Biography

The Neilan research group at the University of Newcastle (Australia) is considered to be one of the world's leaders in the genetics of toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). As its founding member, Brett has undertaken the research that has led to the discovery of all four biochemical pathways responsible for the production of potent bacterial and algal toxins that contaminate our water supplies and accumulate in seafood. The results of this basic research and other studies of the evolution of cyanobacteria have revolutionised an entire field of environmental biology.

Brett's current research encompasses two main areas: 1) the origins, evolution, diversity and unique physiologies of microbial life on Earth, especially in extreme ecosystems such as stromatolites, volcanoes, Antarctica, as well as in symbioses; and 2) non-ribosomal peptide, polyketide, and alkaloid biosynthesis in aquatic bacteria and algae as the basis for the production of toxins, traditional medicines and potential pharmaceuticals.