Professor Maree Smith is a role model of the successful researcher dedicated to ensuring that her research is applied to the benefit of patients suffering intractable pain. Her research is of a very high standart as judged by the usual metrics, and has had major impact as attested by the resulting three patent families. Two successful start up companies, QRx Pharma Ltd and Spinifex Pty Ltd have been established based on Professor Smiths research. QRx is planning to apply to the FDA in 2011 for marketing approval for its first product. Professor Smith was also instrumental in establishing the successful pre-clinical consulting company TetraQ.