Sydney scholar Richard Payne honoured with Australian Laureate Fellowship
His research will investigate how proteins can advance the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors.
Professor Richard Payne has been awarded a prestigious Australian Laureate Fellowship from the Australian Research Council.
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced $65.3 million in funding over five years for 17 Australian Laureate Fellowships, including Professor Payne. The senior researchers who receive Australian Laureate Fellowships will carry out pioneering research across diverse fields to benefit both national and international communities.
Professor Payne’s area of expertise is organic chemistry and chemical biology within the School of Chemistry.
Since 2020, he has been a NHMRC Investigator Leadership Fellow and Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CIPPS). He will receive $3.9 million for his project on exploring how protein modifications influence biological activity.
Professor Payne will use this funding to advance the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors in Australia and enhance workforce capacity through training and industry collaborations.
The program aims to develop automated technologies for high-precision, large-scale production of modified proteins, offering new insights into major protein classes. This research will contribute to the development of novel therapeutics and antimicrobial molecules and transform the way high-value proteins are made.
Professor Julie Cairney, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), congratulated Professor Payne on the achievement.
“Professor Payne has long been a leader in organic chemistry and chemical biology, and has made outstanding research contributions to the both the University and broader industry. To be celebrated as a 2025 Australian Laureate Fellow is a testament to the value of his work,” Professor Cairney said.
Professor Marcel Dinger, Dean of Science, also commended Professor Payne, recognising his contributions within the Faculty of Science.
“We are incredibly proud of Professor Payne and thrilled that the Australian Research Council has recognised his work. He is a pioneering force in protein and peptide research, and the Faculty of Science looks forward to supporting him as he continues this vital work,” Professor Dinger said.
ARC Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ute Roessner, said the Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme supports outstanding researchers to provide an exceptional research training environment to nurture early and mid-career researchers.
“The Australian Laureate Fellowship scheme affords researchers the opportunity to establish strong connections with research colleagues, which is an important part of delivering high-quality mentorship for up-and-coming researchers,” Professor Roessner said.
Source: University of Sydney
