Tristan Rawling is an Associate Professor of medicinal chemistry at UTS. His research spans drug discovery and chemical biology with a focus on fatty acids, membranes, synthetic anion transporters and molecules that affect mitochondrial function.

A major theme of Tristan’s research group is the therapeutic potential and toxicology of small molecules that interact with mitochondrial membranes. Synthetic anion transporters are compounds that can bind to and transport anions across lipid bilayers. Tristan’s group has shown that these compounds can act as mitochondrial uncouplers, with potential applications as anticancer agents and weight loss drugs. Our group also studies the interactions of delocalised lipophilic cations, which includes certain ionic liquids, with the inner mitochondrial membrane as a potential mechanism of cytotoxicity.

Tristan’s research also focuses on the development of novel lipid-derived drug candidates, and he has worked on two collaborative drug discovery projects in this area. These projects produced promising new compounds for the treatment of cancer and chronic pain, and have attracted over $3 000 000 in funding from the NHMRC and industry partners.

Tristan completed a PhD in synthetic chemistry at UTS, followed by postdoctoral research position at the University of Sydney where he worked in drug development. In 2013 he was awarded a highly competitive UTS Chancellor Postdoctoral Fellowship and then secured an academic appointment in the Faculty of Science at UTS. He has served Discipline Leader (Chemistry) and Program Director.