The Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences (CBMS) is part of the Faculty of Science and has around 20 academic staff and 60 higher degree research students making us one of the most research-intensive departments on campus. The Department is located in buildings F7B and E8C, adjacent to the University's Research Park........Read On
Welcome to the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences (CBMS). Our department is a merger of staff from the former Department of Chemistry and a group of staff from the biology discipline that study cells and biological processes from a molecular perspective. These two areas of the university have long traditions of teaching and research excellence. This realignment is an exciting one as it will ensure that the innovative university can maintain its high profile and success in these key disciplines of 21st century science. If you are a prospective undergraduate or postgraduate student and would like further personalised career or degree advice we would be happy for you to contact any member of academic staff listed in this site.
Are you interested in studying with us? Why not check out our Open Day presentation on studying with CBMS, then try the "Courses" tool to find a course that suits you. Enter a few key words describing the area you wish to study. For example, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, microbiology or molecular biology.
Associate Professor Min Chen from School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney will be presenting a seminar titled: "Red-shifted chlorophylls and their functions in photosynthesis" on Tuesday, 22nd May at 01:00:00 PM.
Posted by Nicki Packer on 16 May 2012
In this lecture series we will share the exciting science research we are undertaking at Macquarie University with the community. The Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences will present two lectures:
Speaker: Associate Professor Ben Herbert, Macquarie's Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences
The notion that our bodies have a personalised repair kit is an enticing one; if only we could unlock that function. This repair kit does exist, in our fat, and there’s a wide range of conditions which can be treated with a fairly simple procedure. Herbert will chart the history of fat stem cell research and its use for various human therapies and discuss how the use of fat in personalised medicine is likely to grow over the next few years. He will also discuss how research at Macquarie University is likely to expand the range of conditions that are treated and improve the process.
Speaker: Jason Smith, PhD student, Macquarie's Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences
A protein called indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) which occurs naturally in the human body, has been found to be hijacked by cancer tumours, and used to hide their presence from the body’s immune system. Jason will discuss his research on the use of a computational chemistry technique called virtual screening to identify anti-cancer drug candidates that inhibit IDO, and have the potential to slow tumour growth.
Where: Campus Hub, Building C10A, top floor, Macquarie University, L18 on campus map
When: Tuesday 22 May 2012
Time: 6pm – 7.30pm
Parking: Free parking from 5.30pm in N3 car park. Obtain a free parking ticket from the ticket machine and clearly display ticket on driver’s side dashboard. Parking fees apply in other campus car parks.
Cost: FREE. However, registration is essential to cathy.gonzales@mq.edu.au
Light refreshments are available before the lecture
Posted by Ian Jamie on 15 May 2012
Stephen White is the recipient of the NSW Branch of the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand (CASANZ) 2011/12 Student Award. The award recognises individuals that, in the judgment of the society, have made an outstanding contribution to the field of air quality. Stephen has been studying the atmospheric fate of aromatic hydrocarbons, specifically toluene and the xylenes, which are major additives in Australia petroleum. They are a significant component of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the urban atmosphere, and the products formed from the reaction of these aromatic compounds in the atmosphere contribute significantly to smog formation via formation of ozone. They also contribute to particulate formation and growth in the atmosphere, although the magnitude of their effect is uncertain and dependent upon the chemical conditions present in the atmosphere at a given time. Both ozone and particulate matter are a concern due to their impact on pollution and human health, so better understanding and quantification of the effect of aromatic hydrocarbons under different atmospheric conditions is required.
Posted by Ian Jamie on 13 Apr 2012
Four new anti-cancer drug leads have been identified in a research paper in Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry. 
Lead author Jason Smith undertook a comprehensive study that combined existing knowledge of an enzyme with a specifically tailored computational chemistry approach to identify novel inhibitors. The enzyme (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) has generated excitement amongst researchers over the last decade due to its increasingly recognised role as a drug target, particularly in cancer.
Posted by Ian Jamie on 30 Nov 2011
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