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.
Active Transport Of Calcium Across Dental Enamel Cells - Testing A New Paradigm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$258,000.00
Summary
Dental enamel defects and tooth loss affect over half our population, resulting in substantial suffering and economic costs. It is likely that many enamel defects could be prevented, and replacement teeth made more lifelike, if more was known about the cells responsible for producing enamel. A particular problem is our lack of understanding about how enamel-forming cells avoid overdosing on calcium, which can lead to cellular toxicity. The overall aim of this research is to use the latest cell b ....Dental enamel defects and tooth loss affect over half our population, resulting in substantial suffering and economic costs. It is likely that many enamel defects could be prevented, and replacement teeth made more lifelike, if more was known about the cells responsible for producing enamel. A particular problem is our lack of understanding about how enamel-forming cells avoid overdosing on calcium, which can lead to cellular toxicity. The overall aim of this research is to use the latest cell biology and biochemical techniques to elucidate the mechanisms of calcium handling in enamel cells, with developing teeth from rat as the experimental model. Our focus is on calcium transport mechanisms, a field where past theories were overturned by our recent findings with gene-knockout animals. We will test a new theory that has arisen from our investigations, using drugs and gene-silencing techniques to interfere with the cellular machinery now thought to be crucial for transporting calcium. By providing strong physiological evidence for this new mechanism, our expected results will define specific proteins that might be targeted by drugs and nutrition, and provide important information about how dietary fluoride and caffeine affect enamel quality. These findings would change thinking about how enamel defects can be prevented and provide a solid foundation to the exciting new field of dental bioengineering, whose goal is to coax stem cells to make natural replacement teeth.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms Of Nedd4/Nedd4-2-mediated Regulation Of The Epithelial Sodium Channel
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$471,000.00
Summary
The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a highly specific ion channel expressed in the apical membrane of some tissues. In the kidney, ENaC activity is responsible for maintaining sodium balance, blood volume and blood pressure. In the lung ENaC function is required for fluid clearance. Abnormal regulation of ENaC is associated with conditions such as hypertension, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary oedema. Delineating the molecular basis of the regulation of ENaC is vital in understanding disease me ....The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a highly specific ion channel expressed in the apical membrane of some tissues. In the kidney, ENaC activity is responsible for maintaining sodium balance, blood volume and blood pressure. In the lung ENaC function is required for fluid clearance. Abnormal regulation of ENaC is associated with conditions such as hypertension, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary oedema. Delineating the molecular basis of the regulation of ENaC is vital in understanding disease mechanisms and in defining targets for novel therapeutics for the treatment of disorders that arise due to sodium imbalance. Furthermore, ENaC and the molecules involved in the channel regulatory cascade are potential candidate genes in defining the genetic causes of human hypertension and salt wasting disorders. Previous studies from our laboratories and by other groups have shown that Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 proteins are key players in regulating ENaC activity. Our recent NHMRC supported work has identified another important protein, Grk2, as a regulator of ENaC. The work proposed in this application is an extension of our recent findings and will enable us to fully define how Nedd4-Nedd4-2 and Grk2 regulate the activity of ENaC.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454170
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,341.00
Summary
Biacore3000-Expansion of Proteomics Facility. The sequencing of the human genome has led to redirection of effort towards the rapid characterisation of the products of genes, proteins. This project will establish state of the art facilities for protein identification and characterisation in the Hunter Region. The investigators are representative of several major research programs and are unified by their specific expertise in the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the control of cellula ....Biacore3000-Expansion of Proteomics Facility. The sequencing of the human genome has led to redirection of effort towards the rapid characterisation of the products of genes, proteins. This project will establish state of the art facilities for protein identification and characterisation in the Hunter Region. The investigators are representative of several major research programs and are unified by their specific expertise in the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the control of cellular processes in plants, animals and humans. Understanding these mechanisms will provide the basis for improved management of the environment and pathological conditions through identifying molecular targets for diagnosis, genetic manipulation or drug design.Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanisms of cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (AMP) induced apoptosis. Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) is an important cellular chemical necessary for cell growth. However, de-regulated cAMP production in response to altered physiology can result in cellular death or apoptosis. This is attributed to the development of certain human diseases and this project aims to understand the molecular mechanism behind this process.
Elucidating the regulation of cell death by random mutagenesis of key apoptotic proteins. All organisms need to remove damaged or excessive cells. This cell death process is called apoptosis. Defects in apoptosis result in numerous diseases including cancer, and neurodegenerative and immune disorders. Determining how this process is regulated is of crucial importance for therapeutic intervention. We will utilise a powerful strategy to mutate proteins required for apoptosis so that they no longer ....Elucidating the regulation of cell death by random mutagenesis of key apoptotic proteins. All organisms need to remove damaged or excessive cells. This cell death process is called apoptosis. Defects in apoptosis result in numerous diseases including cancer, and neurodegenerative and immune disorders. Determining how this process is regulated is of crucial importance for therapeutic intervention. We will utilise a powerful strategy to mutate proteins required for apoptosis so that they no longer work, which will allow the identification of protein regions essential for cell death activity . This will lead to identification of potential drug targets to control apoptosis. Elucidating the mechanism of cell death will lead to the development of novel and improved therapies for diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disease.Read moreRead less
Determining the molecular regulation of blood vessel development and angiogenesis. Abnormal blood vessel growth is associated with diseases including cancer, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and chronic inflammation. This project focuses on understanding normal blood vessel growth in order to gather clues to help discover ways of preventing abnormal blood vessel growth during disease.
Investigation of the biology of insulin-like growth factor 1 and its derivatives for the development of new therapeutics. This project will investigate the biology of insulin-like growth factor 1, a key molecule in growth, development and, in particular, the wound healing process. Its success will lead to improved treatments for non-healing (chronic) wounds and, potentially, new anti-cancer treatments.
Molecular control of apoptosis and protein homeostasis. A million cells are produced every second by cell division. At the same time a million cells commit suicide by a process called apoptosis. When cells fail to die when they should they can develop into cancers. In heart attacks, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, many cells appear to activate their self destruct mechanism to die unnecessarily. Drugs that can cause cancer cells to kill themselves, or drugs that prevent cells dying when th ....Molecular control of apoptosis and protein homeostasis. A million cells are produced every second by cell division. At the same time a million cells commit suicide by a process called apoptosis. When cells fail to die when they should they can develop into cancers. In heart attacks, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, many cells appear to activate their self destruct mechanism to die unnecessarily. Drugs that can cause cancer cells to kill themselves, or drugs that prevent cells dying when they shouldn't, would make a major impact on many important diseases. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell death is the first step towards developing these drugs.Read moreRead less
Determination of the mechanisms of immune system regulation of inflammation by the human protein, chaperonin 10. The aim of this project is to determine the mechanisms by which a human protein, chaperonin 10 (Cpn10), regulates the immune system and suppresses inflammation. When cells of the human immune system are challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (a product of bacterial infection), the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF is released. Cpn10 has been shown to suppress production of TNF on chall ....Determination of the mechanisms of immune system regulation of inflammation by the human protein, chaperonin 10. The aim of this project is to determine the mechanisms by which a human protein, chaperonin 10 (Cpn10), regulates the immune system and suppresses inflammation. When cells of the human immune system are challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (a product of bacterial infection), the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF is released. Cpn10 has been shown to suppress production of TNF on challenge of cells with LPS, while increasing the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Investigating the role of Cpn10 in modulating inflammation will contribute to the understanding and treatment of diseases associated with inflammation, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.Read moreRead less
Novel vitamin E analogues disrupt autocrine signalling and angiogenesis: Mechanistic studies and relevance to cancer management. Breast and mesothelioma cancers present a severe problem in Australia and many patients succumb due to lack of appropriate treatment. We believe that vitamin E analogues, selective drugs efficient against cancer cells, hold a promise as future drugs against these two pathologies. Vitamin E analogues act by several mechanisms, including toxic effect on the cancer cells ....Novel vitamin E analogues disrupt autocrine signalling and angiogenesis: Mechanistic studies and relevance to cancer management. Breast and mesothelioma cancers present a severe problem in Australia and many patients succumb due to lack of appropriate treatment. We believe that vitamin E analogues, selective drugs efficient against cancer cells, hold a promise as future drugs against these two pathologies. Vitamin E analogues act by several mechanisms, including toxic effect on the cancer cells and also on cells that are necessary for efficient progression of tumours, such as cells of the malignant blood vessels. Results of this project will be used to prepare clinical testing of these highly promising drugs.Read moreRead less