Molecular & Biomedical Science
Our molecular and biomedical scientists are immersed in critical research into disease-causing bacteria and the molecular evolution of both humans, plants and animals.
We explore the molecular mechanisms underlying chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, HIV and Alzheimer’s disease. Our goal is to better understand the molecular structure of these human diseases in order to discover new pathways and treatment options.
Our experts are also forging ahead with our understanding of the molecular interactions between pathogenic bacteria and humans. We’re developing more effective vaccines and treatment strategies to combat infectious diseases, such as E.coli, tuberculosis, golden staph, middle ear infection and malaria.
Our scientists are also making important breakthroughs in biotechnology, epigenetics and genome editing. We investigate how flora and fauna adapt to environmental signalling; how species evolve and survive through the evolution of resistance; genetic engineering of bacteria; and improving crops through synthetic biology and biotechnology.
Our research strengths
Leaders in molecular and biomedical science research.
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Infectious disease
Lead researchers
Researcher Focus area Dr Mohammed Alsharifi Medical virology, medical microbiology, vaccinology and immunology. Associate Professor Michael Beard Understanding the cellular response to viral infection viral infection at the innate immune level and how this impacts disease/pathogenesis outcome. Dr John Bruning Structural basis of enzymology and structure guided drug design of pathogens such as Mtb, S. Aureus, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Dr Jack da Silva The evolutionary genetics of HIV. Dr Antonio Focareta Vaccines Dr Stephen Kidd Bacterial stress response and persistence in an environment. Associate Professor Renato Morona Shigella flexneri cell surface molecules and pathogenesis. Professor James Paton Understanding the molecular interactions between pathogenic bacteria and humans, enabling development of more effective vaccines and novel antimicrobial strategies. Professor Adrienne Paton Diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of infections caused by toxigenic Escherichia coli and the properties and medical applications of the toxins produced by them. Dr Alexandra Tikhomirova The role of bacterial genetic factors and inter-species interactions in the childhood disease otitis media. Dr Danny Wilson Identification and characterisation of malaria parasite vaccine and drug targets using gene-editing and cell biology approaches to find a cure for malaria disease. -
Genomics and bioinformatics
Lead researchers
Researcher Focus area Professor David Adelson Analysis of structural variation in genomes using both existing software tools and tools we develop to understand the rules governing genome size and content. Professor Frank Grutzner Use of comparative genomics to better understand mammalian evolution and the extraordinary biology of the iconic Australian egg-laying mammals - platypus and echidna. Dr Bastien Llamas Laboratory and bioinformatics methods used in ancient DNA research applied to genomics, epigenomics, population genomics and molecular evolution. Dr Iain Searle Crop epigenomics and genomics, plant and animal genomics and bioinformatics of RNA modifications; small and long non-coding RNAs; and development of health grains and foods. Dr Alexandra Tikhomirova Analysis of bacterial genomic and transcriptomic factors in the progress of otitis media or in the asymptomatic colonisation of healthy children. -
Synthetic biology and biotechnology
Lead researchers
Researcher Focus area Dr John Bruning Structural biology and allostery of transcription factors involved in genetic circuits and human disease. Dr Nan Hao To apply engineering thinking to biology, for the design of robust biological parts/circuits that are better predictable and more programmable. Dr Iain Searle Synthetic biology and biotechnology in crops; engineering nutritional and antinutritional pathways; development of health grains; and bacterial genetic engineering. Associate Professor Keith Shearwin Understanding of the properties of natural gene circuits allows us to rearrange the components to build new circuits with interesting and useful behaviours. Professor Murray Whitelaw Mechanisms of mammalian gene regulation; control of transcription factors by small molecules and signal transduction pathways; targeted drug discovery. -
Molecular mechanisms of disease
Lead researchers
Researcher Focus area Dr Mohammed Alsharifi Medical microbiology, immunopathology, immunology. Dr John Bruning Structural basis of infectious disease, cancer and diabetes. Dr Iain Comerford Immune cell migration and the molecular mechanisms of pathology in autoimmunity. Professor Frank Grutzner Using an evolutionary approach to discover new pathways and treatment options in human diseases including cancer and diabetes. Associate Professor Michael Lardelli Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease using genome editing of zebrafish combined with transcriptome and proteome analyses. Professor Shaun McColl The molecular control of cell migration and its role/s in regulating the immune response in autoimmunity and cancer, or during infection. Dr Dan Peet How cells respond to changes in oxygen, a key factor in major human diseases, including cancer, heart attack, stroke, and metabolic disease. Professor Rob Richards Neurodegenerative diseases have genetic hallmarks of auto inflammatory disease that therefore provides a plausible common pathogenic mechanism. Dr Alexandra Tikhomirova Analysis of molecular pathways facilitating bacterial persistence in chronic otitis media. Dr Claudia Trappetti Analysis of the molecular basis involved in the interaction of Streptococcus pneumoniae with its host, particularly the role of signal molecules in pneumococcal disease. -
All fields of expertise
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- Cancer Cell Biology
- Cancer Diagnosis
- Cancer Genetics
- Cancer Therapy
- Cell and Nuclear Division
- Cell Biology
- Cell Development, Proliferation and Death
- Cell Metabolism
- Cell Neurochemistry
- Cell Physiology
- Cellular Immunology
- Cellular Interactions
- Cellular Nervous System
- Central Nervous System
- Characterisation of Biological Macromolecules
- Crop and Pasture Biochemistry
- Crop and Pasture Improvement
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- Medical Bacteriology
- Medical Bacteriology
- Medical Biochemistry and Metabolomics
- Medical Biochemistry: Amino Acids and Metabolites
- Medical Biochemistry: Nucleic Acids
- Medical Biochemistry: Proteins and Peptides
- Medical Genetics
- Medical Infection Agents
- Medical Microbiology
- Medical Parasitology
- Medical Virology
- Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry
- Microbial Ecology
- Microbial Genetics
- Microbiology
- Microscopy
- Molecular Evolution
- Mycology
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Related research centres
Research Centre for Infectious Diseases
Exploring the pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of bacterial infectious diseases, and playing a leading role in international collaborative efforts to fight these infections.
Australia-China Joint Research Centre of Grains for Health
Achieving healthy populations that consume grains and grain products with desirable nutritional and sensory profiles.
Molecular and biomedical science news
16
Jul
Episode 5, In Their Element Podcast Meet science graduate Reuben Jacob. Hear his story - from studying biotechnology with a major in genetics; to working at the intersection of science and business as an innovation manager for a world-leading biotechnology company.