Dr Sam Robinson
Dr

Sam Robinson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 33406

Availability

Dr Sam Robinson is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Basic pharmacology Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Neurosciences Peripheral nervous system Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences Receptors and membrane biology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Monash University

Research interests

  • Biopharmacology

    My research expertise is in the discovery of new plant and animal toxins and investigation of their structure, function and potential for biomedical applications. I am an expert on plants and animals that sting, and the biology, chemistry, pharmacology and pathophysiology underlying those stings. My research is providing new understanding on the mechanisms of chemical defence and predation used by animals and plants, and the new toxins I have discovered are being used as tools for improving our understanding of the human body and designing new and better treatments for certain diseases e.g. diabetes and chronic pain. My research is multidisciplinary, covering a range of scientific fields including pharmacology, neuroscience, physiology, organismal biology, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, proteomics and structural biology. Several exciting research projects are available for outstanding prospective RHD students.

Search Professor Sam Robinson’s works on UQ eSpace

73 works between 2009 and 2024
All (73) Journal Article (67) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (5)

41 - 60 of 73 works

2020

Journal Article

Characterization of synthetic Tf2 as a NaV1.3 selective pharmacological probe

Israel, Mathilde R., Dash, Thomas S., Bothe, Stefanie N., Robinson, Samuel D., Deuis, Jennifer R., Craik, David J., Lampert, Angelika, Vetter, Irina and Durek, Thomas (2020). Characterization of synthetic Tf2 as a NaV1.3 selective pharmacological probe. Biomedicines, 8 (6) 155, 155. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8060155

Characterization of synthetic Tf2 as a NaV1.3 selective pharmacological probe

2020

Journal Article

An integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals the venom complexity of the bullet ant Paraponera clavata

Aili, Samira R., Touchard, Axel, Hayward, Regan, Robinson, Samuel D., Pineda, Sandy S., Lalagüe, Hadrien, Mrinalini, Vetter, Irina, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Kini, R. Manjunatha, Escoubas, Pierre, Padula, Matthew P., Myers, Garry S. A. and Nicholson, Graham M. (2020). An integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals the venom complexity of the bullet ant Paraponera clavata. Toxins, 12 (5) 324, 1-30. doi: 10.3390/toxins12050324

An integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals the venom complexity of the bullet ant Paraponera clavata

2020

Journal Article

Transcriptomic profiling reveals extraordinary diversity of venom peptides in unexplored predatory gastropods of the genus clavus

Lu, Aiping, Watkins, Maren, Li, Qing, Robinson, Samuel D., Concepcion, Gisela P., Yandell, Mark, Weng, Zhiping, Olivera, Baldomero M., Safavi-Hemami, Helena and Fedosov, Alexander E. (2020). Transcriptomic profiling reveals extraordinary diversity of venom peptides in unexplored predatory gastropods of the genus clavus. Genome Biology and Evolution, 12 (5), 684-700. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evaa083

Transcriptomic profiling reveals extraordinary diversity of venom peptides in unexplored predatory gastropods of the genus clavus

2020

Book Chapter

High-throughput fluorescence assays for ion channels and GPCRs

Vetter, Irina, Carter, David, Bassett, John, Deuis, Jennifer R., Tay, Bryan, Jami, Sina and Robinson, Samuel D. (2020). High-throughput fluorescence assays for ion channels and GPCRs. Calcium Signaling. (pp. 27-72) edited by Md. Shahidul Islam. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-12457-1_3

High-throughput fluorescence assays for ion channels and GPCRs

2020

Conference Publication

Convergent evolution of defensive venom components in spitting cobras

Kazandjian, Taline, Petras, Daniel, Robinson, Sam, Undheim, Eivind, Arbuckle, Kevin, Whiteley, Gareth, Albulescu, Laura-Oana, Ainsworth, Stuart, Wagstaff, Simon, Wuster, Wolfgang, Harrison, Robert, Vetter, Irina, Calvete, Juan and Casewell, Nicholas (2020). Convergent evolution of defensive venom components in spitting cobras. 20th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8-13 September 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.12.059

Convergent evolution of defensive venom components in spitting cobras

2020

Conference Publication

Discovery and characterisation of novel peptides from Amazonian stinging ant venoms with antiparasitic activity

Nixon, Samantha, Agwa, Akello, Robinson, Sam, Walker, Andrew, Touchard, Axel, Schroeder, Christina, Vetter, Irina, Kotze, Andrew C., Herzig, Volker and King, Glenn F. (2020). Discovery and characterisation of novel peptides from Amazonian stinging ant venoms with antiparasitic activity. 20th World Congress of the International-Society-on-Toxinology, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8-13 September 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier.

Discovery and characterisation of novel peptides from Amazonian stinging ant venoms with antiparasitic activity

2019

Journal Article

Missiles of mass disruption: Composition and glandular origin of venom used as a projectile defensive weapon by the assassin bug Platymeris rhadamanthus

Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Jin, Jiayi, Han, Xiao, Fry, Bryan G., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2019). Missiles of mass disruption: Composition and glandular origin of venom used as a projectile defensive weapon by the assassin bug Platymeris rhadamanthus. Toxins, 11 (11) 673, 673. doi: 10.3390/toxins11110673

Missiles of mass disruption: Composition and glandular origin of venom used as a projectile defensive weapon by the assassin bug Platymeris rhadamanthus

2019

Journal Article

Characterization of the first Conotoxin from Conus ateralbus, a Vermivorous cone snail from the Cabo Verde archipelago

Neves, Jorge L. B., Imperial, Julita S., Morgenstern, David, Ueberheide, Beatrix, Gajewiak, Joanna, Antunes, Agostinho, Robinson, Samuel D., Espino, Samuel, Watkins, Maren, Vasconcelos, Vitor and Olivera, Baldomero M. (2019). Characterization of the first Conotoxin from Conus ateralbus, a Vermivorous cone snail from the Cabo Verde archipelago. Marine Drugs, 17 (8) 432, 432. doi: 10.3390/md17080432

Characterization of the first Conotoxin from Conus ateralbus, a Vermivorous cone snail from the Cabo Verde archipelago

2019

Journal Article

NaV1.6 regulates excitability of mechanosensitive sensory neurons

Israel, Mathilde R., Tanaka, Brian S., Castro, Joel, Thongyoo, Panumart, Robinson, Samuel D., Zhao, Peng, Deuis, Jennifer R., Craik, David J., Durek, Thomas, Brierley, Stuart M., Waxman, Stephen G, Dib-Hajj, Sulayman D. and Vetter, Irina (2019). NaV1.6 regulates excitability of mechanosensitive sensory neurons. Journal of Physiology, 597 (14), 3751-3768. doi: 10.1113/JP278148

NaV1.6 regulates excitability of mechanosensitive sensory neurons

2019

Journal Article

The three-dimensional structure of an H-superfamily conotoxin reveals a granulin fold arising from a common ICK cysteine framework

Nielsen, Lau D., Foged, Mads M., Albert, Anastasia, Bertelsen, Andreas B., Søltoft, Cecilie L., Robinson, Samuel D., Petersen, Steen V., Purcell, Anthony W., Olivera, Baldomero M., Norton, Raymond S., Vasskog, Terje, Safavi-Hemami, Helena, Teilum, Kaare and Ellgaard, Lars (2019). The three-dimensional structure of an H-superfamily conotoxin reveals a granulin fold arising from a common ICK cysteine framework. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294 (22), jbc.RA119.007491-8759. doi: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.007491

The three-dimensional structure of an H-superfamily conotoxin reveals a granulin fold arising from a common ICK cysteine framework

2019

Journal Article

Fish-hunting cone snail venoms are a rich source of minimized ligands of the vertebrate insulin receptor

Ahorukomeye, Peter, Disotuar, Maria M., Gajewiak, Joanna, Karanth, Santhosh, Watkins, Maren, Robinson, Samuel D., Flórez Salcedo, Paula, Smith, Nicholas A., Smith, Brian J., Schlegel, Amnon, Forbes, Briony E., Olivera, Baldomero, Hung-Chieh Chou, Danny and Safavi-Hemami, Helena (2019). Fish-hunting cone snail venoms are a rich source of minimized ligands of the vertebrate insulin receptor. eLife, 8 e41574. doi: 10.7554/eLife.41574

Fish-hunting cone snail venoms are a rich source of minimized ligands of the vertebrate insulin receptor

2018

Journal Article

Discovery of novel conotoxin candidates using machine learning

Li, Qing, Watkins, Maren, Robinson, Samuel D, Safavi-Hemami, Helena and Yandell, Mark (2018). Discovery of novel conotoxin candidates using machine learning. Toxins, 10 (12) 503, 503. doi: 10.3390/toxins10120503

Discovery of novel conotoxin candidates using machine learning

2018

Journal Article

Buzz kill: Function and proteomic composition of venom from the Giant Assassin Fly Dolopus genitalis (Diptera: Asilidae)

Walker, Andrew, Dobson, James, Jin, Jiayi, Robinson, Samuel, Herzig, Volker, Vetter, Irina, King, Glenn and Fry, Bryan (2018). Buzz kill: Function and proteomic composition of venom from the Giant Assassin Fly Dolopus genitalis (Diptera: Asilidae). Toxins, 10 (11) 456, 456. doi: 10.3390/toxins10110456

Buzz kill: Function and proteomic composition of venom from the Giant Assassin Fly Dolopus genitalis (Diptera: Asilidae)

2018

Journal Article

Entomo-venomics: the evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms

Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Yeates, David K., Jin, Jiayi, Baumann, Kate, Dobson, James, Fry, Bryan G. and King, Glenn F. (2018). Entomo-venomics: the evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms. Toxicon: official journal of the International Society on Toxinology, 154, 15-27. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.09.004

Entomo-venomics: the evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms

2018

Journal Article

Conopeptides promote itch through human itch receptor hMgprX1

Espino, Samuel S., Robinson, Samuel D., Safavi-Hemami, Helena, Gajewiak, Joanna, Yang, Weishan, Olivera, Baldomero M. and Liu, Qin (2018). Conopeptides promote itch through human itch receptor hMgprX1. Toxicon, 154, 28-34. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.09.002

Conopeptides promote itch through human itch receptor hMgprX1

2017

Journal Article

Venom peptides as pharmacological tools and therapeutics for diabetes

Robinson, Samuel D. and Safavi-Hemami, Helena (2017). Venom peptides as pharmacological tools and therapeutics for diabetes. Neuropharmacology, 127, 79-86. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.07.001

Venom peptides as pharmacological tools and therapeutics for diabetes

2017

Journal Article

The venom repertoire of Conus gloriamaris (Chemnitz, 1777), the Glory of the Sea

Robinson, Samuel D., Li, Qing, Lu, Aiping, Bandyopadhyay, Pradip K., Yandell, Mark, Olivera, Baldomero M. and Safavi-Hemami, Helena (2017). The venom repertoire of Conus gloriamaris (Chemnitz, 1777), the Glory of the Sea. Marine Drugs, 15 (5) 145, 145. doi: 10.3390/md15050145

The venom repertoire of Conus gloriamaris (Chemnitz, 1777), the Glory of the Sea

2017

Journal Article

The Single Disulfide-Directed β-Hairpin Fold. Dynamics, Stability, and Engineering

Chittoor, Balasubramanyam, Krishnarjuna, Bankala, Morales, Rodrigo A. V., MacRaild, Christopher A., Sadek, Maiada, Leung, Eleanor W. W., Robinson, Samuel D., Pennington, Michael W. and Norton, Raymond S. (2017). The Single Disulfide-Directed β-Hairpin Fold. Dynamics, Stability, and Engineering. Biochemistry, 56 (19), 2455-2466. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00120

The Single Disulfide-Directed β-Hairpin Fold. Dynamics, Stability, and Engineering

2017

Journal Article

Hormone-like peptides in the venoms of marine cone snails

Robinson, Samuel D., Li, Qing, Bandyopadhyay, Pradip K., Gajewiak, Joanna, Yandell, Mark, Papenfuss, Anthony T., Purcell, Anthony W., Norton, Raymond S. and Safavi-Hemami, Helena (2017). Hormone-like peptides in the venoms of marine cone snails. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 244, 11-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.07.012

Hormone-like peptides in the venoms of marine cone snails

2017

Journal Article

Structure and activity of contryphan-Vc2: Importance of the D-amino acid residue

Drane, Stephen B., Robinson, Samuel D., MacRaild, Christopher A., Chhabra, Sandeep, Chittoor, Balasubramanyam, Morales, Rodrigo A. V., Leung, Eleanor W. W., Belgi, Alessia, Espino, Samuel S., Olivera, Baldomero M., Robinson, Andrea J., Chalmers, David K. and Norton, Raymond S. (2017). Structure and activity of contryphan-Vc2: Importance of the D-amino acid residue. Toxicon, 129, 113-122. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.02.012

Structure and activity of contryphan-Vc2: Importance of the D-amino acid residue

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2027
    New Toxin Tools for Dissecting Pain
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    A new class of sodium channel toxin from ant venoms
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Uncovering the chemistry behind the world's most painful stings
    National Geographic Society
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Gain from pain: new tools from venomous animals for exploring pain pathways
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Sam Robinson is:
Available for supervision

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

Available projects

  • Identification and characterisation of new pain-causing toxins from animal venoms

    Almost all venomous animals use their venoms for defensive purposes—many solely. Defensive stings or bites, such as those of ants, wasps, scorpions and spiders, are often associated with intense pain caused by toxins that directly target sensory neurons, hijacking or overstimulating neuronal transmission. These pain-causing toxins have the potential to be used as tools to study the nervous system and uncover new pain signalling components (i.e. ion channels and/or receptors). The focus of this project will be the discovery and characterisation of pain-causing toxins from ant venoms.

    The aims of this project will be:

    1. Discovery of novel pain-causing toxins
    2. Determine the mode of action of pain-causing toxins
    3. Use newly identified pain-causing toxins to investigate mammalian pain pathways

    Techniques learned/applied may include (but are not limited to) venom collection, fractionation and purification; transcriptomics, proteomics and mass spectrometry; peptide synthesis; ion channel electrophysiology, microscopy, and in vivo pain models.

    The identification and characterisation of new pain-causing toxins from venoms will provide new knowledge about methods of chemical defence used by venomous animals and has the potential to elucidate new components of human pain signalling. A better understanding of our pain physiology may ultimately lead to the development of new or improved pain treatments.

    The project will be completed at the UQ Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) under the supervision of Dr. Sam Robinson, Dr. Jennifer Deuis, and Prof. Irina Vetter. UQ has a strong, internationally-focused research culture, and it is consistently ranked in the top 1% of world universities. The IMB is a leading research institute in the Asia-Pacific region and is internationally renowned for excellence in venom research (with experts in all aspects of venom biology including venom-peptide pharmacology, chemistry, structural biology, and venoms-based drug discovery) and pain research (it is home to the IMB Centre for Pain Research).

Supervision history

Current supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Sam Robinson directly for media enquiries about:

  • ants
  • bees
  • cone snails
  • stings
  • toxins
  • venom
  • wasps

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