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)

61 - 73 of 73 works

2017

Journal Article

Venom peptides as therapeutics: advances, challenges and the future of venom-peptide discovery

Robinson, Samuel D., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Ueberheide, Beatrix and King, Glenn F. (2017). Venom peptides as therapeutics: advances, challenges and the future of venom-peptide discovery. Expert Review of Proteomics, 14 (10), 931-939. doi: 10.1080/14789450.2017.1377613

Venom peptides as therapeutics: advances, challenges and the future of venom-peptide discovery

2016

Journal Article

Insulin as a weapon

Robinson, Samuel D. and Safavi-Hemami, Helena (2016). Insulin as a weapon. Toxicon, 123, 56-61. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.10.010

Insulin as a weapon

2016

Journal Article

Stereoselective synthesis and structural elucidation of dicarba peptides

Gleeson, Ellen C., Wang, Zhen J., Robinson, Samuel D., Chhabra, Sandeep, MacRaild, Christopher A., Jackson, W. Roy, Norton, Raymond S. and Robinson, Andrea J. (2016). Stereoselective synthesis and structural elucidation of dicarba peptides. Chemical Communications, 52 (24), 4446-4449. doi: 10.1039/c5cc10540d

Stereoselective synthesis and structural elucidation of dicarba peptides

2016

Journal Article

A naturally occurring peptide with an elementary single disulfide-directed β-hairpin fold

Robinson, Samuel D., Chhabra, Sandeep, Belgi, Alessia, Chittoor, Balasubramanyam, Safavi-Hemami, Helena, Robinson, Andrea J., Papenfuss, Anthony T., Purcell, Anthony W. and Norton, Raymond S. (2016). A naturally occurring peptide with an elementary single disulfide-directed β-hairpin fold. Structure, 24 (2), 293-299. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2015.11.015

A naturally occurring peptide with an elementary single disulfide-directed β-hairpin fold

2015

Journal Article

Tissue plasminogen activator inhibits NMDA-receptor-mediated increases in calcium levels in cultured hippocampal neurons

Robinson, Samuel D., Lee, Tet Woo, Christie, David L. and Birch, Nigel P. (2015). Tissue plasminogen activator inhibits NMDA-receptor-mediated increases in calcium levels in cultured hippocampal neurons. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 9 (OCT) 404, 404. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00404

Tissue plasminogen activator inhibits NMDA-receptor-mediated increases in calcium levels in cultured hippocampal neurons

2015

Journal Article

Discovery by proteogenomics and characterization of an RF-amide neuropeptide from cone snail venom

Robinson, Samuel D., Safavi-Hemami, Helena, Raghuraman, Shrinivasan, Imperial, Julita S., Papenfuss, Anthony T., Teichert, Russell W., Purcell, Anthony W., Olivera, Baldomero M. and Norton, Raymond S. (2015). Discovery by proteogenomics and characterization of an RF-amide neuropeptide from cone snail venom. Journal of Proteomics, 114, 38-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2014.11.003

Discovery by proteogenomics and characterization of an RF-amide neuropeptide from cone snail venom

2014

Journal Article

Dicarba analogues of α-conotoxin RgIA. Structure, stability, and activity at potential pain targets

Chhabra, Sandeep, Belgi, Alessia, Bartels, Peter, van Lierop, Bianca J., Robinson, Samuel D., Kompella, Shiva N., Hung, Andrew, Callaghan, Brid P., Adams, David J., Robinson, Andrea J. and Norton, Raymond S. (2014). Dicarba analogues of α-conotoxin RgIA. Structure, stability, and activity at potential pain targets. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 57 (23), 9933-9944. doi: 10.1021/jm501126u

Dicarba analogues of α-conotoxin RgIA. Structure, stability, and activity at potential pain targets

2014

Journal Article

Conotoxin gene superfamilies

Robinson, Samuel D. and Norton, Raymond S. (2014). Conotoxin gene superfamilies. Marine Drugs, 12 (12), 6058-6101. doi: 10.3390/md12126058

Conotoxin gene superfamilies

2014

Journal Article

Diversity of conotoxin gene superfamilies in the venomous snail, Conus victoriae

Robinson, Samuel D., Safavi-Hemami, Helena, McIntosh, Lachlan D., Purcell, Anthony W., Norton, Raymond S. and Papenfuss, Anthony T. (2014). Diversity of conotoxin gene superfamilies in the venomous snail, Conus victoriae. PLoS One, 9 (2) e87648, e87648. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087648

Diversity of conotoxin gene superfamilies in the venomous snail, Conus victoriae

2014

Journal Article

Interactions of disulfide-deficient selenocysteine analogs of μ-conotoxin BuIIIB with the α-subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.3

Green, Brad R., Zhang, Min-Min, Chhabra, Sandeep, Robinson, Samuel D., Wilson, Michael J., Redding, Addison, Olivera, Baldomero M., Yoshikami, Doju, Bulaj, Grzegorz and Norton, Raymond S. (2014). Interactions of disulfide-deficient selenocysteine analogs of μ-conotoxin BuIIIB with the α-subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.3. The FEBS Journal, 281 (13), 2885-2898. doi: 10.1111/febs.12835

Interactions of disulfide-deficient selenocysteine analogs of μ-conotoxin BuIIIB with the α-subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.3

2013

Journal Article

Dicarba α-conotoxin Vc1.1 analogues with differential selectivity for nicotinic acetylcholine and GABAB receptors

Van Lierop, Bianca J., Robinson, Samuel D., Kompella, Shiva N., Belgi, Alessia, McArthur, Jeffrey R., Hung, Andrew, Macraild, Christopher A., Adams, David J., Norton, Raymond S. and Robinson, Andrea J. (2013). Dicarba α-conotoxin Vc1.1 analogues with differential selectivity for nicotinic acetylcholine and GABAB receptors. ACS Chemical Biology, 8 (8), 1815-1821. doi: 10.1021/cb4002393

Dicarba α-conotoxin Vc1.1 analogues with differential selectivity for nicotinic acetylcholine and GABAB receptors

2011

Journal Article

Novel peptide antagonists of adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors: Identification, pharmacological characterization, and interactions with position 74 in receptor activity-modifying protein 1/3 (Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (2009) 331, (513-521))

Robinson, S. D., Aitken, J. F., Bailey, R. J., Poyner, D. R. and Hay, D. L. (2011). Novel peptide antagonists of adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors: Identification, pharmacological characterization, and interactions with position 74 in receptor activity-modifying protein 1/3 (Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (2009) 331, (513-521)). Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 339 (1).

Novel peptide antagonists of adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors: Identification, pharmacological characterization, and interactions with position 74 in receptor activity-modifying protein 1/3 (Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (2009) 331, (513-521))

2009

Journal Article

Novel peptide antagonists of adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors: Identification, pharmacological characterization, and interactions with position 74 in receptor activity-modifying protein 1/3

Robinson, Samuel D., Aitken, Jacqueline F., Bailey, Richard J., Poyner, David R. and Hay, Debbie L. (2009). Novel peptide antagonists of adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors: Identification, pharmacological characterization, and interactions with position 74 in receptor activity-modifying protein 1/3. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 331 (2), 513-521. doi: 10.1124/jpet.109.156448

Novel peptide antagonists of adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors: Identification, pharmacological characterization, and interactions with position 74 in receptor activity-modifying protein 1/3

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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