Derek Richard

Professor Derek Richard is a faculty member at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), holding positions in the Faculty of Health and School of Biomedical Sciences. He serves as the Deputy Director (Industry and Commercial Engagement) at QUT's Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health and co-leads the Genomic Instability and Disease research program. Richard has a PhD and BSc (Hons) from the University of Dundee, UK, and has been an ARC Future Fellow since 2010.

His research focuses on DNA repair mechanisms, genomic stability, and their roles in cancer therapy and chronic diseases. Key areas include exploring proteins like hSSB1, Banf1, COMMD4, and ALDOA as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in lung, breast, and prostate cancers. He investigates epigenetic drugs, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, and the effects of environmental stressors such as cold atmospheric plasma on cancer cells. Collaborations with institutions like the Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health and interdisciplinary teams highlight his commitment to translational research.

Richard’s publications emphasize the clinical relevance of DNA repair pathways, metabolic influences on cancer resistance, and innovative drug delivery strategies. His work frequently addresses how disrupting DNA repair processes can enhance chemotherapy effectiveness and identifies novel targets for precision oncology. He has contributed to understanding the role of nuclear membrane proteins in tumor growth and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on cardiac DNA damage.

Scientific awards include the ARC Future Fellowship (2010–present), which supports his research into genomic instability and translational cancer therapies. His grants and collaborations span drug discovery, biomarker identification, and nanotechnology applications. Supervision of doctoral research, such as the 2016 project on nucleophosmin and genomic stability, underscores his mentorship in advancing cancer biology knowledge.

Labs and teams include the Genomic Instability and Disease program at QUT, where he leads investigations into DNA repair dynamics and their clinical implications. His interdisciplinary approach integrates structural biology, computational modeling, and clinical oncology to tackle complex cancer mechanisms and develop targeted therapies.