Supercharging antioxidant capacity. This project aims to deliver improved, tailor-made antioxidants that can better protect key biomolecules and other materials against collateral damage from oxidants within cells. Through fundamental chemistry research, this project aims to understand the relationship between antioxidant capacity and molecular structure, and, through computational chemistry, develop a predictive tool. This, in turn, will provide the means to design molecules that better protect ....Supercharging antioxidant capacity. This project aims to deliver improved, tailor-made antioxidants that can better protect key biomolecules and other materials against collateral damage from oxidants within cells. Through fundamental chemistry research, this project aims to understand the relationship between antioxidant capacity and molecular structure, and, through computational chemistry, develop a predictive tool. This, in turn, will provide the means to design molecules that better protect against oxidative processes. The expected outcome is improved technology to heal tissue damage and inflammation caused by enzymes.Read moreRead less
Antimicrobial and anti-Leishmanial bismuth compounds and materials. The project aims to develop the bioinorganic and medicinal chemistry of bismuth and related metals to address two global health issues: parasitic infections (principally Leishmaniasis) and antibacterial resistance. Through targeting serious microbial infections, the project will research the chemical, physical, structural and biological properties of bismuth and related metals. The project will form bio-protective materials and ....Antimicrobial and anti-Leishmanial bismuth compounds and materials. The project aims to develop the bioinorganic and medicinal chemistry of bismuth and related metals to address two global health issues: parasitic infections (principally Leishmaniasis) and antibacterial resistance. Through targeting serious microbial infections, the project will research the chemical, physical, structural and biological properties of bismuth and related metals. The project will form bio-protective materials and surfaces through incorporating bismuth and its compounds into polymer matrices. It will establish the complexes’ chemical biology and toxicology through scrutinising cellular mechanisms, particularly modern metallomic techniques. New compounds developed may address the urgent and significant health issue of antibiotic resistance and help address poorly treated parasitic infections.Read moreRead less
Biogenesis inspired total synthesis of natural products. The project will study the chemical synthesis of a number of novel natural products. Most significantly, this project will deliver new methods for organic synthesis of complex molecules. The rewards from the total synthesis of bioactive compounds are enormous for the community and in the education and training of scientists.
Total Synthesis of Myxobacteria Metabolites and Analogues. This project will investigate the total chemical synthesis of complex myxobacteria metabolites. In addition, the synthesis of new analogues of some of these natural products will also be investigated. The project endeavours to develop new methods for chemical synthesis and also to produce new therapeutic products which may possess greater efficacy and superior biological activities than the natural compounds. Most significantly, this pro ....Total Synthesis of Myxobacteria Metabolites and Analogues. This project will investigate the total chemical synthesis of complex myxobacteria metabolites. In addition, the synthesis of new analogues of some of these natural products will also be investigated. The project endeavours to develop new methods for chemical synthesis and also to produce new therapeutic products which may possess greater efficacy and superior biological activities than the natural compounds. Most significantly, this project will deliver natural and new compounds for analysis of anti-cancer activity. The rewards of the development of new synthetic methods are enormous for the community and in the education of our scientists.Read moreRead less
DYRK1A As A Novel Target For Glioblastoma Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,294.00
Summary
Glioblastoma is a form of brain cancer that is currently incurable. We have discovered that switching-off an enzyme called DYRK1A (using ‘DYRK1A inhibitors’) kills glioblastoma cells. This therapeutic advantage is even greater when combined with drugs approved for other cancers. This project will develop new DYRK1A inhibitors and examine a novel combination treatment for glioblastoma patients. This could initiate a novel therapy that could significantly extend patients’ lives.
Development Of Small Molecule Modulators Of Apoptosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,558.00
Summary
Cancers rely on the deregulation of key cellular pathways. Along with biological and genetic tools, small molecules are powerful probes to understand these mechanisms. During the course of this research program, we will develop new and drug-like molecules that reinstate the cell death process to combat malignancies. This research will bring important advances for potential chemotherapies and create probes to better understand the biology of programmed cell death processes.
Lymphotropic prodrugs: a novel mechanism for targeted drug delivery. This project aims to design chemically modified drugs that target drug delivery specifically to white blood cells. This approach promises to maximise drug action and simultaneously reduce toxicity for diseases where lymphocytes are the major drug target. These include autoimmune disease, leukaemia, lymphoma, HIV, transplant rejection and diabetes.
Structure-based design of inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase. This project will produce compounds that block human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. These compounds will benefit the 17000 Australians and more than 34 million people worldwide who are currently suffering with this terrible disease.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100170
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,000.00
Summary
Bioaffinity mass spectrometry infrastructure to identify small molecules binding to therapeutic targets. The development of anti-infective therapies is challenging because the underlying biology and biochemistry of pathogen virulence is not yet completely understood. This mass spectrometer facility will be used to identify small molecules suited for development into new therapies for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV.
Understanding allosteric modulation and functional selectivity at G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs are an important superfamily of proteins that are involved in a myriad of physiological processes and a wide range of serious illnesses. This project seeks to gain a more detailed understanding of new mechanisms of GPCR modulation and function that will be of direct relevance to drug discovery.