Our research group is internationally recognised for the synthesis of new molecules containing boron or lanthanoid metals, with an emphasis on their applications in medicine. We are particularly interested in exploiting the unique properties of these elements in cutting-edge cancer therapies. We are also interested in their incorporation into unique molecular scaffolds for binding to important biological receptors or as advanced materials. The Honours projects outlined below would ideally suit those students with an interest in synthetic chemistry and/or medicinal chemistry.
Boron-based drugs are increasingly being investigated in many disease categories, with numerous pharmaceutical companies (e.g. Pfizer, GSK, and Takeda) dramatically expanding their boron research programs in recent years in the quest for novel drug candidates, e.g. Velcade® (bortezomib) which is used in the treatment of multiple myeloma. We are currently investigating the use of carboranes as unique frameworks in new drugs for the diagnosis and treatment of aggressive and intractable cancers such as malignant gliomas, and as potent antibacterials. Biological studies may also be incorporated into the project, depending upon the student’s own interests and background.
We have recently designed a new class of organic chelators that can selectively target tumour cell mitochondria. These chelators can deliver high concentrations of these metal ions to tumour cells with high selectivity over normal, healthy cells. There now exists the opportunity to exploit this family of chelators in a number of cutting-edge cancer therapies [photon activation therapy (PAT), neutron capture therapy (NCT), neutron capture enhanced particle therapy (NCEPT), and targeted radiotherapy] and also in tumour diagnosis (PET, SPECT and MRI) involving a variety of medically-relevant metal ions (e.g. Gd3+, Ga3+, Sc3+, Tb3+ and Lu3+). The radiolabelling of selected chelators will be conducted in our collaborator’s labs at ANSTO (Lucas Heights), and Honours students may wish to take advantage of this exciting opportunity should they wish to learn some cutting-edge radiolabelling techniques.
The 5-year survival rate for patients afflicted with aggressive and intractable brain tumours (gliomas) is less than 4%. In this project, we will incorporate Gd3+ions into tumour-selective agents in order to localize this metal near a critical sub-cellular organelle for application in binary cancer therapies such as photon activation therapy (PAT) and neutron capture therapy (NCT). We have already demonstrated substantial and selective brain tumour cell destruction in the presence of a prototype Gd agent and synchrotron X-ray photons, the first time that GdPAT experiments have ever been conducted in Australia. The use of Gd agents to target tumour cell mitochondria would open up new vistas in binary cancer therapies, with potential imaging applications in MRI.
If you are interested in joining the Rendina research group then please contact Prof. Lou Rendina directly.
Several honours projects are offered each year in the Rendina group. You do not need a background in either boron or Rare Earth/Lanthanoid chemistry but you do need to have a passion for organic and inorganic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. Much of our syntheses involve synthetic organic chemistry and we conduct all our own biological assays in house, including receptor-binding and cell assays.
Applications from talented graduate students are always welcomed. Please check out our research pages to read about the exciting projects we're currently working on.
Initial PhD enquiries should be made by contacting Prof. Lou Rendina for further details.
International students should first read the important information here if they're considering studying at The University of Sydney. International PhD scholarships are highly competitive and a strong track record of achievement is required.
Unfortunately, all funding for this year is committed and so there are no postdoctoral positions available in the Rendina laboratory at the present time.
Dr Anita Marfavi
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Boron-based NIR probes for bio-imaging
Xinyi Zhang
PhD Candidate
Carborane-containing polymers as advanced materials
Eliash Hemzal
PhD Candidate
Fragment-based drug discovery towards boron-based inhibitors of MPO
Thomas Carraro
PhD Candidate
Fragment-based drug discovery towards boron-based inhibitors of IDO1
Alexander Sadler
PhD Candidate
New Gd complexes as theranostic agents
Patrick Wang
PhD Candidate
Anti-cancer and cystic fibrosis supramolecular constructs
Isabella O’Connor
Honours Student
Triphenylphosphine fluorophore conjugates
William Price-Cunliffe
Honours Student
Tuberculosis drug candidates using COSAN derivatives
Synthesis & Inorganic Drug Discovery
