![Professor Peter Gray](/sites/default/files/profiles/1295.jpeg)
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
Fields of research
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
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. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.05.019
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Peter Gray is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a Culture Platform for the Expansion of Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells Cells with the use of Nanopolymers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Monteiro
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Novel Cell Engineering of the Unfolded Protein Response to Achieve Efficient Therapeutic Protein Production Cell Line
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lars Nielsen
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Modulating epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulation for increased recombinant protein production in mammalian cells.
Principal Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Process development and characterisation of transient expression technology in CHO cells
Principal Advisor
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Cell Line Development for High Density Culture of CHO Cells in Perfusion: Applications of Apoptosis Resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Verónica Martinez Salazar, Professor Esteban Marcellin
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Engineering Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells for Improved Monoclonal Antibody Productivity by Modulating Feedback Regulation of the Secretory Pathway
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Marianne Gillard, Emeritus Professor Stephen Mahler
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding CHO cells biology for enhanced biopharmaceutical production: a comparative transcriptomic and proteomic approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Esteban Marcellin, Professor Lars Nielsen
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Engineered Polymer Nanoparticles for Intracellular DNA Delivery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Monteiro
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Global metabolic effect of manipulating pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity in mammalian cells
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lars Nielsen
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and overcoming monoterpene toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisia for the production of sustainable jet fuels
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lars Nielsen
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Using network thermodynamics and metabolomics for the study of dynamic mammalian cell metabolism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lars Nielsen
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of mammalian cells during protein production - a systems biology approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lars Nielsen
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Nanoparticles with Application in the Delivery of Nucleic Acids to Mammalian Cells
Associate Advisor
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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