Chronic pain is a significant global health, economic and social problem, with the annual economic burden estimated at approximately $40 billion in Australia. My research will focus on the discovery and structure-function of venom peptides (trivially called toxins) from cone snails and spiders plus other Australian venomous creatures that modulate sodium and calcium channels in peripheral pain and associated pathways and optimise these for clinical development.
Novel Fluorogenic Probes For The Selective Detection Of Pathogenic Bacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$542,489.00
Summary
Current methods for the detection of multi-resistant organisms either require expensive instrumentation and expert analysts or are simple, but require 24-48 hours for bacterial identification. The ideal surveillance method would be cost effective, rapid, reliable, and simple to perform. This project aims to prepare a range of fluorescent substrates for incorporation into growth media which will then be evaluated for the specific identification of individual multi-resistant organisms, e.g. MRSA.
Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders; it affects 1% of the world’s population, yet about 1 in 3 patients fail to achieve seizure control with current drugs. We will improve the properties of small molecules (drugs) that specifically target the GTPase activity of the enzyme dynamin, to reduce seizure effect in the brain by a novel mechanism. We will optimize and pre-clinically test these future chemical entities as potential anti-epileptic drugs.
Evaluation Of Novel Pyrrolo/Iminoquinone Antimalarial Compounds
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$614,250.00
Summary
The development of new antimalarial drugs is an unmet global health priority. In this project we will investigate novel compounds that have been found to display promising in vitro antimalarial activity. We will modify these compounds to make them more drug-like, and assess their efficacy in vivo using malaria animal models. These studies have the potential to identify compounds that may result in a new therapy for malaria, the worlds' most significant tropical infectious disease.
Membrane-active Antibiotics Against Multi-drug Resistant Gram Negative Bacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$942,299.00
Summary
We are now threatened by bacteria that are resistant to ALL antibiotics. However, there is a new paradigm: antibiotics inspired by nature that attack the membrane of bacteria. This project will re-engineer peptides from lugworms, horseshoe crabs, scorpions and spiders that are part of nature’s ancient defence against bacteria, to identify new antibiotics to combat infections in humans.
New methodology for the manufacture of opioid pharmaceuticals and the discovery of novel opiate receptor ligands. Semi-synthetic opiates are important analgesic agents and are used in the treatment of alcohol and opiate dependence. This project will focus on the application of new, greener and more efficient methods for the preparation of these medicinal agents.
Diene regenerative Diels-Alder reactions to access chemical scaffolds. This project aims to develop methods and strategies that allow rapid access to biologically active chemical scaffolds based on natural products. Natural products and their analogues are vital starting points for drug discovery as they provide unique chemical diversity. Without efficient methods for their production, it is not possible to exploit this diversity. This project will develop an efficient, modular strategy that wil ....Diene regenerative Diels-Alder reactions to access chemical scaffolds. This project aims to develop methods and strategies that allow rapid access to biologically active chemical scaffolds based on natural products. Natural products and their analogues are vital starting points for drug discovery as they provide unique chemical diversity. Without efficient methods for their production, it is not possible to exploit this diversity. This project will develop an efficient, modular strategy that will allow the preparation of a wide range of chemicals in a timely manner. Restoring access to potent biologically active materials is expected to generate chemical probes and lead to molecules that could have biomedical value.Read moreRead less
Dissecting catalysis and inhibition of a unique endo-acting mannose-processing glycosidase. Defects in the attachment of carbohydrates to proteins are a hallmark of diseases such as cancer and viral infection. This project will dissect the molecular details of the bond-making and breaking steps that occur during the synthesis of glycoproteins assisting in the development of innovative new drugs.
Biogenesis inspired total synthesis of natural products. The project will study the chemical synthesis of a number of novel natural products. Most significantly, this project will deliver new methods for organic synthesis of complex molecules. The rewards from the total synthesis of bioactive compounds are enormous for the community and in the education and training of scientists.
New strategies for the stereoselective synthesis of Stemona alkaloids and the discovery of new bioactive molecules. The project aims to develop innovative methods to prepare bioactive natural products and their analogues with potential applications as new and safer therapeutic drugs and agricultural chemicals. These products would be of benefit to Australians in the future.