Our Team

Our Team

Professor Dedee Murrell

Dermatologist / Principal Investigator

I have been very fortunate to study and work all over the world including at Oxford and Cambridge Medical Schools, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Rockefeller University in New York before coming to St George Hospital, a teaching hospital of the University of New South Wales in Sydney. Subsequently, I also set up my own private dermatology practice and the first dedicated dermatology trial centre in Australia. This allowed me to combine my passion for medical research and interest in new therapies for common and rare skin conditions, in particular genetic and autoimmune blistering diseases. In 2006 I started the Australasian Blistering Diseases Foundation (ABDF) with one of my research fellows at the time, Dr Linda Martin. Over the years the ABDF has funded numerous medical research projects to find better ways to diagnose and treat rare blistering diseases. Our trial centre is now internationally renowned with young dermatologists and trainees from all over the world coming to join our team. To help me achieve my goal of improving the quality of life for patients’ with skin conditions, I have assembled an outstanding team of qualified staff that are as passionate about research as I am and are ready to help patients in any way they can.

Dr. Emily Sisson

Clinical Research Fellow

Dr Emily Sisson completed her medical training at the Australian National University in 2022 before undertaking her internship and residency in Bega, NSW. She also holds a Bachelor of Medical Science (First Class Honours) from UNSW, a Master of Health Policy from USyd and a Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics from UTas. Prior to commencing medicine, Emily worked in health policy, including internships at the WHO, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia for a health minister, and a consulting firm on health-related projects. She also worked for the Australian Department of Health and the AMA. In 2017, she was awarded the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship and received several awards throughout medical school, including for the highest mark in Population Health and Gender in Medicine. She is working towards a career in dermatology through her work as a Dermatology Clinical Research Fellow at Premier Specialists, where she is a Sub-Investigator in our current clinical trials, works in the private clinics and co-supervises medical students. Emily enjoys the intersection of clinical practice, research, policy and technology.

Dr. Nasim Niknezhad

Clinical Research Fellow

Dr. Nasim Niknezhad is a board-certified dermatologist in Iran with extensive experience in both clinical and research settings. She completed medical school at Hamedan University of Medical Sciences and her dermatology residency at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran. She has worked as a dermatologist in both private practice and hospital settings. Dr. Niknezhad is currently a Clinical Research Fellow at Premier Specialists and Dermatology Trials Australia, working with Professor Dedee Murrell. She has presented at international conferences and has multiple publications in dermatology. Her areas of expertise include psoriasis, autoimmune skin diseases, dermatologic surgery and laser therapy.

Dr. Rhea Ahuja

Clinical Research Fellow

Dr Rhea Ahuja is a dermatologist trained at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and is currently serving as an Adjunct Associate Lecturer at UNSW Sydney. With international training experience at the University of California, San Francisco, Taiwan and Dubai, and mentorship under leading global experts, her work spans complex medical dermatology, paediatric dermatology, dermatopathology and skin of colour. A recipient of multiple international awards, including the Imrich Sarkany Memorial Scholarship, Maria Duran Fellowship Award and Alexander Fisher Award, Dr Ahuja has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters in leading dermatology texts. Her work reflects a strong interest in clinicopathological correlation, rare dermatoses, autoimmune blistering diseases, contact dermatitis and procedural dermatology, with a commitment to advancing both patient care and dermatologic education worldwide.

Annika Pedersen

Annika Pedersen is Dermatology Trials Australia’s Clinical Trial Coordinator, supporting a broad range of research under Professor Murrell. She graduated with a Bachelor of Medical Sciences from Macquarie University in 2023, where she was awarded the highly commended Judyth Sachs Student PACE prize for outstanding professional and community engagement. Annika has contributed to dermatology studies that have supported FDA, EMA, and TGA approvals for new treatments across a range of indications. Her strong interest in medical research and furthering available treatment options for patients ensures the highest standards of trial conduct and patient care across all studies.

Sophie Preston

Sophie Preston is Dermatology Trials Australia’s Assistant Clinical Trial Coordinator, supporting a broad range of research under Professor Murrell. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Advanced Studies from The University of Sydney in 2024, where she was awarded First Class Honours for her research and thesis on “Stabilising RNA Expression for Enhanced Function and Therapeutic Application.” Sophie contributes to the coordination and delivery of dermatology clinical trials across a range of indications, supporting studies from start-up through to patient visits, data collection and trial close-out. She has a strong interest in medical research and is passionate about contributing to the development of new treatment options for patients through high-quality clinical trial conduct.

Amalee French

Amalee French is the Clinical Assistant at Premier Specialists, where she supports the Clinical Trials team and helps provide quality care for patients under Professor Dedee Murrell. She holds a Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Science and Health from the University of Wollongong, along with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health and Social Policy. With her strong academic background and passion for patient-centred care, Amalee plays an active role in keeping the clinic running smoothly and ensuring patients feel supported throughout their dermatology journey.