The Centre for Molecular Therapeutics has a diverse range of groups collaborating on cross-disciplinary projects to the develop compounds of therapeutic potential. Its four research programs are: biodiscovery; molecular characterisation and design; clinical translation; and molecular immunology. The Centre (at Cairns and Townsville) is uniquely situated to discover and test novel compounds of therapeutic potential. North Queensland provides access to unparalleled biodiversity in the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef and also harbours many tropical parasites and other microorganisms that are restricted, such as hookworms and box jellyfish.

Website

https://www.jcu.edu.au/cmt

Organisation type

• University Research Centre

Number of research staff

20-100 research staff

Address

Building E4, James Cook University, Smithfield, Cairns QLD 4870

Strengths and capabilities

• Protein/peptide purification
• Structural and molecular biology
• Molecular characterisation
• Design and optimistion of synthetic molecules
• Molecular immunology
• Charactersising immunogenic proteins
• Venom extraction

Facilities and major equipment

• Nuclear magnetic resonance facility
• 500MHz NMR spectrometer
• Physical Containment Class 3 (PC3) Laboratory
• mouse animal facility
• Flow Cytometry facility
• Physical Containment Class 2 (PC2) laboratory

Lead researcher

• Professor Alex Loukas—NHMRC Principal Research Fellow, NHMRC ten of the best; Fulbright Senior Scholar
• Professor Norelle Daly—ARC Future Fellow, Biotech spin offs, patents. Qld Smart State Fellow
• Professor Andreas Lopata—ARC Future Fellow

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

• Biotechnology
• Environment and nature
• Health and medical
• Tropical