Microtubule structure in nervous system repair. This Project aims to investigate the role of structural and functional cellular components known as microtubules in nervous system regeneration. This Project aims to use innovative approaches in confocal and electron microscopy, genetics, and cell biology, with the expectation of generating new knowledge into nervous system repair. Expected outcomes of this Project include a comprehensive description of how microtubules are rearranged following ner ....Microtubule structure in nervous system repair. This Project aims to investigate the role of structural and functional cellular components known as microtubules in nervous system regeneration. This Project aims to use innovative approaches in confocal and electron microscopy, genetics, and cell biology, with the expectation of generating new knowledge into nervous system repair. Expected outcomes of this Project include a comprehensive description of how microtubules are rearranged following nervous system injury and the importance of microtubule modifying proteins in promoting regeneration. This should provide significant benefits in our understanding of the cellular mechanisms behind nervous system repair, and offer new approaches for promoting regeneration after injury.Read moreRead less
Imaging the generation and recall of protective antiviral immune responses in vivo. Our understanding of the in vivo dynamics of cellular immune responses to infectious diseases is poor. This project will utilise advanced intravital imaging combined with novel tools to dissect the cellular events involved in the generation and recall of T cell responses to localised virus infection, combined with a detailed functional analysis of the lymphoid organ stroma. Such fundamental information will contr ....Imaging the generation and recall of protective antiviral immune responses in vivo. Our understanding of the in vivo dynamics of cellular immune responses to infectious diseases is poor. This project will utilise advanced intravital imaging combined with novel tools to dissect the cellular events involved in the generation and recall of T cell responses to localised virus infection, combined with a detailed functional analysis of the lymphoid organ stroma. Such fundamental information will contribute to the development of new generation vaccines and therapies to protect against tissue-specific infectious diseases, cancers and autoimmune diseases.Read moreRead less
How cell shape regulators control cell competition in tissue development. This project aims to determine how cell shape (polarity) regulators affect cell survival in an epithelial tissue. When mutation or wounding perturb cell shape regulators in a tissue cell, signalling pathways are altered that kill the aberrant cells. A surveillance mechanism termed "cell competition" is important to remove the damaged cells. This project will investigate a potential regulator of cell competition, the tyrosi ....How cell shape regulators control cell competition in tissue development. This project aims to determine how cell shape (polarity) regulators affect cell survival in an epithelial tissue. When mutation or wounding perturb cell shape regulators in a tissue cell, signalling pathways are altered that kill the aberrant cells. A surveillance mechanism termed "cell competition" is important to remove the damaged cells. This project will investigate a potential regulator of cell competition, the tyrosine phosphatase PTP61F, in response to perturbation of cell shape regulators, using the vinegar fly, Drosophila, and mammalian systems. This study is expected to reveal biomarkers that can be used to improve organismal fitness to increase productivity or to decrease it for pest control.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100604
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,600.00
Summary
How do cells sense and react to mechanical forces? There is accumulating evidence that mechanical forces exerted on tissues and cells strongly influences their behaviour. My research aims to understand how cells sense and respond to forces experienced throughout life. Using a combination of three-dimensional cell and tissue culture methods, I will investigate how compressive forces change the biochemistry of cells and their functionality. This work is aimed at generating fundamental knowledge to ....How do cells sense and react to mechanical forces? There is accumulating evidence that mechanical forces exerted on tissues and cells strongly influences their behaviour. My research aims to understand how cells sense and respond to forces experienced throughout life. Using a combination of three-dimensional cell and tissue culture methods, I will investigate how compressive forces change the biochemistry of cells and their functionality. This work is aimed at generating fundamental knowledge to improve our comprehension of how cells respond to force. The expected outcome is a greater understanding of mechanical and biochemical relationships between cells and the environment, to inform fields of tissue engineering of culture scaffolds to better mimic natural cell-tissue settings.Read moreRead less
Understanding how the heart becomes more efficient. The body demands that the heart function at utmost efficiency. Trabeculae – folds within the heart lumen – maximise blood flow, contribute to chamber development and form the electrical conduction network of the heart. Problems with trabeculae formation cause cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia and yet we do not understand its basic development. The project will investigate the earliest stages of when this tissue develops its identity and examine the ....Understanding how the heart becomes more efficient. The body demands that the heart function at utmost efficiency. Trabeculae – folds within the heart lumen – maximise blood flow, contribute to chamber development and form the electrical conduction network of the heart. Problems with trabeculae formation cause cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia and yet we do not understand its basic development. The project will investigate the earliest stages of when this tissue develops its identity and examine the signalling, genetic, cellular and extracellular cues required to instruct trabeculae to form in the heart. Findings from this research will revise our understanding of when and how trabeculae form and provide key information about how to grow and repair this important tissue.Read moreRead less
Angiogenic defects in mutant growth plate cartilage reveal new modulators of vascular invasion. Converting cartilage to bone requires blood vessel invasion from the bony interface. This project will test, in vitro and in vivo, the hypothesis that collagen fragments regulate blood vessel invasion into cartilage. This data will have implications for processes requiring new blood vessels such as bone growth, cancer, inflammation and ischemia.
Understanding platinum dissolution in biomedical stimulating electrodes. Platinum is the main material used in electrodes for neurostimulators like the cochlear implant. Platinum electrodes can experience dissolution during implantation, which can impact on their function. The mechanisms governing this dissolution process are complex and still not fully understood. This research aims to understand the chemical, electrical and biological factors that impact on platinum dissolution in electrodes. ....Understanding platinum dissolution in biomedical stimulating electrodes. Platinum is the main material used in electrodes for neurostimulators like the cochlear implant. Platinum electrodes can experience dissolution during implantation, which can impact on their function. The mechanisms governing this dissolution process are complex and still not fully understood. This research aims to understand the chemical, electrical and biological factors that impact on platinum dissolution in electrodes. It will also develop new 3D models to simulate conditions in the human body for more rapid testing of electrodes. The new knowledge generated will improve the accuracy of predictions of platinum dissolution, develop new approaches for minimising dissolution, and contribute to reducing need for animal experimentation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100165
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Electron microscopy cryopreparation facility for biomedical research. The proposed cryopreparation facility will allow cell and molecular biologists and material scientists in the region to prepare samples for ultrastructural research not currently possible due to insufficient local resources, and will thus significantly boost their research. The facility will support a wide range of world class medical and material scientists, including those visiting the Australian Synchrotron, whose research ....Electron microscopy cryopreparation facility for biomedical research. The proposed cryopreparation facility will allow cell and molecular biologists and material scientists in the region to prepare samples for ultrastructural research not currently possible due to insufficient local resources, and will thus significantly boost their research. The facility will support a wide range of world class medical and material scientists, including those visiting the Australian Synchrotron, whose research in health sciences and advanced materials characterisation facilitates the goals of promoting and maintaining good health and frontier technologies. The instrumentation will enhance training capacity in the region and provide young Australian scientists with direct experience of modern electron microscopy techniques.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.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100174
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,747.00
Summary
Calcium-mediated regulation of stem cell development. This project aims to clarify the role of syndecan-mediated calcium in stem cell development using Caenorhabditis elegans. Stem cells have great potential for regenerative studies. While stem cells cultures are widely used, we do not fully understand how stem cells develop within an organism. This project expects to uncover the mechanisms underpinning calcium regulation by syndecan in stem cells. The expected outcomes include the optimisation ....Calcium-mediated regulation of stem cell development. This project aims to clarify the role of syndecan-mediated calcium in stem cell development using Caenorhabditis elegans. Stem cells have great potential for regenerative studies. While stem cells cultures are widely used, we do not fully understand how stem cells develop within an organism. This project expects to uncover the mechanisms underpinning calcium regulation by syndecan in stem cells. The expected outcomes include the optimisation of C. elegans stem cell methods to screen calcium regulating compounds and the creation of an in vivo calcium sensor. The project should advance knowledge of the role of syndecans in stem cells and provide the first analysis of in vivo calcium kinetics in stem cells.Read moreRead less