Her research program examines the structure, function and role of glycans in cancer and microbial infections, as well as their application in therapeutics.
[3] In 1999 she co-founded Proteome Systems Limited, an Australian biotech company which developed glycoanalytical technology and informatics tools.
[2] Packer is academic lead of the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility at Macquarie University.
[22] Packer's work on the role of sugars in a wide range of human diseases was featured in the Macquarie University publication, The Lighthouse.
[23] Packer has published over 250 journal articles and book chapters, has over 12,000 citations and has an h-index of 61 (as at April 2022).