Structural biology and biochemistry
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: Assoc Prof Michael Landsberg
Research disciplines
Biochemistry and molecular biology
Biotechnology
Inorganic chemistry
Microbiology
Organic chemistry
Physical and computational chemistry
Research themes
Biomolecular chemistry
Infection and immunity
Medicinal chemistry
Molecular genetics and genomics
Nanotechnology and materials chemistry
Science education
Structural biology and biochemistry
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