Development Of A Novel Biosensor Using Magnetically Amplified Luminescence For The Early Detection Of Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,500.00
Summary
Cancer is often not detected until it has invaded surrounding tissues and spread to other organs. Current treatment is then often ineffective, and prognosis poor. Early detection of cancer is therefore essential for improved disease management. Such methods must be cheap, non-invasive, and rapid with high sensitivity and specificity. We are investigating a new biosensor technology that satisfies these criteria. This method uses magnetically amplified luminescence for the detection of low levels ....Cancer is often not detected until it has invaded surrounding tissues and spread to other organs. Current treatment is then often ineffective, and prognosis poor. Early detection of cancer is therefore essential for improved disease management. Such methods must be cheap, non-invasive, and rapid with high sensitivity and specificity. We are investigating a new biosensor technology that satisfies these criteria. This method uses magnetically amplified luminescence for the detection of low levels of cancer cells in clinical samples (urine, faeces, blood, biopsy), using telomerase as a marker.Read moreRead less
Phase Contrast X-ray Imaging of the Lung. Lung diseases are a major cause of death in adults, children and newborn infants. Currently, the diagnosis of lung disease is based on clinical symptoms, which usually do not manifest until the disease is well advanced. This project will develop a novel X-ray imaging technique, known as phase contrast imaging, to study the lung, and to potentially detect changes in lung tissue before symptoms arise. This may lead to improved strategies for managing newbo ....Phase Contrast X-ray Imaging of the Lung. Lung diseases are a major cause of death in adults, children and newborn infants. Currently, the diagnosis of lung disease is based on clinical symptoms, which usually do not manifest until the disease is well advanced. This project will develop a novel X-ray imaging technique, known as phase contrast imaging, to study the lung, and to potentially detect changes in lung tissue before symptoms arise. This may lead to improved strategies for managing newborn infants, as well as improving the management of lung diseases in adults.Read moreRead less
The Diagnosis, Biomarker Identification And Measurement Of Drug Efficacy In Mental Illness And Neurological Conditions.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$119,050.00
Summary
Globally, 2 billion people suffer from a neuropsychiatric illness. The cost is more than US$2 trillion a year. Hampering early intervention is the current lack of definitive, quantitative techniques for diagnosis and measurement of treatment efficacy. This research will determine whether the disease fingerprints produced by a new technique, EVestG, are diagnostically unique (to schizophrenia, depression and Parkinson's disease) and sensitive to disease progression and treatment response.
A SYSTEMS BIOLOGY APPROACH TO SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS FOR LYSOSOMAL STORAGE DISORDERS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$900,781.00
Summary
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are inherited and, at present, can only be detected in children after symptoms are obvious. We are developing newborn screening for LSD to detect affected babies before the onset of irreversible symptoms. As most LSD babies appear normal at birth it is important to be able to predict disease severity or rate of disease progression; this will help doctors know when to give therapy, which therapy is best and provide families with appropriate genetic counseling.
Non-invasive diagnosis using micropatches that sample biomarkers from skin. We are developing a technology called the micropatch that is laid onto the surface of the skin. When the patch is pulled away, it retains proteins found in the subsurface skin layers. We believe that by analysing these proteins we will be able to diagnose diseases like cancer earlier and therefore have a better chance of treating them successfully. The process is painless, and doctors already use it to give drugs and vac ....Non-invasive diagnosis using micropatches that sample biomarkers from skin. We are developing a technology called the micropatch that is laid onto the surface of the skin. When the patch is pulled away, it retains proteins found in the subsurface skin layers. We believe that by analysing these proteins we will be able to diagnose diseases like cancer earlier and therefore have a better chance of treating them successfully. The process is painless, and doctors already use it to give drugs and vaccines. In the future we hope that our technology will be simple enough for routine diagnosis, even in the Outback where doctors are hundreds of kilometres awayRead moreRead less
Gene Expression Profiling and de novo Transcriptome Sequencing using Geneballs. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate that bead-based technology can be used in applications that currently require DNA hybridisation in order to overcome existing deficiencies in microarray technology. By providing the capability to quickly and efficiently produce, screen and utilize biomolecule libraries of nearly unlimited size, this technology provides the key to unlock the power of genomics and proteomics ....Gene Expression Profiling and de novo Transcriptome Sequencing using Geneballs. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate that bead-based technology can be used in applications that currently require DNA hybridisation in order to overcome existing deficiencies in microarray technology. By providing the capability to quickly and efficiently produce, screen and utilize biomolecule libraries of nearly unlimited size, this technology provides the key to unlock the power of genomics and proteomics for use in real world applications. The project has two aspects. First, relatively small directed cDNA-bead libraries will be compared to known low-density cDNA microarrays to validate the technique for utility in gene expression profiling. Secondly, large libraries containing short oligonucleotide sequences will be used for de novo sequencing of a complete transcriptome. Proof-of-concept in either case will pave the way for many genomic applications and catapult the technology to 'blockbuster' status.Read moreRead less
Measurement and imaging of pathogenic and diagnostic iron oxide nanoparticles using proton magnetic resonance. This project is likely to result in new and improved technologies to aid in the management and diagnosis of a range of diseases including iron metabolism disorders such as thalassaemia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Other aspects of the research may lead to technologies for the early detection of some cancers. The technologies will enhance Australia's intern ....Measurement and imaging of pathogenic and diagnostic iron oxide nanoparticles using proton magnetic resonance. This project is likely to result in new and improved technologies to aid in the management and diagnosis of a range of diseases including iron metabolism disorders such as thalassaemia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Other aspects of the research may lead to technologies for the early detection of some cancers. The technologies will enhance Australia's international standing in the field of advanced medical imaging and have the potential to be commercialised within the Australian biotechnology sector. During the project, research students will receive high quality multidisciplinary training ensuring the supply of personnel with high-level technical expertise into the future.Read moreRead less
Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to dete ....Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to detect parasite products in stool. Such testing technology is amenable to configuration in a robust format, suitable for large-scale manufacture. Given the worldwide prevalence of these parasites, the tests will have a market potential of international significance.Read moreRead less
Devices that use Ion Channels. The proposed device would supply the community of researchers in Australia and internationally with new techniques to enable them to quickly and conveniently investigate properties of ion channels and to speed the screening of potential ion channel targets for pharmaceutical hits and leads. In addition, the tethered membrane technology will be developed to fill an unmet need for a quick and biologically relevant test of EMC hazards. This will enhance the science an ....Devices that use Ion Channels. The proposed device would supply the community of researchers in Australia and internationally with new techniques to enable them to quickly and conveniently investigate properties of ion channels and to speed the screening of potential ion channel targets for pharmaceutical hits and leads. In addition, the tethered membrane technology will be developed to fill an unmet need for a quick and biologically relevant test of EMC hazards. This will enhance the science and technology infrastructure within Australia, taking it into original and exciting directions, contribute to training young Australian scientists and students, as well as enhance Australia's competitive position in the field of nanobiotechnology.Read moreRead less
Development and commercialization of novel diagnostic assays for the early detection of acute dengue virus infection. Dengue is an emerging disease of the tropics and is endemic in more than 100 countries with up to 100 million cases annually. Of these, 500,000 result in dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), a serious life-threatening complication of dengue virus infection. Dengue activity in northern Australia has increased in recent years with suggestions that it may be coming endemic in this count ....Development and commercialization of novel diagnostic assays for the early detection of acute dengue virus infection. Dengue is an emerging disease of the tropics and is endemic in more than 100 countries with up to 100 million cases annually. Of these, 500,000 result in dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), a serious life-threatening complication of dengue virus infection. Dengue activity in northern Australia has increased in recent years with suggestions that it may be coming endemic in this country. Early diagnosis, using NS1 based assays should facilitate containment of such outbreaks through earlier identification, treatment, isolation and strategic mosquito control.Read moreRead less