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Associate Professor Mariusz Skwarczynski
Associate Professor

Mariusz Skwarczynski

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69894

Overview

Background

Mariusz Skwarczynski completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1999 at Wroclaw University of Technology (Poland). His postdoctoral training began at Tokushima Bunri University (Japan), and then Kyoto Pharmaceutical University (Japan). In 2008 he joined Professor Istvan Toth’s group at The University of Queensland (Australia) to work on new vaccine development strategies. Currently his group activity is mainly focused on nanotechnology-based peptide vaccine delivery approaches and adjuvants discovery. He is Regional Editor of Australia in Vaccines, and Associate Editor in Frontiers in Pharmacology. He has published over 190 peer-reviewed publications, including 18 book chapters and three books.

Availability

Associate Professor Mariusz Skwarczynski is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, Wroclaw University of Technology
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Wroclaw University of Technology
  • Member, Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre
  • Journal Editorial Board Member, Current Drug Delivery, Current Drug Delivery
  • Journal Editorial Board Member, Frontiers in Pharmacology (Associate Editor), Frontiers in Pharmacology (Associate Editor)
  • Journal Editorial Board Member, Medicinal Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry
  • Member, Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
  • Member, The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association in Australia, The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association in Australia
  • Journal Editorial Board Member, Vaccines (Regional Editor of Australia), Vaccines (Regional Editor of Australia)

Research interests

  • Vaccines and Nanomedicine

    Vaccine Design, Adjuvants, Nanotechnology, Peptide Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Vaccine/Drug Delivery, Antimicrobial Agents, Macromolecules, Immunology

Research impacts

Mariusz Skwarczynski work focuses on nanotechnology-based approaches to vaccine adjuvants, with the potential for significant practical applications in developing novel vaccines. He has co-developed unique peptide, polymer, and liposomes-based adjuvanting systems used in vaccine development against malaria, hookworm, Group A Streptococcus, cancer and fertility vaccines.

As per January 2026:

He has published 3 books, 18 book chapters, and over 170 journal papers (~ 40 first and ~ 40 as last author, h index = 55, citations >9000), with a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 2.14 (twice higher than the average researcher), and 29.9% of publications in last 5-years are in the top 10% of journals by CiteScore. Ranked 5th (Top 0.027% of 18,422) in the world in Subunit Vaccines (2012-2022; ExpertScape) and listed in World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University in 2024, inside the top 0.35% in medicinal & biomolecular chemistry. His publications have received > 150 patent cites.

In the past 10 years, he secured $33.8M in grant funding, including $3.0M as the principle CI, $10.1M as a CI and $20.7M as the AI. He currently holds five grants as a CI: 2xNHMRC Ideas (CIA, 2024-27, $608K; CIA, 2024-27, $856K), CRE NHMRC (CIF, 2026-31, $3,000K), Synergy NHMRC (CIF, 2026-31, $5,000K), and ARC DP (CIA, 2026-30, $1,073K).

He has been invited 21 times in the last 5 years to present at international seminars and conferences,including invited lectures at National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC) (Bangkok, Thailand), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno (Campania, Italy), University of Opole, (Opole, Poland), and 5th International Symposium on Synthetic Peptide as Human and Veterinary Pharmaceutical Products, (Varadero, Cuba). His work has received over 39 news articles from national and international agencies, including 11 interviews and articles in 2021 from Australia, India, Pakistan, Hungary, Kenya and New Zealand for his work on the oral hookworm vaccine.

He is the Regional Editor of Australia for Vaccines and Associate Editor for Frontiers in Pharmacology. He has organised 9 special issues in the last 5 years for journals such as Vaccines, Molecules and Frontiers in Pharmacology. Furthermore, he organised and chaired “Micro and Nanoparticles in Drug and Vaccine Delivery Symposium”, St Lucia, QLD, 3rd December 2021. He regularly reviews domestic grants, for example, 13 NHMRC Ideas grants in 2024, as well as international, for example, Austrian Science Fund, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, The Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council (UK). Peer reviews >10/year for top international journals (e.g. Nat. Commun.; Adv. Sci.; Adv. Mater.; Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev; Acta Biomater.).

He was/is co/supervisor of 33 PhD students (graduated and ongoing), and co/supervisor of over 30 research students. In the years 2019-2025, his supervised students received eleven awards, including the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Higher Degree by Research Theses, and awards at international conferences (travel, best poster, best oral presentations).

Works

Search Professor Mariusz Skwarczynski’s works on UQ eSpace

212 works between 1995 and 2026

101 - 120 of 212 works

2017

Journal Article

The application of self-assembled nanostructures in peptide-based subunit vaccine development

Zhao, Guangzu, Chandrudu, Saranya, Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2017). The application of self-assembled nanostructures in peptide-based subunit vaccine development. European Polymer Journal, 93, 670-681. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2017.02.014

The application of self-assembled nanostructures in peptide-based subunit vaccine development

2017

Journal Article

Highly immunogenic trimethyl chitosan-based delivery system for intranasal lipopeptide vaccines against group A streptococcus

Marasini, Nirmal, Ghaffar, Khairunnisa Abdul, Giddam, Ashwini Kumar, Batzloff, Michael R., Good, Michael F., Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2017). Highly immunogenic trimethyl chitosan-based delivery system for intranasal lipopeptide vaccines against group A streptococcus. Current Drug Delivery, 14 (5), 701-708. doi: 10.2174/1567201813666160721141322

Highly immunogenic trimethyl chitosan-based delivery system for intranasal lipopeptide vaccines against group A streptococcus

2017

Journal Article

Development and delivery of a peptide-based vaccine against group A Streptococcus

Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2017). Development and delivery of a peptide-based vaccine against group A Streptococcus. Infectious Diseases Hub.

Development and delivery of a peptide-based vaccine against group A Streptococcus

2017

Journal Article

Fluorinated lipids conjugated to peptide antigens do not induce immune responses against cervical cancer

Hussein, Waleed M., Mukaida, Saori, Liu, Tzu-Yu, Toth, Istvan and Skwarczynski, Mariusz (2017). Fluorinated lipids conjugated to peptide antigens do not induce immune responses against cervical cancer. Vaccination Research Open Journal, 1 (1), 39-44. doi: 10.17140/VROJ-1-107

Fluorinated lipids conjugated to peptide antigens do not induce immune responses against cervical cancer

2017

Journal Article

Intranasal delivery of nanoparticle-based vaccines

Marasini, Nirmal, Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2017). Intranasal delivery of nanoparticle-based vaccines. Therapeutic Delivery, 8 (3), 151-167. doi: 10.4155/tde-2016-0068

Intranasal delivery of nanoparticle-based vaccines

2017

Journal Article

Comparison of fluorinated and nonfluorinated lipids in self-adjuvanting delivery systems for peptide-based vaccines

Hussein, Waleed M., Mukaida, Saori, Azmi, Fazren, Bartlett, Stacey, Olivier, Celine, Batzloff, Michael R., Good, Michael F., Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2017). Comparison of fluorinated and nonfluorinated lipids in self-adjuvanting delivery systems for peptide-based vaccines. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 8 (2), 227-232. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00453

Comparison of fluorinated and nonfluorinated lipids in self-adjuvanting delivery systems for peptide-based vaccines

2017

Journal Article

Poly-L-lysine-coated nanoparticles are ineffective in inducing mucosal immunity against group a streptococcus

Marasini, Nirmal, Giddam, Ashwini Kumar, Batzloff, Michael R. , Good, Michael F. , Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2017). Poly-L-lysine-coated nanoparticles are ineffective in inducing mucosal immunity against group a streptococcus. Biochemical Compounds, 5 (1), 1.1-1.6. doi: 10.7243/2052-9341-5-1

Poly-L-lysine-coated nanoparticles are ineffective in inducing mucosal immunity against group a streptococcus

2017

Journal Article

The role of size in development of mucosal liposome-lipopeptide vaccine candidates against group A streptococcus

Ghaffar, Khairunnisa Abdul, Marasini, Nirmal, Giddam, Ashwini Kumar, Batzloff, Michael R., Good, Michael F., Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2017). The role of size in development of mucosal liposome-lipopeptide vaccine candidates against group A streptococcus. Medicinal Chemistry, 13 (1), 22-27. doi: 10.2174/1573406412666160720093138

The role of size in development of mucosal liposome-lipopeptide vaccine candidates against group A streptococcus

2017

Journal Article

Inulin: a new adjuvant with unknown mode of action

Skwarczynski, Mariusz (2017). Inulin: a new adjuvant with unknown mode of action. EBioMedicine, 15, 8-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.11.019

Inulin: a new adjuvant with unknown mode of action

2017

Journal Article

Meet our editorial board member

Skwarczynski, Mariusz (2017). Meet our editorial board member. Medicinal Chemistry, 13 (1), 2-2. doi: 10.2174/157340641301161222205112

Meet our editorial board member

2017

Book

Micro- and nanotechnology in vaccine development

Mariusz Skwarczynski and Istvan Toth eds. (2017). Micro- and nanotechnology in vaccine development. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.

Micro- and nanotechnology in vaccine development

2017

Book Chapter

Liposomes as a vaccine delivery system

Marasini, N., Ghaffar, K.A., Skwarczynski, M. and Toth, I. (2017). Liposomes as a vaccine delivery system. Micro and Nanotechnology in Vaccine Development. (pp. 221-239) edited by Mariusz Skwarczynski and Istvan Toth. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-39981-4.00012-9

Liposomes as a vaccine delivery system

2017

Journal Article

Evaluation of lipopeptides as toll-like receptor 2 ligands

Hussein, Waleed, Choi, Phil, Zhang, Cheng, Su, Mei, Sierecki, Emma, Johnston, Wayne, Fagan, Vincent, Alexandrov, Kirill, Skwarczynski, Mariusz, Gambin, Yann, Toth, Istvan and Simerska, P. (2017). Evaluation of lipopeptides as toll-like receptor 2 ligands. Current Drug Delivery, 14 (7), 935-943. doi: 10.2174/1567201813666160804114107

Evaluation of lipopeptides as toll-like receptor 2 ligands

2017

Book Chapter

Micro- and Nanotechnology in Vaccine Development - Introduction

Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2017). Micro- and Nanotechnology in Vaccine Development - Introduction. Micro- and Nanotechnology in Vaccine Development . (pp. XVII-XVIII) edited by Skwarczynski, M. and Toth, I.. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier Science.

Micro- and Nanotechnology in Vaccine Development - Introduction

2016

Journal Article

Double adjuvanting strategy for peptide-based vaccines: trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles for lipopeptide delivery

Marasini, Nirmal, Giddam, Ashwini K., Khalil, Zeinab G., Hussein, Waleed M., Capon, Robert J., Batzloff, Michael R., Good, Michael F., Toth, Istvan and Skwarczynski, Mariusz (2016). Double adjuvanting strategy for peptide-based vaccines: trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles for lipopeptide delivery. Nanomedicine, 11 (24), 3223-3235. doi: 10.2217/nnm-2016-0291

Double adjuvanting strategy for peptide-based vaccines: trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles for lipopeptide delivery

2016

Journal Article

Towards the development of synthetic antibiotics: designs inspired by natural antimicrobial peptides

Azmi, Fazren, Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2016). Towards the development of synthetic antibiotics: designs inspired by natural antimicrobial peptides. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 23 (41), 4610-4624. doi: 10.2174/0929867323666160825162435

Towards the development of synthetic antibiotics: designs inspired by natural antimicrobial peptides

2016

Journal Article

Lipid core peptide/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as a highly potent intranasal vaccine delivery system against Group A streptococcus

Marasini, Nirmal, Khalil, Zeinab G., Giddam, Ashwini K., Abdul Ghaffar, Khairunnisa, Hussein, Waleed M., Capon, Robert J., Batzloff, Michael R., Good, Michael F., Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2016). Lipid core peptide/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as a highly potent intranasal vaccine delivery system against Group A streptococcus. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 513 (1-2), 410-420. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.09.057

Lipid core peptide/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as a highly potent intranasal vaccine delivery system against Group A streptococcus

2016

Journal Article

Meet our editorial board member

Skwarczynski, Mariusz (2016). Meet our editorial board member. Current Drug Delivery, 13 (7), 1003-1003. doi: 10.2174/156720181307161018173422

Meet our editorial board member

2016

Journal Article

A semi-synthetic whole parasite vaccine designed to protect against blood stage malaria

Giddam, Ashwini Kumar, Reiman, Jennifer M., Zaman, Mehfuz, Skwarczynski, Mariusz, Toth, Istvan and Good, Michael F. (2016). A semi-synthetic whole parasite vaccine designed to protect against blood stage malaria. Acta Biomaterialia, 44, 295-303. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2016.08.020

A semi-synthetic whole parasite vaccine designed to protect against blood stage malaria

2016

Journal Article

Multiantigenic peptide-polymer conjugates as therapeutic vaccines against cervical cancer

Hussein, Waleed M., Liu, Tzu-Yu, Jia, Zhongfan, McMillan, Nigel A. J., Monteiro, Michael J., Toth, Istvan and Skwarczynski, Mariusz (2016). Multiantigenic peptide-polymer conjugates as therapeutic vaccines against cervical cancer. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 24 (18), 4372-4380. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.07.036

Multiantigenic peptide-polymer conjugates as therapeutic vaccines against cervical cancer

Funding

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2030
    Oral anti-fertility vaccine for population control of invasive rabbits
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    A nanovaccine against Invasive Group A Streptococcus and Rheumatic Heart Disease
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Paving the way for a Clinical Vaccine Candidate against Hookworm Infection
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Single-shot anti-fertility vaccine in pigs
    Australia's Economic Accelerator Seed Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Poly(amino acids) as immune stimulators
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    A single-shot anti-fertility vaccine in female cattle
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Hookworm peptide therapeutic for oral treatment of IBD (NHMRC Development Grant administered by James Cook University)
    James Cook University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    A Self-assembling and Self-adjuvanting Nanoparticular Therapeutic Vaccine Against Cervical Cancer
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Mariusz Skwarczynski is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Available projects

  • A nanonaccine against Invasive Group A Streptococcus and Rheumatic Heart Disease

    The major challenge in any vaccine development is its formulation/delivery once the target antigens are identified. The main aim of this project is to adopt and further develop our immune-stimulating delivery systems to produce a multicomponent synthetic (poly)peptide vaccine candidate against Group A Streptococcus (GAS), the major causative agent of deadly diseases such as rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and invasive GAS infection. Notably, a variety of vaccines against GAS infection have reached clinical trials in the past decades; however, these vaccines have limited efficacy due to the high variability of GAS strains. We hypothesise that the incorporation of three conserved peptide antigens from GAS proteins into our newly developed nanoparticles-based vaccine delivery systems will overcome the above obstacles and produce an efficient and universal vaccine candidate against GAS. The project will deliver preclinical vaccine candidates against Group A Streptococcus, which, after oral dosing, will be able to induce robust opsonic antibody production against a wide range of GAS strains without triggering adverse effects and off-target immune responses. We will employ peptide antigens from the highly conserved region of M-protein, cell envelope proteinase, and fibronectin-binding protein 1. The optimized vaccine delivery system will be easily adaptable for the development of vaccines against other diseases.

  • Oral anti-fertility vaccine for rabbits

    Develop the first oral vaccines that suppress fertility in rabbits and enable responsible and ethical landscape population control. Expected outcomes of this project include the creation of a commercially attractive oral immunization platform.

    Who can apply: medicinal/peptide chemists with preferable knowledge in immunology and pharmaceutical formulations.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Mariusz Skwarczynski directly for media enquiries about:

  • fertility control
  • group A streptococcus
  • hookworm
  • immune adjuvants
  • nanovaccines
  • peptide vaccines

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au