Department of Chemistry Seminar
\n
'Natural Product Dr
ug Discovery @ Eskitis'
Place: Lilla hörsalen\, K
B3A9
Host: Mikael Elofsson
Abstract: Nature has continuously provided the human race with a broad and structurally diverse arsenal of pharmacologically active compounds that h ave been effectively utilised in the treatment of numerous diseases. More than 50% of all marketed drugs in the world are natural products or their derivatives. Well-known examples of valuable natural products used as medi cines today include tacrolimus (immunosuppressant)\, erythromycin (antibio tic)\, paclitaxel (breast/ovarian/lung cancer)\, lovastatin (cholesterol l owering) and galantamine (anti-Alzheimer). Due to the developing resistanc e of many cancer-types\, microbes and parasites\, and the minimal safety a nd efficacy associated with certain drugs on the market today\, there is s till a high demand for the discovery and development of new therapeutics. This talk will detail current biodiscovery efforts being undertaken by the Davis research group at the Eskitis Institute\, Griffith University.
\n
Biosketch: Dr. Rohan Davis obtained his Bachel
or of Science (Hons) from the University of Melbourne in 1992\, with co-ma
jors in organic chemistry and biochemistry. Rohan worked as a research ass
istant on the AstraZeneca/Griffith University Biodiscovery Program (1994–1
996) before undertaking his doctoral studies (1997–2000) at Griffith Unive
rsity in the area of marine organic chemistry under the supervision of Pro
f. Ron Quinn and Prof. Tony Carroll\, A post-doctoral stint at the Univers
ity of Utah with Prof. Chris Ireland was undertaken (2001–2003) before ret
urning to Griffith to set up his research group\, which currently focuses
on the identification and synthesis of bioactive natural products from pla
nts\, fungi and marine invertebrates. This research has resulted in the di
scovery of many new compounds\, some of which have been shown to display p
otent anti-cancer\, anti-bacterial and/or anti-malarial activity. Dr. Davi
s has authored 91 publications in international chemistry/biology journals
\, and currently holds one patent.
Department of Chemistry Seminar
\nRohan Davis\, Eskitis Institute for Cell an
d Molecular Therapies\, Griffith University\, Brisbane\, Australia
'N
atural Product Drug Discovery @ Eskitis'
Place: L
illa hörsalen\, KB3A9
Host: Mikael Elofsson
Abstract: Nature has continuously provided the human race with a broad and structurally diverse arsenal of pharmacologically active compounds that have been effectively utilised in the treatment of numerou s diseases. More than 50% of all marketed drugs in the world are natural p roducts or their derivatives. Well-known examples of valuable natural prod ucts used as medicines today include tacrolimus (immunosuppressant)\, eryt hromycin (antibiotic)\, paclitaxel (breast/ovarian/lung cancer)\, lovastat in (cholesterol lowering) and galantamine (anti-Alzheimer). Due to the dev eloping resistance of many cancer-types\, microbes and parasites\, and the minimal safety and efficacy associated with certain drugs on the market t oday\, there is still a high demand for the discovery and development of n ew therapeutics. This talk will detail current biodiscovery efforts being undertaken by the Davis research group at the Eskitis Institute\, Griffith University.
\n
Biosketch: Dr. Rohan Davis obt
ained his Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Melbourne in 1
992\, with co-majors in organic chemistry and biochemistry. Rohan worked a
s a research assistant on the AstraZeneca/Griffith University Biodiscovery
Program (1994–1996) before undertaking his doctoral studies (1997–2000) a
t Griffith University in the area of marine organic chemistry under the su
pervision of Prof. Ron Quinn and Prof. Tony Carroll\, A post-doctoral stin
t at the University of Utah with Prof. Chris Ireland was undertaken (2001–
2003) before returning to Griffith to set up his research group\, which cu
rrently focuses on the identification and synthesis of bioactive natural p
roducts from plants\, fungi and marine invertebrates. This research has re
sulted in the discovery of many new compounds\, some of which have been sh
own to display potent anti-cancer\, anti-bacterial and/or anti-malarial ac
tivity. Dr. Davis has authored 91 publications in international chemistry/
biology journals\, and currently holds one patent.