ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology. ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology aims to develop paradigm-shifting quantum technologies to observe biological processes and transform our understanding of life. It seeks to create technologies that go far beyond what is possible today, from portable brain imagers to super-fast single protein sensors, and to use them to unravel key problems including how enzymes catalyse reac ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology. ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology aims to develop paradigm-shifting quantum technologies to observe biological processes and transform our understanding of life. It seeks to create technologies that go far beyond what is possible today, from portable brain imagers to super-fast single protein sensors, and to use them to unravel key problems including how enzymes catalyse reactions and how higher brain function emerges from networks of neurons. By building a diverse, multidisciplinary, and industry-engaged ecosystem, the Centre means to develop our future leaders at the interface of quantum science and biology and drive Australian innovation across manufacturing, energy, agriculture, health, and national security.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100888
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Illuminating drug activity in the brain with nanocrystalline beacons. The project focuses on developing technologies to understand the activity of drugs and precisely locate their target sites in the brain. Novel nanocrystalline beacons and ultrahigh-sensitivity optical imaging technology developed in the project have the aim to help visualise opioid and other related drug molecules over extended periods, which is impossible with current methods. Quantifying drug target distribution in the brain ....Illuminating drug activity in the brain with nanocrystalline beacons. The project focuses on developing technologies to understand the activity of drugs and precisely locate their target sites in the brain. Novel nanocrystalline beacons and ultrahigh-sensitivity optical imaging technology developed in the project have the aim to help visualise opioid and other related drug molecules over extended periods, which is impossible with current methods. Quantifying drug target distribution in the brain and imaging their dynamics on a single molecule level will shed light on drug-target interactions.Read moreRead less
Atomic forces for sorting ultrabright nanodiamonds. This project aims to sort fluorescent nanodiamonds according to their brightness using atomic radiation pressure. Fluorescent nanodiamonds can overcome all limitations associated with conventional fluorescent bio-labels. While readily available, their brightness varies greatly, so a method for yielding high-quality material with consistent brightness is needed. This project combines techniques from laser manipulation of cold atoms and microflui ....Atomic forces for sorting ultrabright nanodiamonds. This project aims to sort fluorescent nanodiamonds according to their brightness using atomic radiation pressure. Fluorescent nanodiamonds can overcome all limitations associated with conventional fluorescent bio-labels. While readily available, their brightness varies greatly, so a method for yielding high-quality material with consistent brightness is needed. This project combines techniques from laser manipulation of cold atoms and microfluidics to create an optofluidic method of particle separation. The proposed device could sort nanodiamonds more than a billion times faster than active sorting techniques. This is expected to lead to better tools for bio-imaging and bio-manipulation.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101128
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,154.00
Summary
Decode Neuro-Mechanobiology:mechanosensitive ion channels in proprioception. Human bodies are densely covered with numerous mechanosensory neurons that provide us with the sense of touch and pain. However, the molecular force sensors remain poorly identified. This project aims at defining the fundamental roles of mechanosensitive ion channels to sense and respond to various mechanical stimuli, and how their responses may encode mechanical cues.The ultimate goal is to provide a fundamentally new ....Decode Neuro-Mechanobiology:mechanosensitive ion channels in proprioception. Human bodies are densely covered with numerous mechanosensory neurons that provide us with the sense of touch and pain. However, the molecular force sensors remain poorly identified. This project aims at defining the fundamental roles of mechanosensitive ion channels to sense and respond to various mechanical stimuli, and how their responses may encode mechanical cues.The ultimate goal is to provide a fundamentally new understanding of proprioception and motion sensing. The new multimodality approach generated in this project is expected to evolve as a national facility for neuro-mechanobiology, and future research may lead to the inspiration of novel bionic sensor design and brain-computer interface for future neuroengineering industry.Read moreRead less
Integrin Activation by Fluid Flow Disturbance: Mechanobiology Approaches. Understanding how cells can sense and respond to mechanical environment such as dynamic blood flow represents a fundamental question in the emerging field of mechanobiology. This project develops new biomechanical engineering approaches to determine the critical interrelationships among fluid flow disturbance, platelet clotting and the mechano-sensitive signal transduction mechanisms of integrin receptor – the most importa ....Integrin Activation by Fluid Flow Disturbance: Mechanobiology Approaches. Understanding how cells can sense and respond to mechanical environment such as dynamic blood flow represents a fundamental question in the emerging field of mechanobiology. This project develops new biomechanical engineering approaches to determine the critical interrelationships among fluid flow disturbance, platelet clotting and the mechano-sensitive signal transduction mechanisms of integrin receptor – the most important mechano-sensor implicated in cell adhesion, migration, growth and survival. Specifically, it integrates nationally unique cutting-edge techniques including single-molecule force probe, microparticle image velocimetry, microfluidics and molecular dynamics simulation, super resolution and 3D volumetric imaging modalities.Read moreRead less
Creating a non-invasive window into the mind. This project aims to create better tools to study the human mind. This project expects to generate new knowledge that can be used to non-invasively image neuronal activity. Expected outcomes include the development of unique new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) instruments to study neuronal activity in both highly controlled laboratory conditions and in humans, with the spatial and temporal resolution needed to study the neuronal circuitry that drive ....Creating a non-invasive window into the mind. This project aims to create better tools to study the human mind. This project expects to generate new knowledge that can be used to non-invasively image neuronal activity. Expected outcomes include the development of unique new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) instruments to study neuronal activity in both highly controlled laboratory conditions and in humans, with the spatial and temporal resolution needed to study the neuronal circuitry that drives low and high-level brain functions, i.e., creating a window into the mind. In the future, outcomes from this study could improve our understanding of mental disorders, advance computer brain interface technology, and inspire the next paradigm shift in artificial intelligence.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100609
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,000.00
Summary
Mechanobiology: a new model of integrin activation by membrane tension. This project aims to address a fundamental question in mechanobiology on how integrin receptor coordinates with force to mediate cell spreading, migration, growth and survival. With an observation that membrane deformation enhances integrin binding, the project expects to establish a new model of integrin activation by membrane tension. It will develop an integrated approach combining single-molecule force probes, super reso ....Mechanobiology: a new model of integrin activation by membrane tension. This project aims to address a fundamental question in mechanobiology on how integrin receptor coordinates with force to mediate cell spreading, migration, growth and survival. With an observation that membrane deformation enhances integrin binding, the project expects to establish a new model of integrin activation by membrane tension. It will develop an integrated approach combining single-molecule force probes, super resolution microscopy, microfluidics and molecular dynamics simulations. It is expected that the role of membrane tension in promoting cell adhesion will be defined at molecular scale, and the link between integrin activation and Piezo calcium channel mediated membrane tension sensing will be delineated.Read moreRead less
Iron, ferroptosis and the biology of ageing. This project aims to determine how and when regulation of iron is lost. Failing iron metabolism during life may dictate the rate of ageing by driving a newly discovered cell death program. Combining biology, chemistry and physics, this collaborative project aims to transform the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of biological ageing. Anticipated outcomes include new assays for measuring iron in biology and identification of potential pathway ....Iron, ferroptosis and the biology of ageing. This project aims to determine how and when regulation of iron is lost. Failing iron metabolism during life may dictate the rate of ageing by driving a newly discovered cell death program. Combining biology, chemistry and physics, this collaborative project aims to transform the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of biological ageing. Anticipated outcomes include new assays for measuring iron in biology and identification of potential pathways that regulate death signaling and lifespan. Outcomes will benefit life sciences and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. The CNBP brings together physicists, chemists and biologists focused on a grand challenge controlling nanoscale interactions between light and matter to probe the complex and dynamic nanoenvironments within living organisms. The emerging convergence of nanoscience and photonics offers the opportunity of using light to interrogate nanoscale domains, providing unprecedentedly localised measurements. This will allow biological scientists to unde ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. The CNBP brings together physicists, chemists and biologists focused on a grand challenge controlling nanoscale interactions between light and matter to probe the complex and dynamic nanoenvironments within living organisms. The emerging convergence of nanoscience and photonics offers the opportunity of using light to interrogate nanoscale domains, providing unprecedentedly localised measurements. This will allow biological scientists to understand how single cells react to and communicate with their surroundings. This science will underpin a new generation of devices capable of probing the response of cells within individuals to environmental conditions or treatment, creating innovative and powerful new sensing platforms.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging will innovatively integrate physics, chemistry and biology to unravel the complex molecular interactions that define immunity. The Centre will develop new imaging methods to visualize atomic, molecular and cellular details of how immune proteins interact and
effect immune responses. Outcomes: (i) new technological innovations leading to new imaging methods and products; and (ii) fundame ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging will innovatively integrate physics, chemistry and biology to unravel the complex molecular interactions that define immunity. The Centre will develop new imaging methods to visualize atomic, molecular and cellular details of how immune proteins interact and
effect immune responses. Outcomes: (i) new technological innovations leading to new imaging methods and products; and (ii) fundamental advances in understanding details of immune responses in health and disease. The Centre will enable Australia to be an international leader in biological imaging, to train next
generation interdisciplinary scientists, and to provide new insights for combating common diseases that afflict society.Read moreRead less