Professional Experience: I have 10 years post–doctoral experience in the field of plant biotechnology and am currently employed as a Research Associate by Farmacule BioIndustries Ltd. based at QUT, Brisbane. My research interests include transgene expression, stress tolerance genes and virus–based expression systems. My work focuses on plant–based production of recombinant proteins for research, diagnostic and commercial uses. Farmacule uses a novel patented platform technology termed INPACT (In Plant Activation) for high–level, inducible expression of proteins in plants, namely tobacco. Tobacco is ideal for biofarming, due to its high biomass, ease of genetic manipulation and low production costs. Using INPACT, we have successfully produced a human therapeutic, namely vitronectin and a cytotoxic RNase in this crop.
This information has been contributed by Dr Benjamin Dugdale.
