Nicki Packer
{{Short description|Australian glycoscientist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
Nicki Packer (also known as Nicolle Packer) FRSC is an Australian college professor and researcher. She currently serves as a distinguished professor of glycoproteomics in the [https://www.mq.edu.au/faculty-of-science-and-engineering/departments-and-schools/school-of-natural-sciences School of Natural Sciences] at Macquarie University and principal research leader at Griffith University's [https://www.griffith.edu.au/institute-glycomics Institute for Glycomics]. Packer is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and in 2021 received the Distinguished Achievement in Proteomic Sciences Award from the Human Proteome Organization. Her research focuses on biological functional of glycoconjugates by linking glycomics with proteomics and bioinformatics.
Career
Packer's research focuses on glycoconjugates, a topic at the intersection of chemistry and biological sciences which aims to identify and study the function of the collection of glycoproteins, glycolipids and proteoglycans in cells and on cell surfaces. Her research program examines the structure, function and role of glycans in cancer and microbial infections, as well as their application in therapeutics.{{Cite web |title=Nicki Packer |url=https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/persons/nicki-packer |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Macquarie University |language=en}}
Packer started her research career with a PhD from the University of Sydney in 1978.{{Cite web |last=Packer |first=Nicolle |date=1978 |title=Morphogenesis and lipids of the yeast Trigonopsis variabilis. |url=https://sydney.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61USYD_INST/1c0ug48/alma991023221869705106 |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=University of Sydney}} In 1999 she co-founded Proteome Systems Limited, an Australian biotech company which developed glycoanalytical technology and informatics tools. Packer became a professor at Macquarie University in 2007 and in 2017 became a distinguished professor and also became the principal research leader at the Institute for Glycomics at Griffith University.
Packer is academic lead of the [https://www.mq.edu.au/research/research-centres-groups-and-facilities/facilities/australian-proteome-analysis-facility Australian Proteome Analysis Facility] at Macquarie University.{{Cite web |last=Administration |title=Staff Profiles |url=https://www.mq.edu.au/research/research-centres-groups-and-facilities/facilities/australian-proteome-analysis-facility/staff-profiles |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Macquarie University |language=en-au}} In 2017 Packer co-founded the [https://www.hupo.org/Human-Glycoproteomics-Initiative Human Glycoproteomics Initiative (HGI)] as part of the Human Proteome Organisation (HUPO){{Cite web |title=HUPO - Human Glycoproteomics Initiative |url=https://www.hupo.org/Human-Glycoproteomics-Initiative |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=www.hupo.org |language=en}} and the Australian Glycoscience Society [https://ozglyco.org Glyco@Oz] in 2019 to connect Australian glycoscientists.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-19 |title=About Us |url=https://ozglyco.org/about/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Glyco@Oz |language=en}} She was deputy director of Macquarie University's [https://www.mq.edu.au/research/research-centres-groups-and-facilities/innovative-technologies/centres/biomolecular-discovery-research-centre Biomolecular Discovery Research Centre].{{Cite web |last=Administration |title=Our people |url=https://www.mq.edu.au/research/research-centres-groups-and-facilities/innovative-technologies/centres/biomolecular-discovery-research-centre/our-people |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Macquarie University |language=en-au}}
Packer has had multiple roles in ARC-funded research centres, including:
- Chief investigator in [https://www.faab.edu.au The ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB)] funded in 2021{{Cite web |title=Distinguished Prof Nicolle Packer |url=https://www.faab.edu.au/rushmore_teams/distinguished-prof-nicolle-packer/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Faab Australia |date=2 February 2022 |language=en-AU}}
- Chief investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB), funded in 2020{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.coesb.com.au/about-us/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology |language=en-AU}}
- Associate investigator in the [https://cipps.org.au ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CIPPS)], funded in 2020{{Cite web |title=Prof Nicki Packer – ARC Centre for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science |url=https://cipps.org.au/archives/teams/prof-nicki-packer |access-date=2022-04-07 |language=en-AU}}
- Chief investigator in the [https://cnbplegacy.org.au ARC Centre of Excellence in Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)], funded in 2014{{Cite web |title=Our People |url=https://cnbplegacy.org.au/our-people/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=CNBP |language=en-US}}
- Chief investigator in the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry (ITTC), funded in 2013{{Cite web |title=Grant - Grants Data Portal |url=https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/Web/Grant/Grant/IC130100009 |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=dataportal.arc.gov.au}}
Awards and prizes
Packer's awards and prizes include:
- 2022 The Simpson Lecturer Award from the Australasian Proteomics Society{{Cite web |title=APS Awards |url=https://www.australasianproteomics.org/aps-awards |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=Australasian Proteomics Society |language=en-AU}}
- 2021 The Distinguished Achievement in Proteomic Sciences Award from the Human Proteome Organization{{Cite web |title=HUPO - HUPO Awards - 2021 Recipients |url=https://hupo.org/2021-HUPO-AWARDS |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=hupo.org}}
- 2017 Distinguished Professor of Glycoproteomics at Macquarie University{{Cite web |title=New Distinguished Professors announced {{!}} This Week At Macquarie University |date=13 November 2017 |url=https://thisweek.dev.survivor.mq.edu.au/thisweek/2017/11/13/new-distinguished-professors-announced/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |language=en-AU}}
- 2016 Gold Medal for International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) project "Solar Synthesisers" (team advisor){{Cite web |last=Administration |title=News and events |url=https://www.mq.edu.au/research/research-centres-groups-and-facilities/centres/synthetic-biology-consortium/news-and-events |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Macquarie University |language=en-au}}
- 2015 Molecular and Cellular Proteomics (MCP) / American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Lectureship Award{{Cite web |title=Past MCP ASBMB Award Winners |url=https://www.glycobiology.org/past-award-winners-mcp_asbmb-lectureship |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=www.glycobiology.org}}
- 2015 Macquarie University Research Excellence Award for her work on understanding the role carbohydrates play in the spread of disease{{Cite web |title=A celebration of world-leading research with world-changing impact {{!}} This Week At Macquarie University |date=6 November 2015 |url=https://www.mq.edu.au/thisweek/archives/2015/11/a-celebration-of-world-leading-research-with-world-changing-impact/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |language=en-AU}}
- 2015 Gold Medal for International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) project "Chlorophyll II: Return of the Hydrogen" (team advisor)
Media
Packer's glycoproteomics work has been reported in The Toronto Star,{{Cite news |date=2007-04-29 |title=A week's worth of science news |language=en-CA |work=The Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2007/04/29/a_weeks_worth_of_science_news.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |issn=0319-0781}} The Age,{{Cite web |date=2005-07-11 |title=Think tank |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/think-tank-20050711-ge0hqo.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=The Age |language=en}} BioSpectrum Asia{{Cite web |title=Patrys' cancer diagnostic gets Australian govt grant |url=https://www.biospectrumasia.com/news/25/6818/patrys-cancer-diagnostic-gets-australian-govt-grant.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=www.biospectrumasia.com |language=en}} and by the Royal Society of Chemistry.{{Cite web |title=Editor Viewpoints: Unlocking the cell's sugary secrets |url=https://www.rsc.org/news-events/profiles/2020/jun/editor-viewpoints-nicolle-packer/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Royal Society of Chemistry |date=26 June 2020 |language=en-GB}} Her work with The Australian biotechnology company Proteome Systems was reported in the New York Times.{{Cite news |last=Rosenthal |first=Elisabeth |date=2005-09-05 |title=Antidoping Agency Seeks Test for EPO That Is Definitive |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/sports/othersports/antidoping-agency-seeks-test-for-epo-that-is-definitive.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |issn=0362-4331}} Packer's work on the role of sugars in a wide range of human diseases was featured in the Macquarie University publication, The Lighthouse.{{Cite web |last=Molloy |first=Fran |date=2018-03-22 |title=Sugar is involved in almost all human diseases, new research |url=https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/2018-stories/analysis-shows-sugar-is-involved-in-almost-all-human-diseases2 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=The Lighthouse |language=en-au}}
Publications
Packer has published over 250 journal articles and book chapters, has over 12,000 citations and has an h-index of 61 (as at April 2022).{{Cite web |title=Scopus preview - Packer, Nicolle - Author details - Scopus |url=https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=7003950085 |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=www.scopus.com}} Packer is an editor of the textbook Essentials of Glycobiology.{{Cite book |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK579918/ |title=Essentials of Glycobiology |date=2022 |publisher=Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press |isbn=978-1-62182-421-3 |editor-last=Varki |editor-first=Ajit |edition=4th |location=Cold Spring Harbor (NY) |pmid=35536922 |editor-last2=Cummings |editor-first2=Richard D. |editor-last3=Esko |editor-first3=Jeffrey D. |editor-last4=Stanley |editor-first4=Pamela |editor-last5=Hart |editor-first5=Gerald W. |editor-last6=Aebi |editor-first6=Markus |editor-last7=Mohnen |editor-first7=Debra |editor-last8=Kinoshita |editor-first8=Taroh |editor-last9=Packer |editor-first9=Nicolle H.|last1=Varki |first1=A. |last2=Cummings |first2=R. D. |last3=Esko |first3=J. D. |last4=Stanley |first4=P. |last5=Hart |first5=G. W. |last6=Aebi |first6=M. |last7=Mohnen |first7=D. |last8=Kinoshita |first8=T. |last9=Packer |first9=N. H. |last10=Prestegard |first10=J. H. |last11=Schnaar |first11=R. L. |last12=Seeberger |first12=P. H. |doi=10.1101/9781621824213 |doi-broken-date=2 July 2025 }}
= Selected journal articles =
- Oliveira, Tiago; Thaysen-Andersen, Morten; Packer, Nicolle H.; Kolarich, Daniel (2021). "The Hitchhiker's guide to glycoproteomics". Biochemical Society Transactions. 49 (4): 1643–1662. doi: [https://portlandpress.com/biochemsoctrans/article/49/4/1643/229276/The-Hitchhiker-s-guide-to-glycoproteomics 10.1042/BST20200879]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34282822/ 34282822].{{Cite journal |last1=Oliveira |first1=Tiago |last2=Thaysen-Andersen |first2=Morten |last3=Packer |first3=Nicolle H. |last4=Kolarich |first4=Daniel |date=2021-08-27 |title=The Hitchhiker's guide to glycoproteomics |url=https://portlandpress.com/biochemsoctrans/article/49/4/1643/229276/The-Hitchhiker-s-guide-to-glycoproteomics |journal=Biochemical Society Transactions |language=en |volume=49 |issue=4 |pages=1643–1662 |doi=10.1042/BST20200879 |issn=0300-5127 |pmc=8421054 |pmid=34282822}}
- Varki, Ajit; Cummings, Richard D; Aebi, Markus; Packer, Nicole H; Seeberger, Peter H; Esko, Jeffrey D; Stanley, Pamela; Hart, Gerald; Darvill, Alan; Kinoshita, Taroh; Prestegard, James J (2015). "Symbol Nomenclature for Graphical Representations of Glycans". Glycobiology. 25 (12): 1323–1324. doi:10.1093/glycob/cwv091. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26543186/ 26543186].{{Cite journal |last1=Varki |first1=Ajit |last2=Cummings |first2=Richard D |last3=Aebi |first3=Markus |last4=Packer |first4=Nicole H |last5=Seeberger |first5=Peter H |last6=Esko |first6=Jeffrey D |last7=Stanley |first7=Pamela |last8=Hart |first8=Gerald |last9=Darvill |first9=Alan |last10=Kinoshita |first10=Taroh |last11=Prestegard |first11=James J |date=December 2015 |title=Symbol Nomenclature for Graphical Representations of Glycans |journal=Glycobiology |language=en |volume=25 |issue=12 |pages=1323–1324 |doi=10.1093/glycob/cwv091 |issn=0959-6658 |pmc=4643639 |pmid=26543186}}
- Jensen, Pia H; Karlsson, Niclas G; Kolarich, Daniel; Packer, Nicolle H (2012). "Structural analysis of N- and O-glycans released from glycoproteins". Nature Protocols. 7 (7): 1299–1310. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2012.063.{{Cite journal |last1=Jensen |first1=Pia H |last2=Karlsson |first2=Niclas G |last3=Kolarich |first3=Daniel |last4=Packer |first4=Nicolle H |date=July 2012 |title=Structural analysis of N- and O-glycans released from glycoproteins |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nprot.2012.063 |journal=Nature Protocols |language=en |volume=7 |issue=7 |pages=1299–1310 |doi=10.1038/nprot.2012.063 |pmid=22678433 |s2cid=20516889 |issn=1754-2189|url-access=subscription }}
- Cooper, Catherine A.; Gasteiger, Elisabeth; Packer, Nicolle H. (2001). "GlycoMod - A software tool for determining glycosylation compositions from mass spectrometric data". Proteomics. 1 (2): 340–349. doi: [https://doi.org/10.1002/1615-9861(200102)1:2%3C340::aid-prot340%3E3.0.co;2-b 10.1002/1615-9861(200102)1:2<340::AID-PROT340>3.0.CO;2-B].{{Cite journal |last1=Cooper |first1=Catherine A. |last2=Gasteiger |first2=Elisabeth |last3=Packer |first3=Nicolle H. |date=February 2001 |title=GlycoMod - A software tool for determining glycosylation compositions from mass spectrometric data |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1615-9861(200102)1:2<340::aid-prot340>3.0.co;2-b |journal=Proteomics |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=340–349 |doi=10.1002/1615-9861(200102)1:2<340::aid-prot340>3.0.co;2-b |pmid=11680880 |s2cid=8712883 |issn=1615-9853|url-access=subscription }}
- Thaysen-Andersen, Morten; Kolarich, Daniel; Packer, Nicolle H. (2021). "Glycomics & Glycoproteomics: From Analytics to Function". Molecular Omics. 17 (1): 8–10. doi: [https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/mo/d0mo90019b 10.1039/D0MO90019B].{{Cite journal |last1=Thaysen-Andersen |first1=Morten |last2=Kolarich |first2=Daniel |last3=Packer |first3=Nicolle H. |date=2021 |title=Glycomics & Glycoproteomics: From Analytics to Function |journal=Molecular Omics |language=en |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=8–10 |doi=10.1039/D0MO90019B |pmid=33295916 |s2cid=228078995 |issn=2515-4184|doi-access=free |hdl=10072/400201 |hdl-access=free }}
- York, William S; Mazumder, Raja; Ranzinger, Rene; Edwards, Nathan; Kahsay, Robel; Aoki-Kinoshita, Kiyoko F; Campbell, Matthew P; Cummings, Richard D; Feizi, Ten; Martin, Maria; Natale, Darren A (2020). "GlyGen: Computational and Informatics Resources for Glycoscience". Glycobiology. 30 (2): 72–73. doi:[https://academic.oup.com/glycob/article/30/2/72/5575952 10.1093/glycob/cwz080]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31616925/ 31616925].{{Cite journal |last1=York |first1=William S |last2=Mazumder |first2=Raja |last3=Ranzinger |first3=Rene |last4=Edwards |first4=Nathan |last5=Kahsay |first5=Robel |last6=Aoki-Kinoshita |first6=Kiyoko F |last7=Campbell |first7=Matthew P |last8=Cummings |first8=Richard D |last9=Feizi |first9=Ten |last10=Martin |first10=Maria |last11=Natale |first11=Darren A |date=2020-01-28 |title=GlyGen: Computational and Informatics Resources for Glycoscience |url=https://academic.oup.com/glycob/article/30/2/72/5575952 |journal=Glycobiology |language=en |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=72–73 |doi=10.1093/glycob/cwz080 |issn=1460-2423 |pmc=7335483 |pmid=31616925}}