Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346903
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
LC-MS system for Faculty of Sciences, U.N.E. LC-MS is a technique for investigating the composition of complex mixtures and identifying its components. This instrumentation will be utilised at UNE in a diverse range of analytical investigations to further the research aims of scientists in chemistry, biological sciences, archaeology, physics, environmental sciences, marine science as well as biological researchers in specialised units based at UNE. The extraordinarily versatile capacity of this ....LC-MS system for Faculty of Sciences, U.N.E. LC-MS is a technique for investigating the composition of complex mixtures and identifying its components. This instrumentation will be utilised at UNE in a diverse range of analytical investigations to further the research aims of scientists in chemistry, biological sciences, archaeology, physics, environmental sciences, marine science as well as biological researchers in specialised units based at UNE. The extraordinarily versatile capacity of this technique for analysis and identification of organic substances, from small molecules through to large proteins and complex plant and animal metabolites, will provide impetus for existing research and stimulus for new research directions.Read moreRead less
Examination of unique tear lipids and their role in the tear film's structure and function. The tear film lipid layer covers the eye, stabilises the tears and prevents their evaporation. Yet its structure, function and composition are yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this project is to fully characterise the unique lipids in this layer, the long-chain omega-hydroxy fatty acids (not found elsewhere in the body), and to determine their role in its structure and function. The project is signi ....Examination of unique tear lipids and their role in the tear film's structure and function. The tear film lipid layer covers the eye, stabilises the tears and prevents their evaporation. Yet its structure, function and composition are yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this project is to fully characterise the unique lipids in this layer, the long-chain omega-hydroxy fatty acids (not found elsewhere in the body), and to determine their role in its structure and function. The project is significant because the unique combination of skills including synthetic chemistry, mass spectrometry, lipidomics, biochemistry, biophysics which aim to result in a major shift in the understanding of this layer.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100194
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,200.00
Summary
Quantitative three-dimensional imaging of membrane proteins. This project aims to address the challenge of in-situ quantification of membrane proteins through the emerging field of antibody-imaging mass spectrometry. The project will develop new protocols for quantitative three-dimensional imaging that aim to negate histological artifacts created by freeze-thaw and cryo-sectioning. Membrane proteins are involved in numerous cellular functions and this project expects to increase our knowledge o ....Quantitative three-dimensional imaging of membrane proteins. This project aims to address the challenge of in-situ quantification of membrane proteins through the emerging field of antibody-imaging mass spectrometry. The project will develop new protocols for quantitative three-dimensional imaging that aim to negate histological artifacts created by freeze-thaw and cryo-sectioning. Membrane proteins are involved in numerous cellular functions and this project expects to increase our knowledge of these fundamental biological processes by providing new insights into the study of these essential biomolecules. Tracking protein heterogeneity in three-dimensions will provide significant benefits to our understanding of systems biology and will benefit numerous area, including the pharmaceutical industry.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882289
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,000.00
Summary
New generation mass spectrometers for characterisation of molecular shape and size. The ion mobility mass spectrometer (IMMS at UOW) will be the first of its kind in Australia, and together with the ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS at ANU) will continue the tradition of this partnership in providing researchers with cutting-edge instrumentation for nationally and internationally important projects including: (i) fundamental understanding of the ways in which biomolecules recognize one another, ( ....New generation mass spectrometers for characterisation of molecular shape and size. The ion mobility mass spectrometer (IMMS at UOW) will be the first of its kind in Australia, and together with the ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS at ANU) will continue the tradition of this partnership in providing researchers with cutting-edge instrumentation for nationally and internationally important projects including: (i) fundamental understanding of the ways in which biomolecules recognize one another, (ii) investigating the structure(s) of lipids (fats) in cardiovascular disease and cataract, (iii) developing anticancer drugs, and (iv) development of new materials.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989078
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
Unique, state-of-the-art lipidomics infrastructure. The new technologies provided through this grant will significantly enhance our understanding of lipids and their role in normal cell biology and disease. These new insights will be vital in improving our understanding of lipid-related disorders such obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease and helping to improve their treatment and prevention.
Developing next-generation mass spectrometry imaging with isomer resolution. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a rapidly emerging technology for mapping molecular distributions within biological samples. This project will bring together market-leading MSI instrumentation from the industry partner Waters Corporation with unique technologies developed at QUT and UOW to develop an integrated MSI-platform capable of achieving high mass- and spatial-resolution, as well as discrimination of lipid iso ....Developing next-generation mass spectrometry imaging with isomer resolution. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a rapidly emerging technology for mapping molecular distributions within biological samples. This project will bring together market-leading MSI instrumentation from the industry partner Waters Corporation with unique technologies developed at QUT and UOW to develop an integrated MSI-platform capable of achieving high mass- and spatial-resolution, as well as discrimination of lipid isomers. Resolution of lipid isomers using this instrumentation will afford researchers a first glimpse of isomer-resolved images that will be used to visualise tissue-specific changes resulting from underlying chemical, physical or metabolic processes; changes that are currently invisible to contemporary imaging technologies.Read moreRead less
Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry. This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of cer ....Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry. This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of certain lipids to ionise with a polarity that affords sensitive detection but does not permit detailed structure elucidation. This project will develop advanced instrumentation capable of on-demand polarity switching of ionised lipids such that the detection and interrogation of molecular structure can take place in the optimal charge state.Read moreRead less
Identifying tear lipids, their deposition onto contact lenses and their role in the development of dry eye. Lipids provide a critical layer in the human tear film that retards evaporation and helps nourish and protect the eye. We will identify the molecules within this essential "oil slick" to better understand dry eye syndrome and the discomfort associated with wearing contact lenses. This may lead to new treatments for dry eye and novel technologies that provide greater comfort for the ~120,00 ....Identifying tear lipids, their deposition onto contact lenses and their role in the development of dry eye. Lipids provide a critical layer in the human tear film that retards evaporation and helps nourish and protect the eye. We will identify the molecules within this essential "oil slick" to better understand dry eye syndrome and the discomfort associated with wearing contact lenses. This may lead to new treatments for dry eye and novel technologies that provide greater comfort for the ~120,000 Australians who wear contact lenses. This collaborative research directly supports the mission of a respected non-profit organisation (Institute for Eye Research) and will train scientists in world-leading analytical technologies that are essential to Australia's emerging biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Developing next generation technologies for unmasking the lipidome. Recent discoveries suggest that the number and structural variety of lipids in nature may be far greater than previously imagined. This complexity arises from the presence of structurally similar, but functionally distinct, lipid isomers that are not readily distinguished using current lipidomics technologies. This project aims to develop unique instrumentation that combines ion mobility and mass spectrometry to enable the rapid ....Developing next generation technologies for unmasking the lipidome. Recent discoveries suggest that the number and structural variety of lipids in nature may be far greater than previously imagined. This complexity arises from the presence of structurally similar, but functionally distinct, lipid isomers that are not readily distinguished using current lipidomics technologies. This project aims to develop unique instrumentation that combines ion mobility and mass spectrometry to enable the rapid separation, identification and quantification of isomeric lipids. These next generation technologies will be deployed in the hope of unmasking the molecular diversity within the lipidomes of two important mammalian cell types, thus providing fundamental new insights into the structure and function of lipids within living systems.Read moreRead less
Reconstructing museum specimen data through the pathways of global commerce. This project aims to reconnect zoological specimens with vital collection data. From 1758-1900 millions of specimens were commercially traded to and between museums and collectors, frequently without retaining the data associated with the specimen. This project pioneers spectroscopic techniques to reconstruct data and enhance material conservation practice. The impact of the project will provide new pathways for recove ....Reconstructing museum specimen data through the pathways of global commerce. This project aims to reconnect zoological specimens with vital collection data. From 1758-1900 millions of specimens were commercially traded to and between museums and collectors, frequently without retaining the data associated with the specimen. This project pioneers spectroscopic techniques to reconstruct data and enhance material conservation practice. The impact of the project will provide new pathways for recovering lost ecological data, creating a resource to improve future biodiversity research.Read moreRead less