The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
A microfluidic approach to study the mechanobiology of ageing blood vessels. This project aims to study the effect of the stiffening of ageing arteries in endothelial cells. It explores the changes that occur in endothelial cells using a unique microfluidic technology with tuneable wall stiffness to mimic the biophysical and biochemical properties of ageing arteries. The expected outcome is the identification of the cellular mechanisms that control endothelial responses to arterial stiffening. T ....A microfluidic approach to study the mechanobiology of ageing blood vessels. This project aims to study the effect of the stiffening of ageing arteries in endothelial cells. It explores the changes that occur in endothelial cells using a unique microfluidic technology with tuneable wall stiffness to mimic the biophysical and biochemical properties of ageing arteries. The expected outcome is the identification of the cellular mechanisms that control endothelial responses to arterial stiffening. This should provide the fundamental knowledge required to assist in the development of new therapies to tackle age-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of membrane protein ubiquitination by MARCH ligases. The goal of the project is to understand how a family of enzymes called MARCHs regulate expression and localisation of immunoregulatory receptors within cells by post-translational addition of a small protein tag called Ubiquitin. The aims are to decipher the ubiquitination patterns produced by the MARCHs; identify the E2 ligases used by the MARCHs to produce distinct Ub codes; and apply a new proteomic pipeline to identify no ....Characterisation of membrane protein ubiquitination by MARCH ligases. The goal of the project is to understand how a family of enzymes called MARCHs regulate expression and localisation of immunoregulatory receptors within cells by post-translational addition of a small protein tag called Ubiquitin. The aims are to decipher the ubiquitination patterns produced by the MARCHs; identify the E2 ligases used by the MARCHs to produce distinct Ub codes; and apply a new proteomic pipeline to identify novel representative MARCH substrates in mice deficient in six different MARCHs. It is anticipated the project will reveal novel insights into a fundamental cell biological process of major significance for regulation of protein expression and trafficking in cells of the immune system.Read moreRead less
Membrane trafficking and endosome to trans-Golgi network retrograde pathways. This project will study newly discovered and essential transport highways in cells, which connect the secretory and internalisation pathways. This research will enhance understandings of how molecules are transported along specific highways in cells. By training students, the project will contribute to the expertise of cell biology in Australia.
Phosphoinositide regulation of lysosome reformation during autophagy. This project aims to investigate a new critical step in the autophagy pathway, autophagic lysosome reformation, a fundamental, evolutionarily conserved mechanism for cellular homeostasis. By combining gene function studies with advanced cellular imaging techniques, this project will investigate the dynamic membrane changes that drive this lysosome recycling pathway and how it is regulated by a hierarchical succession of specif ....Phosphoinositide regulation of lysosome reformation during autophagy. This project aims to investigate a new critical step in the autophagy pathway, autophagic lysosome reformation, a fundamental, evolutionarily conserved mechanism for cellular homeostasis. By combining gene function studies with advanced cellular imaging techniques, this project will investigate the dynamic membrane changes that drive this lysosome recycling pathway and how it is regulated by a hierarchical succession of specific enzymes. The expected outcome will be to re-define the archetypical autophagy pathway and characterise novel mechanisms by which it is controlled. This project will reveal new fundamental biological processes, and act as a framework for developing new imaging modalities and tools for studying autophagy.Read moreRead less
Plasmonic nanoparticles for probing and perturbing the spatial organisation of membrane proteins. Receptors on the surface of cells provide vital functions and represent a large fraction of drug targets. It is believed that the spatial organisation of receptors can effect their function. This project will test this hypothesis by combining nanotechnology with biophysics to watch and manipulate the spatial organisation of receptors.
A mechanism for pathogen detection highly conserved in mammals. This project aims to delineate biochemically how mammals fight pathogens by alerting their immune system to Vitamin B compounds produced by certain bacteria and fungi. The protein MR1 binds the compounds and displays them on the cell surface, activating pathogen-fighting MAIT cells. The MR1-MAIT cell axis is highly conserved in mammals and is thought to defend the host. This project expects to lead to new products to improve veterin ....A mechanism for pathogen detection highly conserved in mammals. This project aims to delineate biochemically how mammals fight pathogens by alerting their immune system to Vitamin B compounds produced by certain bacteria and fungi. The protein MR1 binds the compounds and displays them on the cell surface, activating pathogen-fighting MAIT cells. The MR1-MAIT cell axis is highly conserved in mammals and is thought to defend the host. This project expects to lead to new products to improve veterinary and human health services with new technology developed throughout the project and high-level training which will increase the competitiveness of the strategic biotechnology sector in Australia.Read moreRead less
Function and evolution of insect odorant receptors. This project aims to shed light on how insect odorant receptors function by using comparative genomic studies between the genetic model insect Drosophila melanogaster and a pest species, the Australian sheep blowfly. This project expects to generate knowledge of how specific chemicals activate specific receptors in order to excite sensory neurons and drive behaviour, which is not well understood. Expected outcomes include increased understandin ....Function and evolution of insect odorant receptors. This project aims to shed light on how insect odorant receptors function by using comparative genomic studies between the genetic model insect Drosophila melanogaster and a pest species, the Australian sheep blowfly. This project expects to generate knowledge of how specific chemicals activate specific receptors in order to excite sensory neurons and drive behaviour, which is not well understood. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of olfaction in insects, increased national and international collaboration, and outstanding graduate student training. This research will be of significant future benefit in deriving methods to modify the behaviour of insects of agricultural or medical importance, for example the sheep blowfly. Read moreRead less
Discovering novel allosteric probes of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. This project aims at fostering novel approaches to selectively target vital receptors in the human body, the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). By harnessing the design of receptor mutations, compounds synthesis and fluorescent imaging, the project expects to develop new pharmacological tools for a family of receptors essential for the life of all vertebrates. By enriching our understanding of this family of rec ....Discovering novel allosteric probes of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. This project aims at fostering novel approaches to selectively target vital receptors in the human body, the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). By harnessing the design of receptor mutations, compounds synthesis and fluorescent imaging, the project expects to develop new pharmacological tools for a family of receptors essential for the life of all vertebrates. By enriching our understanding of this family of receptor, the project expects to provide significant benefits to the research field by impacting on future drug discovery efforts, not only at mAChRs, but at other structurally related receptors.Read moreRead less
A novel axis of cooperation between innate and adaptive immunity. The project aims to understand how two molecular components of the immune system, Complement and MHC, cooperate to protect the host. Further, these two molecules mediate trogocytosis, a little-studied form of intercellular communication, between two major immune cell types: dendritic cells and B cells. The project will be multidisciplinary, applying high-end microscopy, biochemistry, cell biology and immunology techniques. Person ....A novel axis of cooperation between innate and adaptive immunity. The project aims to understand how two molecular components of the immune system, Complement and MHC, cooperate to protect the host. Further, these two molecules mediate trogocytosis, a little-studied form of intercellular communication, between two major immune cell types: dendritic cells and B cells. The project will be multidisciplinary, applying high-end microscopy, biochemistry, cell biology and immunology techniques. Personnel will be trained in cutting-edge techniques. The project will expand knowledge on basic immunology and cell-cell cooperation. It will generate intellectual property for the biotechnology sector to develop new commercial products that might improve the health of humans and also animals of economic importance.Read moreRead less
The function of the ribbon structure of the Golgi apparatus in vertebrates. The aim of the project is to determine the function of the Golgi ribbon structure in higher order cell functions, including metabolism, cell cycle, and cell polarity in both cultured cells and whole organisms. Understanding of the functions of the Golgi has been restricted to the regulation of glycosylation and membrane transport. However, it is now recognised that the Golgi apparatus feeds into the wiring of a range of ....The function of the ribbon structure of the Golgi apparatus in vertebrates. The aim of the project is to determine the function of the Golgi ribbon structure in higher order cell functions, including metabolism, cell cycle, and cell polarity in both cultured cells and whole organisms. Understanding of the functions of the Golgi has been restricted to the regulation of glycosylation and membrane transport. However, it is now recognised that the Golgi apparatus feeds into the wiring of a range of cellular networks in higher organisms such as cell polarisation, directed migration, metabolism and autophagy. Vertebrates have evolved mechanisms for joining individual Golgi stacks into a ribbon structure. The relevance of this ribbon structure remains a mystery. The project aims to answer this major question in cell biology.Read moreRead less