Our structural biology and biochemistry research focuses on understanding basic processes involved in cell regulation and disease at a molecular level.

We use biophysical techniques such as X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, together with computer simulations and modelling techniques, to understand at an atomic level how proteins and peptides interact with themselves and other cellular components such as lipids and sugars to form functional complexes.

We use biochemical and molecular biology approaches to probe differences in protein expression, interactions, or activity associated with different disease states.

We are ranked #29 in the world and #2 in Australia for biology and biochemistry in the 2023 NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities.

Theme leader: Dr Jeff Nanson

 

 

Theme members

Associate Professor Mikael Boden Bioinformatics (analysis, modelling and integration of biological data)

Professor Bernard Carroll Molecular genetics of gene expression and development

Dr Cheong Xin Chan Computational and phylogenomic approaches to gene evolution

Professor James De Voss Biological and synthetic chemistry

Associate Professor Vito Ferro Organic Chemistry - Glycoscience, drug discovery and biotechnology

Professor James Fraser Sex virulence and evolution in pathogenic fungi

Associate Professor Ulrike Kappler Microbial physiology and biochemistry of metalloenzymes

Dr Avril Robertson Drug discovery (Inflammation, cancer, pathogenic fungi), medicinal chemistry

Professor Mark Schembri Bacterial Pathogenesis

Professor Gary Schenk Physical Chemistry - Structure, function, mechanism and pharmaceutical potential of metalloenzymes

Professor Katryn Stacey Cellular response to foreign nucleic acids

Associate Professor Nick West Tuberculosis microbiology

Professor Craig Williams Organic Chemistry - Synthesis and isolation of complex natural products, method development, medicinal and physical organic chemistry

Professor Paul Young Molecular virology