Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882864
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,000.00
Summary
High Speed Fluorescence Imaging coupled with Total Internal Reflection Microscopy and Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching System. The addition of the TIRF equipment will provide researchers with access to one of Australia's most technologically advanced light microscopy systems. This system will support research across a number of high profile areas, and promote strategic collaborations in cell and neurobiology. The high resolution fast acquisition TIRF system will significantly enhance r ....High Speed Fluorescence Imaging coupled with Total Internal Reflection Microscopy and Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching System. The addition of the TIRF equipment will provide researchers with access to one of Australia's most technologically advanced light microscopy systems. This system will support research across a number of high profile areas, and promote strategic collaborations in cell and neurobiology. The high resolution fast acquisition TIRF system will significantly enhance research capacity and research excellence. Its acquisition will allow Australia to play a major role in the global challenge to advance understanding of cellular and molecular events, contributing significantly to the National Research Priority Area of Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries.Read moreRead less
Diet-induced obesity is the foremost health concern in today�s society and causes many metabolic problems that lead to type diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This grant identifies ghrelin resistance, as a novel metabolic adaptation during obesity. Ghrelin is a hormone that normally stimulates food intake and body weight gain, however during obesity ghrelin does not stimulate food intake. Artificial induction of ghrelin resistance will restrict the development of diet _induced obesity.
Assessing the physiological roles of ubiquitination in regulating neuronal ion channels, receptors and transporters. Significant alterations in the activity neuronal transporters and receptors occur during tissue injury and regeneration as well as in many neurodegenerative disease states. Modulation of the pathways that control these transporters is an emerging therapeutic target, however, the molecular basis of these control mechanisms remain poorly understood. The outcome of this project will ....Assessing the physiological roles of ubiquitination in regulating neuronal ion channels, receptors and transporters. Significant alterations in the activity neuronal transporters and receptors occur during tissue injury and regeneration as well as in many neurodegenerative disease states. Modulation of the pathways that control these transporters is an emerging therapeutic target, however, the molecular basis of these control mechanisms remain poorly understood. The outcome of this project will be a thorough characterisation of a novel regulatory paradigm in neurons that is likely to be crucial for neuronal development and regeneration, and will potentially provide novel therapeutic targets for various neuronal diseases.Read moreRead less
Tissue Engineering of Human Heart Valve Grown In Vitro. Tissue engineering (TE) of heart valves is a new approach to cultivate a functional heart valve from human autologous cells. This innovative study aims to develop the technology to transplant cells onto a 3D biocompatible valve scaffold that is capable of mimicking native valve. The work proposed is a ground breaking study that will encompass development of a new biomaterial, manufacture of scaffolds using the Fused Deposition Modelling ra ....Tissue Engineering of Human Heart Valve Grown In Vitro. Tissue engineering (TE) of heart valves is a new approach to cultivate a functional heart valve from human autologous cells. This innovative study aims to develop the technology to transplant cells onto a 3D biocompatible valve scaffold that is capable of mimicking native valve. The work proposed is a ground breaking study that will encompass development of a new biomaterial, manufacture of scaffolds using the Fused Deposition Modelling rapid prototyping process, hemodynamic optimisation and in vitro cell culture. This will advance our knowledge in cellular and scaffold technologies and may ultimately lead to the development of a TE heart valve.Read moreRead less
Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase 1 In POMC Neurons Controls Glucose Homeostasis And Body Weight
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,499.00
Summary
The brain plays a critical role in body weight gain by balancing appetite-inducing and appetite-suppressing signals. An imbalance in this process causes obesity, promotes diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this research is to identify how appetite-suppressing brain signals are maintained as a method to prevent obesity progression.
Manipulating Store-operated Ca2+ Entry To Improve Muscle Function In Dystrophy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$516,163.00
Summary
Muscle function is regulated in a complex manner by calcium and is impaired in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Changes in calcium regulation will be investigated in DMD patients and in an animal model using a novel approach. We will use a combination of novel experimental approaches to manipulate muscles in dystrophic mice and test for improvement in function. Results will determine the viability of a potential treatment.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453630
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$274,692.00
Summary
High-Speed Confocal Microscope Live Cell Recording System. The high-speed confocal microscope live cell recording system we are establishing represents new generation equipment. It allows quality imaging of selected subcellular regions of live cells combined with simultaneous electrophysiological recording at rates and sensitivity hitherto not possible. This equipment provides a window of opportunity for major research advances in that it allows real-time two and three-dimensional imaging of fun ....High-Speed Confocal Microscope Live Cell Recording System. The high-speed confocal microscope live cell recording system we are establishing represents new generation equipment. It allows quality imaging of selected subcellular regions of live cells combined with simultaneous electrophysiological recording at rates and sensitivity hitherto not possible. This equipment provides a window of opportunity for major research advances in that it allows real-time two and three-dimensional imaging of fundamental cellular activities that previously could not be viewed. It will allow major advances in priority health-related research and will provide an ideal research tool to introduce young scientists and students to cutting edge research.Read moreRead less
The basis of recognition and disposal of dysfunctional proteins by clusterin. When proteins become damaged they can precipitate. A blood protein called clusterin prevents precipitation of damaged proteins. Clusterin does this by forming complexes with the damaged proteins. Clusterin is the first blood protein known to do this. We will discover which parts of clusterin are responsible for this activity. We will also discover whether cells can take up and dispose of the complexes of clusterin and ....The basis of recognition and disposal of dysfunctional proteins by clusterin. When proteins become damaged they can precipitate. A blood protein called clusterin prevents precipitation of damaged proteins. Clusterin does this by forming complexes with the damaged proteins. Clusterin is the first blood protein known to do this. We will discover which parts of clusterin are responsible for this activity. We will also discover whether cells can take up and dispose of the complexes of clusterin and damaged proteins. This work is important because some diseases (eg, Alzheimers disease) involve the toxic effects of abnormal protein precipitation. Understanding how clusterin works may help in developing better treatments for these diseases.Read moreRead less
The macrophage nucleus - its form and function during migration in vivo. As cells migrate through tissues, they encounter complex, 3-dimensional environments that provide cues to guide them and present obstacles in their path. This project focuses on macrophages, a large immune cell capable of both amoeboid and mesenchymal modes of migration. The nucleus is the largest organelle and its bulk and stiffness must be managed as migrating cells travel through constrictions. The project uses specialis ....The macrophage nucleus - its form and function during migration in vivo. As cells migrate through tissues, they encounter complex, 3-dimensional environments that provide cues to guide them and present obstacles in their path. This project focuses on macrophages, a large immune cell capable of both amoeboid and mesenchymal modes of migration. The nucleus is the largest organelle and its bulk and stiffness must be managed as migrating cells travel through constrictions. The project uses specialised high-end microscopy and genetic methods to examine how the nucleus of migrating zebrafish macrophages deforms, repositions and is restructured during migration in living tissues, and how this influences macrophage locomotion. The goal is to provide fundamental insights into the cell biology of macrophage migration.Read moreRead less
Role Of Pacemaker Cells In The Generation Of Slow Wave Activity In The Prostate Gland
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$231,500.00
Summary
The prostate gland commonly enlarges in ageing males resulting in a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia which is poorly understood. Because of the strategic position of the prostate, its enlargement physically compresses the segment of the urinary system passing through it causing inconvenient and distressing symptoms, such as difficulty and hesitancy in urination, which often require surgical or medical intervention. Indeed patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia are of ....The prostate gland commonly enlarges in ageing males resulting in a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia which is poorly understood. Because of the strategic position of the prostate, its enlargement physically compresses the segment of the urinary system passing through it causing inconvenient and distressing symptoms, such as difficulty and hesitancy in urination, which often require surgical or medical intervention. Indeed patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia are often treated with pharmacological agents that reduce the size of the prostate or relax the prostate and bladder, thus relieving some of the symptoms. However, the precise cellualr mechanisms by which many of these drugs mediate their effects have not been confirmed. Moreover, although previous studies of the prostate gland have clearly established many of the basic properties of the tissue, there is currently a lack of information regarding the prostate gland at a cellular level. We have recently identified a specialised group of 'interstitial cells' in the prostate gland, which resemble the well-described 'interstitial cells of Cajal' in the gut. In the gut, these cells perform a wide variety of functions including the initiation of contractile activity. Interstitial cells are also thought to play a role in diseases of the bowel. This project aims to investigate the role of the interstitial cells in the functioning of the prostate gland. In addition, the effects of age and hormones on the interstitial cells will be considered, which may lead to a better understanding of conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Finally, identifying nerve-released substances that may affect the activity of these cells may also help identify alternative targets for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.Read moreRead less