Professor Mark Blaskovich
Professor

Mark Blaskovich

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 62039
Mobile: 
0414955380

Background

Professor Mark Blaskovich is an antibiotic hunter and Director of Translation at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland. He is co-founder and former Director of the Centre for Superbug Solutions at IMB.

A medicinal chemist with 15 years of industrial drug development experience prior to his academic career, Mark has been developing new antibiotics to treat drug resistant pathogens and using modified antibiotics to detect bacterial infections. He is a co-founder of the Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery, a global antibiotic discovery initiative, and has led a number of UQ-industry collaborations focused on antibiotic development. An inventor on eleven patent families, Mark has developed drugs in clinical trials, published more than eighty research articles, and received over $10m in grant funding.

Availability

Professor Mark Blaskovich is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Victoria
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Waterloo

Search Professor Mark Blaskovich’s works on UQ eSpace

208 works between 1988 and 2024
All (208) Journal Article (166) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (11) Book (1) Other Outputs (27)

1 - 20 of 208 works

Featured

2020

Journal Article

How to stimulate and facilitate early stage antibiotic discovery

Zuegg, Johannes, Hansford, Karl A., Elliott, Alysha G., Cooper, Matthew A. and Blaskovich, Mark A. T. (2020). How to stimulate and facilitate early stage antibiotic discovery. ACS Infectious Diseases, 6 (6), 1302-1304. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00163

How to stimulate and facilitate early stage antibiotic discovery

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Metal complexes as a promising source for new antibiotics

Frei, Angelo, Zuegg, Johannes, Elliott, Alysha G., Baker, Murray V., Braese, Stefan, Brown, Christopher, Chen, Feng, Dowson, Christopher Gerard, Dujardin, Gilles, Jung, Nicole, King, A. Paden, Mansour, Ahmed Moustafa, Massi, Massimiliano, Moat, John, Mohamed, Heba A., Renfrew, Anna, Rutledge, Peter, Sadler, Peter J., Todd, Matthew Houghton, Willans, Charlotte E., Wilson, Justin Jeff, Cooper, Matthew Allister and Blaskovich, Mark (2020). Metal complexes as a promising source for new antibiotics. Chemical Science, 11 (10), 2627-2639. doi: 10.1039/c9sc06460e

Metal complexes as a promising source for new antibiotics

Featured

2019

Journal Article

The diminished antimicrobial pipeline

Blaskovich, Mark A.T. (2019). The diminished antimicrobial pipeline. Microbiology Australia, 40 (2), 92-96. doi: 10.1071/MA19025

The diminished antimicrobial pipeline

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Fluoroquinolone-derived fluorescent probes for studies of bacterial penetration and efflux

Stone, M. Rhia L., Masi, Muriel, Phetsang, Wanida, Pagès, Jean-Marie, Cooper, Matthew A. and Blaskovich, Mark A. T. (2019). Fluoroquinolone-derived fluorescent probes for studies of bacterial penetration and efflux. MedChemComm, 10 (6), 901-906. doi: 10.1039/c9md00124g

Fluoroquinolone-derived fluorescent probes for studies of bacterial penetration and efflux

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Can octapeptin antibiotics combat extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria?

Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Pitt, Miranda E., Elliott, Alysha G. and Cooper, Matthew A. (2018). Can octapeptin antibiotics combat extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria?. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 16 (6), 485-499. doi: 10.1080/14787210.2018.1483240

Can octapeptin antibiotics combat extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria?

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Fluorescent Antibiotics: New Research Tools to Fight Antibiotic Resistance

Stone, M Rhia L., Butler, Mark S., Phetsang, Wanida, Cooper, Matthew A. and Blaskovich, Mark A. T. (2018). Fluorescent Antibiotics: New Research Tools to Fight Antibiotic Resistance. Trends in Biotechnology, 36 (5), 523-536. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.01.004

Fluorescent Antibiotics: New Research Tools to Fight Antibiotic Resistance

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Structure, Function, and Biosynthetic Origin of Octapeptin Antibiotics Active against Extensively Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria

Velkov, Tony, Gallardo-Godoy, Alejandra, Swarbrick, James D., Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Elliott, Alysha G., Han, Meiling, Thompson, Philip E., Roberts, Kade D., Huang, Johnny X., Becker, Bernd, Butler, Mark S., Lash, Lawrence H., Henriques, Sónia Troeira, Nation, Roger L., Sivanesan, Sivashangarie, Sani, Marc-Antoine, Separovic, Frances, Mertens, Haydyn, Bulach, Dieter, Seemann, Torsten, Owen, Jeremy, Li, Jian and Cooper, Matthew A. (2018). Structure, Function, and Biosynthetic Origin of Octapeptin Antibiotics Active against Extensively Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria. Cell Chemical Biology, 25 (4), 380-391.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.01.005

Structure, Function, and Biosynthetic Origin of Octapeptin Antibiotics Active against Extensively Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Protein-inspired antibiotics active against vancomycin- and daptomycin-resistant bacteria

Blaskovich, Mark A T, Hansford, Karl A., Gong, Yujing, Butler, Mark S., Muldoon, Craig, Huang, Johnny X., Ramu, Soumya, Silva, Alberto B., Cheng, Mu, Kavanagh, Angela M., Ziora, Zyta, Premraj, Rajaratnam, Lindahl, Fredrik, Bradford, Tanya A., Lee, June C., Karoli, Tomislav, Pelingon, Ruby, Edwards, David J., Amado, Maite, Elliott, Alysha G, Phetsang, Wanida, Daud, Noor Huda, Deecke, Johan E, Sidjabat, Hanna E, Ramaologa, Sefetogi, Zuegg, Johannes, Betley, Jason R, Beevers, Andrew P G, Smith, Richard A G ... Cooper, Matthew A. (2018). Protein-inspired antibiotics active against vancomycin- and daptomycin-resistant bacteria. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 02123, 22. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02123-w

Protein-inspired antibiotics active against vancomycin- and daptomycin-resistant bacteria

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Unusual amino acids in medicinal chemistry

Blaskovich, Mark A. T. (2016). Unusual amino acids in medicinal chemistry. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 59 (24), 10807-10836. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00319

Unusual amino acids in medicinal chemistry

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Antibiotics in the clinical pipeline at the end of 2015

Butler, Mark S., Blaskovich, Mark A. T. and Cooper, Matthew A. (2016). Antibiotics in the clinical pipeline at the end of 2015. The Journal of Antibiotics, 70 (1), 1-22. doi: 10.1038/ja.2016.72

Antibiotics in the clinical pipeline at the end of 2015

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Fluorescent trimethoprim conjugate probes to assess drug accumulation in wild type and mutant Escherichia coli

Phetsang, Wanida, Pelingon, Ruby, Butler, Mark S., KC, Sanjaya, Pitt, Miranda, Kaeslin, Geraldine, Cooper, Matthew A. and Blaskovich, Mark A. T. (2016). Fluorescent trimethoprim conjugate probes to assess drug accumulation in wild type and mutant Escherichia coli. ACS Infectious Diseases, 2 (10), 688-701. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00080

Fluorescent trimethoprim conjugate probes to assess drug accumulation in wild type and mutant Escherichia coli

Featured

2010

Book

Handbook on syntheses of amino acids : General routes for the syntheses of amino acids

Blaskovich, Mark A (2010). Handbook on syntheses of amino acids : General routes for the syntheses of amino acids. First ed. New York , NY, U.S.A.: Oxford University Press; American Chemical Society.

Handbook on syntheses of amino acids : General routes for the syntheses of amino acids

2024

Journal Article

Tetrazoles: A multi-potent motif in drug design

Yuan, Ye, Li, Muzi, Apostolopoulos, Vasso, Matsoukas, John, Wolf, Wojciech M., Blaskovich, Mark A.T., Bojarska, Joanna and Ziora, Zyta M. (2024). Tetrazoles: A multi-potent motif in drug design. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 279 116870, 116870. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116870

Tetrazoles: A multi-potent motif in drug design

2024

Journal Article

A Review of Antibacterial Candidates with New Modes of Action

Butler, Mark S., Vollmer, Waldemar, Goodall, Emily C. A., Capon, Robert J., Henderson, Ian R. and Blaskovich, Mark A. T. (2024). A Review of Antibacterial Candidates with New Modes of Action. ACS Infectious Diseases. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00218

A Review of Antibacterial Candidates with New Modes of Action

2024

Journal Article

Modelling and statistical interpretation of phenol adsorption behaviour of 3-Dimensional hybrid aerogel of waste-derived carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide

Jain, Marut, Sahoo, Abhisek, Mishra, Deepti, Aiman Khan, Sadaf, Kishore Pant, Kamal, Ziora, Zyta M. and Blaskovich, Mark A.T. (2024). Modelling and statistical interpretation of phenol adsorption behaviour of 3-Dimensional hybrid aerogel of waste-derived carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide. Chemical Engineering Journal, 490 151351, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.151351

Modelling and statistical interpretation of phenol adsorption behaviour of 3-Dimensional hybrid aerogel of waste-derived carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide

2024

Journal Article

Facile one-pot fabrication of multifunctional silver nanoparticles utilizing biowaste for efficient pollutant degradation, heavy metal sensing, and bactericidal activity

Khan, Sadaf Aiman, Zeng, Junya, Jain, Marut, Pant, Kamal Kishore, Ziora, Zyta Maria, Blaskovich, Mark A.T. and Seneviratne, Chaminda Jayampath (2024). Facile one-pot fabrication of multifunctional silver nanoparticles utilizing biowaste for efficient pollutant degradation, heavy metal sensing, and bactericidal activity. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 322 129606, 129606. doi: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2024.129606

Facile one-pot fabrication of multifunctional silver nanoparticles utilizing biowaste for efficient pollutant degradation, heavy metal sensing, and bactericidal activity

2024

Journal Article

Phage-induced efflux down-regulation boosts antibiotic efficacy

Kraus, Samuel, Fletcher, Megan L., Łapińska, Urszula, Chawla, Krina, Baker, Evan, Attrill, Erin L., O’Neill, Paul, Farbos, Audrey, Jeffries, Aaron, Galyov, Edouard E., Korbsrisate, Sunee, Barnes, Kay B., Harding, Sarah V., Tsaneva-Atanasova, Krasimira, Blaskovich, Mark A.T. and Pagliara, Stefano (2024). Phage-induced efflux down-regulation boosts antibiotic efficacy. PLoS Pathogens, 20 (6 June) e1012361, e1012361. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012361

Phage-induced efflux down-regulation boosts antibiotic efficacy

2024

Book Chapter

Biodegradation of petrochemical refinery wastewater

Jain, Marut, Noor, Aisha, Sahoo, Abhisek, Pant, Kamal K., Ziora, Zyta M. and Blaskovich, Mark A. T. (2024). Biodegradation of petrochemical refinery wastewater. Biodegradation of toxic and hazardous chemicals. (pp. 1-13) edited by Kashyap K. Dubey, Kamal K. Pant, Ashok Pandey and Maria Ángeles Sanromán. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003391487-1

Biodegradation of petrochemical refinery wastewater

2024

Journal Article

Photocatalytic degradation of parabens: A comprehensive meta-analysis investigating the environmental remediation potential of emerging pollutant

Khan, Sadaf Aiman, Jain, Marut, Pant, Kamal Kishore, Ziora, Zyta Maria and Blaskovich, Mark A.T. (2024). Photocatalytic degradation of parabens: A comprehensive meta-analysis investigating the environmental remediation potential of emerging pollutant. Science of The Total Environment, 920 171020, 171020. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171020

Photocatalytic degradation of parabens: A comprehensive meta-analysis investigating the environmental remediation potential of emerging pollutant

2024

Journal Article

New antibiotics to combat One Health AMR

Ogunniyi, Abiodun David, Venter, Henrietta and Blaskovich, Mark A. T. (2024). New antibiotics to combat One Health AMR. Microbiology Australia, 45 (2), 74-78. doi: 10.1071/ma24022

New antibiotics to combat One Health AMR

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Camelid antibodies to combat antimicrobial resistance
    Australia-India Strategic Research Fund
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Investigations into the antibacterial mechanism of action of cannabidiol
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Seeing the Unseen: Imaging Bacterial Infections
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance (ARC CEA-StAR)
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Molecular Accumulation in single cells via microfluidics and omics (BBSRC grant administered by University of Exeter)
    University of Exeter
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    OctapeptinX Potentiators to treat XDR Gram-negative infections
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Predictive Models to Design and Develop New Antibiotics Derived from the Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Rapid detection of drug resistant tuberculosis using real-time sequencing (MRFF Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance and Drug Resistant TB grant led by Uni Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    A novel, portable, low-cost oxygen therapy to improve wound healing using photosynthetic light (2023 RBWH Translational Research Grant administered by RBWH)
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2023
    CSIRO Library Screening
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Enhancing Australian biodiscovery molecule generation, storage and access (ARC LIEF administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2022
    CSIRO Library Screening
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    A study of the antimicrobial efficacy of Calix bioactive materials
    Calix Limited
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technologies for Southeast Queensland
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Sequencing Analysis of CBD-Induced Resistance S. saprophyticus
    Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Cannabodiol analog synthesis and characterisation
    Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Breaking antibiotic resistance in high priority Gram-negative sepsis pathogens
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Continued Investigations into the Antimicrobial Activity of Cannabidiol
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Antibacterial Potentiation Screening 1. Master Research Services Agreement - Statement of Work no.3
    Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Antibacterial Potentiation Screening 1. Master Research Services Agreement - Statement of Work no.2
    Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Antibacterial Screening 1. Master Research Services Agreement - Statement of Work no.1
    Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019
    In vivo imaging system for tracking inflammation, infection, cancer, pain and bioactive molecules
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Investigations into the Antimicrobial Activity of Cannabidiol
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Lipopeptide antibiotics for XDR Gram-negative infections
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Rapid Diagnosis of Microbial Infections Without Culture
    Defence Materials Technology Centre
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Natureceuticals from post-production wine extracts
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Antibody-antibiotic conjugates to treat drug-resistant Gram-ve infections
    Global Connections Fund
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Rapid diagnosis of pathogenic infections
    Queensland Government Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Natureceuticals from post-production wine extracts
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    Open Access Award
    The Wellcome Trust
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Antibody-antibiotic conjugates to treat drug-resistant bacteria
    Global Connections Fund
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (CO-ADD) Indonesian Engagement Program
    Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Novel membrane-targeted antibiotics against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (CO-ADD)
    The Wellcome Trust
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Effect of Sputum Surrogate on Amikacin activity with and without fosfomycin
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Antimicrobial activity of MTC896 against common skin bacteria
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Continuous-Flow Hydrogenation Reactor (H-Cube Pro)
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Enrichment, detection and identification of bacteria in blood and urine.
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Mark Blaskovich is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Functionalised antibiotics for diagnostics and therapeutics

    The increasing incidence of infections caused by drug resistant bacteria and fungi poses a significant and increasing threat to global human health, with predicted annual mortality of 10 million people by 2050. It is imperative to advance new technologies capable of rapidly and accurately diagnosing infections to enable timely and appropriate therapy. We must develop new antibiotics with efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi, and new methods to rapidy diagnose infections. To enable this we require fundamental studies that probe the chemical biology of antibiotic action and investigate microbial growth, metabolism and resistance.

    This research program is designed to achieve these goals, based on the chemical functionalisation of antibiotics with a readily derivatised handle. The resulting set of versatile intermediates is then modified to create 1) fluorescent probes that can catalyse basic research and lead to new assays, 2) clinical imaging agents to visualise microbial infections, and 3) novel hybrid therapeutics. The project requires talented synthetic organic chemists with an interest in multidisciplinary research.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Conotoxins - advanced probes for studying pain pathways

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Joanne Blanchfield

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Disrupting Bacterial Proteostasis through ClpP Activation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Anthony Verderosa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Clicking Conjugates into Place for the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Anthony Verderosa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Bio-evaluation of Human Tyrosinase Inhibitors as Potential Anti-melanoma Agents and Novel Treatment for Parkinson's Disease

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Zyta M Ziora

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Novel antibiotics containing tyrosinase inhibitors

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Zyta M Ziora

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigations of the interactions between fluorescent antibiotics and bacteria

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Sanjaya Kc, Dr Anthony Verderosa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Antibiotic potentiators as an alternative therapeutic option for the treatment of extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative infections.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Johannes Zuegg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigations of novel antimicrobial agents and formulations to treat topical agricultural infections.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Conny Turni

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding Molecular Accumulation in antimicrobial resistant microbes

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Vito Ferro, Dr Anthony Verderosa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Vito Ferro

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis and Physico-chemical characterization of waste derived carbon adsorbents for wastewater treatment

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Zyta M Ziora

  • Doctor Philosophy

    How does cannabidiol kill bacteria?

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Johannes Zuegg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sustainable Antimicrobial Coating Materials for Potential Face Mask Applications

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Alan Rowan, Dr Nasim Amiralian

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of Metal Organic Frameworks for targeted oral drug delivery

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Amirali Popat

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of Biobased Silver Nano-Particles for Application as Wastewater Disinfectant

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Zyta M Ziora

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A global quantitative genetic network for Escherichia coli

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Emily Goodall, Professor Ian Henderson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Targeting bacterial biofilms in patients with gastrointestinal disorders

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of computational models to discover new antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria. (Note: online component of Onawole's application lists his Master's thesis title instead of this project)

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Johannes Zuegg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Targeting the Biogenesis of Resistance Enzymes to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler, Professor Ian Henderson, Dr Anthony Verderosa

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Mark Blaskovich directly for media enquiries about:

  • acne
  • antibiotic resistance
  • antibiotics
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • antimicrobial resistance antibiotics
  • bacteria
  • bacterial detection
  • bacterial infection
  • bacterial resistance
  • drug design
  • drug development
  • drug discovery
  • E. coli
  • glycopeptide antibiotics
  • golden staph
  • gram negative bacteria
  • gram positive bacteria
  • microbiome
  • octapeptin
  • superbugs

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