Personal profile
Biography
Dr Creek uses advanced metabolomics and systems pharmacology approaches to investigate microbial pathogens and facilitate the discovery of new medicines for infectious diseases including malaria and sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis).
Further information can be found at www.creek-lab.com
Biography...
Darren completed his PhD in pharmaceutics at MIPS with Profs Sue and Bill Charman studying the mechanisms of action and clearance for novel antimalarial drugs, and followed this with first-hand experience of tropical disease research, working in a clinical trial for antimalarials in rural Uganda. He has post-doctoral experience in pre-clinical drug discovery at the Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash University, and in parasite biochemistry at the Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology at the University of Glasgow. Darren played a major role in the implementation of the Scottish Metabolomics Facility and developed novel analytical methods for metabolomics, including the widely-used metabolomics software, IDEOM. He was recently elected to the board of directors for the international Metabolomics Society.
Darren's current research in the Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics theme at MIPS continues to develop novel metabolomics techniques and apply metabolomics to parasitology and pharmacology. This work has recently provided new insights into protozoan parasite metabolism, in vitro culture medium development and mechanisms of action and resistance for drugs against malaria and trypanosomiasis.
Related Links:
Research interests
Metabolomics
Systems Pharmacology
Parasitology
- Malaria
- Human African Trypanosomiasis
Infectious Diseases
Drug Discovery
Community service
2008 - Orphan education and community health education in Uganda. Let the Needy Smile: www.lettheneedysmile.com
Clinical activities
Community Pharmacist, Tambassis Pharmacy, Brunswick
Research area keywords
- Malaria
- Metabolism
- Parasitology
- Pharmaceutics
- Pharmacology
- Systems Pharmacology
- Tropical Medicine
- Metabolomics
- Proteomics
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A Collaborative Strategy Board Game to Foster Cognitive Flexibility and Applied Chemical Reasoning in Pharmacy Students
Han Yin, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Creek, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/01/26 → 31/12/26
Project: Other
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NIFLDS: Non-invasive functional imaging of the digestive lymphatic system
Itkin, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Trevaskis, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kaur, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Creek, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mathur, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cormode, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Noël, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Gang, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Yadavali, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), tsourkas, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Gade, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Whiting, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Theis, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Witschey, W. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Seghers, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Singh, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Elliott, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Abruzzo, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ramon, A. (Project Manager) & Rosario, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
24/09/25 → 23/09/27
Project: Research
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Discovery of New Antimalarials with a Novel Mechanism of Action and Irresistible Target
Giannangelo, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Dillon, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Shackleford, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Edstein, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Creek, D. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Charman, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Burrows, J. N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Stupple, P. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Gilson, P. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Niles, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Delves, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Wittlin, S. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/01/25 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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Predicting the impact of antimalarial resistance in West African parasites
Bullen, H. E. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Narh, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Giannangelo, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ofori, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Creek, D. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Oriero, E. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/01/25 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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High-Precision Biomarker Discovery Platform
Schittenhelm, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Faridi, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Olechnowicz, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Deveson, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Creek, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Abud, H. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Morand, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wong, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Nguyen, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Taylor, B. V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brierley, S. M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Firestein, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Taylor, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Rostom, E. (Chief Investigator (CI))
15/05/24 → 14/05/29
Project: Research
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Correction to “Novel Scaffold Unlocks Potent Cross-Peptidase and Cross-Species Inhibitors as Promising Antimalarial Agents”
Mansouri, M., De Paoli, A., Giannangelo, C., Chowdury, M., Ngo, A., Shackleford, D. M., Webb, C. T., Lowes, K. N., Creek, D. J., Charman, S. A., De Koning-Ward, T. F., McGowan, S. & Scammells, P. J., 9 Apr 2026, In: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 69, 7, p. 8640 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
Open Access -
Real-Time Evaluation of Gastrointestinal pH and Transit Time in Patients With Essential Hypertension
Dinakis, E., Xie, L., Rhys-Jones, D., Anderson, D., Yao, C. K., So, D., Creek, D. J., Gibson, P. R., Muir, J. & Marques, F. Z., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Hypertension. 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › Research › peer-review
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Extracellular vesicles contribute to the beneficial effects of exercise training in APP/PS1 mice
Fuller, O. K., McLennan, E. D., Egan, C. L., Perera, N., Terry, L. V., Pyun, J., de Mendonca, M., Telles, G. D., Smeuninx, B., Burrows, E. L., Siddiqui, G., Creek, D. J., Scott, J. W., Pearen, M. A., Fonseka, P., Nicolazzo, J. A., Mathivanan, S., Hannan, A. J., Ramm, G. A. & Whitham, M. & 1 others, , 21 Feb 2025, In: iScience. 28, 2, 23 p., 111752.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access12 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Metabolomics-driven prediction of antibiotic resistance: a perspective on pre-genetic intervention
Hussein, M. (Leading Author), Creek, D. J., Baker, M., Rao, G., Li, J. & Velkov, T. (Leading Author), 16 Dec 2025, In: npj antimicrobials & resistance. 3, 1, 6 p., 101.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Other › peer-review
Open Access -
Optimization and Characterization of N-Acetamide Indoles as Antimalarials That Target PfATP4
Awalt, J. K., Ooi, Z. K., Ashton, T. D., Mansouri, M., Calic, P. P. S., Zhou, Q., Vasanthan, S., Lee, S., Loi, K., Jarman, K. E., Penington, J. S., Qiu, D., Zhang, X., Lehane, A. M., Mao, E. Y., Gancheva, M. R., Wilson, D. W., Giannangelo, C., MacRaild, C. A. & Creek, D. J. & 21 others, , 24 Apr 2025, In: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 68, 8, p. 8933-8966 34 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access6 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Australian Synchrotron
Siddiqui, G. (Recipient), Creek, D. (Recipient) & Wood, B. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Faculty Seed Grant, Monash Uni Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals Sciences
Siddiqui, G. (Recipient), Creek, D. (Recipient) & Devine, S. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Metabolomics Society (External organisation)
Creek, D. (Member)
1 Oct 2013 → 30 Sept 2015Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Membership of an advisory panel/policy group/ board
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Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) (External organisation)
Vennerstrom, J. (Inventor), Dong, Y. (Inventor), Charman, S. A. (Inventor), Wittlin, S. (Inventor), Chollet, J. (Inventor), Creek, D. J. (Inventor), Wang, X. (Inventor), Sriraghavan, K. (Inventor), Zhou, L. (Inventor), Matile, H. (Inventor) & Charman, W. N. (Inventor)
29 Nov 2011Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Patents › Patent
Press/Media
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A$9.8 million fight against superbugs
Li, J., Charman, W. N., Song, J., Purcell, A. W., Hertzog, P. J., Creek, D. J., Nation, R. L., Bullita, J. & Boyce, J. D.
24/04/14
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities