Professor Susan Brain is a Professor of Pharmacology. She is Head of the Vascular Biology and Inflammation Section (School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, Waterloo Campus) and is the lead for Development, Diversity & Inclusion for that School. She is an Honorary Fellow of the British Pharmacology Society, where she has held previous posts as Vice President (Academic Affairs) and chaired the BPS Education and Training Committee. She has held positions on grant committeee, including for the BBSRC. She is a member of the REF2021 committee (UA05).

Her research is into the role of sensory nerves in vascular inflammation, including transient receptor potential activating mechanisms. Studies have involved investigations into the CGRP family of vasoactive peptides, that include in range of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. She has recently identified TRPA1 as a vascular cold sensor, the protective cardiovascular activity of a long acting CGRP agonist and that TRPC5 is protective in arthritis.

Professor Brain is qualitified as a Chartered Science Teacher. She teaches Pharmacology, to all levels, specialising in microvasuclar and inflammatory mechanisms; especially those that relate to current and proposed anti-inflammatory drugs.