Dr Rachael Dean undertook her postgraduate studies at the University of Melbourne assessing the localization of receptors for the vasoactive peptides, endothelin and bradykinin in the kidney. She took up a postdoctoral position with Professor Louise Burrell at Austin Health (Melbourne, Australia) in 1997 and switched her focus to the heart, and in particular the mechanisms and molecular factors responsible for cardiac fibrosis. Her work, using both experimental models and human tissue, has led to improved understanding of the role of profibrotic cytokines such as transforming growth factor beta, connective tissue growth factor and the insulin-like growth factor system in the development of heart failure after myocardial infarction. More recently, she has applied her findings to models of diabetes and renal failure, diseases which also result in cardiac fibrosis. Dr Dean is part of a large, well-funded team that includes both scientists and physicians, and is involved in the supervision of Biomedical and Medical graduates. She has presented at many national and international conferences, and is also involved in grant writing, and grant and journal article reviewing.