Professor De Jersey has significant experience in the conversion of snake venoms into commercial products and is involved in the optimization and clinical trial of the Q-Sera technology.
John de Jersey undertook his PhD in enzymology at the University of Queensland (UQ). After periods at the University of Sydney and the Pennsylvania State University, he returned to UQ to take up an academic position in the Department of Biochemistry in 1971 eventually reaching professorship. John has published over 120 papers in international research journals in the general area of protein structure and function.
For the last 30 years or so, his research has included studies on the components of Australian snake venoms, including research aimed at establishing venom components as drug leads, including the concept of a blood collection tube containing a snake venom derived pro-coagulant.
This work led to the formation of Q Sera. During his time at UQ, Professor de Jersey took various management and leadership positions and was awarded Membership of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to biochemistry and academe.
Professor de Jersey was made Emeritus Professor on retirement from full-time employment at UQ in 2007. He has continued to pursue both research and other academic and commercial activities.