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
How does Fat cadherin control organ size in Drosophila, and cancer in humans? The primary function of Fat cadherin is to dictate the appropriate size of organs in developing animals. Deficiency in the fat gene results in vastly overgrown organs and can lead to the formation of cancer in humans. Our study will provide important insights into how the size of organs are controlled during development. Our research findings will have important implications for several aspects of human health and biol ....How does Fat cadherin control organ size in Drosophila, and cancer in humans? The primary function of Fat cadherin is to dictate the appropriate size of organs in developing animals. Deficiency in the fat gene results in vastly overgrown organs and can lead to the formation of cancer in humans. Our study will provide important insights into how the size of organs are controlled during development. Our research findings will have important implications for several aspects of human health and biology, and will increase our understanding of diseases that arise due to aberrant tissue growth, such as cancer. Our research findings will thus be of substantial national benefit, given that cancer is now the biggest cause of death in Australia, and that more than 88,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer each year. Read moreRead less
Tissue specific regulation of gene expression. Despite the polarized public debate concerning the use of stem cells for tissue regeneration, fundamental questions relating to the identity and hierarchy of these cells remain unanswered. The benefit to Australia will be scientific in terms of providing an understanding of how stem and progenitor cells integrate transcriptional control systems during differentiation and the networks that are involved. This is fundamental to the future isolation a ....Tissue specific regulation of gene expression. Despite the polarized public debate concerning the use of stem cells for tissue regeneration, fundamental questions relating to the identity and hierarchy of these cells remain unanswered. The benefit to Australia will be scientific in terms of providing an understanding of how stem and progenitor cells integrate transcriptional control systems during differentiation and the networks that are involved. This is fundamental to the future isolation and manipulation of these stem cell types to benefit the community. The work will also provide postgraduate students with training in state of the art genomic techniques and in the interface between bioinformatics and experimental science. Read moreRead less
Socs proteins in development and disease. Socs proteins are a component of a pathway that is central to a range of developmental processes, including embryonic development. In addition, there is evidence that these proteins are perturbed in several disorders. This Project will enhance our understanding of the Socs proteins and their role in disease, and ultimately provide an opportunity to identify new therapeutic strategies.
Single Minded 2: Cross coupling or specificity within the bHLH/PAS transcription factor family? Understanding the mechanisms of action of SIM2 may lead to novel ideas towards drug development for diseases such as Down syndrome and cancer. The SIM2 protein can interfere with activity of the related Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF), a protein important in stress response and recovery from stroke. Understanding the molecular basis of this interference could aid current strategies being used to manipu ....Single Minded 2: Cross coupling or specificity within the bHLH/PAS transcription factor family? Understanding the mechanisms of action of SIM2 may lead to novel ideas towards drug development for diseases such as Down syndrome and cancer. The SIM2 protein can interfere with activity of the related Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF), a protein important in stress response and recovery from stroke. Understanding the molecular basis of this interference could aid current strategies being used to manipulate HIF for pharmaceutical benefit.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100165
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Electron microscopy cryopreparation facility for biomedical research. The proposed cryopreparation facility will allow cell and molecular biologists and material scientists in the region to prepare samples for ultrastructural research not currently possible due to insufficient local resources, and will thus significantly boost their research. The facility will support a wide range of world class medical and material scientists, including those visiting the Australian Synchrotron, whose research ....Electron microscopy cryopreparation facility for biomedical research. The proposed cryopreparation facility will allow cell and molecular biologists and material scientists in the region to prepare samples for ultrastructural research not currently possible due to insufficient local resources, and will thus significantly boost their research. The facility will support a wide range of world class medical and material scientists, including those visiting the Australian Synchrotron, whose research in health sciences and advanced materials characterisation facilitates the goals of promoting and maintaining good health and frontier technologies. The instrumentation will enhance training capacity in the region and provide young Australian scientists with direct experience of modern electron microscopy techniques.Read moreRead less
Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem cells into Thymus (T) cells with regulatory phenotype and function. This project will develop technologies for a stem cell therapy platform based on cord blood stem cells, to enable treatment of autoimmune diseases or transplants. Building on the University of Adelaide's frontier demonstration of differentiation of regulatory Thymus (T) cells from cord blood stem cells, the project will develop techniques to expand the numbers of T cells generated. This has the ....Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem cells into Thymus (T) cells with regulatory phenotype and function. This project will develop technologies for a stem cell therapy platform based on cord blood stem cells, to enable treatment of autoimmune diseases or transplants. Building on the University of Adelaide's frontier demonstration of differentiation of regulatory Thymus (T) cells from cord blood stem cells, the project will develop techniques to expand the numbers of T cells generated. This has the potential to maintain Australia's lead in differentiation of cord blood stem cells and to provide a significant breakthrough in potential treatments of autoimmune diseases (e.g. type 1 diabetes) or transplantation. These diseases affect both a healthy start to life and healthy ageing, and an Australian invention to treat or cure them would have global impact.Read moreRead less
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential ....Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential for the development of new commercial opportunities in biotechnology and biomedical science in which Australia has an excellent track record. The project will also enhance Australia's capabilities in both nanotechnologiocal and biotechnological sciences.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453832
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,910.00
Summary
New directions in biomolecular mass spectrometry. The combined UoW/ANU mass spectrometry facility supports a range of research projects in high priority areas including proteomics, mechanisms of aging, anticancer drugs and pathogenicity. The facility has several key deficiencies: 1) the ability to study very high molecular weight biomolecular complexes, 2) the ability to study ion-molecule interactions that have implications in mechanisms of chemistry in nature, and 3) researchers at ANU lack es ....New directions in biomolecular mass spectrometry. The combined UoW/ANU mass spectrometry facility supports a range of research projects in high priority areas including proteomics, mechanisms of aging, anticancer drugs and pathogenicity. The facility has several key deficiencies: 1) the ability to study very high molecular weight biomolecular complexes, 2) the ability to study ion-molecule interactions that have implications in mechanisms of chemistry in nature, and 3) researchers at ANU lack essential walk-up access to high sensitivity protein sequence analysis (MS/MS). The placement of resources that address these deficiencies in one geographical region and collaboration between these institutions will produce a research interaction unique in Australia.Read moreRead less
Molecular signals that regulate the regenerative properties of intestinal epithelial cells. Most cancer deaths are due to the cancer spreading to other organs. Cancer is much more difficult to treat once it has spread to other organs in the body where the cancer cells can exist in a dormant state. Dormant cancer cells evade conventional anticancer treatment and can remain dormant for a very long time before they change back to a 'tumour-growing' state. An understanding of how the cancer initiati ....Molecular signals that regulate the regenerative properties of intestinal epithelial cells. Most cancer deaths are due to the cancer spreading to other organs. Cancer is much more difficult to treat once it has spread to other organs in the body where the cancer cells can exist in a dormant state. Dormant cancer cells evade conventional anticancer treatment and can remain dormant for a very long time before they change back to a 'tumour-growing' state. An understanding of how the cancer initiating (stem cell) property of tumour cells is maintained offers potential novel avenues to eliminate persistent cancer cells. This knowledge will ultimately lead to better management and treatment of cancer, and increase survival. An understanding of stem cell behaviour is also central to the control of degenerative conditions.Read moreRead less