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Associate Professor Richard Clark
Associate Professor

Richard Clark

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 51527

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

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

162 works between 1998 and 2024

1 - 20 of 162 works

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

Molecular determinants of the selectivity and potency of α-conotoxin Vc1.1 for human nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

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

The funnel-web spider venom derived single knot peptide Hc3a modulates acid-sensing ion channel 1a desensitisation

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

Computational design of α‐conotoxins to target specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes

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

Cell-intrinsic C5a synergizes with Dectin-1 in macrophages to mediate fungal killing

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

Chemical synthesis of grafted cyclotides using a “plug and play” approach

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

Picking the tyrosine-lock: chemical synthesis of the tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I inhibitor recifin A and analogues

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

Special Issue in Honor of Professor Mary Garson AM

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

TLQP-21 is a low potency partial C3aR activator on human primary macrophages

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

WS1.4: Biostimulation of bacteria for streamlined identification of new antimicrobial compounds

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

Author Correction: Tick holocyclotoxins trigger host paralysis by presynaptic inhibition

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

Engineering peptide inhibitors of the HFE–transferrin receptor 1 complex

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

SARS-CoV-2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate

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

The structural conformation of the tachykinin domain drives the anti‐tumoral activity of an octopus peptide in melanoma BRAF <sup>V600E</sup>

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.

Identification of potent small peptides targeting human C3a receptor

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

Mitochondrial C5aR1 activity in macrophages controls IL-1β production underlying sterile inflammation

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

In vivo pharmacodynamic method to assess complement C5a receptor antagonist efficacy

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

Unexpected off-target activities for recombinant C5a in human macrophages

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

Solution NMR and racemic crystallography provide insights into a novel structural class of cyclic plant peptides

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

Biostimulation of bacteria in liquid culture for identification of new antimicrobial compounds

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

A conserved β‐bulge glycine residue facilitates folding and increases stability of the mouse α‐defensin cryptdin‐4

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Preclinical development of complement C5a receptor 2 modulators for motor neuron disease
    Cure for MND Foundation - Drug Development Grants
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Making peptides orally bioavailable
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Developing novel acid-sensing ion channel inhibitors as neuroprotective leads and diagnostic agents for multiple sclerosis
    Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia - Targeted Grant - Neurodegeneration
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Making peptide drugs orally bioavailable
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Novel long-acting and orally delivered conotoxin-based peptides with both analgesic efficacy and disease modifying potential
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2023
    Complement C5aR1: A novel therapeutic target for brain cancer
    Brain Cancer Innovation Project Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Neuroprotective role of novel acid-sensing ion channel inhibitor in Multiple sclerosis (MS) disease
    Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Preclinical development of centrally active complement C3a receptor modulators as disease-modifying drugs for motor neuron disease
    Cure for MND Foundation - Drug Development Grants
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A versatile accurate mass, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer for chemistry and proteomic applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Chemical Purification Network
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Multichannel peptide synthesiser to accelerate UQ's biodiscovery pipeline and peptide drug development programs
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    A Pharmacology Screening Facility to Accelerate Drug Discovery and Development
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Hormone transplant by alpha-2-macroglubulin: Novel roles in regulating hormone activity (NHMRC Project Grant led by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Preclinical Development of Complement C5aR Antagonists for the Treatment of Motor Neuron Disease
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Development of complement C5aR1 antagonists for the treatment of motor neuron disease
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - FirstLink
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Integrative blood coagulation research core facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Patch-clamp electrophysiology platform for drug and insecticide discovery
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Better treatments for chronic pain
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Elucidating the mechanisms of alpha-conotoxin-induced calcium channel inhibition via G protein-coupled receptors (NHMRC project grant administered by Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)
    Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Elucidating the neuroprotective properties of alpha-conotoxins
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    Development of effective peptide-based drugs
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2011
    A Multi-Channel Fluorescence Plate Reader for Studying Receptor-Ligand Interactions
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Building UQ's analytical capacity in biomedical sciences
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Understanding the structure/function relationships of the iron regulatory peptide hepcidin
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    A new G-protein coupled receptor target for conotoxins
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    New peptide-based drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010
    The development of peptides (mini-proteins) as drugs: improved purification capability
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2021
    Cone Shell snail venom research
    The Simon Axelsen Memorial Fund
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2011
    NHMRC Career Development Award (Biomedical - Level 1): Development of effective peptide-based drugs
    NHMRC Career Development Award
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Development of a novel orally active peptide for the treatment of pain
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Discovery of novel cyclotides.
    Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
    Open grant
  • 2007
    Exploring the therapeutic potential of a novel family of proteins
    Australian Academy of Science
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Development of a generic strategy for the stabilisation of peptide-based therapeutics
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Development of stable peptide-based drugs for the treatment of iron disorders
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2007
    Molecular imprinting of circular proteins
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Richard Clark is:
Available for supervision

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

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

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Associate Professor Richard Clark's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au