David J Leaver

David J Leaver is a Lecturer in Biochemistry at the School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University. Prior to this, he served at Sul Ross State University (Visiting Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor of Chemistry), Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Texas Tech University. His research focuses on early-stage drug discovery for life-threatening diseases, particularly through protein-targeted therapeutics, with collaborations resulting in publications in journals like Nature, Cell Metabolism, and Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

• BSc (Hons) from La Trobe University (2008), completed at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
• PhD in Organic Chemistry from La Trobe University (2012)

Research interests include: (1) developing sterol biosynthesis inhibitors for cancer and parasitic diseases (Human African Trypanosomiasis, Chagas Disease), (2) synthetic carbohydrate biomimetics as urinary tract infection prophylactics, and (3) irreversible enzyme inhibitors for parasitic nematode eradication. He also optimizes carbohydrate derivatives to inactivate toxins like cholera toxin and heat-labile enterotoxin.

Recent publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches combining pharmacology, organic chemistry, and parasitology for therapeutic development, alongside educational innovations in biochemistry curricula and academic professional development initiatives.

• Michael Grant Third Year Prize in Chemistry (2006)
• Max O'Connor Honours Year Prize in Chemistry (2007)
• David Kelly Medal (2008)
• Change One Thing Award (2023)
• France and Europe EMCR Mobility Grants (2025)

David mentors biomedical researchers and teaches medical science/biochemistry subjects at Charles Sturt University. He advocates independent thinking to address unmet clinical needs and contributes to collaborative research teams focused on drug discovery and chemical biology.