Prior to joining the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) in 1984 A/Prof Dahl was Head of the Biotechnology Department, Nordisk Gentofte, Denmark. He holds patents on the cloning and expression of insulin, growth hormone and factor VIII, products that are now sold worldwide by Novo-Nordisk. His research group at the MCRI is focused on the molecular and genetic analysis of metabolic diseases, and has recently expanded into the areas of inherited hearing loss.

A/Prof Dahl has published more than 129 refereed papers in national and international journals and holds 5 patents/preliminary patents. He has given over 100 national and international seminars and has been an invited speaker at 14 national and 7 international conferences since 1995. Although an independent researcher, he collaborates extensively with scientists and clinicians inside and outside the MCRI. He is an external lecturer at Deakin University and RMIT and has taken an active interest in the education of students within the MCRI. He has supervised 12 Honours, 10 Masters/Overseas/AMS and 9 PhD students. In addition, A/Prof Dahl is a Communicating Editor of HUMAN MUTATION and he frequently reviews scientific papers for publication in international journals. He was a member of the CRC for the Discovery of Genes for Common Human Diseases and also served on the executive board of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia and on NH&MRC RGIC and GRP panels in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2004 and 2005.