Overview
Background
Dr Clark is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Biomedical Sciences where he is Head of the Peptide Chemical Biology Lab. He completed his PhD in 2000 at the UQ Chemistry Department studying marine natural products chemistry and chemical ecology with Prof. Mary Garson. He then shifted his research focus towards peptide chemistry, structural biology and drug design when he was recruited to the lab of Prof. David Craik at the IMB. His current research focus is the development of technologies to stabilise peptide therapeutics and the elucidation of the structure/function activity of bioactive peptides.
Availability
- Associate Professor Richard Clark is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Tasmania
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Richard Clark’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Molecular determinants of the selectivity and potency of α-conotoxin Vc1.1 for human nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Tae, Han-Shen, Hung, Andrew, Clark, Richard J. and Adams, David J. (2024). Molecular determinants of the selectivity and potency of α-conotoxin Vc1.1 for human nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Journal of Biological Chemistry 108017, 108017. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.108017
2024
Journal Article
The funnel-web spider venom derived single knot peptide Hc3a modulates acid-sensing ion channel 1a desensitisation
Budusan, Elena, Payne, Colton D., Gonzalez, Tye I., Obergrussberger, Alison, Becker, Nadine, Clark, Richard J., Rosengren, K. Johan, Rash, Lachlan D. and Cristofori-Armstrong, Ben (2024). The funnel-web spider venom derived single knot peptide Hc3a modulates acid-sensing ion channel 1a desensitisation. Biochemical Pharmacology, 228 116175, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116175
2024
Journal Article
Computational design of α‐conotoxins to target specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes
Wu, Xiaosa, Hone, Arik J., Huang, Yen-Hua, Clark, Richard J., McIntosh, J. Michael, Kaas, Quentin and Craik, David J. (2024). Computational design of α‐conotoxins to target specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. Chemistry – A European Journal, 30 (7) e202302909, 1-5. doi: 10.1002/chem.202302909
2024
Journal Article
Cell-intrinsic C5a synergizes with Dectin-1 in macrophages to mediate fungal killing
Li, Xaria X., Fung, Jenny N., Clark, Richard J., Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2024). Cell-intrinsic C5a synergizes with Dectin-1 in macrophages to mediate fungal killing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (5) e2314627121, 1-10. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2314627121
2024
Journal Article
Chemical synthesis of grafted cyclotides using a “plug and play” approach
Koehbach, Johannes, Muratspahić, Edin, Ahmed, Zakaria M, White, Andrew M, Tomašević, Nataša, Durek, Thomas, Clark, Richard J, Gruber, Christian W and Craik, David J (2024). Chemical synthesis of grafted cyclotides using a “plug and play” approach. RSC Chemical Biology, 5 (6), 567-571. doi: 10.1039/d4cb00008k
2024
Journal Article
Picking the tyrosine-lock: chemical synthesis of the tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I inhibitor recifin A and analogues
Smallwood, Taylor B., Krumpe, Lauren R. H., Payne, Colton D., Klein, Victoria G., O'Keefe, Barry R., Clark, Richard J., Schroeder, Christina I. and Rosengren, K. Johan (2024). Picking the tyrosine-lock: chemical synthesis of the tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I inhibitor recifin A and analogues. Chemical Science, 15 (33), 13227-13233. doi: 10.1039/d4sc01976h
2023
Journal Article
Special Issue in Honor of Professor Mary Garson AM
Blanchfield, Joanne T., Nonato, Maribel G. and Clark, Richard J. (2023). Special Issue in Honor of Professor Mary Garson AM. Journal of Natural Products, 86 (3), 473-474. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00088
2023
Journal Article
TLQP-21 is a low potency partial C3aR activator on human primary macrophages
Li, Xaria X., Lee, John D., Lee, Han S., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). TLQP-21 is a low potency partial C3aR activator on human primary macrophages. Frontiers in Immunology, 14 1086673, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1086673
2022
Conference Publication
WS1.4: Biostimulation of bacteria for streamlined identification of new antimicrobial compounds
Mirzaee, Hooman, Ariens, Emily, Booth, James, Carvalhais, Lilia C., Blaskovich, Mark A.T., Clark, Richard J. and Schenk, Peer M. (2022). WS1.4: Biostimulation of bacteria for streamlined identification of new antimicrobial compounds. 32nd International Congress of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ICC), Perth, WA Australia, 27 – 30 November 2022. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/s2213-7165(22)00272-7
2022
Journal Article
Author Correction: Tick holocyclotoxins trigger host paralysis by presynaptic inhibition
Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Lavidis, Nickolas A., Rodriguez-Valle, Manuel, Ijaz, Hina, Koehbach, Johannes, Clark, Richard J., Lew-Tabor, Ala and Noakes, Peter G. (2022). Author Correction: Tick holocyclotoxins trigger host paralysis by presynaptic inhibition. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 20636, 1-1. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-24528-4
2022
Journal Article
Engineering peptide inhibitors of the HFE–transferrin receptor 1 complex
Goncalves Monteiro, Daniela Goncalves, Rishi, Gautam, Gorman, Declan M., Burnet, Guillaume, Aliyanto, Randy, Rosengren, K. Johan, Frazer, David M., Subramaniam, V. Nathan and Clark, Richard J. (2022). Engineering peptide inhibitors of the HFE–transferrin receptor 1 complex. Molecules, 27 (19) 6581, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/molecules27196581
2022
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate
Lo, Martin W., Amarilla, Alberto A., Lee, John D., Albornoz, Eduardo A., Modhiran, Naphak, Clark, Richard J., Ferro, Vito, Chhabra, Mohit, Khromykh, Alexander A., Watterson, Daniel and Woodruff, Trent M. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 11 (8) e1413, e1413. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1413
2022
Journal Article
The structural conformation of the tachykinin domain drives the anti‐tumoral activity of an octopus peptide in melanoma BRAF <sup>V600E</sup>
Moral‐Sanz, Javier, Fernandez‐Rojo, Manuel A., Colmenarejo, Gonzalo, Kurdyukov, Sergey, Brust, Andreas, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Andersson, Åsa, Vila, Sabela F., Cabezas‐Sainz, Pablo, Wilhelm, Patrick, Vela‐Sebastian, Ana, Fernández‐Carrasco, Isabel, Chin, Yanni K. Y., López‐ Mancheño, Yaiza, Smallwood, Taylor B., Clark, Richard J., Fry, Bryan G., King, Glenn F., Ramm, Grant A., Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J., Mulvenna, Jason P., Boyle, Glen M., Sanchez, Laura E., Neely, G. Gregory, Miles, John J. and Ikonomopoulou, Maria P. (2022). The structural conformation of the tachykinin domain drives the anti‐tumoral activity of an octopus peptide in melanoma BRAF V600E. British Journal of Pharmacology, 179 (20), 4878-4896. doi: 10.1111/bph.15923
2022
Conference Publication
Identification of potent small peptides targeting human C3a receptor
Deerain, Nick, Kumar, Vinod, Clark, Richard and Woodruff, Trent (2022). Identification of potent small peptides targeting human C3a receptor. ICW – 2021 Virtual Workshop of the International Complement Society (ICS), Virtual, 7-10 December 2021. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier.
2021
Journal Article
Mitochondrial C5aR1 activity in macrophages controls IL-1β production underlying sterile inflammation
Niyonzima, Nathalie, Rahman, Jubayer, Kunz, Natalia, West, Erin E., Freiwald, Tilo, Desai, Jigar V., Merle, Nicolas S., Gidon, Alexandre, Sporsheim, Bjørnar, Lionakis, Michail S., Evensen, Kristin, Lindberg, Beate, Skagen, Karolina, Skjelland, Mona, Singh, Parul, Haug, Markus, Ruseva, Marieta M., Kolev, Martin, Bibby, Jack, Marshall, Olivia, O’Brien, Brett, Deeks, Nigel, Afzali, Behdad, Clark, Richard J., Woodruff, Trent M., Pryor, Milton, Yang, Zhi-Hong, Remaley, Alan T., Mollnes, Tom E. ... Kemper, Claudia (2021). Mitochondrial C5aR1 activity in macrophages controls IL-1β production underlying sterile inflammation. Science Immunology, 6 (66) eabf2489, eabf2489. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abf2489
2021
Journal Article
In vivo pharmacodynamic method to assess complement C5a receptor antagonist efficacy
Cui, Cedric S., Kumar, Vinod, Gorman, Declan M., Clark, Richard J., Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). In vivo pharmacodynamic method to assess complement C5a receptor antagonist efficacy. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 5 (1) acsptsci.1c00227, 41-51. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00227
2021
Journal Article
Unexpected off-target activities for recombinant C5a in human macrophages
Li, Xaria X., Gorman, Declan M., Lee, John D., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). Unexpected off-target activities for recombinant C5a in human macrophages. Journal of Immunology, 208 (1), 133-142. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100444
2021
Journal Article
Solution NMR and racemic crystallography provide insights into a novel structural class of cyclic plant peptides
Payne, Colton D., Vadlamani, Grishma, Hajiaghaalipour, Fatemeh, Muhammad, Taj, Fisher, Mark F., Andersson, Håkan S., Göransson, Ulf, Clark, Richard J., Bond, Charles S., Mylne, Joshua S. and Rosengren, K. Johan (2021). Solution NMR and racemic crystallography provide insights into a novel structural class of cyclic plant peptides. RSC Chemical Biology, 2 (6), 1682-1691. doi: 10.1039/d1cb00155h
2021
Journal Article
Biostimulation of bacteria in liquid culture for identification of new antimicrobial compounds
Mirzaee, Hooman, Ariens, Emily, Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Clark, Richard J. and Schenk, Peer M. (2021). Biostimulation of bacteria in liquid culture for identification of new antimicrobial compounds. Pharmaceuticals, 14 (12) 1232, 1232. doi: 10.3390/ph14121232
2021
Journal Article
A conserved β‐bulge glycine residue facilitates folding and increases stability of the mouse α‐defensin cryptdin‐4
Clark, Richard J., Phan, Thanh Huyen, Song, Angela, Ouellette, André J., Conibear, Anne C. and Rosengren, K. Johan (2021). A conserved β‐bulge glycine residue facilitates folding and increases stability of the mouse α‐defensin cryptdin‐4. Peptide Science, 114 (1) e24250. doi: 10.1002/pep2.24250
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Richard Clark is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
-
Designing novel conotoxins with therapeutic potential
Conotoxins, with their exquisite specificity and potency have recently created much excitement as drug leads for the treatment of chronic pain. For example, the conotoxin MVIIA (also known as Ziconotide or Prialt) has been approved for use in the U.S. and Europe for the treatment of pain and several other conotoxins have entered clinical trials. In addition, a number of conotoxins have played a critical role in dissecting the molecular mechanisms of ion channel and transporter functions in the nervous system.
There are projects available in the design of novel conotoxins that target specific receptors involved in pain.
-
Development of stable peptide-based drugs for the treatment of iron disorders
Hepcidin is the principal iron-regulatory hormone and the key mediator of iron overload (haemochromatosis) and anaemia of inflammation. This research project involves two development streams of peptide design, synthesis and structure/function analysis. The first stream will focus on the specific residues important for biological activity of hepcidin and the mutation of these residues to improve activity. The second stream will involve the development of stabilised analogues of native hepcidin. The two streams will coalesce during the final round of development to produce a series of novel cyclic hepcidin drug leads.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Making peptide drugs orally bioavailable
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
Doctor Philosophy
Design and development of peptide ligands targeting the complement system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel long-acting and orally delivered conotoxin-based peptides with both analgesic efficacy and disease modifying potential
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andy Kuo, Emeritus Professor Maree Smith
-
Doctor Philosophy
Preclinical evaluation of complement receptor targeted drugs for neurological disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Vinod Kumar, Professor Trent Woodruff
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Design and Development of Peptides Targeting the C5a-C5aR Interaction
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Development of miniaturised alpha-conotoxins for the treatment of pain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Mining helminth secretions for new classes of immune suppressing drugs
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Peptide Therapeutics for Iron Disorders
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Marine natural wonders and the beginning of their journey towards the pharmaceutical market
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Craik
-
2024
Master Philosophy
The Structural and Functional Role of Post-translational Modification in the µ-Conotoxins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anne Conibear, Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
A novel cyclic peptide scaffold for drug design applications
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Structural Studies of Peptides Buried within Seed Storage Proteins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Preclinical development of complement C5aR1 antagonists for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Vinod Kumar, Dr Felicity Han, Professor Trent Woodruff
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Immunopharmacology of the Complement C5a Receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Professor Mark Blaskovich, Professor Trent Woodruff
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting of relaxin-3 analogues to the brain for pharmacological modulation of neurosignalling
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Expanding the Structural Atlas of Peptide Toxins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Lewis, Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Structural insights into cyclic plant peptides and their albumin precursors
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
The Science and Business of Novel Therapeutics: The Need for a Complete Picture
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Damian Hine, Professor David Craik
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
PEPLINK: A Fragment-Based Method for Screening Peptides as Drug Leads
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Craik
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Design and discovery of cyclic peptides with applications in drug development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Craik
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
The story of a-conotoxins, Vc1.1 and RgIA, on their journey to becoming therapeutics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Craik
Media
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