Studies on the regulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim in mammalian development and cancer. This project is aimed at understanding the regulation of a gene, which is a tumour suppressor and is often mutated or down regulated in many different forms of cancers. A better understanding of how this gene works may eventually lead to better therapeutics to treat these cancers. This is relevant in the Australian context given that our aging population and obesity epidemics (the link between obesity ....Studies on the regulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim in mammalian development and cancer. This project is aimed at understanding the regulation of a gene, which is a tumour suppressor and is often mutated or down regulated in many different forms of cancers. A better understanding of how this gene works may eventually lead to better therapeutics to treat these cancers. This is relevant in the Australian context given that our aging population and obesity epidemics (the link between obesity, insulin resistance and various forms of cancers is well established) are leading to a rapid increase in new cancer cases, thus driving a rapid increase in demand for better treatments. This is particularly relevant in Indigenous health where obesity is on the rise following the transition from a traditional to an urban lifestyle.Read moreRead less
Tissue distraction: A novel approach to enhance tissue growth for soft tissue engineering purposes. This project will provide new tissues for the expanding field of regenerative medicine to treat numerous tissue defects and
1.Benefit the health & economic well being of Australian society by rapidly supplying organs and tissues.
2.Benefit the academic community by a multidisciplinary approach, involving several academic Institutions in the fields of surgery, tissue engineering, physiology, morph ....Tissue distraction: A novel approach to enhance tissue growth for soft tissue engineering purposes. This project will provide new tissues for the expanding field of regenerative medicine to treat numerous tissue defects and
1.Benefit the health & economic well being of Australian society by rapidly supplying organs and tissues.
2.Benefit the academic community by a multidisciplinary approach, involving several academic Institutions in the fields of surgery, tissue engineering, physiology, morphology, polymer chemistry & biomolecular engineering that will produce basic scientific data with a practical application. Post-graduate students and staff will train & gain significant knowledge in this area.
3. Benefit industry through new product development and IP. This project advances a platform technology with multiple applications.Read moreRead less
Characterisation and improvement of radiation beams used for radiotherapy of small lesions. This project aims to characterise the radiation dose from a medical linear accelerator after the beam has been shaped by a mini-multileaf collimator. The characterisation will be achieved through a combination of computer simulations and experimental investigation of the beam using the technique of three-dimensional gel dosimetry. When the dosage characteristics are known, techniques will be developed to ....Characterisation and improvement of radiation beams used for radiotherapy of small lesions. This project aims to characterise the radiation dose from a medical linear accelerator after the beam has been shaped by a mini-multileaf collimator. The characterisation will be achieved through a combination of computer simulations and experimental investigation of the beam using the technique of three-dimensional gel dosimetry. When the dosage characteristics are known, techniques will be developed to improve radiotherapy treatments in patients with small lesions with sizes of up to a few centimetres. This will lead to an improved outcome for some cancer patients.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346702
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$193,000.00
Summary
High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ICPMS). HPLC-ICP-MS is the most reliable cutting edge technology for speciation of metals and metalloids in biological and environmental matrices, and is essential for toxicological studies, which is a major aim behind NRCET's establishment. It will provide a very powerful utility to fill a badly needed knowledge gap for our research and serve the needs of both postgraduate students and postdoctoral fel ....High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ICPMS). HPLC-ICP-MS is the most reliable cutting edge technology for speciation of metals and metalloids in biological and environmental matrices, and is essential for toxicological studies, which is a major aim behind NRCET's establishment. It will provide a very powerful utility to fill a badly needed knowledge gap for our research and serve the needs of both postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows. This technology will provide new opportunities in research. It will strengthen our linkages within Faculty of Heath Sciences and with our research partners in CQU, QUT and Griffith and enforce our strong national and international reputation.Read moreRead less
Evolution of a protein fold from toxin to physiological regulator: an endogenous potassium channel blocker in humans. A potassium channel blocking peptide employed by sea anemones as a toxic component of their venom is also found in proteins from a number of higher organisms, including man. In most of these proteins the function of this toxin domain is unknown. This project aims to define the structure and function of this domain in a human protein, matrix metalloprotease 23, which has possible ....Evolution of a protein fold from toxin to physiological regulator: an endogenous potassium channel blocker in humans. A potassium channel blocking peptide employed by sea anemones as a toxic component of their venom is also found in proteins from a number of higher organisms, including man. In most of these proteins the function of this toxin domain is unknown. This project aims to define the structure and function of this domain in a human protein, matrix metalloprotease 23, which has possible roles in prostate and other cancers. Our results will not only be of interest in tracing the structural and functional evolution of this toxin domain but will also provide valuable clues to its role in both the normal physiological function of matrix metalloprotease 23, as well as its potential pathological role in cancer.Read moreRead less
A novel role for the proteins Scribble & Dlg in the formation of cell protrusions and their effects on cell function. Dlg and Scribble are recently discovered proteins that are required during development, immune regulation, neural signalling and tumour suppression. Understanding how they work will enable the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools that have the potential to influence an enormous range of diseases, from cancer to immunodeficiencies and autoimmune diseases. Researchers at ....A novel role for the proteins Scribble & Dlg in the formation of cell protrusions and their effects on cell function. Dlg and Scribble are recently discovered proteins that are required during development, immune regulation, neural signalling and tumour suppression. Understanding how they work will enable the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools that have the potential to influence an enormous range of diseases, from cancer to immunodeficiencies and autoimmune diseases. Researchers at the PeterMac perform world-leading research into the biology of Scribble and Dlg, and their role in cancer biology and immune function. The mechanistic insight provided by this project will continue that tradition, and facilitate translation of our basic research into clinical applications in important disease areas.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,000.00
Summary
A protein molecular interaction and localization facility. This proposal will address a major gap in our mass spectrometry capabilities and aid in our understanding of protein interactions and tissue distribution in areas such as neuroscience, microbiology, immunology, and botany, as well as enhance our understanding of fundamental gas phase chemistry of protein molecules. It brings together a highly successful multidisciplinary team of high-profile researchers with a track record of collaborati ....A protein molecular interaction and localization facility. This proposal will address a major gap in our mass spectrometry capabilities and aid in our understanding of protein interactions and tissue distribution in areas such as neuroscience, microbiology, immunology, and botany, as well as enhance our understanding of fundamental gas phase chemistry of protein molecules. It brings together a highly successful multidisciplinary team of high-profile researchers with a track record of collaboration and delivering outcomes from shared facilities. In addition to these key scientific outcomes this project will also facilitate the training of several new personnel in a skill area for which there is a critical shortage (mass spectrometry) and promote true cross-disciplinary skills.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668241
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$824,610.00
Summary
A Facility for High-Throughput, Functional Gene Discovery Using Arrayed Retroviral Expression Cloning. The proposed facility will represent world-leading technology in functional genomics and provide Australian scientists with unique opportunities to identify genes involved in a broad range of biological processes. This will contribute to fundamental knowledge in mammalian biology, and equally importantly, is likely to identify genes involved in important health problems such as cancer, inflamma ....A Facility for High-Throughput, Functional Gene Discovery Using Arrayed Retroviral Expression Cloning. The proposed facility will represent world-leading technology in functional genomics and provide Australian scientists with unique opportunities to identify genes involved in a broad range of biological processes. This will contribute to fundamental knowledge in mammalian biology, and equally importantly, is likely to identify genes involved in important health problems such as cancer, inflammatory disease, brain damage and diabetes. Such genes may in turn constitute targets against which new therapies may be developed. This endeavour will contribute to national research priorities in both the health and scientific/technological development arenas.Read moreRead less
Discovering mechanisms of primary embryonic tissue migration through live cell imaging and novel genetic approaches. The studies proposed here will provide concepts and knowledge about the molecular basis of cell migration that will impact on diverse aspects of human health, such as the causes and nature of tumour metastasis and our understanding of the developmental basis of birth defects. In addition, understanding cell migration mechanisms will allow us to better predict or control the behav ....Discovering mechanisms of primary embryonic tissue migration through live cell imaging and novel genetic approaches. The studies proposed here will provide concepts and knowledge about the molecular basis of cell migration that will impact on diverse aspects of human health, such as the causes and nature of tumour metastasis and our understanding of the developmental basis of birth defects. In addition, understanding cell migration mechanisms will allow us to better predict or control the behaviour of therapeutic stem cells introduced into the body.Read moreRead less
Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins: structure and ligand interactions. Insulin-like growth factors are important for normal growth and development. Their actions are regulated by a family of IGF binding proteins. In order to understand the mechanism of this regulation, the aim of this project is to determine the 3-dimensional structure of 2 IGFBPs in complex with IGFs. This will lead to a comprehensive understanding of this interaction that promises to provide important basic knowledge ....Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins: structure and ligand interactions. Insulin-like growth factors are important for normal growth and development. Their actions are regulated by a family of IGF binding proteins. In order to understand the mechanism of this regulation, the aim of this project is to determine the 3-dimensional structure of 2 IGFBPs in complex with IGFs. This will lead to a comprehensive understanding of this interaction that promises to provide important basic knowledge as well as having major implications for biotechnology, agriculture and health.Read moreRead less