Chemistry Research & Interest Group

Overview of the Chemistry Research & Interest Group

The mission of the Chemistry Research & Interest Group (CRaIG) is to provide a forum for researchers and students to share information & experiences in the fields of chemistry & biochemistry with a view to enhancing knowledge and opportunities for collaboration.

Current areas of research and investigative techniques include:

Analytical chemistry (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) of supplements and biological samples
Point of Care (POC)Testing in Primary Care
Environmental Impact of Laboratories
Data Mining
Reference Intervals, measuring uncertainties and reporting intervals in Clinical Pathology
Molecular Modelling of Protein-Ligand and Protein-Protein Interactions
Identification of Novel Inhibitors for Therapeutic Targets by Molecular Docking
Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR)
Molecular dynamic simulations
Identification of novel binding sites

Academic Staff
Collaborators
- Associate Professor Tony Badrick
- Associate Professor Peter Turner
Internal
- Clem Jones Centre for Regenerative Medicine
External
- Associate Professor Brett Lidbury, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU.
- Dr. Alice Richardson, Faculty of ESTeM, University of Canberra
- Dr. Luke Henderson, Strategic Research Center for Chemistry and Biotechnology, Deakin University
- Dr Shailendra Anoopkumar Dukie, Griffith University
Research Funding
- 2013-15 Quality Use of Pathology Committee Department of Health and Ageing: Novel Quantitative methods that enhance decision support based on routine pathology testing - $114,300

Research Students
- Amanda Tauber (PhD)
  - Design and Synthesis of Selective ADP-ribosyltransferase member 8 (ARTD8) Inhibitors.
- Caitlin Wunsch (PhD)
  - Design and Synthesis of Selective Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family member 14 (PARP14) inhibitors to potentially inhibit glucose metabolism in cancerous cells.
- Caleb Kam (PhD)
  - Design, Synthesis and Application of Selective Inhibitors for Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase member 14 (PARP14).
- Hafsa Hersi (PhD)
  - Anti-tumour activity of 6-methyl(sulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate from wasabi and glycyrrhetinic acid from liquorice root in the treatment of brain cancer.
- Hyo Jeong (Minnie) Kim (PhD)
  - Synthesis and Evaluation of Sialytransferase Inhibitors
- Megan Crichton (PhD)
  - Exploring the Efficacy and Microbiome-Related Mechanisms of Supplemental Ginger in Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting.
- Neil Josen Vinulan Delos Reyes (Masters by Research.
  - Synthesis and Evaluation of a Novel Rhodamine Dye for Bioimaging with Gold Nanoparticles
Completed HDR students
- Andy Koh (PhD completed in 2022)
  - Analytical and Pharmacological investigation into stimulatory and psychoactive substances in Performance Enhancing Supplements and emerging drugs of abuse.
Available Research Projects
- Pharmacology of Amphetamine-Like Compounds in Pre-workout Supplements
  - Supervisors: Dr Stephanie Schweiker & Dr Anna Lohning
- Combating Bacterial Infections by Disrupting Type V Collagen Binding.
  - Supervisors: Dr Anna Lohning & Dr Stephanie Schweiker
- Analysing for Chemotherapeutic Drug Metabolites in Patient and Mouse samples.
  - Supervisors: Dr Anna Lohning & Dr Stephanie Schweiker
- Harnessing D-amino acids in the Fight against Bacterial Resistance in Hospital-Acquired Infections
  - Supervisors: Dr Stephanie Schweiker & Dr Anna Lohning

Amanda Tauber (PhD)
- Design and Synthesis of Selective ADP-ribosyltransferase member 8 (ARTD8) Inhibitors.
Caitlin Wunsch (PhD)
- Design and Synthesis of Selective Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family member 14 (PARP14) inhibitors to potentially inhibit glucose metabolism in cancerous cells.
Caleb Kam (PhD)
- Design, Synthesis and Application of Selective Inhibitors for Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase member 14 (PARP14).
Hafsa Hersi (PhD)
- Anti-tumour activity of 6-methyl(sulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate from wasabi and glycyrrhetinic acid from liquorice root in the treatment of brain cancer.
Hyo Jeong (Minnie) Kim (PhD)
- Synthesis and Evaluation of Sialytransferase Inhibitors
Megan Crichton (PhD)
- Exploring the Efficacy and Microbiome-Related Mechanisms of Supplemental Ginger in Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting.
Neil Josen Vinulan Delos Reyes (Masters by Research.
- Synthesis and Evaluation of a Novel Rhodamine Dye for Bioimaging with Gold Nanoparticles

Completed HDR students

Andy Koh (PhD completed in 2022)
- Analytical and Pharmacological investigation into stimulatory and psychoactive substances in Performance Enhancing Supplements and emerging drugs of abuse.