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

216 works between 1988 and 2025
All (216) Journal Article (172) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (12) Book (1) Other Outputs (27)

161 - 180 of 216 works

2015

Journal Article

Metronidazole-triazole conjugates: activity against Clostridium difficile and parasites

Jarrad, Angie M., Karoli, Tomislav, Anjan, Debnath, Tay, Chin Yen, Huang, Johnny X., Kaeslin, Geraldine, Elliott, Alysha G., Miyamoto, Yukiko, Ramu, Soumya, Kavanagh, Angela M., Zuegg, Johannes, Eckmann, Lars, Blaskovich, Mark A. and Cooper, Matthew A. (2015). Metronidazole-triazole conjugates: activity against Clostridium difficile and parasites. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 101 7946, 96-102. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.06.019

Metronidazole-triazole conjugates: activity against Clostridium difficile and parasites

2015

Other Outputs

Antibacterial Agents

Cooper, Matthew and Blaskovich, Mark (2015). Antibacterial Agents. WO/2015/117196.

Antibacterial Agents

2015

Journal Article

Clostridium difficile drug pipeline: challenges in discover and development of new agents

Jarrad, Angie M., Karoli, Tomislav, Blaskovich, Mark A.T., Lyras, Dena and Cooper, Matthew A. (2015). Clostridium difficile drug pipeline: challenges in discover and development of new agents. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 58 (13), 5164-5185. doi: 10.1021/jm5016846

Clostridium difficile drug pipeline: challenges in discover and development of new agents

2015

Journal Article

A new antibiotic with potent activity targets MscL

Iscla, Irene, Wray, Robin, Blount, Paul, Larkins-Ford, Johah, Conery, Annie L., Ausubel, Frederick M., Ramu, Soumya, Kavanagh, Angela, Huang, Johnny X., Blaskovich, Mark A., Cooper, Matthew A., Obregon-Henao, Andres, Orme, Ian, Tjandra, Edwin S., Stroeher, Uwe H., Brown, Melissa H., Macardle, Cindy, van Holst, Nick, Tong, Chee Ling, Slattery, Ashley D., Gibson, Christopher T., Raston, Colin L. and Boulos, Ramiz A. (2015). A new antibiotic with potent activity targets MscL. The Journal of Antibiotics, 68 (7), 453-462. doi: 10.1038/ja.2015.4

A new antibiotic with potent activity targets MscL

2015

Journal Article

Helping chemists discover new antibiotics

Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Zuegg, Johannes, Elliott, Alysha G. and Cooper, Matthew (2015). Helping chemists discover new antibiotics. ACS Infectious Diseases, 1 (7), 285-287. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.5b00044

Helping chemists discover new antibiotics

2015

Journal Article

Evaluation of biomarkers for in vitro prediction of drug-induced nephrotoxicity: comparison of HK-2, immortalized human proximal tubule epithelial, and primary cultures of human proximal tubular cells

Huang, Johnny Xiao, Geraldine Kaeslin, Max Ranall, Blaskovich, Mark, Bernd Becker, Butler, Mark, Little, Melissa H., Lash, Lawrence H. and Cooper, Matthew (2015). Evaluation of biomarkers for in vitro prediction of drug-induced nephrotoxicity: comparison of HK-2, immortalized human proximal tubule epithelial, and primary cultures of human proximal tubular cells. Pharmacology Research and Perspectives, 3 (3) e00148, e00148. doi: 10.1002/prp2.148

Evaluation of biomarkers for in vitro prediction of drug-induced nephrotoxicity: comparison of HK-2, immortalized human proximal tubule epithelial, and primary cultures of human proximal tubular cells

2015

Journal Article

Self-assembling lipopeptides with a potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug resistant strains

Azmi, Fazren, Elliott, Alysha G., Khalil, Zeinab G., Hussein, Waleed M., Kavanagh, Angela, Huang, Johnny X., Quezada, Michelle, Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Capon, Robert J., Cooper, Matthew A., Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2015). Self-assembling lipopeptides with a potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug resistant strains. Nanomedicine, 10 (22), 3359-3371. doi: 10.2217/nnm.15.137

Self-assembling lipopeptides with a potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug resistant strains

2014

Journal Article

Cell- and biomarker-based assays for predicting nephrotoxicity

Huang, Johnny X., Blaskovich, Mark A. and Cooper, Matthew A. (2014). Cell- and biomarker-based assays for predicting nephrotoxicity. Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism and Toxicology, 10 (12), 1621-1635. doi: 10.1517/17425255.2014.967681

Cell- and biomarker-based assays for predicting nephrotoxicity

2014

Journal Article

Glycopeptide antibiotics: back to the future

Butler, Mark S., Hansford, Karl A., Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Halai, Reena and Cooper, Matthew A. (2014). Glycopeptide antibiotics: back to the future. Journal of Antibiotics, 67 (9), 631-644. doi: 10.1038/ja.2014.111

Glycopeptide antibiotics: back to the future

2014

Journal Article

An azido-oxazolidinone antibiotic for live bacterial cell imaging and generation of antibiotic variants

Phetsang, Wanida, Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Butler, Mark S., Huang, Johnny Xiao, Zuegg, Johannes, Mamidyala, Sreeman K., Ramu, Soumya, Kavanagh, Angela M. and Cooper, Matthew A. (2014). An azido-oxazolidinone antibiotic for live bacterial cell imaging and generation of antibiotic variants. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 22 (16), 4490-4498. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.05.054

An azido-oxazolidinone antibiotic for live bacterial cell imaging and generation of antibiotic variants

2014

Journal Article

Anti-cooperative ligand binding and dimerisation in the glycopeptide antibiotic dalbavancin

Cheng, Mu, Ziora, Zyta M., Hansford, Karl A., Blaskovich, Mark A., Butler, Mark S. and Cooper, Matthew A. (2014). Anti-cooperative ligand binding and dimerisation in the glycopeptide antibiotic dalbavancin. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 12 (16), 2568-2575. doi: 10.1039/c3ob42428f

Anti-cooperative ligand binding and dimerisation in the glycopeptide antibiotic dalbavancin

2013

Journal Article

ChemInform abstract: lipoamino acids as major components of absorption promoters in drug delivery

Ziora, Zyta M., Blaskovich, Mark A., Toth, Istvan and Cooper, Matthew A. (2013). ChemInform abstract: lipoamino acids as major components of absorption promoters in drug delivery. ChemInform, 44 (43), no-no. doi: 10.1002/chin.201343267

ChemInform abstract: lipoamino acids as major components of absorption promoters in drug delivery

2013

Journal Article

Antibiotics in the clinical pipeline in 2013

Butler, Mark S., Blaskovich, Mark A. and Cooper, Matthew A. (2013). Antibiotics in the clinical pipeline in 2013. Journal of Antibiotics, 66 (10), 571-591. doi: 10.1038/ja.2013.86

Antibiotics in the clinical pipeline in 2013

2013

Journal Article

Antibacterial serrulatane diterpenes from the Australian native plant Eremophila microtheca

Barnes, Emma C., Kavanagh, Angela M., Ramu, Soumya, Blaskovich, Mark A., Cooper, Matthew A. and Davis, Rohan A. (2013). Antibacterial serrulatane diterpenes from the Australian native plant Eremophila microtheca. Phytochemistry, 93, 162-169. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.02.021

Antibacterial serrulatane diterpenes from the Australian native plant Eremophila microtheca

2013

Other Outputs

3-Substituted-1,4-Diazepan-2-One Melanocortin-5 Receptor Antagonists

Mark Arnold Thomas Blaskovich and Pater Joseph Cassidy (2013). 3-Substituted-1,4-Diazepan-2-One Melanocortin-5 Receptor Antagonists. US8440653 .

3-Substituted-1,4-Diazepan-2-One Melanocortin-5 Receptor Antagonists

2013

Other Outputs

Methods of Modulating The Activity of the MC5 Receptor and Treatment of Conditions Related to This Receptor

Mark Arnold Thomas Blaskovich and Peter Joseph Cassidy (2013). Methods of Modulating The Activity of the MC5 Receptor and Treatment of Conditions Related to This Receptor. US8377925.

Methods of Modulating The Activity of the MC5 Receptor and Treatment of Conditions Related to This Receptor

2013

Other Outputs

“3-Aminoalkyl-1,4-Diazepan-2-One Melanocortin-5 Receptor Antagonists

Mark Arnold Thomas Blaskovich and Peter Joseph Cassidy (2013). “3-Aminoalkyl-1,4-Diazepan-2-One Melanocortin-5 Receptor Antagonists. US8343958.

“3-Aminoalkyl-1,4-Diazepan-2-One Melanocortin-5 Receptor Antagonists

2012

Journal Article

Resolving biofilm infections: current therapy and drug discovery strategies

Ranall, Max V., Butler, Mark S., Blaskovich, Mark A. and Cooper, Matthew A. (2012). Resolving biofilm infections: current therapy and drug discovery strategies. Current Drug Targets, 13 (11), 1375-1385. doi: 10.2174/138945012803530251

Resolving biofilm infections: current therapy and drug discovery strategies

2012

Journal Article

Lipoamino acids as major components of absorption promoters in drug delivery

Ziora, Zyta M., Blaskovich, Mark A., Toth, Istvan and Cooper, Matthew A. (2012). Lipoamino acids as major components of absorption promoters in drug delivery. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 12 (14), 1562-1580. doi: 10.2174/156802612802652448

Lipoamino acids as major components of absorption promoters in drug delivery

2012

Conference Publication

New glycopeptidic antibiotics to combat multidrug resistant pathogens

Gong, Y., Muldoon, C. A., Premraj, R., Ziora, Z. M., Bradford, T. A., Cheng, M., Ramu, S., Huang, J. X., Kavanagh, A., Pelingon, R., Lee, J. C., Wong, K., Butler, M. S., Blaskovich, M. A. and Cooper, M. A. (2012). New glycopeptidic antibiotics to combat multidrug resistant pathogens. 32nd European Peptide Symposium, Athens, Greece, 2-7 September 2012. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/psc.2449

New glycopeptidic antibiotics to combat multidrug resistant pathogens

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2026
    A Facility for Accelerated Microbial Phenotyping in Southeast Queensland
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 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 - 2025
    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 - 2028
    ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance (ARC CEA-StAR)
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    OctapeptinX Potentiators to treat XDR Gram-negative infections
    NHMRC Development Grant
    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
    CSIRO Library Screening
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    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
  • 2022 - 2024
    Molecular Accumulation in single cells via microfluidics and omics (BBSRC grant administered by University of Exeter)
    University of Exeter
    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
  • 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
    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

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

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Conny Turni

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Clicking Conjugates into Place for the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Joanne Blanchfield, Dr Anthony Verderosa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding Molecular Accumulation in antimicrobial resistant microbes

    Principal Advisor

  • Master Philosophy

    The antibacterial mechanism of action of cannabidiol

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Johannes Zuegg, Dr Tanuka Sen

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigations of the interactions between fluorescent antibiotics and bacteria

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Sanjaya Kc, Dr Anthony Verderosa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Vito Ferro

  • 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

    Translating the Targeted Protein Degradation therapeutic approach into the context of antibacterial drug discovery: Investigating bacterial protease-engaging antibacterial degrader constructs

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Anthony Verderosa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Selenium - The SuperElement against Superbugs

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Joanne Blanchfield

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Novel antibiotics containing tyrosinase inhibitors

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Zyta M Ziora

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Hijacking Iron Uptake to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Vito Ferro, Dr Anthony Verderosa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of Metal Organic Frameworks for targeted oral drug delivery

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Anjana Jayasree, Professor Amirali Popat

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Targeting bacterial biofilms in patients with gastrointestinal disorders

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Seeing the Unseen: Imaging Bacterial Infections

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Kristofer Thurecht, Dr Rhia Stone

  • Doctor Philosophy

    How does cannabidiol kill bacteria?

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Tanuka Sen, 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Medicinal chemistry strategies to remove bacterial biofilms associated 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

    Seeing the Unseen: Imaging Bacterial Infections

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Kristofer Thurecht, Dr Rhia Stone

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mechanism of action of MgO

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Conny Turni, Dr Sean Bisset, Professor Ian Henderson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A global quantitative genetic network for Escherichia coli

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ian Henderson

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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