Contacts
Group membership
Ben Corry graduated with a PhD in Physics from ANU, before taking up an ARC Postdoctoral Fellowship and subsequent ARC Research Fellowship at the University of Western Australia. Here he has studied the fundamental aspects of ion channel function including mechanisms of ion selectivity and gating using a range of computational and fluorescence techniques. In addition he has been designing biomimetic porous membranes for water filtration and desalination. In 2005 he won the Young Biophysicist Award from the Australian Society for Biophysics and was awarded the 2008 Young Scientist of the Year at the WA Premier's Science Awards. In 2011 Ben won a Young Tall Poppy Science Award and was a finalist in the Eureka Science Awards before moving to ANU at the start of 2012.
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ARC Future Fellowship, 2013
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Eureka Prize Finalist, 2011
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Young Biophysicist Award, 2005
Research interests
Our research examines the structure and function of membrane protein including channels, transporters and receptors. We aim to understand the mechanisms by which these proteins can identify and transport molecules across the cell membrane, and how the proteins control this transport. In addition we are interested in studying transport in other kinds of pores, be they in proteins, crystaline materials or synthetic membranes. Gaining a fundamental understanding of the operation of biological pores has allowed us to design synthetic porous membranes that can be used for the desalination of sea water or to remove dangerous contaminants from water supplies.
Proteins and macromolecules can be difficult to study due to their size, functioning at the interface of microscopic molecular behaviour and macroscopic mechanical behaviour. To investigate them we use a combination of computational techniques including quantum calculations, molecular dynamics, and macroscopic modelling. In addition we utilise membrane transport assays and FRET microscopy (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) to experimentally study the conformational changes of proteins as they function.
Recent grants
- ARC Discovery Project 2011-2013. Carbon nanotube fluidic channels for desalination-interplay of nanoscale confinement and electrostatics. M Majumder, B. Corry, A. Schafer.
- NHMRC Project Grant 2010-2012. A Novel Patch-Fluorimetry technique for investigating structural changes during gating of mechanosensitive ion channels. B. Martinac, B. Corry, P. Pal
- ARC Discovery Project and Research Fellowship 2007-2011. Force from lipids: the role of the lipid bilayer in mechanosensory transduction. B. Martinac, B. Corry, P. Rigby
- NHMRC Project Grant 2007-2009 Computational study of selectivity, gating and mutation in the acetylcholine receptor and potassium channels. B. Corry.
Projects
- Supervisor, Biologically inspired membranes for the efficient desalination of water
- Supervisor, Computational models of nerve conduction
- Supervisor, Designing new channel inhibitors for treating chronic pain
- Supervisor, How do biological molecules distinguish between ions?
- Supervisor, Understanding the proteins responsible for our sense of touch
- Principal investigator, Lipid Regulation of Ion Channels
- Principal investigator, Molecular mechanisms of innate immunity
- Principal investigator, Transport mechanisms and drug resistance in malaria transporters