Markus Muttenthaler

Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler is a Group Leader at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland. His research focuses on neuropeptide biology, venom-derived therapeutics, and translational drug discovery. He leads a team exploring oxytocin/vasopressin signaling in cancer, pain, and gastrointestinal disorders. Key projects include developing gut-stable peptides, anti-biofilm agents, and molecular probes for neuropharmacology.

Education: PhD in Chemistry (not explicitly stated but implied by career trajectory). Research interests span chemical synthesis, GPCR targeting, and bioactive peptides from natural sources. He advises six PhD students and has pioneered methods in peptide drug discovery, earning the Miklós Bodanszky Award for contributions to peptide-based therapeutics.

Collaborations involve global institutions in chemistry, biology, and clinical research. His lab develops cutting-edge tools like photoactivatable probes and kappa-opioid receptor ligands. Ongoing projects include oxytocin receptor imaging tracers for cancer and novel strategies to combat mucosal biofilms in IBS/UC.