Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100012
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$890,000.00
Summary
Dual Column-Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscope facility for Queensland. Dual column focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope facility: This facility will precisely cut specimens and surfaces that can be imaged in a variety of ways, including crystallographic and elemental space, of particular use for physical scientists, as well as biological specimens. This instrument will provide information at resolutions between optical and transmission electron microscopy, images that will ....Dual Column-Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscope facility for Queensland. Dual column focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope facility: This facility will precisely cut specimens and surfaces that can be imaged in a variety of ways, including crystallographic and elemental space, of particular use for physical scientists, as well as biological specimens. This instrument will provide information at resolutions between optical and transmission electron microscopy, images that will effectively provide the biologist with the ability to develop the complete correlative picture of organelles and cells. The instrument will also provide a much needed resource for researchers across disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology and engineering.Read moreRead less
The impact of Hyaluronic Acid on growth factor signalling and angiogenesis. Blood vessel development is controlled by growth factor signalling. Vessels are attracted by and migrate along growth factor gradients, and this is controlled by the extracellular matrix (ECM). From the zebrafish model, we have identified a novel gene that modulates the ECM, impacting growth factor signalling and vessel development. The project will explore by what mechanism this gene impacts signalling. It will comprehe ....The impact of Hyaluronic Acid on growth factor signalling and angiogenesis. Blood vessel development is controlled by growth factor signalling. Vessels are attracted by and migrate along growth factor gradients, and this is controlled by the extracellular matrix (ECM). From the zebrafish model, we have identified a novel gene that modulates the ECM, impacting growth factor signalling and vessel development. The project will explore by what mechanism this gene impacts signalling. It will comprehensively define where in the embryo it is required and investigate what cofactors it interacts with to perform its function. Using genetic zebrafish and mouse models as well as cell culture models we will investigate the fundamental biology of this gene.Read moreRead less
New guardians of the mucosa: Molecular characterisation of M cell biology. We aim to completely define the cellular and molecular biology of gut and lung M cells for the first time. We will elucidate how they develop, are regulated and function at a molecular level, and how M cells maintain normal gut and lung tissues and induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges. In the future, the new insights will be essential pre-requisites for the development of mucosal-based intervent ....New guardians of the mucosa: Molecular characterisation of M cell biology. We aim to completely define the cellular and molecular biology of gut and lung M cells for the first time. We will elucidate how they develop, are regulated and function at a molecular level, and how M cells maintain normal gut and lung tissues and induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges. In the future, the new insights will be essential pre-requisites for the development of mucosal-based interventions and vaccines that protect the gut and lung from infectious and inflammatory issues. The harnessing of effective immune responses to control such challenges, are of enormous fundamental and long-standing biological interest, and are amongst the most important areas of current scientific research.Read moreRead less
Genetic variation of single cell transcriptional heterogeneity in HiPSCs. This project aims to investigate whether induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can be used to study the functions of genetic variants associated with human phenotypes and cell fate decisions. The project will utilise technology to produce single cell RNA sequence data for 100,000s of cells. By sequencing individual cells, the genetic control of cellular heterogeneity both within and between cells can be identified, and in ....Genetic variation of single cell transcriptional heterogeneity in HiPSCs. This project aims to investigate whether induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can be used to study the functions of genetic variants associated with human phenotypes and cell fate decisions. The project will utilise technology to produce single cell RNA sequence data for 100,000s of cells. By sequencing individual cells, the genetic control of cellular heterogeneity both within and between cells can be identified, and in doing so, will provide significant benefit by revealing the potential for iPSC to be used for functional translation of human genomics.Read moreRead less
Understanding self-organising tissues. This project will discover how an organ can form from a mixture of component cells by 'self-organisation'. Understanding of how this can occur, could potentially be applied to the bioengineering of organs from component cells.
Eliminating Hepatitis C Transmission By Enhancing Hepatitis C Care And Treatment In Primary Health Care Settings.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,221,831.00
Summary
In developed countries, people who inject drugs (PWID) are the group at greatest risk of hepatitis C (HCV) infection but few PWID receive HCV treatment. With the advent of highly effective non-interferon based treatments HCV elimination, although ambitious, is now being seriously considered globally. This partnership grant will explore the feasibility of eliminating HCV transmission by enhancing HCV care and treatment for PWID in primary health care settings.
The structure and patterning of branching morphogenesis in the developing kidney. This project aims to understand a fundamental developmental process known as branching morphogenesis, which drives the formation of many organs including the kidney, lungs and glands. Understanding this process will be of key importance in understand how our organs form.
Genetic analysis of cohesin function and regulation in Drosophila. In yeast, a multiprotein complex, called cohesin, holds newly replicated chromatids together until the cell is ready to partition each chromatid into its daughter cells. We and others have shown that cohesins are regulated differently in animal cells. We propose to combine classical genetic analyses with two new and innovative techniques, time-lapse confocal microscopy of fluorescent proteins in living cells and gene-specific kno ....Genetic analysis of cohesin function and regulation in Drosophila. In yeast, a multiprotein complex, called cohesin, holds newly replicated chromatids together until the cell is ready to partition each chromatid into its daughter cells. We and others have shown that cohesins are regulated differently in animal cells. We propose to combine classical genetic analyses with two new and innovative techniques, time-lapse confocal microscopy of fluorescent proteins in living cells and gene-specific knockout techniques to study key cohesin regulators in Drosophila. These studies will provide us with novel insights into how multicellular organisms regulate the structure and stability of their chromosomes.Read moreRead less
Migration-Dependent Signalling in Macrophages . The project aims to investigate a mechanism of communication used by immune cells to guide each other towards sites of damage. The project will characterise newly revealed cell signalling membrane trails left behind by migrating cells, utilising biochemistry, innovative imaging and microscopy and a transparent zebrafish model to view cell migration through living tissues. Expected outcomes include new fundamental knowledge in the area of immune cel ....Migration-Dependent Signalling in Macrophages . The project aims to investigate a mechanism of communication used by immune cells to guide each other towards sites of damage. The project will characterise newly revealed cell signalling membrane trails left behind by migrating cells, utilising biochemistry, innovative imaging and microscopy and a transparent zebrafish model to view cell migration through living tissues. Expected outcomes include new fundamental knowledge in the area of immune cell migration with relevance to the basic biology of inflammation, repair and regeneration and new innovations for cell imaging. Significant benefits are expected to arise from this new knowledge and from advanced skills training and improved national capabilities in bio-imaging and analysis.Read moreRead less
Heat regulation by the fibre types in muscle. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the fibre types that make up skeletal muscles regulate heat generation against other muscle function, to maintain core body temperature and the normal movement and posture of the mammal. Project outcomes include defining, for the first time, how heat generation in the muscles o ....Heat regulation by the fibre types in muscle. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the fibre types that make up skeletal muscles regulate heat generation against other muscle function, to maintain core body temperature and the normal movement and posture of the mammal. Project outcomes include defining, for the first time, how heat generation in the muscles of the body is regulated. This should provide critical knowledge of mammalian evolution and ways to manipulate metabolism, which may provide ways to assist with achieving a desired meat quality and yield in beef and other commercially important animals.Read moreRead less