Dr Wilfred L.F. Armarego

BORN in Alexandria, Egypt on 23 April 1931.  

NATIONALITY: Born British and Citizen of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland until 1978 when became a naturalised Australian.  Arrived in Australia (Fremantle) from London in August 1956.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS: Attended British Boys’ School (Alexandria), University of London Matriculation (1949), then Farouk 1^st University as a ‘Free Auditor”, and awarded ‘Intermediate BSc of the University of London (Externally from Alexandria, Egypt) in 1951 in Chemistry Physics and Biology. B.Sc. (Special Chemistry Hons, External), 1953, University of London.  Ph.D.  (Organic Chemistry, Internal at Bedford College entitled 'Stereochemistry of biphenyls'), 1956, University of London (Supervisor: Prof E.E.Turner FRS). D.Sc. (Heterocyclic Chemistry), 1968, University of London. 

CURRENT APPOINTMENT:  Visiting Fellow (JCSMR) ANU from January 1997 until present (2024). 

PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS: Research Fellow (JCSMR) ANU: Jan 1960-June 1963; Fellow (JCSMR) ANU: July 1963 - June 1967; Senior Fellow (JCSMR) ANU:  July 1967 – December 1996;  Senior Demonstrator (Department of Chemistry) University of Melbourne: Oct 1958 - Dec 1959; Research Scientist ICI ANZ (Central Research Laboratories) Melbourne: Sept 1956 - Dec 1959.  

AWARDS: University of London Postgraduate Studentship Award (1955).  Archibald D. Ole Prize of the RACI (1968).  Diamond Professional Award, Distinguished Member 2014., All.PRO media group; Worldwide WHO'SWHO 2014 Professional of the Year, representing Medical Education and Research.   Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2019 New Year Honours List for 'Significant service to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology'. 

MEMBERSHIP OF SOCIETIES: FCS London (1953); ARIC (1955), FRIC, FRSC (1963) Life Member (1995); ARACI (1956), FRACI (1972) Life Member (2000) ; C. Chem. (1972); Member of ASBMB (1983) Life Member (2000); Member of the Internat. Soc. Het Chem. (1980-1997); Member of the International Society of Pteridinology (1989-Present). 

EDITORIAL BOARDS: Foundation editor of 'Medicinal Research Reviews' (1981-) and of the Journal 'Pteridines' (1989-). 

BSc (Lond) June 1953, PhD,(Lond)  Jan 1956, DSc (Lond) July 1967, FRSC (1963), FRACI (1972), C.Chem (1970). AM (Jan 2019).

(a) Studies of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) from human and other sources.  The human enzyme is involved in a malignant form of phenylketonuria, an inherited metabolic disorder.  The studies include, enzyme kinetic studies, mechanism, expression in bacteria, mutant enzymes by site-directed mutagenesis of the gene, partial sequencing of the genomic DNA (upstream region), gene replacement in fibroblasts and studies towards preparing a DHPR 'knockout mouse' as a model for the disease for gene replacement.

(b) Studies of glyceryl-ether monooxygenase: enzyme kinetics of substrates and inhibitors, effects of detergents, dissociation from lipid membrane, purification and reconstitution, structure of the active site; relationship with enzymes of ether lipid disorders.

(c) Organic syntheses of heterocyclic compounds including cofactors, substrates, inhibitors and activators of the above enzymes, as well as relevant detergents and related glyceryl ethers and lipids.