Welcome to the Ross Group Web Site

Medicinal Chemistry of Alzheimer’s Disease

The Ross Group has interests in the field of medicinal chemistry, especially the development of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).  The current focus of our research is the design of inhibitors of beta-amyloid aggregation and the delivery of these inhibitors to the brain.  The blood-brain barrier is a formidable physical, enzymatic and active-efflux barrier to CNS drug delivery, and the development of novel delivery systems is an intensive area of research.  We chemically modify lead compounds to create drug analogues or prodrugs that exhibit improved CNS targeting and bioavailability.

The techniques that we employ include:

• synthetic organic chemistry;
• solid-phase peptide synthesis;
• biochemical assays of amyloid aggregation;
• in vitro ADME studies (e.g. IAM chromatography, log D, PAMPA, Caco-2 cell assay, plasma/tissue stability); and
• cell-based and animal models of AD (in collaboration with Dr Peter Cabot and Professor Maree Smith).

Pharmacologists, biochemists, and pharmacists have important roles in the group, and currently we are seeking a research student interested in AD pharmacology.  Synthetic organic chemistry is a key discipline and many group members have training in chemistry. The Group offers consulting and research services to industry, commerce and government.

We are located within the School of Pharmacy at the St Lucia campus of The University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, Australia.  In late 2009 we will move to a new purpose-built facility adjacent to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, just a short trip from UQ via the Eleanor Schonell Bridge.

Please take a look around our web site.  

Latest News

10 April 2008 , New PhD student: Mr Manoj Kumar Palanivelu started his PhD today, funded by a prestigious Australian Government Endeavour Postgraduate Award. Manoj will focus on the design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of inhibitors of amyloid aggregation.

25 January 2008, New PhD student: Welcome Mr Venkatesan Moorthy Rao who commenced his PhD today. Venky will develop prodrug strategies for the CNS delivery of inhibitors of beta-amyloid aggregation. Previously Venky was a Lecturer at the School of Pharmacy, International Medical University in KL, Malaysia.

18 October 2007, New Funding: A grant from the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundations will support our research into Novel

Anti-Amyloidogenic Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease.

3 October 2007, Honours and PhD applicants: Students who are considering Honours or PhD projects for 2008 should meet with Dr Ross to discuss their options.

news archive >>

Contact

Dr Ben Ross

School of Pharmacy

The University of Queensland

Brisbane, Queensland, 4072

AUSTRALIA

Phone: +61 7 336 58808

Fax: +61 7 336 51688

Email:

This web site was last updated on 12 April 2008. Copyright © 2006-2008 Benjamin P. Ross. Unless stated otherwise, this web site represents only the views of Benjamin P. Ross and not the views of The University of Queensland. Simple site map.