Professor Merlin Crossley

ABOUT ME

Biography

Merlin Crossley is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at UNSW and Professor of Molecular Biology. He has also worked or studied at the Universities of Melbourne, Oxford, Harvard and Sydney. He has been recognized by numerous awards, including a Rhodes Scholarship and the Australian Academy of Science's Gottschalk Medal. He has made significant contributions to academic administration, serving as Dean at UNSW since 2010, and previously having been Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research at the University of Sydney from 2006 to 2008.

Education

• BSc Hons (Melb) 1986
• DPhil (Oxon) 1990

RESEARCH

Research Goals

• Fundamental mechanisms of gene regulation
• Epigenetics
• Artificial DNA-binding proteins
• Blood development
• Haemophilia
• Sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia
• Obesity and diabetes

Research in Detail

We are interested in understanding the fundamental molecular mechanisms by which genes are controlled. Ultimately we hope to treat chronic diseases, such as sickle cell anaemia or diabetes, by turning on beneficial genes or repressing harmful genes.

Research Grants

• National Health and Medical Research Council Project APP1098391 Editing beneficial single nucleotide polymorphisms into the genome: A new approach to genetic disease M.Crossley, 2016-8, $646,979

• National Health and Medical Research Council Project APP1025877 Transcriptional regulation of globin genes M. Crossley and R. Pearson, 2012-14, $636,325

• National Health and Medical Research Council Project APP1025873 Transcriptional control of megakaryopoiesis M. Crossley, K. Ravid, T. Gonda and R. Pearson, 2012-14, $651,010

• National Health and Medical Research Council Project APP1009172 Identifying regulators of the DNA damage response and tumourigenesis using C.elegans H. Nicholas and M. Crossley, 2011-13, $496,706

• National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant ID632877 The transcriptional control of adipogenesis M.Crossley and K. Bell-Anderson, 2010-12, $535,125

• Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP180103785 One code to rule them all: synthesis of the transcription factor and histone code J.P.Mackay, M. Crossley, K.K.J. Low and K.G.R. Quinlan, 2018-20, $598,198

• Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP 170101786 Designer DNA-binding proteins M. Crossley and K. Quinlan, 2017-9, $428,000

• Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP150103503 Role of methylation in transcription factor activity M. Crossley and J.P. Mackay, 2015-7, $428,100

• Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP120103798 Functional analysis of a nucleic acid binding protein essential for mammalian development J.P. Mackay and M. Crossley, 2012-14, $458,000

• Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP0984682 A new mechanism of gene regulation J.P. Mackay and M. Crossley, 2009-11, $660,000

• Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP0986928 The transcriptional co-repressor C-terminal Binding Protein (CtBP) in metabolic control H. Nicholas and M. Crossley, 2009-11, $290,000

Current PhD Students

Tanit Chavalit

Alexander Knights

Gabriella Martyn

Beth Stout

Manan Shah

Lana Ly

Emily Vohralik

Current Post-doctoral researchers

Kate Quinlan now a Scientia Fellow

Lu Yang

Supervision Opportunities/Areas

Please contact Kate.Quinlan@unsw.edu.au

TEACHING & OUTREACH

Courses I contribute to teaching

BIOC2201 Principles of Molecular Biology (Advanced)

BABS3121 Molecular Biology of Nucleic Acids

BABS3281 Molecular Genomics

Current professional affiliations and service positions

Board Member, Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) 2013–present

Trust Member, Australian Museum 2012–present

Board Member, New South Innovations 2011–present

Council Member, European Molecular Biology Laboratory Australia Council 2011–2015

Board Member, Sydney Institute of Marine Science 2010-17

Advisory Committee, Australian Astronomical Observatory, 2017-present

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Rhodes Scholarship 1987

Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Roche Medal 1999

Royal Society of NSW Sir Edgeworth David Medal 2000

Australian Academy of Science Gottschalk Medal 2002

Julian Wells Medal, Lorne Genome Conference 2010

Fellow Queen’s College, Melbourne 2014

Fellow Royal Society of New South Wales 2014