David Ackerley

Professor David Ackerley (Victoria University of Wellington) is a leading microbiologist and enzyme engineer specializing in directed evolution of bacterial enzymes for biotechnological applications. As Biotechnology Programme Director since 2006, he lectures in foundational courses like BTEC101 and BTEC201.

• Academic rank: Professor of Biotechnology
• Institutional affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington
• Research focus areas: Microbial Biotechnology, Drug Discovery, Synthetic Biology

His research employs Darwinian evolutionary principles to engineer enzymes with enhanced activities, particularly targeting non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and nitroreductases for antibiotic development and cancer therapy. Recent work explores metagenomic domain substitution in pyoverdine biosynthesis and Purpuramine R from marine sponges.

Key publications demonstrate innovations in metagenomic library construction, CRISPR screening for regeneration genes, and structural characterization of engineered enzymes. His team has developed NTR 2.0, a high-efficacy nitroreductase for targeted cell ablation.

Current research projects include:

• Clean solutions from dirty genes: Plastic-degrading enzyme discovery
• Engineering enzymes for CAR T-cell-chemotherapy synergy
• Repurposing niclosamide against Gram-negative superbugs

Grants from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Royal Society of New Zealand, and Cancer Society of NZ support his work. Collaborations span biomedical research, synthetic biology, and environmental applications.