Solid-phase synthesis of sulfopeptides for evaluation of chemokine-receptor recognition. This research program will develop new chemical methods for preparing biologically active molecules that contain sulphate. These molecules have important functions in controlling blood clotting, hormone activity, immune responses, and AIDS or malarial infection. The new chemical methods will be used to study the interactions of two groups of proteins that control the movement of white blood cells in inflamma ....Solid-phase synthesis of sulfopeptides for evaluation of chemokine-receptor recognition. This research program will develop new chemical methods for preparing biologically active molecules that contain sulphate. These molecules have important functions in controlling blood clotting, hormone activity, immune responses, and AIDS or malarial infection. The new chemical methods will be used to study the interactions of two groups of proteins that control the movement of white blood cells in inflammatory responses. The research will provide insights into the biochemistry of inflammation and will contribute to the development of new therapies for diseases affecting young Australians (allergy, asthma, and viral infections) as well as the elderly (atherosclerosis and arthritis).Read moreRead less
Targeted growth factor delivery using natural polysaccharide materials for bone regeneration. This proposal addresses the core issue of nano-biomaterials capable of encouraging bone growth and providing better and more complete healing of bone fractures. Australia will benefit firstly through improved health outcomes by providing material-based solutions to address slow or non-healing fractures, which are increasingly prevalent in the aging population in Australia. This will have a further benef ....Targeted growth factor delivery using natural polysaccharide materials for bone regeneration. This proposal addresses the core issue of nano-biomaterials capable of encouraging bone growth and providing better and more complete healing of bone fractures. Australia will benefit firstly through improved health outcomes by providing material-based solutions to address slow or non-healing fractures, which are increasingly prevalent in the aging population in Australia. This will have a further benefit to the Australian economy improving the quality of life enabling people to work longer and reducing the need for further surgical intervention. This proposal will also have benefits to Australia through training future researchers in this field which will in turn provide economic growth through the development of Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Design and characterisation of a polysaccharide-based biomaterial for tissue adhesion. This proposal aims to design a new bio-adhesive material and study the mechanisms of action for tissue adhesion. Current suture technology is inadequate for anything but simple repairs and the alternative offered by surgical glues available today is at most augmentation of suturing. Combination of a strong adhesive biomaterial with factors for accelerating wound healing will generate a novel material technolo ....Design and characterisation of a polysaccharide-based biomaterial for tissue adhesion. This proposal aims to design a new bio-adhesive material and study the mechanisms of action for tissue adhesion. Current suture technology is inadequate for anything but simple repairs and the alternative offered by surgical glues available today is at most augmentation of suturing. Combination of a strong adhesive biomaterial with factors for accelerating wound healing will generate a novel material technology that, by uniting wound closure with sealing, addresses an unmet need in surgery.
The primary outcomes of these investigations will be:
1. advancement of knowledge in theories of tissue-biomaterial adhesion mechanisms
2. knowledge of effects of visible light from laser diodes on cells and isolated tissue
3. a biocompatible, visible light activated adhesive film for tissue repair based on chitosan polysaccharides
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Molecularly engineered cell-instructive hydrogels for enhanced tissue regeneration. The outcomes of this project will be relevant to range of wounds, including burns, bed-sores, and diabetic and venous ulcers. Clearly, innovation in wound healing is urgently required as the treatment of wounds represents a significant challenge at all levels of our society, in terms of cost (physical, emotional and financial) to patients, the economy and to the wider community. Despite this obvious and overwhelm ....Molecularly engineered cell-instructive hydrogels for enhanced tissue regeneration. The outcomes of this project will be relevant to range of wounds, including burns, bed-sores, and diabetic and venous ulcers. Clearly, innovation in wound healing is urgently required as the treatment of wounds represents a significant challenge at all levels of our society, in terms of cost (physical, emotional and financial) to patients, the economy and to the wider community. Despite this obvious and overwhelming need, research in wound healing is relatively under-developed and has yet to adopt modern biotechnology and biomaterials approaches. This project is therefore directed at generating cost-effective frontier wound dressing technologies that accelerate wound repair.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454052
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$733,595.00
Summary
Tandem Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer and Robots for High Throughput Proteomics Analysis. This proposal seeks to establish the capacity to perform high-energy tandem mass spectrometry on a high throughput basis, through purchase and coordinated operation of a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation - Time of Flight / Time of Flight - Mass Spectrometer and ancillary equipment, to enhance the proteomics expertise, infrastructure and research plans ....Tandem Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer and Robots for High Throughput Proteomics Analysis. This proposal seeks to establish the capacity to perform high-energy tandem mass spectrometry on a high throughput basis, through purchase and coordinated operation of a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation - Time of Flight / Time of Flight - Mass Spectrometer and ancillary equipment, to enhance the proteomics expertise, infrastructure and research plans of a network of institutions from Queensland and New South Wales and their collaborators. Access to such instrumentation is critical to high level achievement in proteomics, a key platform technology for National Research Priorities relating to Frontier Technologies. No comparable instrument currently exists in Australia.Read moreRead less
Pancreatic Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem Cells using Smart Surfaces. Cord blood cells obtained at the time of delivery of a baby are a valuable resource that have the potential to develop into many cell types. This Project entails attaching stem cells derived from cord blood to appropriate 3 dimensional smart surfaces, and examining the ability of such cells to develop into insulin-producing cells. An understanding of how to coax stem cells, seeded on to smart surfaces, to develop into ma ....Pancreatic Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem Cells using Smart Surfaces. Cord blood cells obtained at the time of delivery of a baby are a valuable resource that have the potential to develop into many cell types. This Project entails attaching stem cells derived from cord blood to appropriate 3 dimensional smart surfaces, and examining the ability of such cells to develop into insulin-producing cells. An understanding of how to coax stem cells, seeded on to smart surfaces, to develop into mature cells with different functions will enhance our ability to understand how cells develop. As well, it enhance the potential usefulness of cord blood for research purposes. Read moreRead less
Structures and Functions of Bacterial Replisomal Proteins. DNA replication in all organisms requires many proteins to interact in a structure called the replisome. The bacterial replisome is assembled about the DnaB helicase, a motor protein that moves along DNA, separating the strands of duplex regions in its path. This project aims to develop understanding of the chemistry of DnaB and other replisomal proteins: their structures, how they work, and how they interact to assemble the replisome. T ....Structures and Functions of Bacterial Replisomal Proteins. DNA replication in all organisms requires many proteins to interact in a structure called the replisome. The bacterial replisome is assembled about the DnaB helicase, a motor protein that moves along DNA, separating the strands of duplex regions in its path. This project aims to develop understanding of the chemistry of DnaB and other replisomal proteins: their structures, how they work, and how they interact to assemble the replisome. This has the potential to lead to design of new antibacterial drugs.
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The molecular basis for oocyst and cyst wall formation in apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites such as Eimeria, Neospora, Toxoplasma and Plasmodium are single celled organisms - protozoa - that cause some of the most serious infectious diseases of livestock and humans ever known. Transmission of these parasites is dependent on their ability to encase themselves in protective structures known as oocyst or cyst walls. These walls are resistant to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals ....The molecular basis for oocyst and cyst wall formation in apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites such as Eimeria, Neospora, Toxoplasma and Plasmodium are single celled organisms - protozoa - that cause some of the most serious infectious diseases of livestock and humans ever known. Transmission of these parasites is dependent on their ability to encase themselves in protective structures known as oocyst or cyst walls. These walls are resistant to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals and attack by the immune system. We will discover and characterise the molecular basis for cyst wall formation. This fundamental knowledge will be the building block for new, highly specific drugs and vaccines to control these extremely important pathogens.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
Mechanism of transmission of calcium waves by glial cells. This research concerns determining the fundamental properties of cells that occupy about 70% of the brain, the glial cells. Two very important discoveries on glial cells have recently been made, namely that they can convey information in the form of patterns of waves and that they possess molecules on their surface membranes that have been implicated in psychotic disorders. One such molecule is called the D2 receptor and its malfunctioni ....Mechanism of transmission of calcium waves by glial cells. This research concerns determining the fundamental properties of cells that occupy about 70% of the brain, the glial cells. Two very important discoveries on glial cells have recently been made, namely that they can convey information in the form of patterns of waves and that they possess molecules on their surface membranes that have been implicated in psychotic disorders. One such molecule is called the D2 receptor and its malfunctioning has been implicated in schizophrenia. Our research will determine the way in which information is propagated in the glial system of the brain and also illuminate the function of several of the molecules found on the surface of the glial cells.Read moreRead less