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
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computational drug design
computational drug design, structure based drug design, structure activity relationships, computational fragment based drug design
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membrane biophysics
computational cell membrane biophysics, computational lipidomics, cell membrane properties in health, disease and senescence
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multudrug resistance
antimicrobial resistance, cancer chemotherapy resistance
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polymer simulations
biopolymers, self assembly, polymer properties
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lipid delivery systems
targeted lipid delivery systems, computational analysis, lipid formulations, LNP loading, computational simulations
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
2008
Journal Article
Non-linear intramolecular interactions and voltage sensitivity of a KV1 family potassium channel from Polyorchis penicillatus (Eschscholtz 1829)
Klassen, Tara L., O'Mara, Megan L., Redstone, Megan, Spencer, Andrew N. and Gallin, Warren J. (2008). Non-linear intramolecular interactions and voltage sensitivity of a KV1 family potassium channel from Polyorchis penicillatus (Eschscholtz 1829). Journal of Experimental Biology, 211 (21), 3442-3453. doi: 10.1242/jeb.022608
2008
Journal Article
ATP-binding cassette transporters in Escherichia coli
Moussatova, Anastassiia, Kandt, Christian, O'Mara, Megan L. and Tieleman, D. Peter (2008). ATP-binding cassette transporters in Escherichia coli. BBA: Biomembranes, 1778 (9), 1757-1771. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2008.06.009
2008
Journal Article
Cytosolic region of TM6 in P-Glycoprotein: Topographical analysis and functional perturbation by site directed labeling
Storm, Janet, Modok, Szabolcs, O’Mara, Megan L., Tieleman, D. Peter, Kerr, Ian D. and Callaghan, Richard (2008). Cytosolic region of TM6 in P-Glycoprotein: Topographical analysis and functional perturbation by site directed labeling. Biochemistry, 47 (12), 3615-3624. doi: 10.1021/bi7023089
2008
Journal Article
Structure-based interpretation of the mutagenesis database for the nucleotide binding domains of P-glycoprotein
Lawson, J., O'Mara, M. L. and Kerr, I. D. (2008). Structure-based interpretation of the mutagenesis database for the nucleotide binding domains of P-glycoprotein. BBA: Biomembranes, 1778 (2), 376-391. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2007.10.021
2007
Journal Article
Residue G346 in transmembrane segment six is involved in inter-domain communication in P-Glycoprotein
Storm, Janet, O’Mara, Megan L., Crowley, Emily H., Peall, Jonathan, Tieleman, D. Peter, Kerr, Ian D. and Callaghan, Richard (2007). Residue G346 in transmembrane segment six is involved in inter-domain communication in P-Glycoprotein. Biochemistry, 46 (35), 9899-9910. doi: 10.1021/bi700447p
2007
Journal Article
P-glycoprotein models of the apo and ATP-bound states based on homology with Sav1866 and MalK
O'Mara, Megan L. and Tieleman, D. Peter (2007). P-glycoprotein models of the apo and ATP-bound states based on homology with Sav1866 and MalK. FEBS Letters, 581 (22), 4217-4222. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.07.069
2007
Conference Publication
Determining the structural conformation of P-glycoprotein via homology modelling
O'Mara, M. L. and Tieleman, D. P. (2007). Determining the structural conformation of P-glycoprotein via homology modelling. 51st Annual Meeting of the Biophysical-Society, Baltimore, United States, 3-7 March 2007. St. Louis, United States: Cell Press.
2006
Journal Article
Mechanism and putative structure of B0-like neutral amino acid transporters
O’Mara, M., Oakley, A. and Bröer, S. (2006). Mechanism and putative structure of B0-like neutral amino acid transporters. Journal of Membrane Biology, 213 (2), 111-118. doi: 10.1007/s00232-006-0879-3
2006
Conference Publication
Computer simulations of ABC transporter components
Oloo, Eliud, Kandt, Christian, O’Mara, Megan L. and Tieleman, D. Peter (2006). Computer simulations of ABC transporter components. 49th Annual Canadian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology Meeting, Ontario, Canada, 31 May- 4 June 2006. Ottowa, Canada: National Research Council of Canada. doi: 10.1139/O06-182
2006
Conference Publication
Investigating the mechanism of proton transfer through the bacterial ClC transporter
O'Mara, Megan L., Yin, Jian, Hoyles, Matthew and Chung, Shin-Ho (2006). Investigating the mechanism of proton transfer through the bacterial ClC transporter. 50th Annual Meeting of the Biopysical-Society, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A., 18-22 February, 2006. Bethesda, MD., U.S.A.: Cell Press for the Biophysical Society.
2005
Journal Article
Homology model of the GABAA receptor examined using Brownian Dynamics
O'Mara, Megan, Cromer, Brett, Parker, Michael and Chung, Shin-Ho (2005). Homology model of the GABAA receptor examined using Brownian Dynamics. Biophysical Journal, 88 (5), 3286-3299. doi: 10.1529/biophysj.104.051664
2005
Conference Publication
The reliability of relative cation-anion permeabilities deduced from reversal (dilution) potential measurements in ion channel studies, and Brownian dynamics predictions
Barry, PH and O'Mara, ML (2005). The reliability of relative cation-anion permeabilities deduced from reversal (dilution) potential measurements in ion channel studies, and Brownian dynamics predictions. Experimental Biology 2005 Meeting/35th International Congress of Physiological Sciences, San Diego Ca, Mar 31-Apr 06, 2005. BETHESDA: FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL.
2005
Conference Publication
Simulations of ion permeation through a homology model of the GABA(A) receptor
O'Mara, M. L., Cromer, B. A., Parker, M. W. and Chung, S. H. (2005). Simulations of ion permeation through a homology model of the GABA(A) receptor. 49th Annual Meeting of the Biopysical-Society, Long Beach, California, U.S.A., 12-16 February, 2005. Bethesda, MD., U.S.A.: Cell Press for the Biophysical Society.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Megan O'Mara is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
The effect of membrane composition on protein-ligand interactions in drug design and delivery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Debra Bernhardt
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting alterations in cell membrane biophysics for disease intervention
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Evelyne Deplazes
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Doctor Philosophy
Computational design of targeted lipid technologies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Ascher
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Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the Physicochemical Drivers of Biomolecular Self-Assembly though Multiscale Simulations
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Ascher, Dr Evelyne Deplazes
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Doctor Philosophy
Cause-and-effect relationships influencing the MRI derived brain age gap
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lena Oestreich
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Doctor Philosophy
nvestigation of pH-dependent bacterial transporters
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Debra Bernhardt, Professor Alan Mark
Completed supervision
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting the membrane: molecular dynamics studies of protein-membrane interactions.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Mark
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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
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