Prof. Des R. Richardson
Brief Biography
Professor Des Richardson holds the position of Alan Mackay-Sim Distinguished Chair of Cancer Cell Biology at Griffith University (Inaugural Chair – First Named Chair at Griffith University in its 50 year history), Nathan, Brisbane, and is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia Senior Principal Research Fellow.
He is a multi-disciplinary medicinal chemist/biochemist/pharmacologist whose career has spanned metabolism, medicinal chemistry, drug design/development/commercialisation, cancer biology, and neurobiology. He has published >450 articles, reviews, patents, chapters etc., over his career with >93% as first, senior or corresponding author (H-index: 106; >49,000 citations over entire career; Google Scholar ; with >21200 citations over the past 5 years and H-index of 65 over the past 5 years; Google Scholar).
He is Executive Editor of BBA-General Subjects and has served on the Ed. Boards of 48 journals, including: JBC, Antioxidants Redox Signaling, Biochem. J., Free Rad. Biology Med., J. Clin. Pathology (Assoc. Ed.), Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biology – Molecules in Focus Ed. (for 10 years), BBA-Mol. Cell. Res., Mol. Pharmacol., Pharmacol. Res., Cancers, BBA-Reviews on Cancer, etc.
As a major translational research achievement, he developed the anti-cancer and anti-metastatic drug, DpC, which overcomes P-glycoprotein-mediated resistance and up-regulates the potent metastasis suppressor, NDRG1. This has led to commercialisation of DpC and the international company, Oncochel Therapeutics LLC, USA and its Australian subsidiary, Oncochel Therapeutics Pty Ltd. Notably, DpC entered multi-centre Phase I clinical trials for advanced and resistant cancer. These anti-cancer drugs target the lysosome via the P-glycoprotein transporter.
His current team consist of approximately 20 chemists and biologists and covers 4 groups led by key staff (1. Medicinal Chemistry; Dr. M. Dharmasivam; NBCF Elaine Henry Fellow); (2. Biological Chemistry; Dr. B. Kaya); (3. Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology; Dr. M. Suleymanoglu); and (4. Molecular, Cellular and Animal Biology; Dr. V. Richardson and M. Azad). The team is supported by the combined facilities of the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, the School of Environment and Science of Griffith University, Pathology Queensland, Gold Coast University Hospital, Centre for Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery and the associated Open Access Advanced Microscopy and Imaging Facility (that will continue to support the community as part of my service roles).
The extensive media coverage of Dr. Richardson's research underscores the profound impact and significance of their work in the field of cancer research.
Over the years, these media appearances have highlighted various breakthroughs and contributions, further solidifying Dr. Richardson's position as a leading figure in the field. These appearances have spanned prestigious publications, academic journals, and mainstream media outlets, underlining the broad public interest and relevance of their research.
This extensive media exposure began in 2003 when Dr. Richardson's work was featured in "Iron may be key to child cancer battle" published in The Sydney Morning Herald. Since then, numerous noteworthy articles, such as "Radicals to Fight Cancer" in 2009 and "Double Duty Discovery" in Nature Medicine in 2011, have continued to bring attention to their research and its potential to revolutionize cancer treatment.
In 2012, the Australian Life Scientist exclusively featured Dr. Richardson's drug development program, emphasizing their role in pioneering a novel class of iron chelators as potent anti-cancer drugs. Their commitment to inspiring the next generation of researchers was acknowledged in 2013 with an article on "How I Inspire my PhD Students."
Furthermore, Dr. Richardson's research on prostate cancer and anti-tumour drugs has been extensively covered by various media outlets, including Griffith News, The Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, The Age, and WA Today, with reports in 2020 about their groundbreaking work in developing a new drug to address prostate cancer.
Furthermore, they were interviewed on ABC Gold Coast Radio Morning Program in 2022, extending the reach of their research to the radio audience.
Collectively, these extensive media appearances serve as a testament to the extraordinary depth and breadth of Dr. Richardson's impact, showcasing their vital role in advancing cancer research, inspiring future scientists, and improving the lives of cancer patients.