Drug Development Design and Delivery
The Drug Development Design and Delivery cluster has particular expertise in the development, investigation of modes of activity, and delivery of drugs. Much of the research is commercially focused and 6 patents have been granted during the past 3 years.
Development: In addition to identifying novel molecular targets for therapeutic intervention, a group with particular interest in Biotechnology is concentrating on the design, discovery and development of bioactive molecules. This involves both the design and synthesis of molecules with potential biological activity, as well as utilising the region’s biodiversity for the isolation and identification of bioactive molecules from living organisms. The group’s activities utilise the design of novel rapid throughput screening assays, rapid throughput screening of plant, microbes and animal samples, and the purification of active compounds and elucidation of their structure. The group also uses its expertise in the design and synthesis of organic compounds to maximise the efficacy of bioactive molecules.
Design: The focus here is the design of molecules which are targeted at protein receptors significant in disease states. As examples, this includes the development of non-peptide analogues - primarily antagonists - for neuropeptide receptors (e.g. NK1 receptor antagonists); the design and synthesis of inhibitors of anti-apoptotic BCL2 family proteins for cancer therapy; and the development of metal-based drugs which target DNA by intercalation, covalent interaction or non-covalent groove-binding - which render DNA immune to repair enzymes and leads to apoptosis.
Delivery: There is a strong interest in the formulation and stability optimisation of existing and novel drug delivery systems. This has particular importance in the tropics where high temperatures and humidity can compromise the storage and transport of drugs. This Group is also interested in the development, optimisation and validation of stable drug delivery systems, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and the pharmacoeconomics of patient healthcare.
- contact: Richard.Keene@jcu.edu.au
| Drugs Development Design and Delivery Staff | |
| Staff Member | Research Interest |
Dr Anna-Marie Babey |
Evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of pharmacologically active compounds. |
Assoc. Prof Bruce Bowden |
Isolation and structural elucidation of pharmacologically active metabolites from terrestrial and marine sources |
Dr Shane Bullock |
Neuropharmacology |
Professor Jim Burnell |
Isolation, characterization and in vitro expression of proteins found in animal venoms |
Dr Murray Davies |
Platinum anticancer drug design; rates and mechanism of DNA binding of anticancer drugs |
Assoc. Prof Beverley Glass |
Formulation and stability optimisation of existing and novel drug delivery systems: in-use stability and pharmacoeconomic considerations |
Dr John Golledge |
Pharmacological control of vascular disease |
Mr Ian Heslop |
Pharmacists in clinical care |
Dr Peter Johnson |
Localisation and functional characterisation of G-protein coupled receptors in the enteric nervous system, and their role in motility and inflammatory disorders |
Professor Richard Keene Dr Joy Morgan |
Stereochemistry in metallosupramolecular assemblies: metal complexes as sequence- and structure-selective binding agents for DNA |
Assoc. Prof George Meehan |
Medicinal/Bioorganic Chemistry: the design and synthesis of molecules which exhibit significant pharmacological activity or are useful as biochemical tools |
Assoc. Prof Alan Nimmo |
Identification of novel molecular targets for pharmacological intervention, and the development of non-peptide analogues (particular antagonists) for neuropeptide receptors. |
Dr Karen Whitfield |
Investigation of altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in critically ill patients with a specialist interest in paediatrics. |
Dr Simon Young |
Novel drug delivery systems |