Peptide Science New South Wales

Peptide Science New South Wales: Australia’s Engine Room of Biomolecular Innovation

New South Wales stands as Australia’s undisputed powerhouse in peptide science. Home to Sydney—the nation’s largest city and a global biotechnology hub—NSW hosts an extraordinary concentration of world-class research institutions, cutting-edge facilities, and a thriving commercial ecosystem that spans the entire peptide value chain. From fundamental discovery to clinical translation and commercialisation, NSW’s peptide science community is driving innovations that are reshaping human health, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology.

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science

At the heart of Peptide Science New South Wales ecosystem lies the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CIPPS). This $35 million national research centre, funded through the ARC’s Centres of Excellence scheme, brings together leading researchers from across Australia to harness the power of peptides and proteins from nature for human benefit.

The University of Sydney serves as a major hub for CIPPS, with Professor Richard Payne serving as Deputy Director since 2020. Payne, an international leader in organic chemistry and chemical biology who was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2025, leads research programmes developing new synthetic technologies to produce therapeutic peptides and proteins, discovering new anti-infectives inspired by natural products, and developing novel drug candidates for cardiovascular disease.

CIPPS’s vision is ambitious: to discover new peptides and proteins from Australia’s diverse flora and fauna, decode their biological functions, and develop new molecules to address challenges in health, agriculture and industry. The centre’s three flagship research programmes focus on unlocking the peptide universe of unique Australian animals and plants, programming peptides for bioavailability and localisation, and creating biosynthetic technologies for peptide and protein engineering. A grand challenge underpins these efforts: making peptides orally bioavailable and delivering them to targeted locations, including intracellular targets.

In 2026, a new ARC Centre of Excellence was announced at the University of Sydney, led by Professor Kate Jolliffe, further cementing NSW’s leadership in peptide and protein science.

The University of Sydney: A Powerhouse of Peptide Discovery

The University of Sydney’s School of Chemistry houses several research groups making significant contributions to peptide science.

The Payne Group: Synthetic Technologies and Drug Discovery

Professor Richard Payne’s research group is multidisciplinary, involving computer-aided drug discovery, solution- and solid-phase organic synthesis, compound screening technologies and crystallography. The group focuses on utilising the power of organic chemistry to address problems of biochemical and medicinal significance. Current research programmes include new synthetic technologies to produce therapeutic peptides and proteins, discovery of new anti-infectives inspired by natural products, novel drug candidates for cardiovascular disease, synthetic vaccine candidates, and development of peptide and peptidomimetic drug leads.

Payne’s research has been recognised with an Australian Laureate Fellowship, receiving $3.9 million for his project exploring how protein modifications influence biological activity. His work on protein O-fucosyltransferases, published in collaboration with international colleagues, exemplifies the group’s contribution to understanding fundamental biological processes.

Peptide Molecular Glues and Therapeutic Development

University of Sydney researchers are also at the forefront of developing peptide molecular glues—cyclic peptides that exploit allosteric sites and conformational dynamics to select between BET paralogues. These versatile scaffolds offer high selectivity and affinity for their targets, representing a promising therapeutic modality.

Tsetse Fly Peptide Anticoagulants

In a striking example of nature-inspired drug discovery, University of Sydney researchers, in collaboration with the University of Geneva, have developed a new anticoagulant from a tsetse fly peptide whose anticlotting action can be rapidly stopped ‘on demand’. The supramolecular anticoagulant was tested in human and mouse blood samples and in vivo in mice at Sydney laboratories, demonstrating the translational potential of peptide research emerging from Peptide Science New South Wales.

UNSW Sydney: From Antimicrobial Peptides to Mass Spectrometry

The University of New South Wales contributes significantly to Peptide Science New South Wales capability across multiple domains.

Antimicrobial Peptide Research

Dr George Enninful’s doctoral research at UNSW focused on developing efficient recombinant expression systems for novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), with an emphasis on structural optimisation, solubility enhancement, and activity retention. His work explores recombinant synthesis of AMPs and the bioincorporation of non-canonical amino acids—a challenging but promising approach to enhancing peptide properties.

Dr Rajesh Kuppusamy’s research at UNSW focuses on the design and synthesis of new antimicrobial peptides and peptidomimetics to kill many different types of microbes including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. His work also explores the self-assembly properties of developed peptidomimetic compounds for drug-delivery applications.

Dr Umme Laila Urmi, a research associate at UNSW, holds a doctorate in antiviral peptides and their synthetic mimics for application against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.

Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry

Associate Professor Mark Raftery directs the Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility at UNSW, providing essential infrastructure for peptide and protein analysis. His research spans all aspects of biological mass spectrometry, including chromatographic separations and analysis of proteins and peptides. The facility enables high-throughput mass spectrometry-based proteomics and careful elucidation of novel post-translational modifications.

Peptidomimetics and Organofluorine Chemistry

Associate Professor Luke Hunter’s research group at UNSW focuses on natural products chemistry, peptidomimetics, bioactive molecules and synthetic methodology, with a strong theme of organofluorine chemistry underpinning several research areas.

University of Newcastle: Peptide Synthesis and Therapeutic Development

The University of Newcastle is emerging as a significant contributor to Peptide Science New South Wales. Dr Othman Al Musaimi, a Lecturer in Medicinal Chemistry at Newcastle, conducts research in peptide synthesis, separation, and purification. His research interests centre on developing innovative methodologies for peptide synthesis, separation, and purification, as well as engineering peptides for therapeutic and aesthetic applications.

Dr Robert Chapman, a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Newcastle and researcher at the Hunter Medical Research Institute, works on using high-throughput polymerisation techniques to design polymer therapeutics, control the folding of polymers into protein-like mimics, and design polymers that bind to proteins, enzymes and antibodies.

The University of Newcastle’s Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science has also contributed to peptide research, including the development of peptides for targeting cell ablation agents.

Macquarie University: Proteomics and Bioactive Peptides

Macquarie University has pioneered the study of proteomics and is home to the world’s first dedicated proteomics facility, the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility. The university is also home to the ARC Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry.

Macquarie researchers are driving major advances in analytical spectrometry, glycochemistry, quantitative proteomics, and separation science. The Biomolecular Discovery Research Centre at Macquarie University explores the potential of bioactive peptides—specific protein fragments with positive health effects—from discovery to functional characterisation.

Researchers at Macquarie are also working on synthesising novel peptide sequences for disease therapeutics, including targeting the toxic effects of the tau protein in Alzheimer’s disease.

Western Sydney University and University of Technology Sydney

Western Sydney University researchers are active in the isolation and characterisation of bioactive peptides from various sources, including milk, cheese, lupin protein, and fish proteins. Research on epidermal growth factor receptor targeting peptides is also underway at the School of Medicine.

The University of Technology Sydney has invested in peptide therapeutics companies such as Helmedix and supports research on peptide mimics against enveloped viruses. UTS researchers have also contributed to studies on the structure and antimicrobial activity of defensin-like peptides from the platypus genome.

CSIRO: Peptide Science for Agriculture, Food and Biomedical Manufacturing

CSIRO maintains a significant presence in peptide research across NSW, with facilities including the North Ryde site.

Machine Learning and Antimicrobial Peptides

CSIRO researchers in NSW are at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence to antimicrobial peptide discovery. Recent work has focused on developing machine learning-assisted prediction and generation of AMPs—building predictive and generative algorithms that construct new peptide sequences, score their antimicrobial activity, identify amino acid motifs, and assemble high-ranking motifs into new peptide sequences. These engineered AMPs show broad-spectrum activity, stability, and effectively combat drug-resistant bacteria and biofilms without developing resistance.

Dr Paul Savage: Biomedical Manufacturing

Dr Paul Savage serves as Research Director of the Biomedical Manufacturing Platform at CSIRO and applies cutting-edge proteomics methodologies to characterise the structure, function, post-translational modifications and molecular interactions of therapeutic peptides.

Professor Michelle Colgrave: Food and Agricultural Proteomics

Professor Michelle Colgrave, who holds a joint appointment at CSIRO and Edith Cowan University, uses proteomics to identify, characterise and quantify key proteins and peptides that benefit Australia’s food and agriculture industries and improve public health.

Dr Andrew Kotze: Parasite Control

Dr Andrew Kotze’s research at CSIRO focuses on the control of insect and helminth parasites of livestock and humans, exploring peptides as potential novel anthelmintic or insecticidal agents.

Commercial Ecosystem: Peptide Therapeutics Companies in Sydney

Sydney hosts a vibrant ecosystem of peptide therapeutics companies, reflecting the successful translation of research into commercial applications.

Infensa Bioscience, a Sydney-based company founded in 2021, develops peptide drugs for cardiovascular disorders and has raised $15.6 million in funding. In 2025, the company is expected to progress to Phase 1 clinical trials.

Novapep, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Sydney, develops anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective peptide structures for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

InterK Peptide Therapeutics, founded in 2002, operates as a preclinical virtual biotech developing peptide-based kinase agonists to treat cancer and chronic infections.

Bondi Bio is developing a novel platform for the biomanufacture and delivery of biologics, with potential applications in the manufacture and delivery of therapeutic proteins and peptides.

Helmedix, supported by the University of Technology Sydney, develops therapeutic peptide drugs for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Celosia Therapeutics focuses on neurodegenerative therapies, while Imugene develops peptide immunotherapy approaches.

Major multinational pharmaceutical companies with a significant presence in Sydney include AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Lonza.

Clinical Translation and Regulatory Landscape

NSW is at the forefront of translating peptide science into clinical applications. Infensa Bioscience’s progression toward Phase 1 clinical trials exemplifies this translational momentum. The state also hosts clinical trials for peptide-based therapeutics, including the Phase 3 trial of KAI-9531 for obesity.

However, the regulatory landscape for peptides in NSW is complex. Peptides are classified as Schedule 4 substances under the Poisons List and are considered ‘restricted substances’ under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW). While some peptides are TGA-approved prescription medicines, others remain outside the approved register. This regulatory framework presents both opportunities and challenges for the commercialisation of peptide therapeutics.

The Australian Peptide Association

The Australian Peptide Association, formally established in 1983, plays a vital role in supporting and promoting research activities in peptide science across Australia, with strong representation from NSW. The association’s impact is remarkable: although Australians make up less than 1% of the world’s population, they produce 4% of its scientific output in peptide science.

The next Australian Peptide Conference is planned for around October 2025, providing a critical forum for knowledge exchange and collaboration among peptide scientists from NSW, Australia, and around the world.

Research Highlights and Emerging Directions

Constrained Peptides and Drug Discovery

NSW researchers are shaping the future of constrained peptides and compact proteins in drug discovery. These constrained structures offer enhanced stability, selectivity, and bioavailability compared to linear peptides.

Cyclic Peptide Display Screening

University of Sydney researchers have developed capabilities for the parallel synthesis of trillions of cyclic peptides each linked to their cognate mRNA. This cyclic peptide display screening capability enables rapid identification of high-affinity ligands to any expressible protein of interest.

Machine Learning-Optimised Peptide Structures

NSW researchers are developing machine learning methods to optimise peptide structures using internal and external peptide datasets. This computational approach promises to dramatically accelerate the discovery and optimisation of peptide therapeutics.

Antimicrobial Peptide Libraries

NSW researchers have assembled a library of more than 600 antimicrobial peptides and are using machine learning for structure-function prediction. This iterative learning process involves using machine learning to reinvestigate genomes and transcriptomes to discover even more bioactives.

Future Prospects

NSW’s position as Australia’s engine room of peptide science is set to strengthen. The substantial investment in CIPPS and the new ARC Centre of Excellence at the University of Sydney, combined with the expertise concentrated across NSW’s universities and CSIRO facilities, provides a solid foundation for continued innovation.

The integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence into peptide discovery, the development of novel synthetic methodologies, the growth of the commercial biotech ecosystem, and the translation of fundamental research into clinical applications all point toward a vibrant future for peptide science in Australia’s most populous state.

NSW’s peptide science community embodies the collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that modern scientific challenges demand. By bringing together chemists, biologists, clinicians, and industry partners, NSW’s researchers are not only advancing fundamental knowledge but also creating practical solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in human health, food security, and environmental sustainability. As the field of peptide science continues to evolve, NSW’s researchers will undoubtedly remain at the forefront, driving Australia’s outsized contribution to this critical area of scientific endeavour.