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 450 scientific journal articles in high impact chemistry journals (e.g. Chem Rev, 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, Nature Immunology, Immunity, Science Immunology, Nature Communications, J Exp Med, J Clin Invest, Proc Natl Acad Sci, Diabetes, Cancer Res, Br J Pharmacol). He has been a Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate Analytics), with over 37,000 citations and 104 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, 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

612 works between 1980 and 2024
All (612) Journal Article (477) Book Chapter (9) Conference Publication (117) Other Outputs (9)

61 - 80 of 612 works

2021

Journal Article

Chemical modulators of mucosal associated Invariant T cells

Mak, Jeffrey Y.W., Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2021). Chemical modulators of mucosal associated Invariant T cells. Accounts of Chemical Research, 54 (17) acs.accounts.1c00359, 3462-3475. doi: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00359

Chemical modulators of mucosal associated Invariant T cells

2021

Journal Article

MAIT cells regulate NK cell-mediated tumor immunity

Petley, Emma V., Koay, Hui-Fern, Henderson, Melissa A., Sek, Kevin, Todd, Kirsten L., Keam, Simon P., Lai, Junyun, House, Imran G., Li, Jasmine, Zethoven, Magnus, Chen, Amanda X. Y., Oliver, Amanda J., Michie, Jessica, Freeman, Andrew J., Giuffrida, Lauren, Chan, Jack D., Pizzolla, Angela, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., McCulloch, Timothy R., Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando, Kearney, Conor J., Millen, Rosemary, Ramsay, Robert G., Huntington, Nicholas D., McCluskey, James, Oliaro, Jane, Fairlie, David P., Neeson, Paul J., Godfrey, Dale I. ... Darcy, Phillip K. (2021). MAIT cells regulate NK cell-mediated tumor immunity. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 4746, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25009-4

MAIT cells regulate NK cell-mediated tumor immunity

2021

Journal Article

Histone deacetylase inhibitor AR-42 and achiral analogues kill malaria parasites in vitro and in mice

Chua, Ming Jang, Tng, Jiahui, Hesping, Eva, Fisher, Gillian M., Goodman, Christopher D., Skinner-Adams, Tina, Do, Darren, Lucke, Andrew J., Reid, Robert C., Fairlie, David P. and Andrews, Katherine T. (2021). Histone deacetylase inhibitor AR-42 and achiral analogues kill malaria parasites in vitro and in mice. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 17, 118-127. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.08.006

Histone deacetylase inhibitor AR-42 and achiral analogues kill malaria parasites in vitro and in mice

2021

Journal Article

Francisella tularensis induces Th1 like MAIT cells conferring protection against systemic and local infection

Zhao, Zhe, Wang, Huimeng, Shi, Mai, Zhu, Tianyuan, Pediongco, Troi, Lim, Xin Yi, Meehan, Bronwyn S., Nelson, Adam G., Fairlie, David P., Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Eckle, Sidonia B. G., de Lima Moreira, Marcela, Tumpach, Carolin, Bramhall, Michael, Williams, Cameron G., Lee, Hyun Jae, Haque, Ashraful, Evrard, Maximilien, Rossjohn, Jamie, McCluskey, James, Corbett, Alexandra J. and Chen, Zhenjun (2021). Francisella tularensis induces Th1 like MAIT cells conferring protection against systemic and local infection. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 4355, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-24570-2

Francisella tularensis induces Th1 like MAIT cells conferring protection against systemic and local infection

2021

Journal Article

PAR2-induced tissue factor synthesis by primary cultures of human kidney tubular epithelial cells is modified by glucose availability

Humphries, Tyrone L. R., Shen, Kunyu, Iyer, Abishek, Johnson, David W., Gobe, Glenda C., Nikolic-Paterson, David, Fairlie, David P. and Vesey, David A. (2021). PAR2-induced tissue factor synthesis by primary cultures of human kidney tubular epithelial cells is modified by glucose availability. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (14) 7532, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/ijms22147532

PAR2-induced tissue factor synthesis by primary cultures of human kidney tubular epithelial cells is modified by glucose availability

2021

Journal Article

Targeting Class IIa HDACs: insights from henotypes and inhibitors

Liu, Ligong, Dong, Lilong, Bourguet, Erika and Fairlie, David P. (2021). Targeting Class IIa HDACs: insights from henotypes and inhibitors. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 28 (42), 8628-8672. doi: 10.2174/0929867328666210629160647

Targeting Class IIa HDACs: insights from henotypes and inhibitors

2021

Journal Article

Late‐stage hydrocarbon conjugation and cyclisation in synthetic peptides and proteins

Araujo, Aline D., Nguyen, Huy T. and Fairlie, David P. (2021). Late‐stage hydrocarbon conjugation and cyclisation in synthetic peptides and proteins. ChemBioChem, 22 (10), 1784-1789. doi: 10.1002/cbic.202000796

Late‐stage hydrocarbon conjugation and cyclisation in synthetic peptides and proteins

2021

Journal Article

Front Cover: Late‐Stage Hydrocarbon Conjugation and Cyclisation in Synthetic Peptides and Proteins (ChemBioChem 10/2021)

Araujo, Aline D., Nguyen, Huy T. and Fairlie, David P. (2021). Front Cover: Late‐Stage Hydrocarbon Conjugation and Cyclisation in Synthetic Peptides and Proteins (ChemBioChem 10/2021). ChemBioChem, 22 (10), 1686-1686. doi: 10.1002/cbic.202100189

Front Cover: Late‐Stage Hydrocarbon Conjugation and Cyclisation in Synthetic Peptides and Proteins (ChemBioChem 10/2021)

2021

Journal Article

Expression of protease activated receptor-2 is reduced in renal cell carcinoma biopsies and cell lines

Morais, Christudas, Rajandram, Retnagowri, Blakeney, Jade S., Iyer, Abishek, Suen, Jacky Y., Johnson, David W., Gobe, Glenda C., Fairlie, David P. and Vesey, David A. (2021). Expression of protease activated receptor-2 is reduced in renal cell carcinoma biopsies and cell lines. PLoS One, 16 (3) e0248983, e0248983. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248983

Expression of protease activated receptor-2 is reduced in renal cell carcinoma biopsies and cell lines

2021

Journal Article

Identification and phenotype of MAIT cells in cattle and their response to bacterial infections

Edmans, Matthew D., Connelley, Timothy K., Jayaraman, Siddharth, Vrettou, Christina, Vordermeier, Martin, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Liu, Ligong, Fairlie, David P., Maze, Emmanuel Atangana, Chrun, Tiphany, Klenerman, Paul, Eckle, Sidonia B. G., Tchilian, Elma and Benedictus, Lindert (2021). Identification and phenotype of MAIT cells in cattle and their response to bacterial infections. Frontiers in Immunology, 12 627173, 627173. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.627173

Identification and phenotype of MAIT cells in cattle and their response to bacterial infections

2021

Journal Article

PAR2 activation on human kidney tubular epithelial cells induces tissue factor synthesis, that enhances blood clotting

Iyer, Abishek, Humphries, Tyrone L. R., Owens, Evan P., Zhao, Kong-Nan, Masci, Paul P., Johnson, David W., Nikolic-Paterson, David, Gobe, Glenda C., Fairlie, David P. and Vesey, David A. (2021). PAR2 activation on human kidney tubular epithelial cells induces tissue factor synthesis, that enhances blood clotting. Frontiers in Physiology, 12 615428, 615428. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.615428

PAR2 activation on human kidney tubular epithelial cells induces tissue factor synthesis, that enhances blood clotting

2021

Journal Article

Connecting hydrophobic surfaces in cyclic peptides increases membrane permeability

Hoang, Huy N., Hill, Timothy A. and Fairlie, David P. (2021). Connecting hydrophobic surfaces in cyclic peptides increases membrane permeability. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 60 (15), 8385-8390. doi: 10.1002/anie.202012643

Connecting hydrophobic surfaces in cyclic peptides increases membrane permeability

2021

Journal Article

Mucosal-associated invariant t cell effector function is an intrinsic cell property that can be augmented by the metabolic cofactor α-ketoglutarate

Howson, Lauren J., Li, Jasmine, von Borstel, Anouk, Barugahare, Adele, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., McCluskey, James, Turner, Stephen J., Davey, Martin S. and Rossjohn, Jamie (2021). Mucosal-associated invariant t cell effector function is an intrinsic cell property that can be augmented by the metabolic cofactor α-ketoglutarate. The Journal of Immunology, 206 (7) ji2001048, 1425-1435. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001048

Mucosal-associated invariant t cell effector function is an intrinsic cell property that can be augmented by the metabolic cofactor α-ketoglutarate

Featured

2021

Journal Article

HDAC7 inhibition by phenacetyl and phenylbenzoyl hydroxamates

Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Wu, Kai-Chen, Gupta, Praveer K., Barbero, Sheila, McLaughlin, Maddison G., Lucke, Andrew J., Tng, Jiahui, Lim, Junxian, Loh, Zhixuan, Sweet, Matthew J, Reid, Robert C., Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2021). HDAC7 inhibition by phenacetyl and phenylbenzoyl hydroxamates. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64 (4), 2186-2204. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01967

HDAC7 inhibition by phenacetyl and phenylbenzoyl hydroxamates

2021

Journal Article

PAR2 induces ovarian cancer cell motility by merging three signalling pathways to transactivate EGFR

Jiang, Yuhong, Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai‐Chen, Xu, Weijun, Suen, Jacky Y. and Fairlie, David P. (2021). PAR2 induces ovarian cancer cell motility by merging three signalling pathways to transactivate EGFR. British Journal of Pharmacology, 178 (4) bph.15332, 913-932. doi: 10.1111/bph.15332

PAR2 induces ovarian cancer cell motility by merging three signalling pathways to transactivate EGFR

2021

Journal Article

Mechanotransduction activates RhoA in the neighbors of apoptotic epithelial cells to engage apical extrusion

Duszyc, Kinga, Gomez, Guillermo A., Lagendijk, Anne K., Yau, Mei-Kwan, Nanavati, Bageshri Naimish, Gliddon, Briony L., Hall, Thomas E., Verma, Suzie, Hogan, Benjamin M., Pitson, Stuart M., Fairlie, David P., Parton, Robert G. and Yap, Alpha S. (2021). Mechanotransduction activates RhoA in the neighbors of apoptotic epithelial cells to engage apical extrusion. Current Biology, 31 (6), 1326-1336.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.003

Mechanotransduction activates RhoA in the neighbors of apoptotic epithelial cells to engage apical extrusion

2021

Journal Article

Activation of protease-activated receptor 2 is associated with blood pressure regulation and proteinuria reduction in metabolic syndrome

Maruyama-Fumoto, Kana, McGuire, John J., Fairlie, David P., Shinozuka, Kazumasa and Kagota, Satomi (2021). Activation of protease-activated receptor 2 is associated with blood pressure regulation and proteinuria reduction in metabolic syndrome. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 48 (2), 211-220. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.13431

Activation of protease-activated receptor 2 is associated with blood pressure regulation and proteinuria reduction in metabolic syndrome

2021

Journal Article

Taking the Myc out of cancer: toward therapeutic strategies to directly inhibit c-Myc

Madden, Sarah K., de Araujo, Aline Dantas, Gerhardt, Mara, Fairlie, David P. and Mason, Jody M. (2021). Taking the Myc out of cancer: toward therapeutic strategies to directly inhibit c-Myc. Molecular Cancer, 20 (1) 3, 3. doi: 10.1186/s12943-020-01291-6

Taking the Myc out of cancer: toward therapeutic strategies to directly inhibit c-Myc

2021

Journal Article

A nucleotide analog prevents colitis associated cancer via Β-catenin independently of inflammation and autophagy

Sheng, Yong Hua, Giri, Rabina, Davies, Julie, Schreiber, Veronika, Alabbas, Saleh, Movva, Ramya, He, Yaowu, Wu, Andy, Hooper, John, McWhinney, Brett, Oancea, Iulia, Kijanka, Gregor, Hasnain, Sumaira, Lucke, Andrew J., Fairlie, David P., McGuckin, Michael A., Florin, Timothy H. and Begun, Jakob (2021). A nucleotide analog prevents colitis associated cancer via Β-catenin independently of inflammation and autophagy. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 11 (1), 33-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2020.05.012

A nucleotide analog prevents colitis associated cancer via Β-catenin independently of inflammation and autophagy

2021

Journal Article

Fortified coiled coils: enhancing eechanical stability with lactam or metal staples

López-García, Patricia, de Araujo, Aline D., Bergues-Pupo, Ana E., Tunn, Isabell, Fairlie, David P. and Blank, Kerstin G. (2021). Fortified coiled coils: enhancing eechanical stability with lactam or metal staples. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 60 (1) anie.202006971, 232-236. doi: 10.1002/anie.202006971

Fortified coiled coils: enhancing eechanical stability with lactam or metal staples

Current funding

  • 2024
    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 - 2022
    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 - 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

    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

  • 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

    Developing a new type of drug for inflammatory disease

    Principal 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Modulation of innate immune proteins in cancers

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Junxian Lim

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?

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communications@uq.edu.au