Professor Megan O'Mara
Professor

Megan O'Mara

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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

Biological Sciences Biological physics Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Biomolecular modelling and design Cell neurochemistry Characterisation of biological macromolecules Chemical Sciences Macromolecular and materials chemistry Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Molecular medicine Physical Sciences Proteins and peptides Receptors and membrane biology Structural biology (incl. macromolecular modelling) Zoology

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.

Search Professor Megan O'Mara’s works on UQ eSpace

123 works between 2003 and 2024
All (123) Journal Article (100) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (19)

81 - 100 of 123 works

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Mechanism of activation of protein kinase JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor

Brooks, Andrew J., Dai, Wei, O’Mara, Megan L., Abankwa, Daniel, Chhabra, Yash, Pelekanos, Rebecca A., Gardon, Olivier, Tunny, Kathryn A., Blucher, Kristopher M., Morton, Craig J., Parker, Michael W., Sierecki, Emma, Gambin, Yann, Gomez, Guillermo A., Alexandrov, Kirill, Wilson, Ian A., Doxastakis, Manolis, Mark, Alan E. and Waters, Michael J. (2014). Mechanism of activation of protein kinase JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor. Science, 344 (6185) 1249783, 1249783.1-1249783.12. doi: 10.1126/science.1249783

Mechanism of activation of protein kinase JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor

2014

Journal Article

The central cavity of ABCB1 undergoes alternating access during ATP hydrolysis

van Wonderen, Jessica H., McMahon, Róisin M., O'Mara, Megan L., McDevitt, Christopher A., Thomson, Andrew J., Kerr, Ian D., MacMillan, Fraser and Callaghan, Richard (2014). The central cavity of ABCB1 undergoes alternating access during ATP hydrolysis. FEBS Journal, 281 (9), 2190-2201. doi: 10.1111/febs.12773

The central cavity of ABCB1 undergoes alternating access during ATP hydrolysis

2014

Book Chapter

Polypeptide and protein modeling for drug design

O’Mara, Megan L. and Deplazes, Evelyne (2014). Polypeptide and protein modeling for drug design. Encyclopedia of computational neuroscience. (pp. 1-9) New York, United States: Springer . doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_732-1

Polypeptide and protein modeling for drug design

2014

Journal Article

Structural characterization of two metastable ATP-bound states of P-glycoprotein

O'Mara, Megan L. and Mark, Alan E. (2014). Structural characterization of two metastable ATP-bound states of P-glycoprotein. PLoS One, 9 (3) e91916, e91916.1-e91916.14. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091916

Structural characterization of two metastable ATP-bound states of P-glycoprotein

2014

Journal Article

AdcA and AdcAII employ distinct zinc acquisition mechanisms and contribute additively to zinc homeostasis in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Plumptre, Charles D., Eijkelkamp, Bart A., Morey, Jacqueline R., Behr, Felix, Couñago, Rafael M., Ogunniyi, Abiodun D., Kobe, Bostjan, O'Mara, Megan L., Paton, James C. and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2014). AdcA and AdcAII employ distinct zinc acquisition mechanisms and contribute additively to zinc homeostasis in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Molecular Microbiology, 91 (4), 834–851-834–851. doi: 10.1111/mmi.12504

AdcA and AdcAII employ distinct zinc acquisition mechanisms and contribute additively to zinc homeostasis in Streptococcus pneumoniae

2014

Book Chapter

Polypeptide and protein modeling for drug design

O'Mara, Megan and Deplazes, Evelyne (2014). Polypeptide and protein modeling for drug design. Encyclopedia of computational neuroscience. (pp. 2439-2447) edited by Dieter Jaeger and Ranu Jung. Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6675-8_732

Polypeptide and protein modeling for drug design

2014

Conference Publication

A new cytokine receptor activation paradigm: Activation of JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor

Brooks, Andrew J, Chhabra, Yash, Abankwa, Daniel, O’Mara, Megan, Dai, Wei, Gardon, Olivier, Tunny, Kathryn A., Blucher, Kristopher M., Morton, Craig J., Parker, Michael W., Sierecki, Emma, Gambin, Yann, Guillermo A. Gomez, Alexandrov, Kirill Kirill, Doxastakis, Manolis, Mark, Alan E. and Waters, Michael J. (2014). A new cytokine receptor activation paradigm: Activation of JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor. 2nd Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS), Melbourne, VIC Australia, 26 - 29 October 2014. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.07.227

A new cytokine receptor activation paradigm: Activation of JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor

2013

Journal Article

Vancomycin: ligand recognition, dimerization and super-complex formation

Jia, ZhiGuang, O'Mara, Megan L., Zuegg, Johannes, Cooper, Matthew A. and Mark, Alan E. (2013). Vancomycin: ligand recognition, dimerization and super-complex formation. FEBS Journal, 280 (5), 1294-1307. doi: 10.1111/febs.12121

Vancomycin: ligand recognition, dimerization and super-complex formation

2013

Journal Article

Erratum: The effect of environment on the recognition and binding of vancomycin to native and resistant forms of lipid II (Biophysical Journal (2011) 101 (2684-2692))

Jia, Z. G., O'Mara, M. L., Zuegg, J., Matthew Cooper and Mark, Alan (2013). Erratum: The effect of environment on the recognition and binding of vancomycin to native and resistant forms of lipid II (Biophysical Journal (2011) 101 (2684-2692)). Biophysical Journal, 104 (2), 516-516. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2012.12.031

Erratum: The effect of environment on the recognition and binding of vancomycin to native and resistant forms of lipid II (Biophysical Journal (2011) 101 (2684-2692))

2012

Journal Article

Intestinal peptidases form functional complexes with the neutral amino acid transporter B0AT1

Fairweather, Stephen J., Broer, Angelika, O'Mara, Megan L. and Broer, Stefan (2012). Intestinal peptidases form functional complexes with the neutral amino acid transporter B0AT1. Biochemical Journal, 446 (1), 135-148. doi: 10.1042/BJ20120307

Intestinal peptidases form functional complexes with the neutral amino acid transporter B0AT1

2012

Conference Publication

Chicken TAP genes are polymorphic and co-evolve with the dominantly-expressed class I gene

Sowa, Anna, Harrison, Michael, Tregaskes, Clive, Chappell, Paul, Roversi, Pietro, Lea, Susan, O'Mara, Megan, Gaudet, Rachelle and Kaufman, Jim (2012). Chicken TAP genes are polymorphic and co-evolve with the dominantly-expressed class I gene. 7th Biannual Workshop on Antigen Presentation, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 24-27 April 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2012.02.050

Chicken TAP genes are polymorphic and co-evolve with the dominantly-expressed class I gene

2012

Journal Article

Molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins: building starting structures and example applications

Schmidt, Thomas H., O’Mara, Megan L. and Kandt, Christian (2012). Molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins: building starting structures and example applications. Current Physical Chemistry, 2 (4), 363-378.

Molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins: building starting structures and example applications

2011

Journal Article

The effect of environment on the recognition and binding of vancomycin to native and resistant forms of lipid II

Jia, ZhiGuang, O'Mara, Megan L., Zuegg, Johannes, Cooper, Matthew A. and Mark, Alan E. (2011). The effect of environment on the recognition and binding of vancomycin to native and resistant forms of lipid II. Biophysical Journal, 101 (11), 2684-2692. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.10.047

The effect of environment on the recognition and binding of vancomycin to native and resistant forms of lipid II

2011

Journal Article

Orientation of mu-conotoxin PIIIA in a sodium channel vestibule, based on voltage dependence of its binding

McArthur, J. R., Singh, G., O'Mara, M. L., McMaster, D., Ostroumov, V., Tieleman, D. P. and French, R. J. (2011). Orientation of mu-conotoxin PIIIA in a sodium channel vestibule, based on voltage dependence of its binding. Molecular Pharmacology, 80 (2), 219-227. doi: 10.1124/mol.111.071779

Orientation of mu-conotoxin PIIIA in a sodium channel vestibule, based on voltage dependence of its binding

2011

Journal Article

Effect of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacers on the conformational properties of small peptides: A molecular dynamics study

Xue, Ying, O'Mara, Megan L., Surawski, Peter P. T., Trau, Matt and Mark, Alan E. (2011). Effect of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacers on the conformational properties of small peptides: A molecular dynamics study. Langmuir, 27 (1), 296-303. doi: 10.1021/la103800h

Effect of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacers on the conformational properties of small peptides: A molecular dynamics study

2010

Journal Article

Transmembrane helix 12 plays a pivotal role in coupling energy provision and drug binding in ABCB1

Crowley, Emily, O'Mara, Megan L., Kerr, Ian D. and Callaghan, Richard (2010). Transmembrane helix 12 plays a pivotal role in coupling energy provision and drug binding in ABCB1. Febs Journal, 277 (19), 3974-3985. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2010.07789.x

Transmembrane helix 12 plays a pivotal role in coupling energy provision and drug binding in ABCB1

2009

Journal Article

ABC transporters: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

Jones, Peter M., O'Mara, Megan L. and George, Anthony M. (2009). ABC transporters: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 34 (10), 520-531. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2009.06.004

ABC transporters: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

2009

Journal Article

Transmembrane helix 12 modulates progression of the ATP catalytic cycle in ABCB1

Crowley, Emily, O'Mara, Megan L., Reynolds, Catherine, Tieleman, D. Peter, Storm, Janet, Kerr, Ian D. and Callaghan, Richard (2009). Transmembrane helix 12 modulates progression of the ATP catalytic cycle in ABCB1. Biochemistry, 48 (26), 6249-6258. doi: 10.1021/bi900373x

Transmembrane helix 12 modulates progression of the ATP catalytic cycle in ABCB1

2009

Journal Article

Structural arrangement of the transmission interface in the antigen ABC transport complex TAP

Oancea, Giani, O'Mara, Megan L., Bennett, W. F. Drew, Tieleman, D. Peter, Abele, Rupert and Tampé, Robert (2009). Structural arrangement of the transmission interface in the antigen ABC transport complex TAP. National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings, 106 (14), 5551-5556. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0811260106

Structural arrangement of the transmission interface in the antigen ABC transport complex TAP

2009

Journal Article

The mechanism of ABC transporters: general lessons from structural and functional studies of an antigenic peptide transporter

Procko, Erik, O'Mara, Megan L., Bennett, W. F. Drew, Tieleman, D. Peter and Gaudet, Rachelle (2009). The mechanism of ABC transporters: general lessons from structural and functional studies of an antigenic peptide transporter. FASEB Journal, 23 (5), 1287-1302. doi: 10.1096/fj.08-121855

The mechanism of ABC transporters: general lessons from structural and functional studies of an antigenic peptide transporter

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    Quantum-Enabled Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging for High-Performance Sport
    Queensland Government Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Overcoming antiseptic and disinfectant resistance in staphylococci (NHMRC Ideas Grant administered by Flinders University)
    Flinders University
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2024
    Synthetic Biology for Synthesis of Novel Polymers Used in Energy Storage
    Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Characterising new therapeutic targets in the fight against pneumococcal disease using computational simulations as an alternative to animal models
    The MAWA Trust
    Open grant
  • 2014
    A parallel computer facility for modelling and simulation
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Membrane proteins: Understanding biological switches, motors and triggers.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Understanding multidrug resistance in cancer: identification of the substrate and inhibitor binding sites in P-glycoprotein
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    ResTeach Funding 2012 0.05 FTE School of Math & Physics
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Understanding multidrug resistance: identifying the molecular basis of substrate and inhibitor transport by P-glycoprotein
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2012
    ResTeach Funding 2012 0.05 FTE School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    ResTeach 2010 0.1 FTE School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2010
    The mechanism of viral entry into cells: understanding how Glycoprotein 2 from Ebola initiates membrane fusion
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    The role of glutamine transporter SNAT3 in ion transport, cell signalling and ammonia detoxification (NHMRC project grant administered by the Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Megan O'Mara is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Computational design of biocompatable delivery systems

    Biocompatible delivery systems allow enhanced delivery of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other biological payload molecules, with varied effects including extending the pharmaceutical half-life of drugs, increasing adsorption and decreasing immunogenicity. While these agents have increased the efficacy of many biological therapies, very little work has been done on improving the targeting of these agents to the specific cell or receptor of interest. This project will examine strategies to increase the selectivity of biopolymer delivery systems to enhance the ability to target specific cell types or receptors, thereby reducing off target effects. This project will identify the chemical composition and biophysical characteristics of different cell membranes, and how this impacts their interaction with biopolymer delivery systems. The project requires good collaboration skills, an broad understanding of chemistry and biochemistry, and strong skills in multiscale modelling techniques, from QMMM to coarse grained molecular dynamics.

  • The impact of lipid modifications on cell membrane function

    Membrane lipid composition influences the localisation of membrane proteins and regulates their activity. The hundreds of chemically distinct lipids within cell membranes phase-separate to form microdomains that impact the localisation and interactions of membrane proteins. The composition of the cell membrane is tightly controlled in normal cellular function. There is now considerable evidence that altered cell homeostasis, ranging from inflammatory processes to cancer, cause alterations in metabolic pathways which impact membrane lipid distributions, cell biophysical properties and membrane protein function. This may have downstream impacts on the uptake and efficacy of a range of pharmaceuticals used to treat dysfunction. Using data derived from mass spectrometry and other experimental approaches, this project will use multiscale simulation techniques to examine how changes in lipid membrane composition in cancer and other disease states impacts drug uptake. This knowledge will provide a means to specifically target a given cell type through the drug delivery systems and targeted therapeutics.

  • Membrane mediated antimicrobial resistance

    Bacterial multidrug efflux pumps are the bacteria’s first line of defence against the action of antimicrobials. However, very little is currently known about the function and substrate range of these efflux pumps. This project will examine different multidrug efflux pumps to uncover the structural basis of substrate specificity and transport. It will examine the impact of bacterial membrane modifications on bacterial multidrug efflux pump function, and how peptide- and/or polymer-based antimicrobials inhibit multidrug efflux pumps and disrupt membrane integrity. Other avenues of investigation include characterising the effect of lipid modifications in antimicrobial resistance, and computational drug design of lead new candidates for antimicrobial design. This project uses a range of computational techniques, primarily multiscale molecular dynamics simulations.

  • Allosteric modulation of synaptic transmission by neurosteroids and oxysterols

    The development of effective therapeutics that target chronic pain in neurological diseases would significantly improve the quality of life for millions of people living with chronic pain. The glycinergic neuronal transport proteins are a promising target for the treatment of chronic pain. In neurons and other cells, the membrane lipid composition influences the localisation of membrane proteins and regulates their activity. The hundreds of chemically distinct lipids within cell membranes phase-separate to form microdomains that impact the localisation and interactions of membrane proteins. Oxidative stress is an early hallmark of inflammation and disease that causes chemical modifications to membrane lipids, proteins, and other biomolecules. This impacts their function and influences their biophysical properties. This project will examine the effect of oxysterols and neurosteroids on the inhibition of glycernergic synaptic membrane proteins for the development of targeted therapeutics for the treatment of chronic pain in specific disease states. This is a computational project. The direction of the project can be tailored to the interests of the student.

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

    Computational design of targeted lipid technologies

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor David Ascher

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Targeting alterations in cell membrane biophysics for disease intervention

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: 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

    Investigation of the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and design of novel antimicrobials

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Evelyne Deplazes

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Megan O'Mara directly for media enquiries about:

  • biophysics
  • computational chemistry
  • drug design
  • supercomputers - applications
  • women in STEM

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