Our members are expert researchers in their field.
Dr Céline VALERY, PhD (Pharmacy), MSc, Chem Eng
Position: Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Head of the NanoBioPharm laboratory.
Initially educated as a Chemical Engineer, she completed her PhD in Pharmacy (University of Paris-Saclay, France) on an academia-industry collaboration to launch a new medication against brain tumours. Céline has worked as both an industry and academic researcher with positions held in France, Spain and New Zealand before moving to Australia in 2014.
Her travels led her to collaborate with a diverse range of inspiring mentors and taught her that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere, if curiosity is encouraged. Céline is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion and positive leadership. She enjoys working in the lab with her team and teaching student scientists from all around the world.
Céline’s research spans from fundamental research through to translation into new pharmaceuticals. She has contributed to the discovery and development of new “nano-drugs” against various diseases, including new antibiotics to fight microbial resistance and new anticancer treatments improving patient convenience. Thanks to her amazing team, there is much more to come.
Dr Durga Dharmadana, PhD (Biomedical Science), MSc, Pharmacist
Position: Lecturer (Human Biosciences)
Durga completed her PhD in the NanoBioPharm lab in 2020. Her research interests include functional amyloids, biomaterials, and brain peptides. Her PhD thesis focused on understanding the mechanisms associated with the supramolecular assembly of brain peptides and their potential use as templates in hybrid bio-inorganic nanomaterial synthesis. Her primary technical expertise is in biophysics and cell biology. She holds a Master by Research degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
Dr Jamie Strachan, PhD (Applied Chemistry), MSc.
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
Jamie completed his PhD in the Drummond lab (RMIT) in 2020.
His research interests include oral delivery of proteins/peptides and antibodies. His PhD thesis focused on understanding the interactions of proteins/peptides with cubic phase as well as the mechanism for digestion of cubic phase in the gut. His primary technical expertise is in biophysics, cell biology and animal trials. He holds a Master’s by Research degree in Nanotechnology and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree from LaTrobe University, Australia.
Priscila Cardoso, PhD candidate (Biomedical Science), MSc, MBA, Pharmacist
Position: PhD candidate and Research officer
Priscila is a pharmacist from Brazil with an MBA in Health Sciences, Master in Regulatory Sciences and Master by research in Analytical Chemistry. She is currently working as an international consultant for pharmaceutical, food supplements and cosmetics Industries, supporting in their internationalization process, providing strategic and operational support to ensure registration of their products in different countries and regulatory compliance. Priscila is also on the third year of her PhD candidature at RMIT (Health and biomedical sciences program), working as academic tutor and undergrad supervisor. The purpose of her project is to design new antimicrobial biomaterials from novel ultrashort peptides that self-assemble into nanostructures and have antimicrobial activity.
Brody McDonald, Chem Eng, BSc (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Position: Position: PhD candidate and Research officer
Brody completed his double degree in Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Sciences at RMIT in 2021.
Brody worked as a chemical engineer at a technology commercialisation firm working in multi-disciplinary teams to achieve goals in the development of novel environmental and biomedical devices. After developing skills in industry Brody is now at NanoBioPharm undertaking his PhD candidacy in our lab. His research and skill development will have a focus around self-assembling peptides and composite biomaterials for the purpose of furthering our understanding of the underlying physicochemical mechanisms as well as the development of novel nanotechnology applications.
Samuel Appiah Danso, MSc (Biomedical Science), M(Lab Med).
Position: Research assistant and laboratory administrator
Samuel's research focuses on the optimisation of cryogenic preparatory conditions in reducing cryogenic artefacts of hydrogels for high resolution imaging by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy. He is skilled at processing and imaging biomolecules using electron microscopy at high resolution. Before joining the NanoBiopharm lab at RMIT University, Samuel worked as a Medical laboratory Scientist in Ghana with specialisation in heamatology and transfusion science.
Minal Chaturvedi, MSc (Human Genomics)
Position: PhD Candidate and Research Officer
Minal is an AcSIR-RMIT Joint PhD candidate working in the NanoBioPharm laboratory at RMIT and at CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), India. Her work is focused on proteotoxicity induced by post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation. She is currently working on the role of phosphorylation in exacerbation of alpha-synuclein induced toxicity in Parkinson’s Disease pathogenicity. Her study incorporates the proteotoxicity studies in the cell free system, in vitro as well as in vivo models of Parkinson’s Disease. She holds a Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Human Genomics from Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
Translational Immunology and Nanotechnology
Our research group sits within the ‘Translational Immunology and Nanotechnology’ (TIN) Theme. This theme was created to drive innovation in omics/precision medicine, nanotechnology and point-of-care devices.
