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Emeritus Professor Bob Gilbert

Emeritus Professor

Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
b.gilbert@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 54809

Overview

I work at two universities: UQ and Yangzhou University, China.

Research on the relations between two glucose polymers, starch and glycogen, whose structure has major impact on nutrition, diabetes and obesity.

After many years in synthetic polymer research, in 2006 I took up a position at UQ to pursue my interests in the relations between human health and the structures of glucose polymers, especially starch and glycogen, which have complex branched structures. For this purpose, I have built on my knowledge of synthetic polymers. This has led to unique combined experiment and theoretical methods for characterizing the complex molecular architecture of these biopolymers; the target is biosynthesis-structure-property-degradation relations important for human health, and also new biomaterials. This research is leading to new methods for the control and mitigation of obesity, diabetes and colo-rectal cancers; these nutrition-related diseases are reaching epidemic proportions.

I am a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, author of 500 papers, 4 patents and 2 books (on unimolecular reactions and on emulsion polymerization). I was President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Macromolecular Division (1998-2001), Elected Member of the IUPAC Bureau (2002-5), was Chair (1988-95) of the IUPAC Working Party on polymerization modelling and mechanisms, and was one of eight members of the IUPAC Strategy Development and Implementation Committee which carried out a major reorganization of that body. I was Secretary of the International Polymer Colloids Group until 2001, and former Chair of both the Polymer and Physical Chemistry Divisions of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. I am a winner of a Sydney University Excellence in Teaching Award, was awarded the RACI Smith Medal in recognition of outstanding research achievements in chemistry over the past decade, the RACI’s Polymer Medal, shared the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering Medal in 1993 for my work in understanding polymerization mechanisms, the RACI Olle Prize in 1996 for my book on emulsion polymerization, the RACI Physical Chemistry Medal in 1998, the RACI Applied Research Medal in 2005, the RACI Leighton Memorial Medal in 2007 and the Australian Academy of Science Craig Prize (2010). I have been a member of the editorial boards of Carbohydrate Polymers, Biomacromolecules, Journal of Polymer Science, and Polymer, and was Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Polymer Colloids, 2003. I speak fluent French and German as well as my native English, and limited Mandarin.

Since 2012, I have spent half my time at UQ and half in China, under theForeign Experts program. The latter is at YangZHou University (which has one of the best 5 agirculture faculties in China). There is a strong synergy between my Australian and Chinese research groups, with each spending some time in the other location, providing a unique opportunity for my young Australian researchers to learn first-hand about research practice and culture in our largest trading partner; also, I have outstanding facilities there which are significantly used by my Australian research group and by other groups in Australia.

Research Interests

  • Structure-property-biosynthesis relations of complex branched polymers
    The particular targets of this work are two complex branched polymers of glucose. Starch is the storage reservoir for starch in plants. We eat starch and digest it to glucose, and temporarily store this as glycogen, which has a similar molecular structure to glucose. Glycogen is our blood-sugar reservoir. This research is important for two major public health problems: diabetes and obesity. We are developing new plant varieties which are more slowly digested to starch, which helps avoid and manage diabetes and obesity. We are using our discoveries about glycogen to work towards new and highly novel types of drug targets for diabetes.

Research Impacts

The h index of a researcher is calculated from the number of times each of the published papers by that person is cited. Mine is 70, which is generally regarded as extremely high.

Qualifications

  • PhD, Australian National University
  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Sydney

Publications

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Grants

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Supervision

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Available Projects

  • Complex branched polysaccharides and human health

    This title covers a large number of potential projects. Glucose is the energy "currency" of most living organisms. In plants, it is made mainly by photosynthnesis, and stored as starch, which is a partly-crystalline complex branched glucose polymer. Starch is consumed by animals, digested back to glucose and the glucose then stored as glycogen, which is also a complex branched glucose polymer but amorphous, not crystalline. Both molecules are degraded enzymatically back to glucose when the organism needs energy. There is a large number of projects on the biosynthesis - structure - property relations of these molecules. This is especially important for human health. The diet-related problems of obesity, diabetes and colorectal cancers are all related to the rate and location of digestion of starch-containing foods. By better understanding of these biosynthesis-structture-property raltions, it is possible to design better foods and improvewd plant varieties so that the public health burdens, and personal distress, of these diseases can be reduced.

View all Available Projects

Publications

Book Chapter

  • Structure of starch, focusing on those from underground plant organs

    Moretti, Marcia Maria de Souza, Costa, Mariana Souza, Bai, Yeming, Gilbert, Robert G. and Rocha, Thais de Souza (2023). Structure of starch, focusing on those from underground plant organs. Starchy crops morphology, extraction, properties and applications. (pp. 217-244) edited by Marney Pascoli Cereda and Olivier François Vilpoux. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-90058-4.00008-6

  • Characterizing starch molecular structure of rice

    Li, Cheng, Li, Hongyan and Gilbert, Robert G. (2019). Characterizing starch molecular structure of rice. Rice Grain Quality. (pp. 169-185) edited by Nese Sreenivasulu. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press Inc.. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8914-0_10

  • Starch and plant storage polysaccharides

    Vilaplana, Francisco, Zou,Wei and Gilbert, Robert G. (2018). Starch and plant storage polysaccharides. Bioinspired materials science and engineering. (pp. 149-165) edited by Yang, Guang, Xiao, Lin and Lamboni, Lallepak. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781119390350.ch8

  • Emulsion polymerisation

    van Herk, A. M. and Gilbert, R. G. (2013). Emulsion polymerisation. Chemistry and technology of emulsion polymerisation: second edition. (pp. 43-73) edited by A.M. van Herk. Hoboken, NJ USA: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781118638521.ch3

  • Emulsion Polymerisation

    van Herk, A. and Gilbert, R. G. (2003). Emulsion Polymerisation. McGraw-Hill yearbook of science & technology. (pp. 93-96) edited by staff of McGraw-Hill. Australia: McGraw Hill.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Study of the structure of glycogen and potential drug target for diabetes

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • The effect of high-amylose resistant starch on the glycogen structure of diabetic mice

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study of Starch

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Starch and lipids in food: structural effects on brain function

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Complex branched polysaccharides and human health

    This title covers a large number of potential projects. Glucose is the energy "currency" of most living organisms. In plants, it is made mainly by photosynthnesis, and stored as starch, which is a partly-crystalline complex branched glucose polymer. Starch is consumed by animals, digested back to glucose and the glucose then stored as glycogen, which is also a complex branched glucose polymer but amorphous, not crystalline. Both molecules are degraded enzymatically back to glucose when the organism needs energy. There is a large number of projects on the biosynthesis - structure - property relations of these molecules. This is especially important for human health. The diet-related problems of obesity, diabetes and colorectal cancers are all related to the rate and location of digestion of starch-containing foods. By better understanding of these biosynthesis-structture-property raltions, it is possible to design better foods and improvewd plant varieties so that the public health burdens, and personal distress, of these diseases can be reduced.

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

Human health - biopolymers, Polymers, Biopolymers, Biosynthesis, Biopolymers and human health, Starch, Glycogen

They are happy to lend their expertise to your articles or broadcasts and share their research discoveries and insights with the community via media channels.

For additional assistance with story ideas, general advice and information or help with seeking further experts, please email the UQ Media Team or telephone (07) 3365 1120.

Links

ResearcherID: C-5660-2009

ORCID: 0000-0001-6988-114X

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