Generation of Novel Fermentation Products and their Exploitation in the Synthesis of Biologically Active Organic Compounds with Therapeutic Potential. Collections of new micro-organisms and their metabolites suitable for use in the chemical synthesis programs will emerge from the proposed research. This will provide a potentially highly-valuable national resource that could serve the needs of many laboratories around Australia by allowing them to establish more direct routes to target molecules ....Generation of Novel Fermentation Products and their Exploitation in the Synthesis of Biologically Active Organic Compounds with Therapeutic Potential. Collections of new micro-organisms and their metabolites suitable for use in the chemical synthesis programs will emerge from the proposed research. This will provide a potentially highly-valuable national resource that could serve the needs of many laboratories around Australia by allowing them to establish more direct routes to target molecules being sought in the development of new therapeutic agents and/or materials. The combined application of molecular biological, microbiological and chemical synthesis techniques in a concerted manner in the one location will lead to a raft of new opportunities for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Taking nature's lead in the development of new and improved enzyme inhibitors. This project will address some key fundamental issues associated with advancing a chemical entity from proof of principle through to a new pharmaceutical. The compounds in the study target cancer, cataract and other diseases that are confronting Australia's ageing population.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989946
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,000.00
Summary
High Resolution LC/MS and MALDI for Molecular and Macromolecular Characterisation. The provision of high-resolution and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometers configured for the molecular and macromolecular research of high quality research groups will lead to earlier and better fundamental discoveries that are directed at important practical developments in medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, light-energy harvesting, polymer materials and sensors. These include anti ....High Resolution LC/MS and MALDI for Molecular and Macromolecular Characterisation. The provision of high-resolution and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometers configured for the molecular and macromolecular research of high quality research groups will lead to earlier and better fundamental discoveries that are directed at important practical developments in medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, light-energy harvesting, polymer materials and sensors. These include anticancer agents, nanodevices for drug delivery, better polymers with more energy efficient industrial processes, bioactive molecules for industrially important nitrogen fixation and many more. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668374
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,000.00
Summary
State-of-the-art NMR Facilities. This proposal will significantly enhance the NMR research capability and capacities at UoW and ANU. These schools have internationally recognised strengths in fundamentals of synthetic organic chemistry, therapeutic drug design and synthesis, protein chemistry and structural biology. This equipment will enhance the productivity of these researchers, increase their collaborative and scientific outputs and allow for training of students in the latest technologies ....State-of-the-art NMR Facilities. This proposal will significantly enhance the NMR research capability and capacities at UoW and ANU. These schools have internationally recognised strengths in fundamentals of synthetic organic chemistry, therapeutic drug design and synthesis, protein chemistry and structural biology. This equipment will enhance the productivity of these researchers, increase their collaborative and scientific outputs and allow for training of students in the latest technologies and importantly, contribute to Australia's development as a knowledge-based economy.Read moreRead less
The development of a rapid diagnostic test for heparanase activity. Heparanase is an enzyme that has been implicated in a number of disease states such as cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory diseases. Characterisation of this enzyme has been slow, due in part to the lack of a reliable direct activity assay. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, this project seeks to establish a rapid assay that will provide easy determination of heparanase activity. Furthermore, this a ....The development of a rapid diagnostic test for heparanase activity. Heparanase is an enzyme that has been implicated in a number of disease states such as cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory diseases. Characterisation of this enzyme has been slow, due in part to the lack of a reliable direct activity assay. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, this project seeks to establish a rapid assay that will provide easy determination of heparanase activity. Furthermore, this assay could provide a useful diagnostic tool in a clinical environment that would allow for the rapid assessment of these diseases, their progression and indeed response to therapy.Read moreRead less
Radical redox indicators. This project aims to synthesise the first examples of advanced biological imaging agents that can reversibly respond to the oxidative status of living cells. Novel mitochondrially-targeted, fluorescent probes will be derived from several well-established families of biological dyes through the introduction of a stable free radical within the parent structure. The design of the new imaging agents aims to both enhance retention in, and restrict the fluorescence response t ....Radical redox indicators. This project aims to synthesise the first examples of advanced biological imaging agents that can reversibly respond to the oxidative status of living cells. Novel mitochondrially-targeted, fluorescent probes will be derived from several well-established families of biological dyes through the introduction of a stable free radical within the parent structure. The design of the new imaging agents aims to both enhance retention in, and restrict the fluorescence response to, the mitochondria so that changes in oxidation and reduction can be monitored. The probes will provide an innovative new means to assess reactive species and associated oxidative stress, thus delivering a new methodology to aid research into mitochondrial chemical biology.Read moreRead less
Opening Up Access to L-Sugars through a Synergy of Experiment and Theory. This project aims to address a major bottleneck in the science of carbohydrates by developing the first broad-scope synthetic routes to L-sugars. L-sugars are critical components of many biologically and commercially significant molecules, but knowledge of their functional roles is impeded by the fact that most L-sugars are expensive or difficult to make. This project expects to develop expeditious routes to L-sugars via a ....Opening Up Access to L-Sugars through a Synergy of Experiment and Theory. This project aims to address a major bottleneck in the science of carbohydrates by developing the first broad-scope synthetic routes to L-sugars. L-sugars are critical components of many biologically and commercially significant molecules, but knowledge of their functional roles is impeded by the fact that most L-sugars are expensive or difficult to make. This project expects to develop expeditious routes to L-sugars via an innovative combination of synthetic and theoretical chemistry. Expected outcomes include a markedly increased capacity to access pure samples of L-sugar-based biomolecules, as needed for studying their biological functions. Significant benefits in the development of vaccines, diagnostics and biomaterials are anticipated.Read moreRead less
Discovering new organic chemistry using an inorganic touch. This project aims to discover new organic chemistry by treating carbon like a metal atom. Advances in fundamental organic chemistry have been important in developing products, including medicines, plastics and television display technology. Much research activity relies on applying existing organic chemistry, but inventing genuinely new organic chemistry is more difficult. By viewing carbon as a metal, this project will try to solve imp ....Discovering new organic chemistry using an inorganic touch. This project aims to discover new organic chemistry by treating carbon like a metal atom. Advances in fundamental organic chemistry have been important in developing products, including medicines, plastics and television display technology. Much research activity relies on applying existing organic chemistry, but inventing genuinely new organic chemistry is more difficult. By viewing carbon as a metal, this project will try to solve important problems in organic chemistry that have been unresolved for decades, and synthesise valuable chemicals normally generated using expensive precious metal catalysts.Read moreRead less
New fertiliser technologies for sustained food security. This project aims to provide fundamental research to develop next-generation fertiliser products that will improve nitrogen use efficiency, and reduce nitrogen losses in food production systems. It will achieve this goal through a multidisciplinary approach combining experts in synthetic and free radical chemistry, chemical engineering and soil science, with a strong commitment from a fertiliser industry partner. Society is facing the tri ....New fertiliser technologies for sustained food security. This project aims to provide fundamental research to develop next-generation fertiliser products that will improve nitrogen use efficiency, and reduce nitrogen losses in food production systems. It will achieve this goal through a multidisciplinary approach combining experts in synthetic and free radical chemistry, chemical engineering and soil science, with a strong commitment from a fertiliser industry partner. Society is facing the triple challenges of food security, environmental degradation and climate change The availability of new, highly-efficient fertilisers is critical for addressing these challenges, and for the competitive advantage of the Australian fertiliser industry.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - Centre for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology. Free radical chemistry is of increasing importance in the manufacture of improved plastics, paints and related materials, in helping restrict oxidative processes that can lead to adverse human health and also to the degradation of important industrial materials. The research will contribute to promoting & maintaining good health by developing new methods for reducing the impacts of ageing as well as in the treatment ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Centre for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology. Free radical chemistry is of increasing importance in the manufacture of improved plastics, paints and related materials, in helping restrict oxidative processes that can lead to adverse human health and also to the degradation of important industrial materials. The research will contribute to promoting & maintaining good health by developing new methods for reducing the impacts of ageing as well as in the treatment of several life-threatening conditions such as stroke. Industrial applications include better surface coatings for preserving metals, and additives to improve the quality and shelf life of beer and wines.Read moreRead less