Marc Wilkins

In 1994, Marc Wilkins developed the concept of the proteome and coined the term. In 1997 he co-wrote and co-edited the first book on proteomics (4,000+ copies sold). This, and a series of other seminal works, substantially contributed to the establishment of the proteome and of proteome research. Proteomics is now widely adopted, is included in biochemistry textbooks and is part of the undergraduate curriculum. Marc has published >260 peer-reviewed research papers, review papers and book chapters and has edited 2 books. Marc's research has tackled many of the key issues in proteomics. A particular strength has been the capacity to combine large-scale analytical techniques with complex bioinformatics to open new avenues for biological investigation. Current research interests are (i) the role of protein methylation in the proteome, and (ii) large-scale analysis of protein-protein interactions, studied with crosslinking mass spectrometry (XL-MS). Recent highlights, both published in P.N.A.S. describe the complete protein methylation network in yeast and the largest study to date of human protein-protein interactions and structure through use of XL-MS. Marc is also an active researcher in genomics and transcriptomics, where his extended team has technical expertise in next-generation sequencing and the bioinformatic analysis of resulting data. Highlights include the koala genome project, in Nature Genetics, and collaborative work in the RNA Atlas published in Nature Biotechnology. You can find all Marc's publications and citations here. Marc leads an ARC-funded proteomics and systems biology lab (lab web site here). His group is part of the recently announced MACSYS ARC Centre of Excellence (announcement here), a 7 year $35M project. Marc is the UNSW node leader for this Centre. Marc was the Director of the Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics - the largest genomics facility at any Australian university, from 2011 to 2022. This Centre was funded by NCRIS, EIF Super Science, ARC LIEF and the NSW State Government SLF and RAAP schemes. A special highlight for the Centre was its analysis of >1,000,000 samples for the genomics community. Marc co-founded Proteome Systems Pty Ltd in 1999. Recently renamed to Tyrian Diagnostics, this proteomic diagnostics company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and has developed technology for rapid point-of-care diagnostic testing. Marc is also a co-founder of Regeneus Pty Ltd, a regenerative medicine company which uses autologous adult stem cells to treat a range of musculoskeletal disorders. This company was listed on the ASX in 2013. Professional Experience: 2022 - Deputy Dean (research and enterprise), Faculty of Science; 2016 - 2022 Executive Management, Genomics, Bioplatforms Australia; 2011 - 2022 Director, Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics; 2008 - 2022 Director, NSW Systems Biology Initiative (bioinformatics group); 2005 - Professor of Systems Biology, UNSW; 1999 - 2005 Vice President Bioinformatics then Head of Proteomics, Proteome Systems Limited. Honours and Awards: Awarded a Doctor of Science (D. Sc.) in October 2017 for outstanding contributions to research in proteomics, post-translational modifications and protein interaction networks; ASBMB Beckman Coulter Discovery Science Award 2012 for distinguished contributions to the field of biochemistry and molecular biology; Elected as Council Member of the Human Proteome Organisation (HUPO) 2009-2011, 2011-2014, 2015-2018, 2019-2021, 2022-2024; Elected to the Management Committee (ordinary member) of the Australasian Proteomics Society (2019-2021, 2022-2024). Organising committee of the society's annual conference; Senior Editor of PROTEOMICS (2004-2013); Member of the Scientific Advisory Boards of the Macquarie University Biomolecular Discovery Research Centre (2019-), UNSW Integrated Materials Design Centre (IMDC, 2015-2017), EMBL Australia Bioinformatics Advisory Committee (2011-2015), Victorian Life Science Computational Initiative (VLSCI) (2009-2015), the Macquarie University Biomolecular Frontiers Centre of Research Excellence (2009-2018), the NHMRC Australian Proteomics Computational Facility (APCF) (2007-2011) and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics (2006-2011); Contributions to policy in NSW State Government on the NSW Health Genomics Strategy (2018-2023), the Australian National Genomics Policy framework (2017), New Zealand Government genomics research strategy (2017) and member of the Australian Government's Expert Task Force for Bioinformatics (2003-2005). Proteomics (the global analysis of proteins in biological systems) and its application in biomedical research with particular interests in protein methylation and protein-protein interaction networks. Genomics, including emerging technology, and use in biomedical research. Molecular systems biology using the bioinformatics of proteomics, transcriptomics and networks.

The protein methylation network in yeast: A landmark in completeness for a eukaryotic post-translational modification. Hamey JJ, Wilkins MR. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 120(23):e2215431120. Cross-linking mass spectrometry discovers, evaluates, and corroborates structures and protein-protein interactions in the human cell. Bartolec TK, Vázquez-Campos X, Norman A, Luong C, Johnson M, Payne RJ, Wilkins MR, Mackay JP, Low JKK. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Apr 25;120(17):e2219418120.