
Overview
Background
Megan O’Mara is a Professor and Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), UQ. Her group uses multiscale modelling techniques to understand how changes in the biochemical environment of the cell membranes alters membrane properties and modulates the function of membrane proteins. She has research interests in multidrug resistance, computational drug design and delivery, biopolymers, and personalized medicine. Megan completed her PhD in biophysics at the Australian National University in 2005 before moving to the University of Calgary, Canada, to take up a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship. In 2009, she returned to Australia to join University of Queensland’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences as a UQ Postdoctoral Fellow, before commencing an ARC DECRA in 2012 where she continued her computational work on membrane protein dynamics. In 2015, Megan joined the Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University in 2015 as Rita Cornforth Fellow and Senior Lecturer. In 2019 she was promoted to Associate Professor and was Associate Director (Education) of the Research School of Chemistry ANU in 2019-2021. In April 2022 she relocated to AIBN.
Availability
- Professor Megan O'Mara is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor, University of Canberra
- Bachelor of Physical Sciences, Australian National University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Physical Sciences, Australian National University
- Associate Fellow, Australian National University, Australian National University
Research interests
-
computational drug design
computational drug design, structure based drug design, structure activity relationships, computational fragment based drug design
-
membrane biophysics
computational cell membrane biophysics, computational lipidomics, cell membrane properties in health, disease and senescence
-
multudrug resistance
antimicrobial resistance, cancer chemotherapy resistance
-
polymer simulations
biopolymers, self assembly, polymer properties
-
lipid delivery systems
targeted lipid delivery systems, computational analysis, lipid formulations, LNP loading, computational simulations
-
computational structural biology
membrane protein structure-function, computational biology, protein structure prediction
Research impacts
My research uses computational techniques and simulations to understand how the chemistry of biological and bioinspired systems influence their physical properties. My goal is to understand how biomolecules self-assemble and self-regulate in living cells. My work allows the rational design of new pharmaceuticals, drug and vaccine delivery systems and biocompatable materials, as well as understanding fundamental problems such as antibiotic resistance. My students gain skills in data science, computational chemistry, computational biology, high performance computing, rational drug design and research data management that are directly transferable to industry, government and policy development, as well as research. I collaborate broadly across UQ, Australia and internationally with researchers and industry.
Works
Search Professor Megan O'Mara’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Visible light reactive single‐chain nanoparticles
Mundsinger, Kai, Tuten, Bryan T., Wang, Lily, Neubauer, Kira, Kropf, Christian, O'Mara, Megan L. and Barner-Kowollik, Christopher (2023). Visible light reactive single‐chain nanoparticles. Angewandte Chemie, 135 (23) e202302995. doi: 10.1002/ange.202302995
2023
Journal Article
The impact of antimicrobial peptides on the Acinetobacter baumannii inner membrane is modulated by lipid polyunsaturation
MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo I., Wilson, Katie A. and O’Mara, Megan L. (2023). The impact of antimicrobial peptides on the Acinetobacter baumannii inner membrane is modulated by lipid polyunsaturation. ACS Infectious Diseases, 9 (4), 815-826. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00530
2023
Conference Publication
Identification and characterisation of lipids that are positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors
Gallagher, Casey I., Lin, Yie Chang, Kumar, Arvind, Ha, Damian, Cioffi, Christopher L., Chakrapani, Sudha, O'Mara, Megan L. and Vandenberg, Robert J. (2023). Identification and characterisation of lipids that are positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors. 66th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical-Society, San Francisco Ca, Feb 19-23, 2022. CAMBRIDGE: CELL PRESS.
2023
Conference Publication
Polyunsaturated lipids promote membrane phase separation and antimicrobial sensitivity
MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo, Wilson, Katie A., Eijkelkamp, Bart and O'Mara, Megan L. (2023). Polyunsaturated lipids promote membrane phase separation and antimicrobial sensitivity. Biophysical Society 67th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 18-22 February 2023. St. Louis, MO United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.1805
2023
Conference Publication
Identification and characterisation of lipids that are positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors
Gallagher, Casey I., Chang Lin, Yie, Kumar, Arvind, Ha, Damian, Cioffi, Christopher L., Chakrapani, Sudha, O'Mara, Megan L. and Vandenberg, Robert J. (2023). Identification and characterisation of lipids that are positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors. 67th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting 2023, San Diego, CA United States, 18-22 February 2023. St Louis, MO United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.2138
2023
Journal Article
Membrane cholesterol regulates inhibition and substrate transport by the glycine transporter, GlyT2
Frangos, Zachary J., Wilson, Katie A., Aitken, Heather M., Cantwell Chater, Ryan, Vandenberg, Robert J. and O’Mara, Megan L. (2023). Membrane cholesterol regulates inhibition and substrate transport by the glycine transporter, GlyT2. Life Science Alliance, 6 (4) e202201708, 1-17. doi: 10.26508/lsa.202201708
2022
Journal Article
Protonophoric and mitochondrial uncoupling activity of aryl-carbamate substituted fatty acids
MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo, Clarke, Callum, Wu, Xin, Roseblade, Ariane, York, Edward, Pacchini, Ethan, Roy, Ritik, Cranfield, Charles, Gale, Philip A., O'Mara, Megan L., Murray, Michael and Rawling, Tristan (2022). Protonophoric and mitochondrial uncoupling activity of aryl-carbamate substituted fatty acids. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 21 (1), 132-139. doi: 10.1039/d2ob02049a
2022
Journal Article
Conserved FimH mutations in the global Escherichia coli ST131 multi-drug resistant lineage weaken interdomain interactions and alter adhesin function
Qin, Jilong, Wilson, Katie A., Sarkar, Sohinee, Heras, Begoña, O'Mara, Megan L. and Totsika, Makrina (2022). Conserved FimH mutations in the global Escherichia coli ST131 multi-drug resistant lineage weaken interdomain interactions and alter adhesin function. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 20, 4532-4541. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.08.040
2022
Journal Article
Dynamics of the Acinetobacter baumannii inner membrane under exogenous polyunsaturated fatty acid stress
MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo I., Panizza, Alessandra, Eijkelkamp, Bart A. and O'Mara, Megan L. (2022). Dynamics of the Acinetobacter baumannii inner membrane under exogenous polyunsaturated fatty acid stress. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Biomembranes, 1864 (7) 183908, 183908. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.183908
2022
Journal Article
PsiRESP: calculating RESP charges with Psi4
Wang, Lily and O’Mara, Megan L. (2022). PsiRESP: calculating RESP charges with Psi4. Journal of Open Source Software, 7 (73), 4100. doi: 10.21105/joss.04100
2022
Journal Article
Loss, gain and altered function of GlyR α2 subunit mutations in neurodevelopmental disorders
Chen, Xiumin, Wilson, Katie A., Schaefer, Natascha, De Hayr, Lachlan, Windsor, Mark, Scalais, Emmanuel, van Rijckevorsel, Germaine, Stouffs, Katrien, Villmann, Carmen, O’Mara, Megan L., Lynch, Joseph W. and Harvey, Robert J. (2022). Loss, gain and altered function of GlyR α2 subunit mutations in neurodevelopmental disorders. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 15 886729. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.886729
2022
Journal Article
Hydroxy groups enhance [2]rotaxane anion binding selectivity
Goodwin, Rosemary J., Docker, Andrew, MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo, Aitken, Heather M., O'Mara, Megan L., Beer, Paul D. and White, Nicholas G. (2022). Hydroxy groups enhance [2]rotaxane anion binding selectivity. Chemistry-A European Journal, 28 (28) e202200389, e202200389. doi: 10.1002/chem.202200389
2022
Journal Article
Heteroleptic tripalladium(II) cages
Findlay, James A., Patil, Komal M., Gardiner, Michael G., MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo, O'Mara, Megan L., Kruger, Paul E. and Preston, Dan (2022). Heteroleptic tripalladium(II) cages. Chemistry: An Asian Journal, 17 (6) e202200093. doi: 10.1002/asia.202200093
2022
Journal Article
Polymer-solvent interactions as a tool to engineer material properties
Aitken, Heather M., Jiang, Zhen, Hampton, Isaac, O'Mara, Megan L. and Connal, Luke A. (2022). Polymer-solvent interactions as a tool to engineer material properties. Molecular Systems Design and Engineering, 7 (7), 746-754. doi: 10.1039/d1me00111f
2022
Journal Article
Lipid-mediated antimicrobial resistance: a phantom menace or a new hope?
MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo I., Gupta, Vrinda and O’Mara, Megan L. (2022). Lipid-mediated antimicrobial resistance: a phantom menace or a new hope?. Biophysical Reviews, 14 (1), 145-162. doi: 10.1007/s12551-021-00912-8
2022
Journal Article
Pore structure controls stability and molecular flux in engineered protein cages
Adamson, Lachlan S. R., Tasneem, Nuren, Andreas, Michael P., Close, William, Jenner, Eric N., Szyszka, Taylor N., Young, Reginald, Cheah, Li Chen, Norman, Alexander, MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo I., O’Mara, Megan L., Sainsbury, Frank, Giessen, Tobias W. and Lau, Yu Heng (2022). Pore structure controls stability and molecular flux in engineered protein cages. Science Advances, 8 (5) eabl7346, eabl7346. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abl7346
2022
Journal Article
Simple synthetic route to a self-assembling enzyme-inspired transesterification catalysts
Kumar, Ashwani, Nothling, Mitchell David, Aitken, Heather M., Xiao, Zeyun, Lam, Mathew, Bell, Craig, O'Mara, Megan and Connal, Luke Andrew (2022). Simple synthetic route to a self-assembling enzyme-inspired transesterification catalysts. Catalysis Science and Technology, 12 (22), 6655-6659. doi: 10.1039/d2cy00744d
2021
Journal Article
Site of cholesterol oxidation impacts its localization and domain formation in the neuronal plasma membrane
Wilson, Katie A., Wang, Lily and O’Mara, Megan L. (2021). Site of cholesterol oxidation impacts its localization and domain formation in the neuronal plasma membrane. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 12 (20), 3873-3884. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00395
2021
Journal Article
Effect of the force field on molecular dynamics simulations of the multidrug efflux protein P-glycoprotein
Wang, Lily and O’Mara, Megan L. (2021). Effect of the force field on molecular dynamics simulations of the multidrug efflux protein P-glycoprotein. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, 17 (10), 6491-6508. doi: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00414
2021
Journal Article
The structural basis of bacterial manganese import
Neville, Stephanie L., Sjoehamn, Jennie, Watts, Jacinta A., MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo, Fairweather, Stephen J., Ganio, Katherine, Hulyer, Alex Carey, McGrath, Aaron P., Hayes, Andrew J., Malcolm, Tess R., Davies, Mark R., Nomura, Norimichi, Iwata, So, O'Mara, Megan L., Maher, Megan J. and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2021). The structural basis of bacterial manganese import. Science Advances, 7 (32) eabg3980. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abg3980
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Megan O'Mara is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the Physicochemical Drivers of Biomolecular Self-Assembly though Multiscale Simulations
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Ascher, Dr Evelyne Deplazes
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and design of novel antimicrobials
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Billy Williams-Noonan, Dr Evelyne Deplazes
-
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of membrane composition on protein-ligand interactions in drug design and delivery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Debra Bernhardt
-
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting alterations in cell membrane biophysics for disease intervention
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Evelyne Deplazes
-
Doctor Philosophy
Computational design of targeted lipid technologies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Ascher
-
Doctor Philosophy
nvestigation of pH-dependent bacterial transporters
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Debra Bernhardt, Professor Alan Mark
-
Doctor Philosophy
Cause-and-effect relationships influencing the MRI derived brain age gap
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lena Oestreich
Completed supervision
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting the membrane: molecular dynamics studies of protein-membrane interactions.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Mark
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding multidrug resistance: Molecular Dynamics studies of ligand recognition by P-glycoprotein
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Mark
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Megan O'Mara directly for media enquiries about:
- biophysics
- computational chemistry
- drug design
- supercomputers - applications
- women in STEM
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: