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Professor Peter Gray
Professor

Peter Gray

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 63888

Overview

Background

Professor Peter Gray is a pioneer of biotechnology research and development in Australia. In 2003 he was appointed AIBN’s inaugural Director and has since overseen the institute’s growth to 450 people and an annual turnover of $40million. Before joining AIBN, he was Professor and Head of Biotechnology at UNSW.

Professor Gray has held academic positions at University College London and the University of California, Berkeley. He has had commercial experience in the US, working for Eli Lilly and Co and the Cetus Corporation. His research collaborations include groups at Stanford University; the University of California, Berkeley; and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

He serves on several boards and government committees. He is on the board of Engineering Conferences International, New York, a group that runs global, multi-disciplinary engineering conferences, many of which have played key roles in developing emerging industry sectors. The conferences include cell culture engineering; vaccine technology; and scale-up and manufacturing of cell-based therapies. Professor Gray also serves on the board of Biopharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd, the company established to build a GMP grade biopharmaceuticals manufacturing facility in Brisbane, and has been heavily involved in negotiations that led to DSM Biologics becoming the facility’s operator.

Professor Gray is a Fellow and Vice-President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has chaired, served on organising committees for, and given plenary and keynote addresses at many key international conferences. In 2006 he attracted to Sydney and chaired the International Biotechnology Symposium – the first time a conference in the four-yearly series was held in the southern hemisphere. Professor Gray is a founder and past president of the Australian Biotechnology Association (Ausbiotech).

Professor Gray has graduated more than 60 PhD students from his research group, in fields including secondary metabolite bioprocesses; bioconversion of cellulosic substrates; mammalian cell expression of complex proteins; nanoparticles for drug delivery; and the development of stem-cell based bioprocesses. He has twice been listed by Engineers Australia among the top 100 most influential engineers in Australia, and in 2001 was awarded the Australian Government’s Centenary Medal.

Availability

Professor Peter Gray is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
  • Engineers Australia, Engineers Australia
  • International Institute of Biotechnology and Toxicology, International Institute of Biotechnology and Toxicology

Research impacts

Research

Mammalian Cell Lines and Stem Cell Bioprocesses

Professor Peter Gray leads a research group with a focus on bioengineering of mammalian cell protein expression and stem cell systems. The research group is growing a strategic link with DSM Biologics, a contract manufacturer that takes early-stage projects to the next stage of commercial development. AIBN is developing mammalian cell lines, which form the basis of biologics, medicines based on natural proteins, and DSM will produce and commercialise them at a $65 million scale-up facility at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Professor Gray's research group is collaborating with Sydney-based Biosceptre International Ltd in a partnership aiming to develop a bio-process for producing monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer. AIBN researchers will characterise candidate therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that bind to Biosceptre's novel cancer target, known as nf-P2X7. Research and development will include antibody and cell line development; bioprocess development; and recombinant protein production in pre-commercial quantities ahead of preclinical trials. The Biosceptre collaboration is a critical step towards preclinical and human clinical trials. The long-term goal is to develop a therapeutic monoclonal antibody capable of specifically detecting nf-P2X7 and inducing cancer cell death without affecting normal healthy cells.

Ongoing research in Professor Gray's research group and Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Victoria with a Hendra virus antibody aims to determine its shelf life, to see how long it can be stored. The AIBN research group has developed a process to produce large amounts of high-quality antibody. The research group has produce batches of the experimental antibody for Queensland Health and collaborators at the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong for testing in animal trials.

Professor Gray has graduated more than 60 PhD students from his research group, in fields including secondary metabolite bioprocesses; bioconversion of cellulosic substrates; mammalian cell expression of complex proteins; nanoparticles for drug delivery; and the development of stem-cell based bioprocesses.

Works

Search Professor Peter Gray’s works on UQ eSpace

87 works between 1990 and 2024

1 - 20 of 87 works

2024

Journal Article

Analysis of three characterization assays reveals ddPCR of LIN28A as the most sensitive for the detection of residual pluripotent stem cells in cellular therapy products

Sun, Jinda, Yates, Clarissa, Dingwall, Steve, Ongtengco, Cherica, Power, Dominique, Gray, Peter and Prowse, Andrew (2024). Analysis of three characterization assays reveals ddPCR of LIN28A as the most sensitive for the detection of residual pluripotent stem cells in cellular therapy products. Cytotherapy, 26 (11), 1374-1381. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.05.019

Analysis of three characterization assays reveals ddPCR of LIN28A as the most sensitive for the detection of residual pluripotent stem cells in cellular therapy products

2024

Journal Article

Cellular heterogeneity of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte grafts is mechanistically linked to treatable arrhythmias

Selvakumar, Dinesh, Clayton, Zoe E., Prowse, Andrew, Dingwall, Steve, Kim, Sul Ki, Reyes, Leila, George, Jacob, Shah, Haisam, Chen, Siqi, Leung, Halina H. L., Hume, Robert D., Tjahjadi, Laurentius, Igoor, Sindhu, Skelton, Rhys J. P., Hing, Alfred, Paterson, Hugh, Foster, Sheryl L., Pearson, Lachlan, Wilkie, Emma, Marcus, Alan D., Jeyaprakash, Prajith, Wu, Zhixuan, Chiu, Han Shen, Ongtengco, Cherica Felize J., Mulay, Onkar, McArthur, Jeffrey R., Barry, Tony, Lu, Juntang, Tran, Vu ... Chong, James J. H. (2024). Cellular heterogeneity of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte grafts is mechanistically linked to treatable arrhythmias. Nature Cardiovascular Research, 3 (2), 145-165. doi: 10.1038/s44161-023-00419-3

Cellular heterogeneity of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte grafts is mechanistically linked to treatable arrhythmias

2022

Journal Article

Engineering death resistance in CHO cells for improved perfusion culture

MacDonald, Michael A., Nöbel, Matthias, Martínez, Verónica S., Baker, Kym, Shave, Evan, Gray, Peter P., Mahler, Stephen, Munro, Trent, Nielsen, Lars K. and Marcellin, Esteban (2022). Engineering death resistance in CHO cells for improved perfusion culture. mAbs, 14 (1) e2083465, 1-13. doi: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2083465

Engineering death resistance in CHO cells for improved perfusion culture

2022

Journal Article

Modelling apoptosis resistance in CHO cells with CRISPR‐mediated knock‐outs of Bak1, Bax, and Bok

MacDonald, Michael A., Barry, Craig, Groves, Teddy, Martínez, Verónica S., Gray, Peter P., Baker, Kym, Shave, Evan, Mahler, Stephen, Munro, Trent, Marcellin, Esteban and Nielsen, Lars K. (2022). Modelling apoptosis resistance in CHO cells with CRISPR‐mediated knock‐outs of Bak1, Bax, and Bok. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 119 (6), 1380-1391. doi: 10.1002/bit.28062

Modelling apoptosis resistance in CHO cells with CRISPR‐mediated knock‐outs of Bak1, Bax, and Bok

2020

Journal Article

‘Omics driven discoveries of gene targets for apoptosis attenuation in CHO cells

Orellana, Camila A., Martínez, Verónica S., MacDonald, Michael A., Henry, Matthew N., Gillard, Marianne, Gray, Peter P., Nielsen, Lars K., Mahler, Stephen and Marcellin, Esteban (2020). ‘Omics driven discoveries of gene targets for apoptosis attenuation in CHO cells. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 118 (1) bit.27548, 481-490. doi: 10.1002/bit.27548

‘Omics driven discoveries of gene targets for apoptosis attenuation in CHO cells

2020

Journal Article

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of a human monoclonal antibody targeting the G glycoprotein of henipaviruses in healthy adults: a first-in-human, randomised, controlled, phase 1 study

Playford, Elliott Geoffrey, Munro, Trent, Mahler, Stephen M., Elliott, Suzanne, Gerometta, Michael, Hoger, Kym L., Jones, Martina L., Griffin, Paul, Lynch, Kathleen D., Carroll, Heidi, El Saadi, Debra, Gilmour, Margaret E., Hughes, Benjamin, Hughes, Karen, Huang, Edwin, de Bakker, Christopher, Klein, Reuben, Scher, Mark G., Smith, Ina L., Wang, Lin-Fa, Lambert, Stephen B., Dimitrov, Dimiter S., Gray, Peter P. and Broder, Christopher C. (2020). Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of a human monoclonal antibody targeting the G glycoprotein of henipaviruses in healthy adults: a first-in-human, randomised, controlled, phase 1 study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20 (4), 445-454. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30634-6

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of a human monoclonal antibody targeting the G glycoprotein of henipaviruses in healthy adults: a first-in-human, randomised, controlled, phase 1 study

2020

Journal Article

Attenuating apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells for improved biopharmaceutical production

Henry, Matthew N., MacDonald, Michael A., Orellana, Camila A., Gray, Peter P., Gillard, Marianne, Baker, Kym, Nielsen, Lars K., Marcellin, Esteban, Mahler, Stephen and Martinez, Veronica S. (2020). Attenuating apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells for improved biopharmaceutical production. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 117 (4) bit.27269, 1187-1203. doi: 10.1002/bit.27269

Attenuating apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells for improved biopharmaceutical production

2019

Journal Article

Fibronectin-conjugated thermoresponsive nanobridges generate three dimensional human pluripotent stem cell cultures for differentiation towards the neural lineages

Harkness, Linda, Chen, Xiaoli, Jia, Zhongfan, Davies, Anthony M., Monteiro, Michael, Gray, Peter and Pera, Martin (2019). Fibronectin-conjugated thermoresponsive nanobridges generate three dimensional human pluripotent stem cell cultures for differentiation towards the neural lineages. Stem Cell Research, 38 101441, 101441. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101441

Fibronectin-conjugated thermoresponsive nanobridges generate three dimensional human pluripotent stem cell cultures for differentiation towards the neural lineages

2019

Journal Article

Media composition modulates human embryonic stem cell morphology and may influence preferential lineage differentiation potential

Harkness, Linda, Chen, Xiaoli, Gillard, Marianne, Gray, Peter Paul and Davies, Anthony Mitchell (2019). Media composition modulates human embryonic stem cell morphology and may influence preferential lineage differentiation potential. PLoS ONE, 14 (3) e0213678, e0213678. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213678

Media composition modulates human embryonic stem cell morphology and may influence preferential lineage differentiation potential

2019

Book Chapter

Cell line isolation and design

Munro, Trent P., Pilbrough, Warren, Hughes, Benjamin S. and Gray, Peter P. (2019). Cell line isolation and design. Comprehensive biotechnology. (pp. 144-153) edited by Murray Moo-Young. Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-64046-8.00013-6

Cell line isolation and design

2018

Journal Article

Improving culture performance and antibody production in CHO cell culture processes by reducing the Warburg effect

Buchsteiner, Maria, Quek, Lake-Ee, Gray, Peter and Nielsen, Lars K. (2018). Improving culture performance and antibody production in CHO cell culture processes by reducing the Warburg effect. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 115 (9), 2315-2327. doi: 10.1002/bit.26724

Improving culture performance and antibody production in CHO cell culture processes by reducing the Warburg effect

2018

Journal Article

RNA-seq highlights high clonal variation in monoclonal antibody producing CHO cells

Orellana, Camila A., Marcellin, Esteban, Palfreyman, Robin W., Munro, Trent P., Gray, Peter P. and Nielsen, Lars K. (2018). RNA-seq highlights high clonal variation in monoclonal antibody producing CHO cells. Biotechnology Journal, 13 (3) 1700231, e1700231. doi: 10.1002/biot.201700231

RNA-seq highlights high clonal variation in monoclonal antibody producing CHO cells

2018

Journal Article

Methods for expansion of 3D cultures of human embryonic stem cells using a thermoresponsive polymer

Chen, Xiaoli, Harkness, Linda, Jia, Zhongfan, Prowse, Andrew, Monteiro, Michael J. and Gray, Peter P. (2018). Methods for expansion of 3D cultures of human embryonic stem cells using a thermoresponsive polymer. Tissue Engineering. Part C. Methods, 24 (3), 146-157. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2017.0331

Methods for expansion of 3D cultures of human embryonic stem cells using a thermoresponsive polymer

2017

Journal Article

Overexpression of the regulatory subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase enhances monoclonal antibody production in CHO cells

Orellana, Camila A., Marcellin, Esteban, Gray, Peter P. and Nielsen, Lars K. (2017). Overexpression of the regulatory subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase enhances monoclonal antibody production in CHO cells. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 114 (8), 1825-1836. doi: 10.1002/bit.26316

Overexpression of the regulatory subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase enhances monoclonal antibody production in CHO cells

2016

Conference Publication

3D neuronal differentiation: using a thermo-responsive polymer for expansion and release of differentiated hESC

Harkness, Linda, Chen, Xiaoli, Davies, Anthony M., Jia, Zhongfan, Monteiro, Michael J., Pera, Martin and Gray, Peter P. (2016). 3D neuronal differentiation: using a thermo-responsive polymer for expansion and release of differentiated hESC. EMBO/EMBL Symposium: Organoids: Modelling organ development and disease in 3D culture, Heidelberg, Germany, 12-15 October 2016.

3D neuronal differentiation: using a thermo-responsive polymer for expansion and release of differentiated hESC

2016

Conference Publication

3D neuronal differentiation: using a thermo-responsive polymer for expansion and release of differentiated hESC

Harkness, Linda, Chen, Xiaoli, Davies, Anthony M., Jia, Zhongfan, Monteiro, Michael J., Pera, Martin and Gray, Peter P. (2016). 3D neuronal differentiation: using a thermo-responsive polymer for expansion and release of differentiated hESC. Conference on Changing the Face of Modern Medicine - Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, Florence, Italy, 18-21 October 2016. New Rochelle, NY, United States: Mary Ann Liebert.

3D neuronal differentiation: using a thermo-responsive polymer for expansion and release of differentiated hESC

2016

Conference Publication

Methods and analysis of pluripotency markers and cell viability in hESC cultured as 3D aggregates

Harkness, Linda, Chen, Xiaoli, Gray, Peter P. and Davies, Anthony M. (2016). Methods and analysis of pluripotency markers and cell viability in hESC cultured as 3D aggregates. 14th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, San Francisco, CA, United States, 22-25 June 2016.

Methods and analysis of pluripotency markers and cell viability in hESC cultured as 3D aggregates

2015

Journal Article

Dynamic metabolic flux analysis using B-splines to study the effects of temperature shift on CHO cell metabolism

Martinez, Verónica S., Buchsteiner, Maria, Gray, Peter, Nielsen, Lars K. and Quek, Lake-Ee (2015). Dynamic metabolic flux analysis using B-splines to study the effects of temperature shift on CHO cell metabolism. Metabolic Engineering Communications, 2, 46-57. doi: 10.1016/j.meteno.2015.06.001

Dynamic metabolic flux analysis using B-splines to study the effects of temperature shift on CHO cell metabolism

2015

Journal Article

Synthesis of silica nanoparticles with controllable surface roughness for therapeutic protein delivery

Niu, Yuting, Yu, Meihua, Zhang, Jun, Yang, Yannan, Xu, Chun, Yeh, Michael, Taran, Elena, Hou, Jeff Jia Cheng, Gray, Peter P. and Yu, Chengzhong (2015). Synthesis of silica nanoparticles with controllable surface roughness for therapeutic protein delivery. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 3 (43), 8477-8485. doi: 10.1039/c5tb01405k

Synthesis of silica nanoparticles with controllable surface roughness for therapeutic protein delivery

2015

Conference Publication

Intracellular trafficking pathways for plasmid DNA complexed with highly efficient endosome escape polymers

Gillard, M., Jia, Z., Jia, J., Song, M., Gray, P. P., Munro, T. P. and Monteriro, M. J. (2015). Intracellular trafficking pathways for plasmid DNA complexed with highly efficient endosome escape polymers. European Society for Animal Cell Technology (ESACT), Barcelona, Spain, 31 May- 3 June 2015.

Intracellular trafficking pathways for plasmid DNA complexed with highly efficient endosome escape polymers

Funding

Current funding

  • 2021 - 2026
    Induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes: a new therapy for 'no-option' end stage heart failure (MRFF Stem Cell Therapies grant from University of Sydney).
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2027
    Developing a scalable process for translating hEsc and iPS cell science to clinical applications
    Merchant Charitable Foundation
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2022
    Using human pluripotent stem cells to achieve scalable high purity production of cardiac cells for transplantation studies (National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia grant administered by WIMR)
    The Westmead Institute for Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Using human pluripotent stem cells to achieve scalable, high purity production of cardiac cells for transplantation studies (No. 2)
    The Westmead Institute for Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Using Pluripotent Stem Cells to Achieve Scalable, High Purity Production of Cardiac Cells for Transplantation Studies
    The Westmead Institute for Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    ARC Training Centre for Biopharmaceutical Innovation
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Development of a New Specific Immunosuppressive Monoclonal Antibody to Advance Transplantation (NHMRC Development Grant administered by The University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Continuous manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals through mammalian expression technology
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - FirstLink
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2023
    The National Biologics Facility - NCRIS 2013/2015/2016-17/2017-18/2018-19/2019-2023 (administered by Therapeutic Innovation Australia (TIA))
    Therapeutic Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Highly productive and selective bio-organic hybrid membrane water filters
    Murdoch University
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Safety assessment of anti-hendra virus antibody in humans
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Safety of Hendra virus anti-G glycoprotein monoclonal antibody in humans
    NHMRC Targeted Research
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Cell line development for the biologics plant of the future
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Research Partnerships Program
    Open grant
  • 2012
    An intergrated fluidic circuit system for digital PCR analysis, single-cell gene- expression, and high-throughput preparation of next-generation sequencing libraries.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    On-Demand 3-Dimensional Polymer Scaffolds for Directed Stem Cell Differentiation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    EIF Project 4 - Biological Therapies, Part 2 - Biopharmaceuticals (Commonwealth-funded EIF grant administered by Therapeutic Innovation Australia (TIA) Ltd).
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2019
    Stem Cells Australia (ARC Special Research Initiative administered by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    The National Biologics Facility
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Co-Investment Fund
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Highly productive and selective bio-organic hybrid membrane water filters - National Centre of Excellence in Desalination
    Murdoch University
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2014
    Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative
    Queensland Government Smart State National and International Research Alliances Program
    Open grant
  • 2009
    2009 University of Queensland Trans-Pacific Fellowship - Senior Academic Fellowship
    UQ Trans-Pacific Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    AIBN BioReactor Program (ASCC Collaborative Stream 1 - Module 2)
    Australian Stem Cell Centre
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Process Modelling Applicable to Biofuels
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Partnerships-Alliances Facilitation Program
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Queensland Bio Jet Fuel Initiative
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Partnerships-Alliances Facilitation Program
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) - Capability Area 5.5 Biotechnology Products
    National Collaborative Infrastructure Strategy - Queensland Government Contribution
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    Australia-United Kingdom Bionanotechnology Mission
    Department of Education, Science, and Training
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Peter Gray is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Peter Gray directly for media enquiries about:

  • Bioengineering
  • Biopharmaceutical production
  • Bioprocessing
  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology - economics
  • Cell cultures
  • Commercialisation and science research
  • Economics - biotechnology
  • Metabolism
  • Metabolites
  • Resarch and commercialisation
  • Science research innovation
  • Stem cells

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