Professor David Fairlie
Professor

David Fairlie

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 62989

Background

Professor Fairlie is an NHMRC Research Investigator Fellow (Level 3) (2022-present), a Node Leader of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide Protein Science, one of four Centre Directors and former Head of the Division of Chemistry of Structural Biology at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (since 2009), and an Affiliate Professor of the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences. He was previously an NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow (2012-2021), a Node Leader at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging (2014-2021), an ARC Federation Fellow (2006-2011), an ARC Professorial Fellow (2002-2006), and Scientific Director and Chief Scientific Officer of a startup company. He undertook postdoctoral studies at Stanford University and University of Toronto, postgraduate studies at Australian National University and University of New South Wales, and undergraduate studies at University of Adelaide.

His research group works across the disciplines of chemistry (synthesis, structure, reaction mechanisms), biochemistry (enzyme inhibitors, protein-protein interactions, GPCRs, transcription factors), immunology (innate immune cells in health and disease, mucosal T cells), and pharmacology (molecular pharmacology and human cell signalling, experimental pharmacology in rodent models of human diseases). He has published over 480 scientific journal articles in high impact chemistry journals (e.g. Chem Rev, Acc Chem Res, J Am Chem Soc, Angew Chem Int Edit, Chem Sci, J Med Chem, Org Lett, J Org Chem) and biology journals (e.g. Nature, Science, Nat Rev Endocrinol, Mol Cancer, Immunity, Nature Immunology, Science Immunology, Am J Resp Crit Care Med, J Hepatol, Trends Immunol, Mol Neurodegen, Adv Drug Deliv Rev, Nature Communications, Trends Pharmacol Sci, J Exp Med, J Clin Invest, Kidney Int, Arthritis & Rheum, Science Advances, Pharmacol Ther, Cancer Res, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Dev Cell, Curr Biol, J Cell Biol, Cell Reports, PloS Biol, Br J Pharmacol, JCI Insight, Diabetes, Mucosal Immunol, etc). He has been a Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate Analytics), with over 37,000 citations and 113 publications with over 100 citations (Google Scholar), and has collaborated with many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Availability

Professor David Fairlie is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Chemical Sciences Immunology Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Organic chemistry Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences

Research interests

  • Chemistry and Human Therapeutics

    The Fairlie group works at the interface of chemistry, biology and disease. We study CHEMISTRY, BIOCHEMISTRY, PHARMACOLOGY and IMMUNOLOGY to better understand the detailed processes of life, ageing, disease and death. Our chemists use state of the art methods to invent new compounds that regulate enzymes, protein-protein interactions, cellular receptors, RNA or DNA. Our biochemists, cell biologists, pharmacologists and immunologists study enzymes, proteins, cells and rodents to understand biological processes and effects of novel compounds in models of human diseases. We elucidate mechanisms of chemical reactions, biological processes, disease development and drug action. We aim to develop new treatments for human inflammatory and respiratory diseases, cancers, metabolic diseases (type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular), viral infections and neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease). We also execute basic research to understand fundamental principles and processes in chemistry (medicinal, organic, biological, computational, bioinorganic), biochemistry (proteins, enzymes), pharmacology (cells, rodents, human tissues) and immunology (neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, dendritic cells, complement, T cells, rodents).

  • Medicinal and Organic Chemistry

    We develop skills in chemical synthesis, structure elucidation and chemical mechanisms. We design new molecules with the aid of computers, develop new methods to synthesize them, determine their structures, elucidate reaction mechanisms, and use small molecules to probe biological processes and to elucidate structure-activity relationships. We use a wide range of solution and solid phase organic synthesis methodologies to create bioactive molecules (e.g. de novo designed drugs, natural product analogues, and peptidomimetics), reactive intermediates, highly functionalised molecular templates, structural constraints, and artificial receptors. We are engaged in chemical design and structural analysis using computers, determination of chemical structures by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, spectroscopic investigations of chemical and biological reactions, enzyme kinetics, cell biology, and molecular pharmacology in vitro and in vivo.

  • Biochemistry and Protein-Protein Interactions

    One strategic theme is the development of small molecules to mimic or inhibit bioactive protein surfaces recognized by other proteins. Protein-protein interactions drive most biological processes, yet the vast majority of these interactions occur over very short time scales (fractions of seconds). To better understand such fleeting interactions, we have been developing mimics of protein surfaces and working towards studying their longer-lived interactions with protein partners. We have identified conformations of protein surfaces that are common recognition elements for protease enzymes, for classes of G protein-coupled receptors that act as sensors on cell surfaces, or for transcriptional receptors that mediate DNA-protein responses in cells. We have described small molecules that structurally and functionally mimic components of bioactive protein surfaces (beta strands, beta-sheets, beta and gamma turns, alpha helices, helix bundles, multi-loop bundles). There are numerous potential uses for each of these classes of protein surface mimics - with many potential therapeutic applications. Through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, we are studying post-translational modifications of proteins, elucidating structures and activities of naturally occurring peptides, and designing and developing peptidomimetics with interesting chemical or biological properties.

  • Immunology

    We aim to better understand the molecular basis of the immune response and study aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. Our group works with human neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, mast cells, complement and T cells, investigating their recruitment, differentiation, signalling and modulation in immunity, including the effects of novel drug leads on their functions. We are especially interested in complement proteins, GPCRs, T cell receptors, proteases, HDACs, chemokines and cytokines. Our novel compounds are used to validate targets on human cells and human proteins, then investigated in rodent models of human diseases and then towards preclinical and clinical studies, sometimes with pharma/biotech partners. Understanding how new experimental drugs can stimulate/enhance immune responses or suppress proinflammatory mediators can help in the design and development of effective new therapies to combat a diverse range of important human diseases. Through the ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, we linked up with physicists, structural biologists and immunologists in Melbourne and Sydney to study the molecular basis of T cell mediated immunity. Through collaborations with the IMB Centre for Inflammation and Disease Research in Brisbane, we study innate immunity.

  • Molecular and Experimental Pharmacology

    Our research on diseases involves basic, strategic and applied research in biochemistry and pharmacology directed at: (1) understanding how the immune system resolves infection (by parasites, viruses, bacteria) and tissue injury; (2) how prolonged inflammatory responses can cause debilitating chronic inflammatory diseases, including onset of cancers, metabolic diseases (obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases), chronic inflammatory pain, and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease); and (3) how our novel compounds can act on human proteins, human and rodent cells and tissues, and rat or mouse models of human diseases. See links for our publications in all of these disease areas and allied chemical, biochemical and pharmacological research. We conduct molecular pharmacology (studies of novel ligand interactions with cellular receptors, modulation of intracellular signalling pathways using experimental new drugs discovered in our labs, mechanisms of physiological responses and disease induction/progression) and experimental pharmacology (studies of drug-induced effects in rodent models of human diseases, interrogating molecular mechanisms in vivo, examining human tissues from the clinic). Our goal is to discover new drugs, mechanisms of drug action and to understand disease development and how to treat it.

Research impacts

Our researchers work at interfaces of chemistry and biology to better understand the molecular mechanisms of life, ageing, disease and death.

Our chemists study organic, medicinal and biological chemistry, especially using organic synthesis, computer-aided molecular design, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to create new chemical structures that interact with or mimic protein surfaces. We discover new chemical structures, reactions and mechanisms; enzyme inhibitors, agonists and antagonists of protein function; and molecules that mimic the structures and functions of bioactive protein surfaces.

Our biologists study mechanisms of protein and cell activation, signalling pathways, biological processes, disease development and drug action. We use novel experimental compounds discovered in our group as molecular tools to interrogate the functions of human proteins and cells, and apply some of them to the treatment of animal models of human diseases.

Our interdisciplinary expertise can be combined across multiple subdisciplines of chemistry and biology to gain insights into biochemical processes, human physiology, disease pathology, and we develop skills in biochemistry, pharmacology, virology, immunology, oncology or neurobiology. We work, in some cases with industry partners, to discover new basic research and apply some of our discoveries to develop experimental treatments for viral or parasitic infections such as HIV, dengue fever and malaria; inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, asthma and respiratory diseases, inflammatory bowel disease and rare immunological disorders; metabolic and cardiovascular disorders linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes; neurodegenerative diseases and cancers.

Search Professor David Fairlie’s works on UQ eSpace

619 works between 1980 and 2024
All (619) Journal Article (484) Book Chapter (9) Conference Publication (117) Other Outputs (9)

1 - 20 of 619 works

Featured

2024

Journal Article

MAIT cell heterogeneity across paired human tissues reveals specialization of distinct regulatory and enhanced effector profiles

Kammann, Tobias, Cai, Curtis, Sekine, Takuya, Mouchtaridi, Elli, Boulouis, Caroline, Nilsén, Vera, Ballesteros, Olga Rivera, Müller, Thomas R., Gao, Yu, Raineri, Elisa J. M., Mily, Akhirunnesa, Adamo, Sarah, Constantz, Christian, Niessl, Julia, Weigel, Whitney, Kokkinou, Efthymia, Stamper, Christopher, Marchalot, Anne, Bassett, John, Ferreira, Sabrina, Rødahl, Inga, Wild, Nicole, Brownlie, Demi, Tibbitt, Chris, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., Leeansyah, Edwin, Michaelsson, Jakob, Marquardt, Nicole ... Sandberg, Johan K. (2024). MAIT cell heterogeneity across paired human tissues reveals specialization of distinct regulatory and enhanced effector profiles. Science Immunology, 9 (99) eadn2362, eadn2362. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adn2362

MAIT cell heterogeneity across paired human tissues reveals specialization of distinct regulatory and enhanced effector profiles

Featured

2024

Journal Article

A novel inhibitor of class IIa histone deacetylases attenuates collagen‐induced arthritis

Poon, Eunice K., Liu, Ligong, Wu, Kai‐Chen, Lim, Junxian, Sweet, Matthew J., Lohman, Rink‐Jan, Iyer, Abishek and Fairlie, David P. (2024). A novel inhibitor of class IIa histone deacetylases attenuates collagen‐induced arthritis. British Journal of Pharmacology, 181 (23), 4804-4821. doi: 10.1111/bph.17306

A novel inhibitor of class IIa histone deacetylases attenuates collagen‐induced arthritis

Featured

2024

Journal Article

Potent immunomodulators developed from an unstable bacterial metabolite of vitamin B2 biosynthesis

Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Rivero, Ryan J. D., Hoang, Huy N., Lim, Xin Yi, Deng, Jieru, McWilliam, Hamish E. G., Villadangos, Jose A., McCluskey, James, Corbett, Alexandra J. and Fairlie, David P. (2024). Potent immunomodulators developed from an unstable bacterial metabolite of vitamin B2 biosynthesis. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 63 (31) e202400632, e202400632. doi: 10.1002/anie.202400632

Potent immunomodulators developed from an unstable bacterial metabolite of vitamin B2 biosynthesis

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Achiral derivatives of hydroxamate AR-42 potently inhibit class I HDAC enzymes and cancer cell proliferation

Tng, Jiahui, Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai-Chen, Lucke, Andrew J., Xu, Weijun, Reid, Robert C. and Fairlie, David P. (2020). Achiral derivatives of hydroxamate AR-42 potently inhibit class I HDAC enzymes and cancer cell proliferation. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63 (11) acs.jmedchem.0c00230, 5956-5971. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00230

Achiral derivatives of hydroxamate AR-42 potently inhibit class I HDAC enzymes and cancer cell proliferation

Featured

2020

Journal Article

The molecular basis underpinning the potency and specificity of MAIT cell antigens

Awad, Wael, Ler, Geraldine J. M., Xu, Weijun, Keller, Andrew N., Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Lim, Xin Yi, Liu, Ligong, Eckle, Sidonia B. G., Le Nours, Jérôme, McCluskey, James, Corbett, Alexandra J., Fairlie, David P. and Rossjohn, Jamie (2020). The molecular basis underpinning the potency and specificity of MAIT cell antigens. Nature Immunology, 21 (4), 400-411. doi: 10.1038/s41590-020-0616-6

The molecular basis underpinning the potency and specificity of MAIT cell antigens

Featured

2019

Journal Article

A novel long-range n to π* interaction secures the smallest known α-helix in water

Hoang, Huy N., Wu, Chongyang, Hill, Timothy A., Dantas de Araujo, Aline, Bernhardt, Paul V., Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2019). A novel long-range n to π* interaction secures the smallest known α-helix in water. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 58 (52) ange.201911277, 18873-18877. doi: 10.1002/anie.201911277

A novel long-range n to π* interaction secures the smallest known α-helix in water

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Alpha-synuclein structure and Parkinson's disease - Lessons and emerging principles

Meade, Richard M., Fairlie, David P. and Mason, Jody M. (2019). Alpha-synuclein structure and Parkinson's disease - Lessons and emerging principles. Molecular Neurodegeneration, 14 (1) 29, 29. doi: 10.1186/s13024-019-0329-1

Alpha-synuclein structure and Parkinson's disease - Lessons and emerging principles

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Inhibitors of class I histone deacetylases attenuate thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice by suppressing hepatic Type 2 inflammation

Loh, Zhixuan, Fitzsimmons, Rebecca L., Reid, Robert C., Ramnath, Divya, Clouston, Andrew, Gupta, Praveer K., Irvine, Katharine M., Powell, Elizabeth E., Schroder, Kate, Stow, Jennifer L., Sweet, Matthew J., Fairlie, David P. and Iyer, Abishek (2019). Inhibitors of class I histone deacetylases attenuate thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice by suppressing hepatic Type 2 inflammation. British Journal of Pharmacology, 176 (19) bph.14768, 3775-3790. doi: 10.1111/bph.14768

Inhibitors of class I histone deacetylases attenuate thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice by suppressing hepatic Type 2 inflammation

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Twists or turns: stabilising alpha vs. beta turns in tetrapeptides

Hoang, Huy N., Hill, Timothy A., Ruiz-Gómez, Gloria, Diness, Frederik, Mason, Jody M., Wu, Chongyang, Abbenante, Giovanni, Shepherd, Nicholas E. and Fairlie, David P. (2019). Twists or turns: stabilising alpha vs. beta turns in tetrapeptides. Chemical Science, 10 (45), 10595-10600. doi: 10.1039/c9sc04153b

Twists or turns: stabilising alpha vs. beta turns in tetrapeptides

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Glucuronic acid as a helix-inducing linker in short peptides

Wu, Chongyang, Hoang, Huy N, Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P (2018). Glucuronic acid as a helix-inducing linker in short peptides. Chemical Communications, 54 (17), 2162-2165. doi: 10.1039/c7cc09785a

Glucuronic acid as a helix-inducing linker in short peptides

Featured

2017

Journal Article

Exploiting a novel conformational switch to control innate immunity mediated by complement protein C3a

Lohman, Rink-Jan, Hamidon, Johan K., Reid, Robert C., Rowley, Jessica A., Yau, Mei-Kwan, Halili, Maria A., Nielsen, Daniel S., Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai-Chen, Loh, Zhixuan, Do, Anh, Suen, Jacky Y., Iyer, Abishek and Fairlie, David P. (2017). Exploiting a novel conformational switch to control innate immunity mediated by complement protein C3a. Nature Communications, 8 (1) 351, 351. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00414-w

Exploiting a novel conformational switch to control innate immunity mediated by complement protein C3a

Featured

2017

Journal Article

Stabilizing short-lived Schiff base derivatives of 5-aminouracils that activate mucosal-associated invariant T cells

Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Xu, Weijun, Reid, Robert C., Corbett, Alexandra J., Meehan, Bronwyn S., Wang, Huimeng, Chen, Zhenjun, Rossjohn, Jamie, McCluskey, James, Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2017). Stabilizing short-lived Schiff base derivatives of 5-aminouracils that activate mucosal-associated invariant T cells. Nature Communications, 8 (1) 14599, 14599. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14599

Stabilizing short-lived Schiff base derivatives of 5-aminouracils that activate mucosal-associated invariant T cells

Featured

2017

Journal Article

Electrophilic helical peptides that bond covalently, irreversibly, and selectively in a protein-protein interaction site

Dantas De Araujo, Aline, Lim, Junxian, Good, Andrew C., Skerlj, Renato T. and Fairlie, David P. (2017). Electrophilic helical peptides that bond covalently, irreversibly, and selectively in a protein-protein interaction site. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 8 (1), 22-26. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00395

Electrophilic helical peptides that bond covalently, irreversibly, and selectively in a protein-protein interaction site

Featured

2015

Journal Article

Membrane-anchored serine protease matriptase is a trigger of pulmonary fibrogenesis

Bardou, Oliver, Menou, Awen, Francois, Charlene, Duitman, Jan Willem, von der Thusen, Jan H., Borie, Raphael, Sales, Katiuchia Uzzun, Mutze, Kathrin, Castier, Yves, Sage, Edouard, Liu, Ligong, Bugge, Thomas H., Fairlie, David P., Konigshoff, Melanie, Crestani, Bruno and Borensztain, Keren S. (2015). Membrane-anchored serine protease matriptase is a trigger of pulmonary fibrogenesis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 193 (8), 847-860. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201502-0299OC

Membrane-anchored serine protease matriptase is a trigger of pulmonary fibrogenesis

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Improving on nature: making a cyclic heptapeptide orally bioavailable

Nielsen, Daniel S., Hoang, Huy N., Lohman, Rink-Jan, Hill, Timothy A., Lucke, Andrew J., Craik, David J., Edmonds, David J., Griffith, David A., Rotter, Charles J., Ruggeri, Roger B., Price, David A., Liras, Spiros and Fairlie, David P. (2014). Improving on nature: making a cyclic heptapeptide orally bioavailable. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 53 (45), 12059-12063. doi: 10.1002/anie.201405364

Improving on nature: making a cyclic heptapeptide orally bioavailable

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Constraining cyclic peptides to mimic protein structure motifs

Hill, Timothy A., Shepherd, Nicholas E., Diness, Frederik and Fairlie, David P. (2014). Constraining cyclic peptides to mimic protein structure motifs. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 53 (48), 13020-13041. doi: 10.1002/anie.201401058

Constraining cyclic peptides to mimic protein structure motifs

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Pathway-selective antagonism of proteinase activated receptor 2

Suen, J. Y., Cotterell, A., Lohman, R. J., Lim, J., Han, A., Yau, M. K., Liu, L., Cooper, M. A., Vesey, D. A. and Fairlie, D. P. (2014). Pathway-selective antagonism of proteinase activated receptor 2. British Journal of Pharmacology, 171 (17), 4112-4124. doi: 10.1111/bph.12757

Pathway-selective antagonism of proteinase activated receptor 2

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Stereoelectronic effects dictate molecular conformation and biological function of heterocyclic amides

Reid, Robert C., Yau, Mei-Kwan, Singh, Ranee, Lim, Junxian and Fairlie, David P. (2014). Stereoelectronic effects dictate molecular conformation and biological function of heterocyclic amides. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136 (34), 11914-11917. doi: 10.1021/ja506518t

Stereoelectronic effects dictate molecular conformation and biological function of heterocyclic amides

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Complement c5a receptor facilitates cancer metastasis by altering t-cell responses in the metastatic niche

Vadrevu, Saurya Kumari, Chintala, Navin K., Sharma, Sharad K., Sharma, Priya, Cleveland, Clayton, Riediger, Linley, Manne, Sasikanth, Fairlie, David P., Gorczyca, Wojciech, Almanza, Othon, Karbowniczek, Magdalena and Markiewski, Maciej M. (2014). Complement c5a receptor facilitates cancer metastasis by altering t-cell responses in the metastatic niche. Cancer Research, 74 (13), 3454-3465. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-0157

Complement c5a receptor facilitates cancer metastasis by altering t-cell responses in the metastatic niche

Featured

2014

Journal Article

T-cell activation by transitory neo-antigens derived from distinct microbial pathways

Corbett, Alexandra J., Eckle, Sidonia B. G., Birkinshaw, Richard W., Liu, Ligong, Patel, Onisha, Mahony, Jennifer, Chen, Zhenjun, Reantragoon, Rangsima, Meehan, Bronwyn, Cao, Hanwei, Williamson, Nicholas A., Strugnell, Richard A., Van Sinderen, Douwe, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Rossjohn, Jamie and McClusky, James (2014). T-cell activation by transitory neo-antigens derived from distinct microbial pathways. Nature, 509 (7500), 361-365. doi: 10.1038/nature13160

T-cell activation by transitory neo-antigens derived from distinct microbial pathways

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Super-resolution platform to accelerate biological and molecular research
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Developing a new type of drug for inflammatory lung disease
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Targeting CEP55 in triple-negative breast cancer
    United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Breast Cancer Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Modulating protein-protein interactions in disease
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2028
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2023
    Advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technologies for Southeast Queensland
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Chemical Purification Network
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019
    In vivo imaging system for tracking inflammation, infection, cancer, pain and bioactive molecules
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Preclinical Validation of a Novel Drug Lead to Treat Tuberculosis
    United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    A New Approach To Restoring Glucose Homeostasis
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Compressing small peptides for cell absorption
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Multichannel peptide synthesiser to accelerate UQ's biodiscovery pipeline and peptide drug development programs
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Potent Small Molecule Modulators of a Complement Protein In Inflammation
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    New chemicals for sheep blowfly control
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Determine the therapeutic efficacy of CSL's drug candidate
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2024
    Drug targets for liver inflammation and fibrosis
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2024
    ACRF Cancer Ultrastructure and Function Facility
    Australian Cancer Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    A structural, chemical and functional investigation into MAIT cell receptor recognition (NHMRC Project Grant administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Combating infectious diseases by harnessing macrophage functions
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Modulating Protein-Protein Interactions In Disease
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Small molecule activators of glucagon-like peptide receptor
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Characterisation of PAR2 compounds
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Collaborative research program on stapled peptide therapeutics
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    A nuclear magnetic resonance facility for modern molecular analysis
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2016
    4D Mass Spectrometer
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    DsbA inhibitors: from hits to leads
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Engineering peptides into superglues selective for target proteins
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Integrative blood coagulation research core facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Development of antimalarial histone deacetylase inhibitors
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Downsizing A Human Protein To Modulate Inflammatory Diseases
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Engineering Cyclic Peptides For Oral Bioavailability
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Murine behavioural phenotyping facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Targeting Protease Activated Receptor 2 In Immunometabolism And Obesity
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    IMB/Pfizer Collaborative Project on Peptide Therapeutics
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2021
    ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging (Monash lead institution)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Anti-Parasitic Drug Discovery in Epigenetics (A-PARADDISE) (EU FP7 grant administered by Inserm)
    Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Continuous-Flow Hydrogenation Reactor (H-Cube Pro)
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    New drugs for parasitic diseases (NHMRC - European Union Collaborative Research Grant administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Inhibitors of homologous recombination repair for use as chemo-and radio-sensitizers in triple negative breast cancer
    Queensland Emory Development Alliance
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Capturing New Drugs That Selectively Modulate PAR2 Signaling Pathways
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Downsizing proteins to equipotent small molecules that activate cells
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Inhibitors Of Class II HDACs In Inflammatory And Metabolic Disease
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    High-resolution and high-throughput Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facility (ARC LIEF Grant administered by JCU)
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    The Queensland-Pfizer Program for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Drug Discovery
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Co-Investment Fund
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Flaviviral proteases as viable targets for antiinfective drugs
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    High- throughput Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    NHMRC Research Fellowship (SPRF)
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Profiling global inflammatory signatures for GPCRs in human macrophages
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Small Molecule Modulators of Complement in Metabolism and Obesity
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Innovations in peptide-based drug design
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Auto-iTC200 microcalorimeter for high-throughput molecular interaction analyses
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Peptide Drug Synthesis and Purification Unit
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Real time cell analysis for biological and drug discovery applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Advanced molecular discovery and characterisation facility
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    A functional interaction between domains of the flavivirus NS5 protein presents a new target for antiviral therapy
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Combinatorial chemistry (high throughput synthesizer and purification system)
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Common Hot Spots in Protein-Activated GPCRs Enable Discovery of New Ligands for Mapping of G-Protein Signalling Pathways
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Inhibitors of Secretory Phospholipases in Diet Induced Obese Rats
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Protease activated receptor 2 antagonist in inflammatory disease
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Protein And Peptide Alpha Turns
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Resonant waveguide label-free plate sensor
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Analytical flow cytometer for high throughput cell biology and drug discovery applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Microwave reactor for synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    Protease Activated Receptor 2 : A New Drug Target For Inflammatory Diseases and Cancer
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Towards selective targeting of HDACs for anti-inflammatory applications
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Analytical and preparative enantioselective chromatography
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Investigating A novel generic Approach to Anti-Infective Agents
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Molecular characterization of dengue virus fusion and antiviral inhibitors
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Profiling the pro- and anti-inflammatory functions of histone deacetylases in macrophages
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    The mechanism of growth hormone receptor activation
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    DsbA inhibitors as potential antimicrobials
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    From Chemical Architecture to Protein Surfaces
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Inhibitors Of West Nile Virus Protease As Antiviral Drugs
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Targeting A Complement Receptor That Regulates Inflammatory Disease
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2011
    Chemical mimics of bioactive protein surfaces
    ARC Federation Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Smarter Diagnostics Through Selective Chemical Tagging
    Queensland Government Smart State Research Industry Partnerships Program
    Open grant
  • 2006
    The West Nile Viral Protease, NS3: A Target for Antiviral Drug and Vaccine Design
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    ESEG_The rational design of non-covalent caspase inhibitors
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Development of novel and selective anticancer drugs derived from cysteine
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Chemical Insights to Peptide Helix-Sheet-Nanofibre Equilibria
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005
    The West Nile viral protease NS3: a target for antiviral drug and vaccine design
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Australian Computational Molecular Science Network
    ARC Seed Funding for Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    C3/C5 Convertase Inhibitors as a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2004
    The Australian Protease Network
    ARC Seed Funding for Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Towards a clinical trial of anti-inflammatory drugs discovered by blocking enzymes.
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    Agonists and antagonists of the human complement C3a receptor
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    Design And Development Of Small Molecules To Regulate Protease Activated Receptor Type 2
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    Virtual Screening In Structure-Based Drug Design For Malaria
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2006
    Macrocyclic Peptidomimetics
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Metal Clips for Folding Peptides
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Towards new antiinflammatory drugs based on human immune defence
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2003
    Design and Evaluation of Inhibitors of Phospholipases A2 as Anti-inflamatory Drugs
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Mimicking Helical Turns of Proteins
    University of Queensland Small Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Mimicking Helical Turns of Proteins.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Applications of C5a antagonists in vivo
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Design and development of inhibitors of the dengue virus protease as antiviral agents
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Development of specific inhibitors of parasitic enzymes
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Chemistry & Structural Biology of Metallopeptides in Alzheimer's Disease
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Generic Technology for Enzyme Inhibition. Mimicking Protease-Binding Conformations of Peptides
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    New Molecular Probes for the Complement System. Development of Potent Agonists and Antagonists of C5a
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2000
    Rational Design of Novel Antiretroviral Drugs to Overcome Resistance
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Folding and reactivity of novel cyclic peptides containing unusual amino acids
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1999
    Approaches to the development of drugs for Alzheimer's disease
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Cyclic peptidomimetics that mimic protease-binding conformations of bioactive peptides
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Do beta-agonists cause airway smooth muscle hypertrophy or cellular proliferation? An in vitro investigation
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1998
    New differentiating agents selective for tumour cells
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Novel solid phase synthesis of serine protease inhibitors. Application to inhibiting complement activation
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Approaches to the development of drugs for Alzheimer's disease
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Approaches to the development of drugs for Alzheimer's disease
    NHMRC Project - Special Initiative Grant
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1998
    Developing artificial antibodies
    NHMRC Project Grant - HIV/AIDS (CARG)
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Folding and reactivity of novel cyclic peptides containing unusual amino acids
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1995
    Design, synthesis and properties of new artificial receptors
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 1995
    Protein surface mimetics: Molecular toolkits for their construction
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1995
    Structural studies of an HIV peptide of rev and its three-dimensional interactions with its RNA receptors
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1997
    Synthesis structure and inhibition of an essential HIV regulatory protein REV
    Department Health & Family Services - CARG
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1997
    Synthesis, structure and inhibition of an essential HIV regulatory protein REV
    NHMRC Project Grant - HIV/AIDS (CARG)
    Open grant

Availability

Professor David Fairlie is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Targeting strategies for drug design

    Selective binding of small molecules with proteins underpins most drug discovery. However, while a compound can be devised to interact with a single protein, this cannot drive the molecule into a specific location where functional modulation of the target protein only at that location is desired for therapy. Instead, designed compounds usually bind to the protein wherever it is expressed in the body and this can be deterimental to normal healthy physiology. This project will investigate a number of promising new approaches to directing protein-binding compounds to specific compartments of cells and organisms. It will require a combination of organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, molecular modelling and chemical biology. The new approaches will be tested and optimised with the goal of inhibiting or activating desired proteins in specific compartments in order to modulate disease-causing protein functions without altering normal healthy physiology. Achieving these aims will require enthusiasm, a high degree of self-motivation, lateral thinking, strong chemical knowledge and hands-on skills in organic synthesis (solution and solid phase), NMR characterisation (including 2D NMR structure analysis), HPLC purification, mass spectrometry, and computer modelling. Some knowledge of enzyme assays and cell biology would be an advantage. The long term goal is to design new compounds and profile them for selective effects on target genes/proteins/cells/rodent models of inflammatory diseases and cancer. Outcomes will include new knowledge of protein function in disease; greater understanding of medicinal and organic chemistry in drug design, drug targeting, mechanisms and effectiveness of drug action; patentable methods and bioactive compounds; and new experimental leads to new medicines for development towards the clinic.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing a new type of drug for inflammatory disease

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Junxian Lim

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Towards Selective Inhibitors and PROTACs of HDAC7

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Mak

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Discovering novel anticancer drugs

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Mak, Dr Tim Hill

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Novel activators and inhibitors of innate immune cells

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Mak

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Peptide modulators for drug discovery

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Junxian Lim

  • Doctor Philosophy

    New strategies in heterocyclic chemistry for drug discovery

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Mak

  • Master Philosophy

    ß-arrestin and G protein signalling by C3aR and PAR2

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Junxian Lim

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Therapeutic strategies to inhibit oncogenic transcription factors

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Junxian Lim

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Novel chemical approaches to drugs that selectively target immune cells

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Mak

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of novel targetted protein degraters for cancer and inflammation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Tim Hill

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Modulation of innate immune proteins in cancers

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Junxian Lim

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Design and synthesis of novel Major histocompatibility complex class I-Related protein ligands

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jeffrey Mak

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Combating bacterial infections through reprogramming of innate immunity

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Divya Ramnath, Professor Matt Sweet

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor David Fairlie directly for media enquiries about:

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • biochemistry
  • biological chemistry
  • cancers
  • cardiovascular disease
  • dementia
  • drug design
  • drug discovery
  • enzymes
  • experimental pharmacology
  • immunology
  • infectious diseases
  • inflammatory diseases
  • innate immunity
  • malaria
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • metabolic disease
  • metabolism
  • metastasis
  • molecular pharmacology
  • neurodegenerative disease
  • obesity
  • organic chemistry
  • pathogenesis
  • peptides
  • pharmaceuticals
  • proteins
  • respiratory disease
  • signal transduction
  • structural biology
  • structural chemistry
  • tropical diseases
  • type 2 diabetes
  • viral infections

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au