Biotechnology

The School has a strong interest in basic research and the applications of research discoveries. Molecular biotechnology draws on cutting-edge molecular aspects of the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology. In addition to the dominant roles that it plays in the discovery and development of new medicines, tests, devices and therapies, molecular biotechnology is an increasing employer of new graduates internationally. Our research embraces large molecules with expression and protein microarrays, proteomics and protein chips, protein structural bioinformatics along with protein engineering and design. We look at combinations of smaller molecules along with the consequences of perturbation through metabolome analysis in functional genomics and the cell cycle, and are exploring the molecules that contribute to human tissue assembly.

Researchers in this field

• Prof Richard Christopherson - Antibody microarrays
• Dr Nick Coleman - Environmental biotechnology
• A/Prof Gareth Denyer - Microarrays: Gene Expression Profiling
• A/Prof Kevin Downard - Proteomics: Mass Spectrometry, Protein Microarrays and Chips
• Prof Philip Kuchel - Protein engineering and design
• Prof Joel Mackay - Protein engineering and design
• Prof Tony Weiss - Human Elastin Assembly and Tissue Engineering
• Dr Margaret Sunde and Dr Ann Kwan - Hydrophobin engineering
• Prof Peter Waterhouse - RNA interference, RNA-based mechanisms of viral defence in plants