News and Events
Brisbane to host biodiversity and natural products conference in 2011
The IUPAC International Conference on Biodiversity and Natural Products (PDF 1.2mb) (ICOB-7 and ISCNP-27) will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 10-14 in 2011. This conference is held every 8 years and was last held in July 2008 in Canada. The Conference will be co-chaired by Eskitis Director Professor Ron Quinn and Professor Mary Garson of University of Queensland. Session themes will include: novel metabolites and methodologies, natural product-inspired synthesis, neglected diseases, chemical ecology and biosynthesis and bioengineering.
Griffith/Queensland Museum PhD opportunity
An opportunity for a PhD project has become available in the area of sponge taxonomy. Funded by an Australian Biological Resources Study grant to the supervisors, this project is an integrated approach to better resolve the systematics of the toxic family of sponges, Desmacellidae, from Australasia. Sponges are an important source of novel compounds, some of which can be developed into new drugs.
For more information on this project, see the projects page for the Drug Discovery and Design Group.
Eskitis PhD student awarded Chancellor's medal
Congratulations to Eskitis PhD student Brendan Wilkinson, who has been awarded the Chancellor's Medal for his PhD thesis, titled: Synthesis of Novel Carbohydrate Based Enzyme Inhibitor Libraries Utilising Click Chemistry. The award recognizes excellence in PhD research and is comprised of a medal, a certificate and $1000.
Brendan's drug discovery research project targeted several enzymes, most notably carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic anhydrase is a drug target in a number of areas including cancer and glaucoma. Brendan synthesised compounds that targeted the extracellular location of the cancer-associated carbonic anhydrases.
So far Brendan has authored on seven papers and one book chapter as a result of his PhD research. Brendan's thesis will be listed on the Academic Excellence section of the Griffith website
Back to nature: Rethinking natural products as sources of drug leads
Eskitis Institute Director Professor Ron Quinn has contributed to an eBriefing published by the New York Academy of Sciences. The briefing is accessible for a limited time, includes access to relevant papers and multimedia presentations from Professor Quinn and other attendees. The briefing resulted from a meeting at the Academy held on January 22 2008.
Adult Stem Cells - Biology and Clinical Applications Conference
Ian Hanger Recital Hall, Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University
26-28 November 2008
The National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research will present the first conference on Adult Stem Cell - Biology and Clinical Applications from the 26-28 November 2008 at the Ian Hanger Recital Hall, Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University. The conference will bring together world leaders working with adult stem cells both through understanding their basic biology to exploring their clinical value and therapeutic potential for the treatment of such conditions as Parkinson's Disease, Schizophrenia, Spinal Cord Injury and Burns.
Eskitis News
New partnership to unlock nature’s cure for infections
In the quest to develop the next generation of anti-infective medicine, Griffith University and Pfizer, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company, announced a leading partnership today.
Ancient Australian remedy as novel pain killing drugs
The quest to develop novel pain-killing drugs from a native Australian plant, traditionally used by Aboriginal people, is a step closer with a new partnership between Griffith University, JJ Lab Pty Ltd and Avexis Pty Ltd.
Griffith links with research partners for Queensland’s best success rate
Griffith University has leapt to second in Queensland in Australian Research Council (ARC) funding announced today.