Professor Lars Nielsen
Professor

Lars Nielsen

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 63986

Background

Professor Lars Nielsen is leading the development of experimental and computational tools to analyse and design complex biological systems. His expertise in metabolic modelling and flux analysis is available nowhere else in Australia – and in few labs across the world. Professor Nielsen’s studies of biological systems as diverse as bacteria, baker's yeast, sugarcane, insects and mammals has attracted industrial partnerships with companies including Dow, Metabolix, Amyris, LanzaTech, Boeing, Virgin Australia and GE. These metabolic engineering partnerships have focussed on developing new ways of producing aviation fuel, various materials and bioactives (antibiotics, biopesticides, monoclonal antibodies). Professor Nielsen is also applying system analysis and design approaches to tissue engineering including novel strategies for generating microtissues for drug screening and using stem cells to produce red and white blood cells for transfusion.

International links

Professor Nielsen collaborates with some of the world’s pre-eminent metabolic engineers. A joint project with Prof Sang Yup Lee (KAIST, Korea) enabled several extended mutual visits to explore use of sugar for higher value products. A separate project focused on producing synthetic aviation fuel based on isoprenoids involves Professor Nielsen collaborating with global synthetic biotechnology company Amyris and leading isoprenoid metabolic engineer Professor Jay Keasling, from UC Berkeley. Professor Nielsen has secured $8million since 2006 from industry through research grants with US, European, Japanese, Korean, New Zealand and Australian companies.

Availability

Professor Lars Nielsen is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Industrial biotechnology Microbiology

Qualifications

  • Masters (Coursework), Technical University of Denmark
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research impacts

Research

Systems and synthetic biology. Professor Nielsen is dedicated to both the advancement of bioengineering science and its application to specific problems. Using thermodynamic principles, novel approaches are developed for handling complex, transient dynamics in developing tissue as well as rational design of complex pathways. These novel approaches are used in the design of bioprocesses as diverse as the production of blood cells for transfusion and the production of industrial biopolymers.

Memberships, patents and funding

Professor Nielsen has been granted four patents – two in stem cells and another two in metabolic engineering. He is on the Scientific Advisory Board of InSphero (2009–), a Swiss company commercialising microtissue technology originating in the Nielsen laboratory. He is an editorial board member of ACS Synthetic Biology, Metabolic Engineering, Biotechnology Journal, Biotechnology and Bioengineering and Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering. Professor Nielsen formed and chaired the 2005 CRC SIIB Industrial Biotechnology Panel to develop an industrial biotechnology strategy for the Australian sugar industry. He successfully lobbied for the inclusion of Industrial Biotechnology in the Queensland Biotechnology Strategic Plan 2005-2015. Since then he has served as expert advisor to government, research bodies, domestic and major international companies such as Dow Chemical, DuPont and GS Caltex. In the past decade, he has been part of successful research grant applications totalling $56 million, with $31.2 million for his own systems and synthetic biology group at AIBN.

Awards and plenaries

Professor Nielsen has received the UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award; and the Australian Institute of Political Science Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award. He was invited to speak at the 2010 Science at the Shine Dome Symposium on Genomics & Mathematics, Canberra; and the Australian Academy of Technical Sciences & Engineering’s National Symposium on Future-Proofing Australia.

Search Professor Lars Nielsen’s works on UQ eSpace

401 works between 1991 and 2025
All (401) Journal Article (291) Book Chapter (15) Conference Publication (91) Other Outputs (4)

301 - 320 of 401 works

2008

Journal Article

The N-terminal presequence from F1-ATPase β-subunit of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia efficiently targets green fluorescent fusion protein to the mitochondria in diverse commercial crops

Gnanasambandam, Annathurai, Anderson, David J., Purnell, Matthew P., Nielsen, Lars K. and Brumbley, Stevens M. (2008). The N-terminal presequence from F1-ATPase β-subunit of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia efficiently targets green fluorescent fusion protein to the mitochondria in diverse commercial crops. Functional Plant Biology, 35 (2), 166-170. doi: 10.1071/FP07277

The N-terminal presequence from F1-ATPase β-subunit of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia efficiently targets green fluorescent fusion protein to the mitochondria in diverse commercial crops

2008

Conference Publication

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers in sugarcane

Anderson, D. J., Brumbley, W. M., Gnanasambandam, A., Nielsen, L. K., O'Shea, M. G. and Williams, E. (2008). Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers in sugarcane. International Symposium on Biological Polyesters Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 23 – 26 November 2008.

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers in sugarcane

2008

Conference Publication

Streptococcus zooepidemicus engineered to overexpress Pgi and GlmU produces high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.

Chen WY, Marcellin E, Hung J and Nielsen LK (2008). Streptococcus zooepidemicus engineered to overexpress Pgi and GlmU produces high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.. Cooperative Research Centre for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology (CRC SIIB) Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 3-4th December.

Streptococcus zooepidemicus engineered to overexpress Pgi and GlmU produces high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.

2008

Journal Article

On the reconstruction of the Mus musculus genome-scale metabolic network model

Lake-ee Quek and Nielsen, Lars K. (2008). On the reconstruction of the Mus musculus genome-scale metabolic network model. Genome Informatics, 21, 89-100. doi: 10.1142/9781848163324_0008

On the reconstruction of the Mus musculus genome-scale metabolic network model

2008

Conference Publication

Genome scale metabolic network model of Arabidopsis

Dal'Molin, Cristiana G., Quek, Lake-ee and Nielsen, Lars K. (2008). Genome scale metabolic network model of Arabidopsis. Health And Sustainability: Metabolic Engineering VII, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 14-18 September 2008.

Genome scale metabolic network model of Arabidopsis

2008

Conference Publication

Understanding molecular weight control in bacterial fermentation: a systems biotechnology approach

Marcellin E, Chen WY, Archer C and Nielsen LK (2008). Understanding molecular weight control in bacterial fermentation: a systems biotechnology approach. GIW2008, Gold Coast , QLD, Australia, 1-3 December.

Understanding molecular weight control in bacterial fermentation: a systems biotechnology approach

2008

Journal Article

Synthesis and characterization of alginate/poly-L-ornithine/alginate microcapsules for local immunosuppression

Leung, A.H.M., Lawrie, G.A., Nielsen, L.K. and Trau, M. (2008). Synthesis and characterization of alginate/poly-L-ornithine/alginate microcapsules for local immunosuppression. Journal of Microencapsulation, 25 (6), 387-398. doi: 10.1080/02652040802008857

Synthesis and characterization of alginate/poly-L-ornithine/alginate microcapsules for local immunosuppression

2008

Conference Publication

Sugarcane: An industrial crop for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates

Brumbley, S. M., Petrasovits, L. A., Zhou, L., McQualter, R. A. and Nielsen, L. K. (2008). Sugarcane: An industrial crop for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates. Fifth Annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, Chicago, IL, U.S.A., 27-30 April 2008. National Agricultural Biotechnology Council.

Sugarcane: An industrial crop for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates

2008

Conference Publication

BIOT 273-Genome-scale metabolic network model of Arabidopsis

Dal'Molin, C, Quek, LE and Nielsen, LK (2008). BIOT 273-Genome-scale metabolic network model of Arabidopsis. 236th National Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 17-21 August, 2008. WASHINGTON: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.

BIOT 273-Genome-scale metabolic network model of Arabidopsis

2008

Conference Publication

PHB production in sugarcane

Petrasovits, L. A., Zhao, L., McQualter, R. B., Snell, K. D., Nielsen. L. K. and Brumbley, S. M. (2008). PHB production in sugarcane. 10th International Symposium on Biological Polyesters Conference (ISBP), Auckland, New Zealand, 23 – 26 November 2008.

PHB production in sugarcane

2008

Conference Publication

Sugarcane: An industrial crop for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates

Brumbley, S. M., Petrasovits, L. A., McQualter, R. A., Zhou, L. and Nielsen, L. K. (2008). Sugarcane: An industrial crop for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates. ComBio 2008, Canberra, Australia, 21-25 September 2008.

Sugarcane: An industrial crop for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates

2008

Conference Publication

Streptococcus zooepidemicus engineered to overexpress Pgi produces high molecular weight hyaluronic acid

Chen WY, Marcellin E, Hung J and Nielsen LK (2008). Streptococcus zooepidemicus engineered to overexpress Pgi produces high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. Metabolic engineering VII, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 14-18 September.

Streptococcus zooepidemicus engineered to overexpress Pgi produces high molecular weight hyaluronic acid

2008

Conference Publication

Immunolocalisation of PHB biosynthesis enzymes in the leaves of transgenic sugarcane plants

McQualter, R. B., Somleva, M. N., Xuemei, L., Petrasovits, L., Zhao, L., Nielsen, L. K. and Brumbley, S. M. (2008). Immunolocalisation of PHB biosynthesis enzymes in the leaves of transgenic sugarcane plants. International Symposium on Biological Polyesters Conference 2008, Auckland, NZ, 23-26 November 2008.

Immunolocalisation of PHB biosynthesis enzymes in the leaves of transgenic sugarcane plants

2008

Conference Publication

Identification of a sucrose metabolising Escherichia coli

Arifin, Yalun, Hung, Jacky, Vickers, Claudia and Nielsen, Lars K. (2008). Identification of a sucrose metabolising Escherichia coli. Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.

Identification of a sucrose metabolising Escherichia coli

2007

Journal Article

Generation of multicellular tumor spheroids by the hanging-drop method

Timmins, Nicholas E and Nielsen, Lars K (2007). Generation of multicellular tumor spheroids by the hanging-drop method. Methods in molecular medicine, 140, 141-151.

Generation of multicellular tumor spheroids by the hanging-drop method

2007

Journal Article

Thermodynamic and real-space structural evidence of a 2D critical point in phospholipid monolayers

Nielsen, Lars K., Bjørnholm, Thomas and Mouritsen, Ole G. (2007). Thermodynamic and real-space structural evidence of a 2D critical point in phospholipid monolayers. Langmuir, 23 (23), 11684-11692. doi: 10.1021/la7016352

Thermodynamic and real-space structural evidence of a 2D critical point in phospholipid monolayers

2007

Conference Publication

Ligand-receptor interactions and membrane structure investigated by AFM and time-resolved fluorescence microscopy

Thormann, Esben, Simonsen, Adam C., Nielsen, Lars K. and Mouritsen, Ole G. (2007). Ligand-receptor interactions and membrane structure investigated by AFM and time-resolved fluorescence microscopy. doi: 10.1002/jmr.850

Ligand-receptor interactions and membrane structure investigated by AFM and time-resolved fluorescence microscopy

2007

Journal Article

Spatio-temporal characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate accumulation in sugarcane

Purnell, Matthew P., Petrasovits, Lars A., Nielsen, Lars K. and Brumbley, Stevens M. (2007). Spatio-temporal characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate accumulation in sugarcane. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 5 (1), 173-184. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2006.00230.x

Spatio-temporal characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate accumulation in sugarcane

2007

Conference Publication

Metabolic engineering of sugarcane for production of industrial chemicals

Brumbley, S.M., Petrasovits, L.A., Anderson, D., Purnell, M., Su, A., Zhao, L., Abeydeera P. and Nielsen L.K. (2007). Metabolic engineering of sugarcane for production of industrial chemicals. AusBioTech Biofutures Forum, Parliament House, Canberra, Australia, 14 June, 2007.

Metabolic engineering of sugarcane for production of industrial chemicals

2007

Conference Publication

Genome scale model of a plant cell

Dal'Molin, Cristiana Gomes de Oliveria, Quek, Lake-Ee and Nielsen, Lars (2007). Genome scale model of a plant cell. Plant Metabolic Engineering Gordon Research Conference, Tilton School, U.S.A., 15-20 July 2007.

Genome scale model of a plant cell

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    Integrated Design Environment for Advanced Biomanufacturing (IDEA Bio) - Bioplatforms Australia (BPA) NCRIS 2022
    Bioplatforms Australia Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    Queensland Metabolomics and Proteomics (Q-MAP) Facility - Bioplatforms Australia (BPA) NCRIS 2022
    Bioplatforms Australia Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    Development of reagents for blood product safety
    Australian Red Cross Society
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    From trash to treasure: engineering waste carbon utilisation in yeast (administered by Macquarie University)
    Macquarie University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2027
    ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (ARC Centre of Excellence administered by Macquarie University)
    Macquarie University
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2025
    Collaboration on Industrial Biotechnology
    Technical University of Denmark
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2024
    Synthetic Biology for Synthesis of Novel Polymers Used in Energy Storage
    Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    BioPlatforms Australia (BPA) Queensland Co-Investment (RICF)
    Bioplatforms Australia Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    ARC Training Centre for Biopharmaceutical Innovation
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Improving clostridial toxoid production through molecular fermentation maps
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Developing an integrated systems and synthetic biology platform to expand the product spectrum of acetogens
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A sensitive, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer with nanoUPLC system for qualitative and quantitative biomolecule analysis.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Building a Gas Fermentation Facility for the Production of Fuels and Chemicals
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    A unique model platform for C4 plant systems and synthetic biology
    United States Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Toward sustainable diesel production using microbial cells: unravelling isoprenoid pathway regulation through systems biology
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2024
    Bioplatforms Australia Project - Metabolomics (Commonwealth NCRIS 2013 (2013-2023) grant administered by Macquarie University via Bioplatforms Australia Ltd)
    Bioplatforms Australia Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Emerging Biomolecular Platforms and Informatics Project (CRIS grant administered by Macquarie University via Bioplatforms Australian Ltd (BPA))
    Bioplatforms Australia Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Sustainable Dollar Notes and Other Polypropylenes from Bioderived Feedstocks
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Transforming greenhouse gases into fuels and chemicals: A systems approach
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Reconstruction of a Genome Scale Model
    LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Transforming industrial greenhouse gas emissions into useful chemicals: a systems biology approach
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Clostridial Systems Biology
    Zoetis Australia Research and Manufacturing Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Plant Fluxomics Platform to understand the interplay of plant metabolic networks
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2019
    Stem Cells Australia (ARC Special Research Initiative administered by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Computational systems biology: understanding mammalian cell fates using genome-scale network models
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Mass spectrometer for biomolecule discovery, structural analysis and quantification.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Multichannel potentiostats to drive microbial and electrochemical production processes
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2014
    Metabolomics Australia - Queensland Node
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Co-Investment Fund
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Sponsored Research Agreement (Microbes)
    Dow Chemical Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2015
    Redirecting Carbon Flow through Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells of Sugarcane to Produce Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Sponsored Research Agreement (Plants -Plant Cell Fluxomics)
    Dow Chemical Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2014
    Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative
    Queensland Government Smart State National and International Research Alliances Program
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    From Genotype to Phenotype - Systems Biology Bridging the Gap
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Rapid and high-resolution nanocharacterisation of proteins, nanoparticles and polymers
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Defining the oxygen and redox conditions for human cord blood stem cell expansion
    Inner Wheel Australia Incorporated
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Building a Systems Biology Platform for the Production of a Vaccine to Prevent Enterotoxaemia
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Production of Neutrophils (ASCC Collaborative Stream 1 - Module 4)
    Australian Stem Cell Centre
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Process Modelling Applicable to Biofuels
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Partnerships-Alliances Facilitation Program
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Queensland Bio Jet Fuel Initiative
    Queensland Government Smart Futures Partnerships-Alliances Facilitation Program
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Evaluation of Fermentation Targets
    Dow Chemical Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    In-Vitro Production of Baculovirus Biopesticides - A Systems Biology Approach
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2012
    Korea-Australia Bio-Product Alliance
    Queensland Government Smart State National and International Research Alliances Program
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Ex vivo generated allogeneic neutrophils for anti-infective supportive care in acute leukaemia
    Australian Stem Cell Centre
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2012
    Implementing an Investment Plan for the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy's Research Capability known as 'Evolving Biomolecular Platforms and Informatics' (administered by BPA)
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    High Mw Hyaluronic Acid (Wendy Chen)
    CRC for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2012
    National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) - Capability Area 5.1 Evolving Bio-molecular Platforms and Informatics (Sub-capability - Metabolomics)
    National Collaborative Infrastructure Strategy - Queensland Government Contribution
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Optimization of hyaluronic acid production by fermentation of the strain streptococcus Equi
    Novozymes A/S
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Ex vivo production of neutrophils
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2010
    The Production of PHB/PHAs in Plants
    CRC for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Neutrophil Pilot Project
    Australian Red Cross Blood Service
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    EX VIVO PRODUCTION OF MATURE RED BLOOD CELLS FOR TRANSFUSION
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Biorefinery
    CRC for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Reduced nitrogen requirements in lactic acid production using Streptococcus bovis
    Toyota Motor Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2005
    Metabolic engineering of sugarcane: production of a biodegradable bioplastic as a test-case
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Production in Sugarcane
    Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Determining intracellular metabolic fluxes in animal cell culture.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 2000
    To develop the theoretical framework of ME of HA production
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Understanding and Resolving the Problem of Poor Transduction Efficiency Observed in Retroviral Gene Therapy.
    UQ Foundation
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Metabolic Engineering of Hyaluronic Acid Production
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Self-assembled membranes for protection of foreign tissue transplants
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Understanding and resolving the problem of poor transduction efficiency observed in retroviral gene therapy
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Lars Nielsen is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Lars Nielsen directly for media enquiries about:

  • Engineering - biological
  • Metabolic engineering
  • Synthetic biology

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