ProfessorMathias Francois

Mat established his independent research program in 2012 at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (The University of Queensland), with a focus on combining developmental biology with molecular strategies from drug discovery to target transcription factor activity in vascular disease. During this time, he pioneered in Australia the application of single-molecule tracking (SMT) to genome biology, enabling direct quantification of transcription factor dynamics in living cells. This work provided therapeutic proof-of-principle that transcription factors can be targeted using small molecules in cancer metastasis. It also contributed to the clinical repositioning of therapies for rare SOX18-related disorders and infantile hemangioma. These discoveries led to the creation of Gertrude Biomedical Pty Ltd (2019), which is developing next-generation SOX18 inhibitors.
Between 2019 and 2024, his laboratory expanded its multidisciplinary approach, integrating developmental biology with quantitative molecular imaging, biophysics, and genomics. In 2024, he relocated to the University of Sydney, where he continues to lead a research program focused on transcription factor dynamics in vascular biology and stem cells. MF also holds a 0.4 FTE appointment with the Snow Vision Accelerator, supporting translational applications of his work. In particular, the use of quantitative molecular imaging to determine on – target engagement of molecules coming out from the SVA therapeutic pipeline.