Venoms are a complex mixture of highly potent toxins that target key physiological processes. They play an important role in the capture and digestion of prey. Although humans are not perceived as ‘prey’ by venomous animals, we are often on the receiving end of life-threatening envenomings which are particularly prevalent in the South East Asian region. This is exacerbated by the fact that the Australasian and South East Asian regions are home to many of the world’s most venomous terrestrial and marine animals. Although many monovalent and polyvalent antivenoms are available in the regions, many patients are treated with antivenoms that are not specific for the species responsible for the envenoming. Therefore, the clinical effectiveness of these antivenoms and the timing of administration to prevent/reverse symptoms is unclear. Our laboratory, in collaboration with researchers from other institutes, has undertaken an extensive examination of the venoms from many of these highly venomous creatures. This presentation will provide a brief overview of our work on whole venoms and isolated toxins, in particular, on the venoms of snakes. Our work has focused on the biological activities of these venoms, as well as the efficacy of commercially available antivenoms. We have utilized a number of in vitro techniques including isolated skeletal muscle preparations and cell lines. Our research has provided insights into the action of short-, long-chain postsynaptic and pre-synaptic neurotoxins, as well as myotoxins and cytotoxins. Our work has important implications for the successful management of envenoming