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King Group
Group Leader
Professor Glenn King
NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Group LeaderInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Body:Highlights
Professor Glenn King is a biochemist and structural biologist whose expertise lies in translating venom-derived peptides into human drugs and bioinsecticides. His lab maintains the most extensive collection of venoms in the world, which includes venoms from more than 600 species of venomous spiders, scorpions, centipedes and assassin bugs.
Professor King’s primary focus is on the development of drugs to treat three pervasive nervous system disorders: chronic pain, epilepsy, and stroke. His lab is working closely with several pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs for clinical use.
Professor King has also charted new territory in the field of agriculture by developing venom peptides as eco-friendly bioinsecticides. Vestaron Corporation, the company that he founded, will begin selling these bioinsecticides in the U.S. market in 2017.
Mentorship is important to Professor King, and he is enthusiastically committed to training the next generation of biological scientists. To date he has trained 30 PhD students and 24 postdoctoral scientists, with 10 lab alumni having gone on to independent academic positions.
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Researchers
Dr Aline Dantas de Araujo
Research Fellow/Senior Research officerInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Dr Natalie Saez
Research FellowInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Dr Elena-Laura Budusan
Postdoctoral Research FellowInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Dr Andrew Walker
Research FellowInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Researcher biography:My research interests are centred around the structure and function of venom and silk polypeptides produced by arthropods, and their use in biotechnology and medicine. I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the King laboratory in the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Australia. Currently, I am investigating the composition, function and evolution of neglected insect venoms produced by assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) and nettle caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae).
Dr David Eagles
Postdoctoral Research FellowInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Students
Miss Raine Mercedes
PhD StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Miss Laura Isaza Pineda
PhD StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Miss Emily Smith
PhD StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Ms Alexandra Sundman
PhD StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:0Supervisor:Ms Unn Jeamsinkul
PhD StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Miss Shuyi Jin
StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Mr Daniel McCarthy
StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Ms Yongyi Tai
StudentInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:- FAQs for the Soils for Science program
- 28 Aug 2023Join this combined online information session and find out what Honours research opportunities are available at IMB.
- We asked five leading IMB genomics researchers what advances they are most excited about in the next 5 to 10 years
SAGHA team
Associate Professor Sonia Shah
National Heart Foundation Future Leader FellowNational Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow, Senior Principal Research Fellow –Group LeaderInstitute for Molecular BioscienceResearcher profile is public:1Supervisor:Researcher biography:My group's research uses large-scale genomic data to address knowledge gaps in disease, with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease.
Research programme
1. Cardiovascular disease research using big-data and genomics: with the goal of improving prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. By focusing on underrepresented groups, including women, my research aims to also address inequity in cardiovascular outcomes. I am the lead of the South Asian Genes and Health in Australia (SAGHA) study, which aims to increase representation of Australian South Asians in cardiovascular and genomics research. See saghaus.org for further details.
2. Drug genomics: I'm interested in using genomic approaches to predict drug effects, including identification of drug repurposing opportunities as well as identifying unknown adverse effects of medication.
3. Liver transplant research: In this collaboration with the QLD Liver Transplant Unit, we are using genomics to understand the effect of normo-thermic perfusion (a new organ storage method) on liver function, with the long-term goal of improving our ability to predict transplant outcomes.
Career summary: I was awarded my PhD from University College London (UK) in cardiovascular genetics. I began my post-doctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Prof Peter Visscher at the Queensland Brain Institute in 2013. Between 2016-2018, I was the lead analyst for the International Heart Failure Genetics Consortium (HERMES). In 2018, I was awarded an NHMRC Early Career Researcher Fellowship to investigate the relationship between cardiovascular and brain-related disorders using large-scale genetic and genomic data, under the mentorship of Prof Naomi Wray. I currently hold a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship.
Recognition:
2024 Australian Academy of Science Ruth Stephens Gani Medal for outstanding contribution to genetics research
2023 1 of 5 global finalists for the Nature Inspiring Women in Science (Scientific Achievement Award)
2023 Lifesciences QLD Rose-Anne Kelso Award
2023: Named in Australia's Top 25 Women in Science by Newscorp
2022 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award
2022 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award
2021/2022 Australian Superstar of STEM,
2020 Genetic Society of Australasia Early Career Award
2020 Women in Technology Rising Star Science Award
- Postdoctoral Research FellowInstitute for Molecular Bioscience
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