Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775534
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
A liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer for plant metabolomics. The Australian Agrifood sector will benefit significantly from the establishment of functional genomics platform technologies, such as metabolomics, that underpin 'Systems Biology'; a new branch of biology that attempts to discover and understand biological properties that emerge from the interactions of many system elements. Australian agriculture will benefit through the development of techniques to improve both yield and quality ....A liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer for plant metabolomics. The Australian Agrifood sector will benefit significantly from the establishment of functional genomics platform technologies, such as metabolomics, that underpin 'Systems Biology'; a new branch of biology that attempts to discover and understand biological properties that emerge from the interactions of many system elements. Australian agriculture will benefit through the development of techniques to improve both yield and quality through minimising the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses, and a reduced dependence on inputs (eg fertilisers) leading to environmentally sustainable production systems. Ultimately this will result in enhanced food quality and analytical methods to monitor quality and safety characteristics of food.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454249
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$157,004.00
Summary
Specialist Analysis Facility for the Development of New Nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is a developing technology with a limited number of academic research groups working in this field. Advanced infrastructure is requested for the characterisation and analysis of novel polymers, nanomaterials and biomaterials. The specialist applications herein demand both characterisation and processing control at the nanoscopic level and will greatly enhance teaching and core research capability within Fl ....Specialist Analysis Facility for the Development of New Nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is a developing technology with a limited number of academic research groups working in this field. Advanced infrastructure is requested for the characterisation and analysis of novel polymers, nanomaterials and biomaterials. The specialist applications herein demand both characterisation and processing control at the nanoscopic level and will greatly enhance teaching and core research capability within Flinders University and the University of South Australia. This equipment will allow the universities to carry out this research in a unique manner. Other researchers cannot offer the synergy of synthesis, processing and characterisation of nanomaterials and biomaterials as described in this project.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354640
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Young Investigators Network on Next Generation Electronic Devices. This initiative will build an active, dynamic and strongly interdisciplinary network of young Australian scientists (most awarded their Ph.D. after 1985) working on the development of innovative electronic devices - a national research priority area with enormous economic and technological opportunity. The network will enable a nationally coordinated, internationally competitive approach that capitalizes on untapped opportunitie ....Young Investigators Network on Next Generation Electronic Devices. This initiative will build an active, dynamic and strongly interdisciplinary network of young Australian scientists (most awarded their Ph.D. after 1985) working on the development of innovative electronic devices - a national research priority area with enormous economic and technological opportunity. The network will enable a nationally coordinated, internationally competitive approach that capitalizes on untapped opportunities, utilises existing/emerging Australian expertise and develops strong supporting links with similar networks overseas. The initiative will produce a public showcase of Australian strengths and opportunities in this field, and enable stronger collaborations and cooperative logistics management through the development of a dedicated network management website.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775673
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,200,000.00
Summary
A high throughput protein crystallization & imaging facility. Protein crystallography is an important field of research that enables us to understand the precise shape of proteins. The precise shape of a protein determines the function of a protein. This information is essential in understanding the physiological role of a protein and may be used for the development of therapeutics, where approrpiate. We aim to develop a high-throughput robotics system that will enable us to determine the sh ....A high throughput protein crystallization & imaging facility. Protein crystallography is an important field of research that enables us to understand the precise shape of proteins. The precise shape of a protein determines the function of a protein. This information is essential in understanding the physiological role of a protein and may be used for the development of therapeutics, where approrpiate. We aim to develop a high-throughput robotics system that will enable us to determine the shape of many proteins more rapidly, thereby greatly accelerating the pace of biomedical research.Read moreRead less
The diversity and assembly of optics in nature. Optics, such as the design of new coloured reflectors, is a research strength for Australia. A reason for this is the potential for application - optical devices can be found far and wide in our everyday lives, from security devices on banknotes (holograms), to computer monitors (LCDs). An interesting parallel exists in nature - animals possess similar optical devices to those we use. So it makes sense to examine the animals' devices in a search fo ....The diversity and assembly of optics in nature. Optics, such as the design of new coloured reflectors, is a research strength for Australia. A reason for this is the potential for application - optical devices can be found far and wide in our everyday lives, from security devices on banknotes (holograms), to computer monitors (LCDs). An interesting parallel exists in nature - animals possess similar optical devices to those we use. So it makes sense to examine the animals' devices in a search for new reflectors, and that's an aim of this project. And since reflectors are often difficult to make, why not let animals make reflectors for us? That is a further aim of this project. Soon we may have genetically-altered butterfly scales embedded in our credit cards that cannot be counterfeited.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale Particle Control by Rigid Biomineralised Surfaces. The proposed research will increase understanding of the strategies diatoms use to sort particles. Our hypothesis is that in the process of understanding how these diatom surfaces control particles, blueprints for microfluidic devices will be identified. The appeal of diatoms goes beyond consideration of the geometrical patterning on their surfaces, because their frustules (the diatomic shells) are made primarily out of silica, a mater ....Nanoscale Particle Control by Rigid Biomineralised Surfaces. The proposed research will increase understanding of the strategies diatoms use to sort particles. Our hypothesis is that in the process of understanding how these diatom surfaces control particles, blueprints for microfluidic devices will be identified. The appeal of diatoms goes beyond consideration of the geometrical patterning on their surfaces, because their frustules (the diatomic shells) are made primarily out of silica, a material also used in nanofabrication. We expect that some of the strategies and patterns used by cells will be able to be directly transferred to microfluidics, and bypass years of empirical development in nanofabrication and lab-on-a-chip devices.Read moreRead less
Bacterial mechanisms of gold mobilisation and precipitation with applications to mineral processing and exploration. The development of a comprehensive model for the biogeochemical behaviour of gold in the environment will aid mineral explorers to interpret existing exploration data and to develop better exploration strategies. Moreover, this project aims to develop the basis for a new geomicrobiological gold exploration method by identifying organisms and microbial gene sequences that could be ....Bacterial mechanisms of gold mobilisation and precipitation with applications to mineral processing and exploration. The development of a comprehensive model for the biogeochemical behaviour of gold in the environment will aid mineral explorers to interpret existing exploration data and to develop better exploration strategies. Moreover, this project aims to develop the basis for a new geomicrobiological gold exploration method by identifying organisms and microbial gene sequences that could be used as biomarkers for mineralisation. This research will also provide the fundamental information required to copy nature and engineer new cost-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for gold processing using microorganisms that occur naturally in Australian soils. Read moreRead less
Development of a Bioassay to Measure Xenoestrogens in Environmental Water Samples. Xenoestrogens in water can cause feminization of fish, amphibians and other wildlife, interfere with reproduction and increase cancer. This research aims to develop a new test to measure xenoestrogens in water, based on a measure of the estrogen-activated genes that are switched on when cells are exposed to estrogens. If the research is successful, it will produce the best test in the world for measuring the effe ....Development of a Bioassay to Measure Xenoestrogens in Environmental Water Samples. Xenoestrogens in water can cause feminization of fish, amphibians and other wildlife, interfere with reproduction and increase cancer. This research aims to develop a new test to measure xenoestrogens in water, based on a measure of the estrogen-activated genes that are switched on when cells are exposed to estrogens. If the research is successful, it will produce the best test in the world for measuring the effects of xenoestrogens on mammalian cells. The test can be used to develop better xenoestrogen removal processes, and to set limits for the levels of xenoestrogens permitted in rivers and creeks.Read moreRead less
Proteomic analysis of central nervous system inflammation in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify new therapeutic targets and diagnostics for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) the most common neurological disease in young adults. The estimated economic burden of this disease in Australia is around $2 billion per annum. There is also a large social cost to take into account. In spite of a great deal of research, current therapies are limited. We expect that this this research will: lead to n ....Proteomic analysis of central nervous system inflammation in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify new therapeutic targets and diagnostics for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) the most common neurological disease in young adults. The estimated economic burden of this disease in Australia is around $2 billion per annum. There is also a large social cost to take into account. In spite of a great deal of research, current therapies are limited. We expect that this this research will: lead to new therapies and better diagnostics, which will reduce the financial and human cost of this disease; generate IP with subsequent economic benefits and; expand proteomics technologies which will have flow on effects including economic benefits and benefits to a wide range of basic research. Read moreRead less
Enhancement of monopartite geminivirus pathogenicity by satellite DNA beta encoded betaC1 protein: the role of host factors. Australian incursions of geminiviruses are uncontrollable due to their unique mode of spread by whiteflies. The first incursion in Darwin in 1970 has spread to Far Northern Queensland. The second in SE Queensland in 2006 is estimated to cause $500 million loss to horticulture. Our $2 billion cotton industry is threatened by cotton leaf curl diseases from South Asia, where ....Enhancement of monopartite geminivirus pathogenicity by satellite DNA beta encoded betaC1 protein: the role of host factors. Australian incursions of geminiviruses are uncontrollable due to their unique mode of spread by whiteflies. The first incursion in Darwin in 1970 has spread to Far Northern Queensland. The second in SE Queensland in 2006 is estimated to cause $500 million loss to horticulture. Our $2 billion cotton industry is threatened by cotton leaf curl diseases from South Asia, where DNA beta enhances virus replication and disease severity. DNA beta has the potential to enter Australia with several different geminiviruses and to spread into others by co-infection, which requires research on detection and pathogenesis of DNA beta.Read moreRead less