Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Gavin leads the Knott Lab at Monash University in the Biomedicine Discovery Institute.
Gavin has a long-standing interest in RNA biology. His research interests over the years have been centred on understanding the evolution of diverse proteins that recognise one of biologies most remarkable polymers, RNA. Originally from country Western Australia, Gavin obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Western Australia in the labs of Prof. Charlie Bond and Prof. Archa Fox where he was trained as a structural biologist. His Ph.D. project sought to understand the mechanisms of long non-coding RNA binding proteins involved in human innate immunity and paraspeckle formation.
After completing his PhD, Gavin accepted a position in the lab of Nobel laureate Prof. Jennifer Doudna at the University of California Berkeley. Here he leveraged his training as a structural biologist to investigate the mechanisms of RNA guided CRISPR-Cas immune systems. During his postdoctoral years he described structures of RNA targeting CRISPR Cas13 systems, the mechanisms evolved by phage to overcome CRISPR immunity, and the molecular basis for precision CRISPR Cas9 genome editing tools. During this time, Gavin was the recipient of the Sir. Keith Murdoch Fellowship from the American Australian Association (2018), the Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Boomerang Award (2019), the Lorne Protein Anders Young Investigator Award (2019), and an NHMRC Investigator Grant (2020), the latter of which attracted him home to Australia.
In early 2021, Gavin relocated to Monash University to set up his own lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The Knott Lab is using structural biology (X-ray crystallography and CryoEM) and nucleic acid biochemistry to tap into the evolved diversity of uncharacterised bacterial immune systems. His lab seeks to uncover the molecular details of how these novel bacterial innate and adaptive immune systems specifically sense foreign nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) to protect against infection. By uncovering how these remarkably diverse systems function, they hope to better understand their evolution and enable the development of next generation biotech tools for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Contact Gavin if you are interested and want to learn more!
Research interests
- Structural biology of immune sensors
- CRISPR Cas adaptive immune systems
- Viral RNA sensing
- Bacterial immune systems
- CRISPR-diagnostics
- Next-generation biotech tool development
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):
Education/Academic qualification
Biochemistry, Ph.D., University of Western Australia
Award Date: 12 Aug 2016
External positions
University of California Berkeley
Aug 2016 → Mar 2021
Research area keywords
- RNA
- CRISPR
- Structural Biology
- Cryo-EM
- RNA binding proteins
- Biochemistry
- RNA Biology
- RNA editing
- mRNA
Network
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Hitting bacteria with a Bam: Lectin-Like Antimicrobials as New Antibiotics
Grinter, R., Knott, G. & Connolly, J.
Australian Research Council (ARC), Monash University – Internal Department Contribution
1/02/23 → 31/01/26
Project: Research
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Novel enzymes to transform the manufacturing of RNA in Victoria
Knott, G., Loughlin, F., Burgio, G. & Fox, A.
24/10/22 → 20/01/26
Project: Research
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A universal platform for affinity purification of RNA
Zhang, Q., Davidovich, C., Knott, G. & Illing, P.
21/10/22 → 30/11/25
Project: Research
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Next-generation CRISPR diagnostics for emergent infectious diseases.
1/03/22 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Methods special issue: RNA-targeting technologies
Knott, G. J., Lapinaite, A. & O'Connell, M. R., Apr 2023, In: Methods. 212, p. 10-11 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › Other › peer-review
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CRISPR–Cas9 bends and twists DNA to read its sequence
Cofsky, J. C., Soczek, K. M., Knott, G. J., Nogales, E. & Doudna, J. A., Apr 2022, In: Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. 29, 4, p. 395-402 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
19 Citations (Scopus) -
Crystal structure of an RNA/DNA strand exchange junction
Cofsky, J. C., Knott, G. J., Gee, C. L. & Doudna, J. A., Apr 2022, In: PLoS ONE. 17, 4, 15 p., e0263547.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Paraspeckle subnuclear bodies depend on dynamic heterodimerisation of DBHS RNA-binding proteins via their structured domains
Lee, P. W., Marshall, A. C., Knott, G. J., Kobelke, S., Martelotto, L., Cho, E., McMillan, P. J., Lee, M., Bond, C. S. & Fox, A. H., Nov 2022, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 298, 11, 15 p., 102563.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in saliva via Cas13
Chandrasekaran, S. S., Agrawal, S., Fanton, A., Jangid, A. R., Charrez, B., Escajeda, A. M., Son, S., Mcintosh, R., Tran, H., Bhuiya, A., de León Derby, M. D., Switz, N. A., Armstrong, M., Harris, A. R., Prywes, N., Lukarska, M., Biering, S. B., Smock, D. C. J., Mok, A., Knott, G. J., & 17 others , Aug 2022, In: Nature Biomedical Engineering. 6, 8, p. 944–956 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
18 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Prize (Level 3)
Knott, Gavin (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences Medal
Knott, Gavin (Recipient), 2011
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Hackett Foundation Alumni Honours Scholarship
Knott, Gavin (Recipient), 2011
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Conference Chair
Gavin Knott (Organiser)
31 Oct 2022 → 2 Nov 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Science (Journal)
Gavin Knott (Peer reviewer)
2021 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
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Visiting Entrepreneur Program - ‘In science we trust’
Gavin Knott (Contributor)
10 Jun 2021Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Methods (Journal)
Gavin Knott (Guest editor)
2021 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund Grant
Gavin Knott (Reviewer)
2021 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Grant review responsibilities
Press/Media
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Monash researcher receives $8m Snow Medical Foundation Fellowship
4/03/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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RNA is the future. So... what can you do with it?
22/08/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Walter Isaacson on Jobs, Jennifer & Genetic Code Breaking
20/04/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Researchers adapt cell phone camera for SARS-CoV-2 detection
10/12/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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New CRISPR-based test for COVID-19 uses a smartphone camera
4/12/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature