Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238094
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$197,000.00
Summary
Fine and Ultrafine Particle - Characterisation and Research Facility. The proposed grant aims to establish an integrated facility for characterising and researching fine and ultrafine particles. It will serve various research groups of three collaborating universities. Current facilities are limited to characterisation of liquid-borne particles down to 10 nm size. To extend the groups research interests into aerosols and nanoparticles the facilities requested in this grant are essential. Equipme ....Fine and Ultrafine Particle - Characterisation and Research Facility. The proposed grant aims to establish an integrated facility for characterising and researching fine and ultrafine particles. It will serve various research groups of three collaborating universities. Current facilities are limited to characterisation of liquid-borne particles down to 10 nm size. To extend the groups research interests into aerosols and nanoparticles the facilities requested in this grant are essential. Equipment critical for research into catalytic processes is also requested. Integration of the groups will create a force that institutions and industries,nation-wide, can turn to when the need for competent analytical and research solutions for particles and catalysis arises.Read moreRead less
Regulation of tissue morphogenesis in reproductive function and metastatic cancer. Infertility, endocrine and metabolic disorders and reproductive cancers are all increasing medical problems and principal contributors to morbidity and mortality in the Australian community. This research takes the novel approach of investigating the mechanisms of dynamic remodeling in reproductive organs. Novel hormonally controlled mechanisms of tissue remodeling unique to reproductive organs and cancers in ad ....Regulation of tissue morphogenesis in reproductive function and metastatic cancer. Infertility, endocrine and metabolic disorders and reproductive cancers are all increasing medical problems and principal contributors to morbidity and mortality in the Australian community. This research takes the novel approach of investigating the mechanisms of dynamic remodeling in reproductive organs. Novel hormonally controlled mechanisms of tissue remodeling unique to reproductive organs and cancers in adults have been discovered. The results are being applied to new medical alternatives for infertile patients and new diagnostics and therapeutics for patients with metastatic cancers. The information is also being applied to improve reproductive efficiency in animal production industries.Read moreRead less
Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrog ....Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrogel matrix, and secondly an in-situ polymerisable matrix for treatment of deep wounds. The growth factor complex will be protected from aggressive proteases through encapsulation within microspheres, and the use of MMP-inhibiting comonomers.Read moreRead less
Phospholipids and kinases as regulators of epithelial sodium channels. The intracellular signalling pathways that will be identified in this project will facilitate the development of novel therapies for the many conditions in which the activity of epithelial sodium channels is abnormal. These include influenza, otitis media, high blood pressure and cystic fibrosis. It will also provide training for post-doctoral fellows and research students in a number of the key techniques in modern cellular ....Phospholipids and kinases as regulators of epithelial sodium channels. The intracellular signalling pathways that will be identified in this project will facilitate the development of novel therapies for the many conditions in which the activity of epithelial sodium channels is abnormal. These include influenza, otitis media, high blood pressure and cystic fibrosis. It will also provide training for post-doctoral fellows and research students in a number of the key techniques in modern cellular physiology.Read moreRead less
Unraveling the genetic networks of cancer development. Cancer causes nearly 30% of all deaths in Australia and the aging of our population means that its incidence will increase for the foreseeable future. The past two decades of cancer research have yielded great advances in identifying the genetic mutations that contribute to cancer, but our understanding of how these mutations cooperate to transform a healthy cell into a tumour cell remains limited. High-throughput genomic analysis of DNA fro ....Unraveling the genetic networks of cancer development. Cancer causes nearly 30% of all deaths in Australia and the aging of our population means that its incidence will increase for the foreseeable future. The past two decades of cancer research have yielded great advances in identifying the genetic mutations that contribute to cancer, but our understanding of how these mutations cooperate to transform a healthy cell into a tumour cell remains limited. High-throughput genomic analysis of DNA from large numbers of tumours is essential to identify and understand the combinations of cancer mutations that are most deadly. Such studies can form the basis for developing better diagnostics and new treatments for patients whose tumours are resistant to current therapies.Read moreRead less
Activation mechanisms of Cys-loop ion channel receptors. This proposal will employ a cutting edge approach to reveal fundamental new insights into the ways that proteins work. The information and technology developed here will broaden and strengthen Australia's research expertise across a number of basic scientific disciplines. The results will also have relevance to human health. Cys-loop ligand-gated receptors have an essential role in brain function and are targets for many therapies and drug ....Activation mechanisms of Cys-loop ion channel receptors. This proposal will employ a cutting edge approach to reveal fundamental new insights into the ways that proteins work. The information and technology developed here will broaden and strengthen Australia's research expertise across a number of basic scientific disciplines. The results will also have relevance to human health. Cys-loop ligand-gated receptors have an essential role in brain function and are targets for many therapies and drugs of abuse. New insights into how biological ligands and drugs affect ion channel structure and function may lead to novel therapeutic opportunities and improved drug structure predictions.Read moreRead less
Transdermal penetration of corticosteroids in the dog. Topical application of corticosteroids enhances drug concentration and effectiveness in the treatment of skin diseases. Most topical corticosteroid preparations have been developed for human use and are poorly efficacious or promote a high incidence of adverse effects in dogs. This project will characterize corticosteroid penetration through canine skin to permit the development of suitable topical formulations to more effectively control ....Transdermal penetration of corticosteroids in the dog. Topical application of corticosteroids enhances drug concentration and effectiveness in the treatment of skin diseases. Most topical corticosteroid preparations have been developed for human use and are poorly efficacious or promote a high incidence of adverse effects in dogs. This project will characterize corticosteroid penetration through canine skin to permit the development of suitable topical formulations to more effectively control skin diseases in the dog. Skin diseases are a significant problem in veterinary science and this project will not only provide an effective therapeutic option, but also reduce animal (and client) distress when suffering skin disease and/or adverse effects from traditional therapy.Read moreRead less
Molecular structure and function of the glycine receptor. This proposal will employ a cutting edge approach to reveal fundamental new insights into the ways that ligand-gated ion channels, and proteins in general, work. The new knowledge and technology developed here will broaden and strengthen Australia's research expertise across a number of basic scientific disciplines. The results will also have relevance to human health. Glycine receptors have an essential role in brain function and are ....Molecular structure and function of the glycine receptor. This proposal will employ a cutting edge approach to reveal fundamental new insights into the ways that ligand-gated ion channels, and proteins in general, work. The new knowledge and technology developed here will broaden and strengthen Australia's research expertise across a number of basic scientific disciplines. The results will also have relevance to human health. Glycine receptors have an essential role in brain function and are targets for anaesthetics and drugs of abuse. GlyRs are also important in modulating pain sensation by the brain. New insights into how natural agonists and drugs affect ion channel structure and function may lead to novel therapeutic opportunities and improved drug structure predictions.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of calcium handling and their role in controlling smooth muscle function: evidence from transgenic mice. Calcium movements into and out of the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells are regulated primarily by a variety of proteins located in the plasma membrane and in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and play a central role in controlling the contractile state of smooth muscle. Understanding the mechanisms that control intracellular calcium levels is fundamental to understanding smooth muscle fu ....Mechanisms of calcium handling and their role in controlling smooth muscle function: evidence from transgenic mice. Calcium movements into and out of the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells are regulated primarily by a variety of proteins located in the plasma membrane and in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and play a central role in controlling the contractile state of smooth muscle. Understanding the mechanisms that control intracellular calcium levels is fundamental to understanding smooth muscle function. This project will employ a unique approach, involving the use of mice with targeted disruptions to genes encoding key calcium transport proteins, to gain new knowledge on the contribution of various calcium handling pathways to overall control of smooth muscle function.Read moreRead less
TAILORING OF LAYERED DOUBLE HYDROXIDE NANOPARTICLES FOR EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE PEPTIDES AND cDNAs. This project will lead to a new class of nanoparticle for effective peptide and DNA transfer, promising efficient drug delivery system with controllable loading and releasing and thus help maintain good health, particularly targeting neurological diseases. This project has also involved fundamental research into the nanomaterial science, surface chemistry, cell biochemistry and n ....TAILORING OF LAYERED DOUBLE HYDROXIDE NANOPARTICLES FOR EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE PEPTIDES AND cDNAs. This project will lead to a new class of nanoparticle for effective peptide and DNA transfer, promising efficient drug delivery system with controllable loading and releasing and thus help maintain good health, particularly targeting neurological diseases. This project has also involved fundamental research into the nanomaterial science, surface chemistry, cell biochemistry and neuron sciences. Successful completion of the project will contribute to the development of advanced materials helping Australia advance and build the industrial competitiveness. Through this project highly skilled researchers will be well trained. Read moreRead less