Professor Vito Ferro
Professor

Vito Ferro

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69598

Background

Carbohydrate chemistry, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery

Vito Ferro is a Professor in the School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences. His research interests are in the area of synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, and drug design and development.

Availability

Professor Vito Ferro is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Organic chemistry

Research interests

  • Glycosaminoglycans and their mimetics

    Carbohydrate and medicinal chemistry with a particular focus on glycosaminoglycans, especially heparan sulfate, and their mimetics as potential drugs for a range of diseases including cancer, inflammation, viral infections and lysosomal storage diseases such as Sanfilippo syndrome.

Research impacts

Vito Ferro completed his PhD at the University of WA. Following postdoctoral fellowships at the Carsberg Laboratory (Denmark) and the University of British Columbia (Canada) he spent 12 years with the Australian biotechnology company Progen Pharmaceuticals, serving in various positions including Director of Drug Discovery. He was a key player in the development of two of the only four heparanase inhibitors to have reached clinical trials: muparfostat (PI-88), and pixatimod (PG545). Following a brief period at Queensland University of Technology as a Principal Research Fellow he moved to his current position at the University of Queensland in 2010. His research interests are in carbohydrate and medicinal chemistry with a particular focus on glycosaminoglycans, especially heparan sulfate, and their mimetics as potential drugs for a range of diseases. He is also a member of the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre (AID), has published >110 papers and has multiple granted patents.

Search Professor Vito Ferro’s works on UQ eSpace

143 works between 1988 and 2025
All (143) Journal Article (127) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (7) Other Outputs (5)

61 - 80 of 143 works

2016

Journal Article

Synthesis of mannose-cholesterol conjugates for targeted liposomal drug delivery

Nguyen, Huong, Katavic, Peter, Bashah, Nur Atikah Halim and Ferro, Vito (2016). Synthesis of mannose-cholesterol conjugates for targeted liposomal drug delivery. ChemistrySelect, 1 (1), 31-35. doi: 10.1002/slct.201600007

Synthesis of mannose-cholesterol conjugates for targeted liposomal drug delivery

2015

Journal Article

The Tortoise and the hare: evolving regulatory landscapes for biosimilars

Konara, Chamindika S., Barnard, Ross T., Hine, Damian, Siegel, Evan and Ferro, Vito (2015). The Tortoise and the hare: evolving regulatory landscapes for biosimilars. Trends in Biotechnology, 34 (1), 70-83. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.10.009

The Tortoise and the hare: evolving regulatory landscapes for biosimilars

2015

Journal Article

Proteoglycans: Potential Agents in Mammographic Density and the Associated Breast Cancer Risk.

Shawky, Michael S., Ricciardelli, Carmela, Lord, Megan, Whitelock, John, Ferro, Vito, Britt, Kara and Thompson, Erik W. (2015). Proteoglycans: Potential Agents in Mammographic Density and the Associated Breast Cancer Risk.. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, 20 (3-4), 121-131. doi: 10.1007/s10911-015-9346-z

Proteoglycans: Potential Agents in Mammographic Density and the Associated Breast Cancer Risk.

2015

Conference Publication

Synthesis of steroid conjugates for targeted liposomal delivery of RNA-based therapies

Huong Nguyen, and Ferro, Vito (2015). Synthesis of steroid conjugates for targeted liposomal delivery of RNA-based therapies. WASHINGTON: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.

Synthesis of steroid conjugates for targeted liposomal delivery of RNA-based therapies

2015

Journal Article

Investigations into the decomposition of aminoacyl-substituted monosaccharide scaffolds from a drug discovery library

He, Q. Q., Wimmer, N., Verquin, G., Meutermans, W. and Ferro, V. (2015). Investigations into the decomposition of aminoacyl-substituted monosaccharide scaffolds from a drug discovery library. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 13 (13), 4070-4079. doi: 10.1039/C5OB00122F

Investigations into the decomposition of aminoacyl-substituted monosaccharide scaffolds from a drug discovery library

2015

Journal Article

Meet the editorial board

Ferro, Vito (2015). Meet the editorial board. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 22 (4), 405-405. doi: 10.2174/092986732204141226144632

Meet the editorial board

2015

Book Chapter

Synthetic approaches to l-Iduronic Acid and l-Idose: key building blocks for the preparation of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides

Mohamed, Shifaza and Ferro, Vito (2015). Synthetic approaches to l-Iduronic Acid and l-Idose: key building blocks for the preparation of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides. Advances in carbohydrate chemistry and biochemistry. (pp. 21-61) edited by David C. Baker and Derek Horton. Waltham, MA, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.accb.2015.07.001

Synthetic approaches to l-Iduronic Acid and l-Idose: key building blocks for the preparation of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides

2014

Journal Article

Synthesis and toxicological evaluation of a chitosan-l-leucine conjugate for pulmonary drug delivery applications

Muhsin, Mohammad D. A., George, Graeme, Beagley, Kenneth, Ferro, Vito, Armitage, Charles and Islam, Nazrul (2014). Synthesis and toxicological evaluation of a chitosan-l-leucine conjugate for pulmonary drug delivery applications. Biomacromolecules, 15 (10), 3596-3607. doi: 10.1021/bm5008635

Synthesis and toxicological evaluation of a chitosan-l-leucine conjugate for pulmonary drug delivery applications

2014

Journal Article

Attempted synthesis of the imidazylate of an α-hydroxylactone results in unexpected chlorination: Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of 5-Chloro-5-deoxy-1,2- O -isopropylidene-β- l -idurono-6,3-lactone

Mohamed, Shifaza, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Ferro, Vito (2014). Attempted synthesis of the imidazylate of an α-hydroxylactone results in unexpected chlorination: Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of 5-Chloro-5-deoxy-1,2- O -isopropylidene-β- l -idurono-6,3-lactone. Journal of Carbohydrate Chemistry, 33 (4), 197-205. doi: 10.1080/07328303.2014.907908

Attempted synthesis of the imidazylate of an α-hydroxylactone results in unexpected chlorination: Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of 5-Chloro-5-deoxy-1,2- O -isopropylidene-β- l -idurono-6,3-lactone

2014

Journal Article

Low-molecular-weight heparin biosimilars: potential implications for clinical practice

Nandurkar, H., Chong, B., Salem, H., Gallus, A., Ferro, V. and McKinnon, R. (2014). Low-molecular-weight heparin biosimilars: potential implications for clinical practice. Internal Medicine Journal, 44 (5), 497-500. doi: 10.1111/imj.12417

Low-molecular-weight heparin biosimilars: potential implications for clinical practice

2014

Journal Article

1H NMR spectroscopic studies establish that heparanase is a retaining glycosidase

Wilson, Jennifer C., Laloo, Andrew Elohim, Singh, Sanjesh and Ferro, Vito (2014). 1H NMR spectroscopic studies establish that heparanase is a retaining glycosidase. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 443 (1), 185-188. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.11.079

1H NMR spectroscopic studies establish that heparanase is a retaining glycosidase

2013

Journal Article

Structure and stereochemistry of an anti-inflammatory anhydrosugar from the Australian marine sponge Plakinastrella clathrata and the synthesis of two analogues

Katavic, Peter L., Yong, Ken W. L., Herring, Joel N., Deseo, Myrna A., Blanchfield, Joanne T., Ferro, Vito and Garson, Mary J. (2013). Structure and stereochemistry of an anti-inflammatory anhydrosugar from the Australian marine sponge Plakinastrella clathrata and the synthesis of two analogues. Tetrahedron, 69 (37), 8074-8079. doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2013.06.079

Structure and stereochemistry of an anti-inflammatory anhydrosugar from the Australian marine sponge Plakinastrella clathrata and the synthesis of two analogues

2013

Journal Article

Heparan sulfate inhibitors and their therapeutic implications in inflammatory illnesses

Ferro, Vito (2013). Heparan sulfate inhibitors and their therapeutic implications in inflammatory illnesses. Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 17 (8), 965-975. doi: 10.1517/14728222.2013.811491

Heparan sulfate inhibitors and their therapeutic implications in inflammatory illnesses

2013

Journal Article

MicroRNAs regulate tumor angiogenesis modulated by endothelial progenitor cells

Plummer, Prue N., Freeman, Ruth, Taft, Ryan, Vider, Jelena, Sax, Michael, Umer, Brittany, Gao, Dingcheng, Johns, Christopher A., Mattick, John S., Wilton, Stephen D., Ferro, Vito, McMillan, Nigel A, Swarbrick, Alex, Mittal, Vivek and Mellick, Albert S. (2013). MicroRNAs regulate tumor angiogenesis modulated by endothelial progenitor cells. Cancer Research, 73 (1), 341-352. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-0271

MicroRNAs regulate tumor angiogenesis modulated by endothelial progenitor cells

2013

Conference Publication

Nanoparticle Delivery of Rna-Based Therapy to Modulate Tumour Vasculature: as a Next Generation Anticancer Therapy

Plummer, Prue N., Balsara, Spenta, Ferro, Vito, Mittal, Vivek and Mellick, Albert S. (2013). Nanoparticle Delivery of Rna-Based Therapy to Modulate Tumour Vasculature: as a Next Generation Anticancer Therapy. 8th Meeting of the Australasian-Gene-Therapy-Society, Sydney Australia, 08-10 May 2013. Hoboken, NJ United States: Jossey Bass, Ed. and Pub.. doi: 10.1002/jgm.2740

Nanoparticle Delivery of Rna-Based Therapy to Modulate Tumour Vasculature: as a Next Generation Anticancer Therapy

2013

Conference Publication

Micrornas as novel anti-angiogenesis therapeutic targets

Plummer, Prue N., Balsara, Spenta, Umer, Brittany, Taft, Ryan, Ferro, Vito, Mattick, John S., Swarbrick, Alex, McMillan, Nigel, Mittal, Vivek and Mellick, Albert S. (2013). Micrornas as novel anti-angiogenesis therapeutic targets. 8th Meeting of the Australasian GeneTherapy-Society, Sydney, NSW Australia, 08-10 May 2013. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley and Sons Inc.. doi: 10.1002/jgm.2740

Micrornas as novel anti-angiogenesis therapeutic targets

2012

Journal Article

A focused sulfated glycoconjugate Ugi library for probing heparan sulfate-binding angiogenic growth factors

Liu, Ligong, Li, Caiping, Cochran, Siska, Feder, Daniel, Guddat, Luke W. and Ferro, Vito (2012). A focused sulfated glycoconjugate Ugi library for probing heparan sulfate-binding angiogenic growth factors. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 22 (19), 6190-6194. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2012.08.001

A focused sulfated glycoconjugate Ugi library for probing heparan sulfate-binding angiogenic growth factors

2012

Journal Article

Synthesis of disaccharides containing 6-Deoxy-α-L-talose as potential heparan sulfate mimetics

Fairweather, Jon K., Liu, Ligong, Karoli, Tomislav and Ferro, Vito (2012). Synthesis of disaccharides containing 6-Deoxy-α-L-talose as potential heparan sulfate mimetics. Molecules, 17 (8), 9790-9802. doi: 10.3390/molecules17089790

Synthesis of disaccharides containing 6-Deoxy-α-L-talose as potential heparan sulfate mimetics

2012

Journal Article

Synthesis of a heparan sulfate mimetic library targeting FGF and VEGF via click chemistry on a monosaccharide template

Liu, Ligong, Li, Caiping, Cochran, Siska, Jimmink, Shane and Ferro, Vito (2012). Synthesis of a heparan sulfate mimetic library targeting FGF and VEGF via click chemistry on a monosaccharide template. ChemMedChem, 7 (7), 1267-1275. doi: 10.1002/cmdc.201200151

Synthesis of a heparan sulfate mimetic library targeting FGF and VEGF via click chemistry on a monosaccharide template

2012

Journal Article

Potent anti-respiratory syncytial virus activity of a cholestanol-sulfated tetrasaccharide conjugate

Lundin, Anna, Bergstrom, Tomas, Andrighetti-Fröhner, Carla R., Bendrioua, Loubna, Ferro, Vito and Trybala, Edward (2012). Potent anti-respiratory syncytial virus activity of a cholestanol-sulfated tetrasaccharide conjugate. Antiviral Research, 93 (1), 101-109. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2011.11.002

Potent anti-respiratory syncytial virus activity of a cholestanol-sulfated tetrasaccharide conjugate

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2026
    Pharmacological chaperone therapy in a mouse model of MPS IIIA (Sanfilippo syndrome), a childhood dementia
    National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Sanfilippo IIIB Syndrome Research
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    Opening Up Access to L-Sugars through a Synergy of Experiment and Theory
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Small molecule drug therapy for MPS IIIA (Sanfilippo Children's Foundation grant administered by Flinders University)
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Development of pharmacological chaperones for MPS IIIB
    Sanfilippo Children's Foundation Incubator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Towards pharmacological chaperone therapy for MPS II
    National MPS Society
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Small molecule drug therapy for MPS IIIA
    Sanfilippo Children's Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A versatile accurate mass, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer for chemistry and proteomic applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Pharmacological chaperones for MPS IIIA
    Sanfilippo Children's Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Heparan sulfate mimetics: versatile tools for chemical biology
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A sensitive, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer with nanoUPLC system for qualitative and quantitative biomolecule analysis.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Improving Anticancer Activity of Gold Compounds
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Development of Pharmacological Chaperone Therapy for MPS II.
    National MPS Society
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Targeting Tumour Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer by Altering MicroRNA Signalling (NHMRC project led by Deakin University)
    Deakin University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Small molecule chaperones for enzyme enhancement therapy for MPS II
    National MPS Society
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Synthesis of novel inhibitors of heparan sulfate-degrading enzymes as potential anticancer therapeutics
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Expression, purification and characterization of recombinant human heparanase
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Vito Ferro is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis of L-sugars via radical chemistry

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis and applications of glycosaminoglycan mimetics

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis of novel probes and inhibitors of carbohydrate-binding proteins

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor James De Voss

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis of inhibitors and probes for heparan sulfate degrading enzymes

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of new chemical tools for probing glycosaminoglycan-dependent cellular processes

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of new computational techniques for carbohydrate and agricultural chemistry

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Anthony Verderosa, Professor Mark Blaskovich

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Vito Ferro directly for media enquiries about:

  • Carbohydrate chemistry
  • heparan sulfate
  • heparin
  • Medicinal chemistry
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis
  • Sanfilippo syndrome

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