Quantification of whole brain structural connectivity and fibre densities. The project is intended to develop and improve accuracy in tools used to measure brain connections. Its overall aim is to produce definitive evidence of the biological accuracy of quantitative measures of brain structural connectivity as derived from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Discovery in the quantitative field of MRI research is important to worldwide efforts to identify the human ‘connectome’. The proj ....Quantification of whole brain structural connectivity and fibre densities. The project is intended to develop and improve accuracy in tools used to measure brain connections. Its overall aim is to produce definitive evidence of the biological accuracy of quantitative measures of brain structural connectivity as derived from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Discovery in the quantitative field of MRI research is important to worldwide efforts to identify the human ‘connectome’. The project plans to bring together novel diffusion MRI post-processing methods and state-of-the-art 3-D glass-brain histology techniques using mice. Investment in MRI research that specifically addresses methods to accurately measure structural brain connectivity may ultimately contribute to improving non-invasive imaging methods.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the mechanisms of sodium-selectivity in biological ion channels. The aim of this project is to determine the origins of protein-mediated sodium ion transport across cell membranes. The project expects to reveal the mechanisms of selective ion conduction in different sodium-selective ion channels using advanced computer simulations, in concert with non-canonical mutation experiments that target the roles of protein chemistry. The expected outcome is improved understanding of how prote ....Unravelling the mechanisms of sodium-selectivity in biological ion channels. The aim of this project is to determine the origins of protein-mediated sodium ion transport across cell membranes. The project expects to reveal the mechanisms of selective ion conduction in different sodium-selective ion channels using advanced computer simulations, in concert with non-canonical mutation experiments that target the roles of protein chemistry. The expected outcome is improved understanding of how proteins discriminate between ion species, challenging theories that have stood for decades. The results should provide benefits in the form of basic understanding relevant to ion transport phenomena in biology and novel materials, with atomic-level views of nervous system function to guide future directions in drug development.
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Laws of attraction and repulsion: a novel family of bacterial chemo-sensors. This project aims to reveal the structural basis for the abilities of a newly characterised, widespread family of chemotaxis receptors to sense and distinguish between attractants and repellents. Many bacteria are motile. Controlling the movement of bacterial populations requires understanding of their chemosensory mechanisms. It is anticipated that this work will generate significant new knowledge in the field of signa ....Laws of attraction and repulsion: a novel family of bacterial chemo-sensors. This project aims to reveal the structural basis for the abilities of a newly characterised, widespread family of chemotaxis receptors to sense and distinguish between attractants and repellents. Many bacteria are motile. Controlling the movement of bacterial populations requires understanding of their chemosensory mechanisms. It is anticipated that this work will generate significant new knowledge in the field of signalling biology that will drive the discovery of novel chemo-effectors and the redesign of receptor specificity. Innovative use of this knowledge could be the development of new classes of repellents that are not toxic. These could be used as a means to prevent infections caused by bacterial build-up on implanted medical devices.Read moreRead less
How beetles harness near-infrared properties to enhance energy efficiency. This project aims to discover how animals use nanophotonic structures to manipulate near infra-red light for thermal control and visual information. Almost nothing is currently known about the mechanism, function and evolution of near-infrared properties in animals, despite their potential importance for maintaining body temperatures within the critical thermal limits for survival. The project uses multidisciplinary techn ....How beetles harness near-infrared properties to enhance energy efficiency. This project aims to discover how animals use nanophotonic structures to manipulate near infra-red light for thermal control and visual information. Almost nothing is currently known about the mechanism, function and evolution of near-infrared properties in animals, despite their potential importance for maintaining body temperatures within the critical thermal limits for survival. The project uses multidisciplinary techniques from optical physics, physiology and evolutionary biology to reveal near-infrared adaptations in socially and economically important Christmas beetles. The intended outcomes include a bio-informed blueprint for a new class of functional nanomaterials that enhance energy efficiency.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100066
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,311.00
Summary
Electrophysiology facility for cell phenotyping and drug discovery. This project aims to establish a high-throughput, automated patch clamp facility to enable research at the forefront of cell phenotyping and drug discovery. Ion channels are membrane proteins that underlie cell function and are therefore important drug targets. The patch clamp technique is the most powerful tool available to functionally characterise cells and study the function of ion channels. The significant advance provided ....Electrophysiology facility for cell phenotyping and drug discovery. This project aims to establish a high-throughput, automated patch clamp facility to enable research at the forefront of cell phenotyping and drug discovery. Ion channels are membrane proteins that underlie cell function and are therefore important drug targets. The patch clamp technique is the most powerful tool available to functionally characterise cells and study the function of ion channels. The significant advance provided by the high-throughput, automated patch clamp system is that it allows up to 384 cells to be recorded simultaneously. This project expects to enhance capacity to automate and standardise the quality of recordings, substantially increase the rate of data production, and enable greater access to patch clamp technology.Read moreRead less
Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of potassium channel activity. The aim of this project is to determine the mechanisms of protein-mediated potassium ion transport across cell membranes. It will combine advanced simulations, structural biology and electrophysiology to describe the detailed molecular processes underscoring calcium-activated potassium channel conduction, gating and inactivation. The expected outcome is an improved description of how ion channels recognise and respond to physiolo ....Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of potassium channel activity. The aim of this project is to determine the mechanisms of protein-mediated potassium ion transport across cell membranes. It will combine advanced simulations, structural biology and electrophysiology to describe the detailed molecular processes underscoring calcium-activated potassium channel conduction, gating and inactivation. The expected outcome is an improved description of how ion channels recognise and respond to physiological stimuli to control electrical signalling the body. Our results will provide benefits in the form of basic understanding relevant to ion transport phenomena in biological systems, and atomic-level views of nervous system function to guide future directions in pharmacology.Read moreRead less
Rational design of new synthetic antifreeze molecules for cryopreservation. This project aims to synthesise new carbohydrate-based surfactants optimised for use as cryoprotectants, and to accurately measure, model and optimise their performance. The project will use state-of-the-art experimental methods and advanced phase-field modelling techniques to optimise the cryoprotectants so that they reduce osmotic stress in cells and inhibit ice crystal growth during freezing and thawing. The expected ....Rational design of new synthetic antifreeze molecules for cryopreservation. This project aims to synthesise new carbohydrate-based surfactants optimised for use as cryoprotectants, and to accurately measure, model and optimise their performance. The project will use state-of-the-art experimental methods and advanced phase-field modelling techniques to optimise the cryoprotectants so that they reduce osmotic stress in cells and inhibit ice crystal growth during freezing and thawing. The expected outcomes will be novel cryoprotectants that are easy to synthesise, non-toxic and effective, opening up new possibilities for the cryopreservation of cells, organs and possibly even whole organisms. This will have broad impact in critical applications such as long-term blood storage, reproductive technology and stem cell therapy, as well as preservation of endangered species.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100046
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$289,381.00
Summary
A fast fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope to track protein dynamics. This project aims to establish a fast fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope that can track the intracellular journey of a protein throughout the entire structural framework of a living cell. By coupling single particle tracking technology with a cutting-edge fluorescence lifetime camera, this one-of-a-kind microscope will enable protein mobility and interaction to be spatially mapped with unprecedented temporal resolut ....A fast fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope to track protein dynamics. This project aims to establish a fast fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope that can track the intracellular journey of a protein throughout the entire structural framework of a living cell. By coupling single particle tracking technology with a cutting-edge fluorescence lifetime camera, this one-of-a-kind microscope will enable protein mobility and interaction to be spatially mapped with unprecedented temporal resolution. The benefit of this technology is that it will enable scientists in Australia to image, for the first time, the biophysical mechanism by which a protein navigates intracellular architecture to regulate a complex biological function at the single molecule level.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100100
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Biophysical surface characterisation facility. This facility will allow advances in our understanding of the molecular processes involved in the formation and stability of surface structures of bio-molecules, as well as in the design of molecular machines based on this new understanding.