Overview
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
Research interests
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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.
Works
Search Professor Vito Ferro’s works on UQ eSpace
2011
Journal Article
PG545, a dual heparanase and angiogenesis inhibitor, induces potent anti-tumour and anti-metastatic efficacy in preclinical models
Dredge, K, Hammond, E, Handley, P, Gonda, TJ, Smith, MT, Vincent, C, Brandt, R, Ferro, V and Bytheway, I (2011). PG545, a dual heparanase and angiogenesis inhibitor, induces potent anti-tumour and anti-metastatic efficacy in preclinical models. British Journal of Cancer, 104 (5), 635-642. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2011.11
2011
Journal Article
Synthesis of simple heparanase substrates
Pearson, Andrew G., Kiefel, Milton J., Ferro, Vito and von Itzstein, Mark (2011). Synthesis of simple heparanase substrates. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 9 (12), 4614-4625. doi: 10.1039/c1ob05165b
2010
Journal Article
The PG500 series: Novel heparan sulfate mimetics as potent angiogenesis and heparanase inhibitors for cancer therapy
Dredge, K., Hammond, E., Davis, K., Li, C. P., Liu, L., Johnstone, K., Handley, P., Wimmer, N., Gonda, T. J., Gautam, A., Ferro, V. and Bytheway, I. (2010). The PG500 series: Novel heparan sulfate mimetics as potent angiogenesis and heparanase inhibitors for cancer therapy. Investigational New Drugs, 28 (3), 276-283. doi: 10.1007/s10637-009-9245-5
2010
Journal Article
Lipophile-conjugated sulfated oligosaccharides as novel microbicides against HIV-1
Said, J, Trybala, E, Andersson, E, Johnstone, K, Liu, LG, Wimmer, N, Ferro, V and Bergstrom, T (2010). Lipophile-conjugated sulfated oligosaccharides as novel microbicides against HIV-1. Antiviral Research, 86 (3), 286-295. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2010.03.011
2010
Journal Article
A highly lipophilic sulfated tetrasaccharide glycoside related to muparfostat (PI-88) exhibits virucidal activity against herpes simplex virus
Ekblad, M, Adamiak, B, Bergstrom, T, Johnstone, KD, Karoli, T, Liu, LG, Ferro, V and Trybala, E (2010). A highly lipophilic sulfated tetrasaccharide glycoside related to muparfostat (PI-88) exhibits virucidal activity against herpes simplex virus. Antiviral Research, 86 (2), 196-203. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2010.02.318
2010
Journal Article
Synthesis and biological evaluation of polysulfated oligosaccharide glycosides as inhibitors of angiogenesis and tumor growth
Johnstone, Ken D., Karoli, Tomislav, Liu, Ligong, Dredge, Keith, Copeman, Elizabeth, Li, Cai Ping, Davis, Kat, Hammond, Edward, Bytheway, Ian, Kostewicz, Edmund, Chiu, Francis C. K., Shackleford, David M., Charman, Susan A., Charman, William N., Harenberg, Job, Gonda, Thomas J. and Ferro, Vito (2010). Synthesis and biological evaluation of polysulfated oligosaccharide glycosides as inhibitors of angiogenesis and tumor growth. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 53 (4), 1686-1699. doi: 10.1021/jm901449m
2010
Journal Article
Development of a colorimetric assay for heparanase activity suitable for kinetic analysis and inhibitor screening
Hammond, Edward, Li, Cai Ping and Ferro, Vito (2010). Development of a colorimetric assay for heparanase activity suitable for kinetic analysis and inhibitor screening. Analytical Biochemistry, 396 (396), 112-116. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2009.09.007
2009
Journal Article
Synthesis of a heparan sulfate mimetic disaccharide with a conformationally locked residue from a common intermediate
Fairweather, J.K., Karoli, T., Liu, L., Bytheway, I. and Ferro, V. (2009). Synthesis of a heparan sulfate mimetic disaccharide with a conformationally locked residue from a common intermediate. Carbohydrate Research, 344 (17), 2394-2398. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2009.09.012
2009
Journal Article
A surface plasmon resonance-based solution affinity assay for heparan sulfate-binding proteins
Cochran, S., Ping Li, C. and Ferro, V. (2009). A surface plasmon resonance-based solution affinity assay for heparan sulfate-binding proteins. Glycoconjugate Journal, 26 (5), 577-587. doi: 10.1007/s10719-008-9210-0
2009
Other Outputs
Novel sulfated oligosaccharide derivatives
Ferro, V., Karoli, T., Liu, L., Handley, P.N., Johnstone, K.D., Wimmer, N. and Hammond, E.T. (2009). Novel sulfated oligosaccharide derivatives. WO/2009/049370.
2009
Journal Article
An improved synthetic route to the potent angiogenesis inhibitor benzyl manα(1→3)-Manα(1→3)-Manα(1→3) -Manα(1→2)-Man Hexadecasulfate
Liu, LG, Johnstone, KD, Fairweather, JK, Dredge, K and Ferro, V (2009). An improved synthetic route to the potent angiogenesis inhibitor benzyl manα(1→3)-Manα(1→3)-Manα(1→3) -Manα(1→2)-Man Hexadecasulfate. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 62 (6), 546-552. doi: 10.1071/CH09015
2008
Journal Article
Synthesis and heparanase inhibitory activity of sulfated mannooligosaccharides related to the antiangiogenic agent PI-88
Fairweather, J.K., Hammond, E., Johnstone, K.D. and Ferro, V. (2008). Synthesis and heparanase inhibitory activity of sulfated mannooligosaccharides related to the antiangiogenic agent PI-88. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 16 (2), 699-709. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2007.10.044
2008
Journal Article
Design, synthesis, FGF-1 binding, and molecular modeling studies of conformationally flexible heparin mimetic disaccharides
Liu, Ligong, Bytheway, Ian, Karoli, Tomislav, Fairweather, Jon K., Cochran, Siska, Li, Caiping and Ferro, Vito (2008). Design, synthesis, FGF-1 binding, and molecular modeling studies of conformationally flexible heparin mimetic disaccharides. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 18 (1), 344-349. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2007.10.071
2007
Journal Article
Herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein G is targeted by the sulfated oligo- and polysaccharide inhibitors of virus attachment to cells
Adamiak, Beata, Ekblad, Maria, Bergström, Tomas, Ferro, Vito and Trybala, Edward (2007). Herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein G is targeted by the sulfated oligo- and polysaccharide inhibitors of virus attachment to cells. Journal of Virology, 81 (24), 13424-13434. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01528-07
2007
Journal Article
Molecular basis for resistance of herpes simplex virus type 1 mutants to the sulfated oligosaccharide inhibitor PI-88
Ekblad, Maria, Adamiak, Beata, Bergefall, Kicki, Nenonen, Hannah, Roth, Anette, Bergstrom, Tomas, Ferro, Vito and Trybala, Edward (2007). Molecular basis for resistance of herpes simplex virus type 1 mutants to the sulfated oligosaccharide inhibitor PI-88. Virology, 367 (2), 244-252. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.05.040
2007
Journal Article
PI-88 and novel heparan sulfate mimetics inhibit angiogenesis
Ferro, Vito, Dredge, Keith, Liu, Ligong, Hammond, Edward, Bytheway, Ian, Li, Caiping, Johnstone, Ken, Karoli, Tomislav, Davis, Kat, Copeman, Elizabeth and Gautam, Anand: (2007). PI-88 and novel heparan sulfate mimetics inhibit angiogenesis. Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, 33 (5), 557-562. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-982088
2007
Conference Publication
Heparan sulfate mimetics - potent angiogenesis inhibitors for cancer therapy
Dredge, K, Davis, K, Liu, L, Johnstone, K, Handley, P, Wimmer, N, Bytheway, I, Hammond, E, Li, CP, Rowley, J, Ferro, V and Gautam, A (2007). Heparan sulfate mimetics - potent angiogenesis inhibitors for cancer therapy. AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, United States, 22-26 October 2007. Philadelphia, PA, United States: American Association for Cancer Research.
2007
Journal Article
Molecular basis for resistance of herpes simplex virus type 1 with glycoprotein H coding sequences deleted.
Ekblad, M., Adamiak, B., Bergefall, K., Nenonen, H., Roth, A., Bergstrom, T, Ferro, V. and Trybala, E. (2007). Molecular basis for resistance of herpes simplex virus type 1 with glycoprotein H coding sequences deleted.. Virology (367), 244-252.
2007
Journal Article
Enantiospecific synthesis of the heparanase inhibitor (+)-trachyspic acid and stereoisomers from a common precursor
Zammit, S. C., Ferro, V., Hammond, E. and Rizzacasa, M. A. (2007). Enantiospecific synthesis of the heparanase inhibitor (+)-trachyspic acid and stereoisomers from a common precursor. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 5 (17), 2826-2834. doi: 10.1039/b708594j
2006
Other Outputs
Small molecule glycosaminoglycan mimetics
Banwell, M. G., Bonnet, M., Ferro, V., Kreipl, A., Renner, J. and Offermann, D. A. (2006). Small molecule glycosaminoglycan mimetics. WO/2006/135973.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Vito Ferro is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis and applications of glycosaminoglycan mimetics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of novel probes and inhibitors of carbohydrate-binding proteins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James De Voss
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Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of inhibitors and probes for heparan sulfate degrading enzymes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of new chemical tools for probing glycosaminoglycan-dependent cellular processes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of L-sugars via radical chemistry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske
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Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anthony Verderosa, Professor Mark Blaskovich
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Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of new computational techniques for carbohydrate and agricultural chemistry
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
A Synergistic Approach to L-Hexose Synthesis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
The Synthesis of Potential Pharmacological Chaperones and Fluorogenic Substrates for MPS I, IIIA and VII.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of novel inhibitors of heparan sulfate-binding proteins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisbeth Grondahl
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2020
Doctor BioTechnology
How much difference is enough? Towards a regional collaboration for the evaluation of novel preventative vaccines in Latin American countries
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Synthetic Heparin Mimetics via RAFT Polymerization: Novel Anticoagulant Materials for Biomedical Applications
Principal Advisor
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2019
Master Philosophy
SYNTHESIS OF STEROID CONJUGATES FOR TARGETED LIPOSOMAL DELIVERY OF RNA-BASED THERAPIES
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Joanne Blanchfield
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of potential inhibitors of iduronate-2-sulfatase as pharmacological chaperones for MPS II and development of chemical tools for quantification of heparan sulfate in urine from MPS patients
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of C-2 Functionalized L-Iduronic Acid Derivatives as Potential Pharmacological Chaperones for MPS II (Hunter Syndrome)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James De Voss
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The Use and Development of Catalytic Systems in Organic Synthesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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2020
Doctor BioTechnology
Performance of Australian Biotech SMEs: The Impact of Formal Open Innovation, Absorptive Capacity and Innovation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sarel Gronum
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Exploration of the Ley-Griffith Oxidation and Subsequent Efforts Towards Epipyrone A
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Towards the Total Synthesis of (-)-Phorbol for Novel Anti-Cancer Studies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Vito Ferro directly for media enquiries about:
- Carbohydrate chemistry
- heparan sulfate
- heparin
- Medicinal chemistry
- Mucopolysaccharidosis
- Sanfilippo syndrome
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