venom Detection Kits, and the pressure-immobilisation first aid for snakebite. He has published over 300 articles in scientific and medical journals.

Struan Sutherland became a registered practitioner in 1961 and worked as a clinical assistant at the Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1964-1992. Early in his career he developed a strong interest in medical research. This saw him became Head of Immunology Research at CSL Ltd in 1967 and then their Medical Consultant from 1984. During his 28 years with CSL, Sutherland pioneered their venom and anti-venom research. He left in 1994 to Head the newly formed Australian Venom Research Unit and was concurrently appointed Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology at the University of Melbourne.

An Archival/Heritage resource has been created for Struan Sutherland and can be accessed via the link above. It contains theses, reference material, publications and reprints, research data, specimens, general correspondences, slides and photographs and some audio-visual material.