Researcher biography
Junxian Lim is an accomplished molecular biologist at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. With a strong background in cell biology, protein biochemistry, and pharmacology, he has established himself in the field. Collaborating with researchers at universities, institutions, as well as international industry partners like AstraZeneca and Sosei Heptares, he has contributed significantly to advancing scientific knowledge.
Throughout his doctoral studies, Junxian authored seven ground-breaking studies focused on the development of novel bioactive inhibitors targeting immune cells and inflammatory diseases. These contributions have paved the way for innovative approaches to drug development. Utilizing his expertise, he has successfully developed and characterized a diverse range of protein and cellular assays that enable in-depth investigations into immunity and inflammation. His research findings have been published in prestigious scientific journals, including Nature Communications, Cell Reports, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Diabetes, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, and the British Journal of Pharmacology. His work has been highly cited, reflecting its impact and significance within the scientific community.
Recognized for his outstanding mentoring abilities, Junxian has supervised or co-supervised the research of two completed PhD students, six completed MPhil students, and three completed Honours students. The success of his former students is a testament to his dedication and guidance. They continue to excel and actively contribute to research endeavours around the world, spanning countries such as Australia, Singapore, Korea, India, Japan, and China.
Beyond his research and mentoring achievements, Junxian actively participates in the scientific community. He serves on the editorial boards of esteemed journals like Journal of Translational Medicine, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences and Biology. This involvement allows him to stay at the forefront of scientific advancements and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge within his field.
Journal Articles
Wu, Yeping, Lim, Ye-Wheen, McMahon, Kerrie-Ann, Martel, Nick, Rae, James, Lo, Harriet P., Gao, Ya, Tillu, Vikas, Larsson, Elin, Lundmark, Richard, Levic, Daniel S., Bagnat, Michel, Lim, Junxian, Fairlie, David P., Pol, Albert, Collins, Brett M., Ariotti, Nicholas, Hall, Thomas E. and Parton, Robert G. (2025). Pro-ferroptotic lipids as key control points for caveola formation and disassembly. Cell Reports, 44 (6) 115789, 115789-6. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115789
Shah, Himani, Fairlie, David P. and Lim, Junxian (2025). Protease-activated receptor 2: a promising therapeutic target for women's cancers. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 392 (1) 100016, 100016. doi: 10.1124/jpet.124.002176
Poon, Eunice K., Liu, Ligong, Wu, Kai‐Chen, Lim, Junxian, Sweet, Matthew J., Lohman, Rink‐Jan, Iyer, Abishek and Fairlie, David P. (2024). A novel inhibitor of class IIa histone deacetylases attenuates collagen‐induced arthritis. British Journal of Pharmacology, 181 (23), 4804-4821. doi: 10.1111/bph.17306
Shah, Himani, Hill, Timothy A., Lim, Junxian and Fairlie, David P. (2023). Protease-activated receptor 2 attenuates doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, 17 (4), 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s12079-023-00791-6
Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh H., Eagles, David A., Lim, Junxian, Biggs, Kimberley A., Kotze, Andrew C., Ruffell, Angela P., Fairlie, David P., King, Glenn F. and Walker, Andrew A. (2023). Venom composition and bioactive RF-amide peptide toxins of the saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulea (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae). Biochemical Pharmacology, 213 115598, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115598
Wu, Kai-Chen, Condon, Nicholas D., Hill, Timothy A., Reid, Robert C., Fairlie, David and Lim, Junxian (2023). Ras related protein Rab5a regulates complement C5a receptor trafficking, chemotaxis and chemokine secretion in human macrophages. Journal of Innate Immunity, 15 (1), 468-484. doi: 10.1159/000530012
Wu, Chongyang, Hoang, Huy N., Hill, Timothy A., Lim, Junxian, Kok, W. Mei, Akondi, Kalyani, Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2022). Helical structure in cyclic peptides: effect of N-methyl amides versus esters. Chemical Communications, 58 (89), 12475-12478. doi: 10.1039/d2cc05092g
Wang, Peiqi, Hill, Timothy A., Mitchell, Justin, Fitzsimmons, Rebecca L., Xu, Weijun, Loh, Zhixuan, Suen, Jacky Y., Lim, Junxian, Iyer, Abishek and Fairlie, David P. (2022). Modifying a hydroxyl patch in glucagon-like peptide 1 produces biased agonists with unique signaling profiles. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 65 (17), 11759-11775. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00653
de Araujo, Aline Dantes, Hoang, Huy N., Lim, Junxian, Mak, Jeffrey and Fairlie, David P. (2022). Tuning electrostatic and hydrophobic surfaces of aromatic rings to enhance membrane association and cell uptake of peptides. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 61 (29) e202203995, e202203995. doi: 10.1002/anie.202203995
de Araujo, Aline D., Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai-Chen, Hoang, Huy N., Nguyen, Huy T. and Fairlie, David P. (2022). Landscaping macrocyclic peptides: stapling hDM2-binding peptides for helicity, protein affinity, proteolytic stability and cell uptake. RSC Chemical Biology, 3 (7), 895-904. doi: 10.1039/d1cb00231g
Sinniah, Enakshi, Wu, Zhixuan, Shen, Sophie, Naval-Sanchez, Marina, Chen, Xiaoli, Lim, Junxian, Helfer, Abbigail, Iyer, Abishek, Tng, Jiahui, Lucke, Andrew J., Reid, Robert C., Redd, Meredith A., Nefzger, Christian M., Fairlie, David P. and Palpant, Nathan J. (2022). Temporal perturbation of histone deacetylase activity reveals a requirement for HDAC1–3 in mesendoderm cell differentiation. Cell Reports, 39 (7) 110818, 1-21. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110818
Ramnath, Divya, Das Gupta, Kaustav, Wang, Yizhuo, Abrol, Rishika, Curson, James E. B., Lim, Junxian, Reid, Robert C., Mansell, Ashley, Blumenthal, Antje, Karunakaran, Denuja, Fairlie, David P. and Sweet, Matthew J. (2022). The histone deacetylase Hdac7 supports LPS‐inducible glycolysis and Il‐1β production in murine macrophages via distinct mechanisms. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 111 (2), 327-336. doi: 10.1002/jlb.2mr1021-260r
Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Wu, Kai-Chen, Gupta, Praveer K., Barbero, Sheila, McLaughlin, Maddison G., Lucke, Andrew J., Tng, Jiahui, Lim, Junxian, Loh, Zhixuan, Sweet, Matthew J, Reid, Robert C., Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2021). HDAC7 inhibition by phenacetyl and phenylbenzoyl hydroxamates. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64 (4), 2186-2204. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01967
Jiang, Yuhong, Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai‐Chen, Xu, Weijun, Suen, Jacky Y. and Fairlie, David P. (2021). PAR2 induces ovarian cancer cell motility by merging three signalling pathways to transactivate EGFR. British Journal of Pharmacology, 178 (4) bph.15332, 913-932. doi: 10.1111/bph.15332
Kennedy, Amanda J., Sundström, Linda, Geschwindner, Stefan, Poon, Eunice K. Y., Jiang, Yuhong, Chen, Rongfeng, Cooke, Rob, Johnstone, Shawn, Madin, Andrew, Lim, Junxian, Liu, Qingqi, Lohman, Rink-Jan, Nordqvist, Anneli, Fridén-Saxin, Maria, Yang, Wenzhen, Brown, Dean G., Fairlie, David P. and Dekker, Niek (2020). Protease-activated receptor-2 ligands reveal orthosteric and allosteric mechanisms of receptor inhibition. Communications Biology, 3 (1) 782, 782. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01504-0
Tng, Jiahui, Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai-Chen, Lucke, Andrew J., Xu, Weijun, Reid, Robert C. and Fairlie, David P. (2020). Achiral derivatives of hydroxamate AR-42 potently inhibit class I HDAC enzymes and cancer cell proliferation. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63 (11) acs.jmedchem.0c00230, 5956-5971. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00230
Rowley, Jessica A., Reid, Robert C., Poon, Eunice K. Y., Wu, Kai-Chen, Lim, Junxian, Lohman, Rink-Jan, Hamidon, Johan K., Yau, Mei-Kwan, Halili, Maria A., Durek, Thomas, Iyer, Abishek and Fairlie, David P. (2020). Potent thiophene antagonists of human complement C3a receptor with anti-inflammatory activity. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63 (2) acs.jmedchem.9b00927, 529-541. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00927
de Araujo, Aline D., Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai-Chen, Xiang, Yibin, Good, Andrew C., Skerlj, Renato and Fairlie, David P. (2018). Bicyclic helical peptides as dual inhibitors selective for Bcl2A1 and Mcl-1 proteins. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 61 (7), 2962-2972. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00010
Jiang, Yuhong, Yau, Mei-Kwan, Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai-Chen, Xu, Weijun, Suen, Jacky Y and Fairlie, David P (2018). A potent antagonist of protease-activated receptor 2 that inhibits multiple signaling functions in human cancer cells. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 364 (2), 246-257. doi: 10.1124/jpet.117.245027
Lohman, Rink-Jan, Hamidon, Johan K., Reid, Robert C., Rowley, Jessica A., Yau, Mei-Kwan, Halili, Maria A., Nielsen, Daniel S., Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai-Chen, Loh, Zhixuan, Do, Anh, Suen, Jacky Y., Iyer, Abishek and Fairlie, David P. (2017). Exploiting a novel conformational switch to control innate immunity mediated by complement protein C3a. Nature Communications, 8 (1) 351, 351. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00414-w
Dantas de Araujo, Aline, Wu, Chongyang, Wu, Kai-Chen, Reid, Robert C., Durek, Thomas, Lim, Junxian and Fairlie, David P. (2017). Europium-labeled synthetic C3a protein as a novel fluorescent probe for human complement C3a receptor. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 28 (6), 1669-1676. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00132
Jiang, Yuhong, Yau, Mei-Kwan, Kok, W. Mei, Lim, Junxian, Wu, Kai-Chen, Liu, Ligong, Hill, Timothy A., Suen, Jacky Y. and Fairlie, David P. (2017). Biased signaling by agonists of protease activated receptor 2. ACS Chemical Biology, 12 (5), 1217-1226. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.6b01088
Suen, J.Y., Adams, M. N., Lim, J., Madala, P.K., Xu, W, Cotterell, A., He, Y., Yua, Mei-Kwan, Hooper, J. D. and Fairlie, D.P. (2017). Mapping transmembrane residues of proteinase activated recpetor 2 (PAR2) that influence ligand-modulated calcium signaling. Pharmacological Research, 117, 328-342. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.12.020
Dantas De Araujo, Aline, Lim, Junxian, Good, Andrew C., Skerlj, Renato T. and Fairlie, David P. (2017). Electrophilic helical peptides that bond covalently, irreversibly, and selectively in a protein-protein interaction site. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 8 (1), 22-26. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00395
Seow, Vernon, Lim, Junxian, Cotterell, Adam J., Yau, Mei-Kwan, Xu, Weijun, Lohman, Rink-Jan, Kok, W. Mei, Stoermer, Martin J., Sweet, Matthew J., Reid, Robert C., Suen, Jacky Y. and Farilie, David P. (2016). Receptor residence time trumps drug-likeness and oral bioavailability in determining efficacy of complement C5a antagonists. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 24575, 24575.1-24575.12. doi: 10.1038/srep24575
Yau, Mei-Kwan, Lim, Junxian, Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2016). Protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) modulators: a patent review (2010–2015). Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 26 (4), 471-483. doi: 10.1517/13543776.2016.1154540
Yau, Mei-Kwan, Liu, Ligong, Lim, Junxian, Lohman, Rink-Jan, Cotterell, Adam J., Suen, Jacky Y., Vesey, David A., Reid, Robert C. and Fairlie, David P. (2016). Benzylamide antagonists of protease activated receptor 2 with anti-inflammatory activity. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 26 (3), 986-991. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.12.048
Yau, Mei-Kwan, Suen, Jacky Y., Xu, Weijun, Lim, Junxian, Liu, Ligong, Adams, Mark N., He, Yaowu, Hooper, John D., Reid, Robert C. and Fairlie, David P. (2016). Potent small agonists of protease activated receptor 2. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 7 (1), 105-110. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5b00429
Yau, Mei-Kwan, Liu, Ligong, Suen, Jacky Y., Lim, Junxian, Lohman, Rink-Jan, Jiang, Yuhong, Cotterell, Adam J., Barry, Grant D., Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Vesey, David A., Reid, Robert C. and Fairlie, David P. (2016). PAR2 modulators derived from GB88. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 7 (12), 1179-1184. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00306
Xu, Weijun, Lim, Junxian, Goh, Chai-Yeen, Suen, Jacky Y., Jiang, Yuhong, Yau, Mei-Kwan, Wu, Kai-Chen, Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David P. (2015). Repurposing Registered Drugs as Antagonists for Protease-Activated Receptor 2. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 55 (10), 2079-2084. doi: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00500
Perry, Samuel R., Xu, Weijun, Wirija, Anna, Lim, Junxian, Yau, Mei-Kwan, Stoermer, Martin J., Lucke, Andrew J. and Fairlie, David P. (2015). Three homology models for PAR2 derived from different templates: Application to antagonist discovery. Journal of Chemical Information And Modeling, 55 (6), 1181-1191. doi: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00087
Reid, Robert C., Yau, Mei-Kwan, Singh, Ranee, Hamidon, Johan K., Lim, Junxian, Stoermer, Martin J. and Fairlie, David P. (2014). Potent heterocyclic ligands for human complement C3a receptor. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 57 (20), 8459-8470. doi: 10.1021/jm500956p
Suen, J. Y., Cotterell, A., Lohman, R. J., Lim, J., Han, A., Yau, M. K., Liu, L., Cooper, M. A., Vesey, D. A. and Fairlie, D. P. (2014). Pathway-selective antagonism of proteinase activated receptor 2. British Journal of Pharmacology, 171 (17), 4112-4124. doi: 10.1111/bph.12757
Reid, Robert C., Yau, Mei-Kwan, Singh, Ranee, Lim, Junxian and Fairlie, David P. (2014). Stereoelectronic effects dictate molecular conformation and biological function of heterocyclic amides. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136 (34), 11914-11917. doi: 10.1021/ja506518t
Reid, Robert C., Yau, Mei-Kwan, Singh, Ranee, Hamidon, Johan K., Reed, Anthony N., Chu, Peifei, Suen, Jacky Y., Stoermer, Martin J., Blakeney, Jade S., Lim, Junxian, Faber, Jonathan M. and David P. Fairlie, (2013). Downsizing a human inflammatory protein to a small molecule with equal potency and functionality. Nature Communications, 4 (2802) 2802, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/ncomms3802
Seow, Vernon, Lim, Junxian, Iyer, Abishek, Suen, Jacky Y., Ariffin, Juliana K., Hohenhaus, Daniel M., Sweet, Matthew J. and Fairlie, David P. (2013). Inflammatory Responses Induced by Lipopolysaccharide Are Amplified in Primary Human Monocytes but Suppressed in Macrophages by Complement Protein C5a. Journal of Immunology, 191 (8), 4308-4316. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301355
Lim, Junxian, Iyer, Abishek, Liu, Ligong, Suen, Jacky Y., Lohman, Rink-Jan, Seow, Vernon, Yau, Mei-Kwan, Brown, Lindsay and Fairlie, David P. (2013). Diet-induced obesity, adipose inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction correlating with PAR2 expression are attenuated by PAR2 antagonism. The FASEB Journal, 27 (12), 4757-4767. doi: 10.1096/fj.13-232702
Liu, Junxian, Iyer, Abishek, Suen, Jacky Y., Seow, Vernon, Reid, Robert C., Brown, Lindsay and Fairlie, David P. (2013). C5aR and C3aR antagonists each inhibit diet-induced obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and adipocyte and macrophage signaling. The FASEB Journal, 27 (2), 822-831. doi: 10.1096/fj.12-220582
Iyer, Abishek, Lim, Junxian, Poudyal, Hemant, Reid, Robert C., Suen, Jacky Y., Webster, Julie, Prins, Johannes B., Whitehead, Jonathan P., Fairlie, David P. and Brown, Lindsay (2012). An inhibitor of phospholipase A2 group IIA modulates adipocyte signaling and protects against diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats. Diabetes, 61 (9), 2320-2329. doi: 10.2337/db11-1179
Iyer, Abishek, Fenning, Andrew, Lim, Junxian, Le, Giang T, Reid, Robert C, Halili, Maria A, Fairlie, David P and Brown, Lindsay (2010). Antifibrotic activity of an inhibitor of histone deacetylases in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. British Journal of Pharmacology, 159 (7), 1408-1417. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00637.x
Ruiz-Gomez, G, Lim, J, Halili, M. A., Le, G. T., Madala, P. K., Abbenante, G and Fairlie, D. P. (2009). Structure-activity relationships for substrate-based inhibitors of human complement factor B. JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 52 (19), 6042-6052. doi: 10.1021/jm900781m
Conference Papers
Fairlie, David, Reid, Robert, Rowley, Jessica, Wu, Kai-Chen, Yau, Mei-Kwan, Lim, Junxian and Iyer, Abishek (2019). Heterocycles for switching GPCR ligand conformation and activity. National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Orlando, FL United States, 31 March-4 April 2019. Washington, DC United States: American Chemical Society.
Wu, Chongyang, de Araujo, Aline, Wu, Kai-Chen, Reid, Robert, Durek, Thomas, Lim, Junxian and Fairlie, David (2018). Chemical synthesis and applications of a novel fluorescent probe for human complement C3a receptor. 256th National Meeting and Exposition of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS) - Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and Beyond, Boston Ma, Aug 19-23, 2018. WASHINGTON: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.
Yau, Mei Kwan, Suen, Jacky, Xu, Weijun, Lim, Junxian, Liu, Ligong, Adams, Mark, He, Yaowu, Hooper, John, Reid, Robert and Fairlie, David (2015). Potent small agonists of protease activated receptor 2. WASHINGTON: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.
Fairlie, David P. , Yau, Mei-Kwan , Hamidon, Johan K. , Singh, Ranee , Lim, Junxian , Suen, Jacky Y. , Rowley, Jessica A. , Lohman, Rink-Jan , Stoermer, Martin J. , Iyer, Abishek and Reid, Robert C. (2015). Downsizing Proteins Without Losing Potency or Function. American Peptide Symposium 2015, Orlando , Florida, United States, 20-25 June 2015. American Peptide Society. doi: 10.17952/24APS.2015.016