Parton is internationally renowned for his pioneering work on the plasma membrane organisation of mammalian cells and one of the most highly-cited cell biologists in Australia. He has developed, and applied, new ultrastructural methods to dissect the role of lipids and proteins in the organisation, function, and dynamics of membrane microdomains. His fundamental scientific discoveries, including the identification and functional characterisation of novel proteins involved in plasma membrane organisation, have far-reaching importance for diverse areas of biomedical research, ranging from the molecular mechanisms of lipid regulation and membrane morphogenesis, to liver regeneration, obesity, and cancer.
