Structural And Functional Characterisation Of The Oncogene P-Rex1
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,447.00
Summary
The spread of cancer to other parts of the body (metastasis) is a major cause of mortality. The characterisation of proteins that regulate metastasis is therefore a priority. P-Rex1 plays a crucial role in promoting metastasis in breast and other cancers. We will determine the structural basis of P-Rex1 activity, and investigate how its dysregulation promotes aberrant cell growth. This study will provide the knowledge to build future drug development programs targeting P-Rex1 in cancer.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100900
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$366,000.00
Summary
Smart aptamer-guided nanoexosome as a novel biotechnology platform. This project aims to develop guided novel nanomaterials as a new biotechnological platform for in vivo targeted delivery of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) for gene editing. By systematically engineering the surface properties of natural nanovesicles known as exosomes, a novel nanotechnology platform should be established. The guided nano biotechnological platform should not only enable targete ....Smart aptamer-guided nanoexosome as a novel biotechnology platform. This project aims to develop guided novel nanomaterials as a new biotechnological platform for in vivo targeted delivery of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) for gene editing. By systematically engineering the surface properties of natural nanovesicles known as exosomes, a novel nanotechnology platform should be established. The guided nano biotechnological platform should not only enable targeted in vivo precision gene editing via CRISPR but also specific delivery of gene editing machinery across the blood brain barrier for better exploration of fundamental biology of the brain.Read moreRead less
New insulins for the improved management of diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes has increased dramatically over the past few decades and now this condition is widely considered the world’s fastest growing disease. New insulins with improved pharmacological and storage properties are desperately needed, and this project will work on chemical synthesis enabling designer insulins to be prepared for improved management of diabetes.
The ApoE Interactome in Human Plasma. In this, the post-genome era, the emphasis has switched from the delineation of genome structure to the tremendous task of characterizing the gene products. One of the important aspects evolving in this new era is the design of strategies that enable identification of global protein-protein interactions, defined by the Human Proteome Organisation as the interactome. This, the apoE interactome in human plasma project, will identify novel interactions between ....The ApoE Interactome in Human Plasma. In this, the post-genome era, the emphasis has switched from the delineation of genome structure to the tremendous task of characterizing the gene products. One of the important aspects evolving in this new era is the design of strategies that enable identification of global protein-protein interactions, defined by the Human Proteome Organisation as the interactome. This, the apoE interactome in human plasma project, will identify novel interactions between plasma proteins and apoE, which is a lipid-binding protein genetically linked to age-related diseases affecting more than 500,000 Australians. This project will therefore provide scope for novel treatments and early detection of disease, namely cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease.Read moreRead less
A Tough Resilin Based Hydrogel Platform for Repair and Regeneration. This project seeks to develop novel hydrogels that mimic the properties of the body. In the field of repair and regeneration, our challenge is to make hydrogels that retain the fatigue and resilience properties of the natural body part, but are comprised of nontoxic material. Resilin is a remarkable material exhibiting a broad range of stimuli-responsive behaviour and outstanding elasticity. The project aim is to create a tough ....A Tough Resilin Based Hydrogel Platform for Repair and Regeneration. This project seeks to develop novel hydrogels that mimic the properties of the body. In the field of repair and regeneration, our challenge is to make hydrogels that retain the fatigue and resilience properties of the natural body part, but are comprised of nontoxic material. Resilin is a remarkable material exhibiting a broad range of stimuli-responsive behaviour and outstanding elasticity. The project aim is to create a tough and responsive hydrogel platform from this disordered protein family through greater understanding of structure and mechanical function and incorporating adequate stiffness, strength and biocompatibility. Such tough hydrogels would be applicable to a range of biotechnological applications (eg intervertebral disc repair or artificial skin tissue engineering).Read moreRead less
Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration and its components. This project aims to demonstrate how temperate evergreen forests could buffer against climate change. Soil respiration returns around half the carbon taken up by forests to the atmosphere. This project will characterise and quantify how microbes and roots in soils depend on temperature and substrate supply, and so predict how rising temperatures and drought will affect forests as natural carbon sequestration sinks. This project will ....Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration and its components. This project aims to demonstrate how temperate evergreen forests could buffer against climate change. Soil respiration returns around half the carbon taken up by forests to the atmosphere. This project will characterise and quantify how microbes and roots in soils depend on temperature and substrate supply, and so predict how rising temperatures and drought will affect forests as natural carbon sequestration sinks. This project will resolve the roles of environmental drivers of soil respiration across forests; integrate mechanistic understanding of differing plant and microbial responses to temperature within a common modelling framework; and evaluate the implications of this knowledge in predictions of climatic impacts on terrestrial carbon cycling.Read moreRead less
Protein-protein interactions in amyloid deposits. The aggregation of specific proteins to form insoluble amyloid fibrils is characteristic of several age-related diseases such as type-II diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In vivo amyloid deposits also contain three prominent non-fibrillar protein components, namely serum amyloid P component, apolipoprotein E and alpha1-antichymotrypsin. These non-fibrillar amyloid components bind to a wide variety of amyloid fibrils, irresp ....Protein-protein interactions in amyloid deposits. The aggregation of specific proteins to form insoluble amyloid fibrils is characteristic of several age-related diseases such as type-II diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In vivo amyloid deposits also contain three prominent non-fibrillar protein components, namely serum amyloid P component, apolipoprotein E and alpha1-antichymotrypsin. These non-fibrillar amyloid components bind to a wide variety of amyloid fibrils, irrespective of the nature of the protein constituent. This proposal is to identify the structural basis for this recognition process, the capacity of non-fibrillar components to cross-link amyloid fibrils to form networks and the influence of these interactions on amyloid fibril cytotoxicity.Read moreRead less
Development of Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) peptide analogues as novel therapeutics. Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) is a naturally-occurring hormone in the body that likely plays a role in the control of appetite. This project aims to develop new molecules based on INSL5 that could be suitable for use as drugs to treat various appetite-related disorders, such as obesity (where patients eat too much) or anorexia (where patients eat too little).
Advancement Of A Personalised Approach To Minimising Infective Complications In Cancer Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,138.00
Summary
Managing infections in patients with cancer have become more difficult and unpredictable because of new generation cancer therapies. Measuring the response of the immune system (immune profiling) will allow us to predict which patients will develop infection so that action such as vaccination can be taken to reduce their risk. This program will refine immune profiling to personalise infection care for cancer patients and to introduce it into hospital practice.
Signaling Pathways To Enhance Potency Of AMPK-targeting Drugs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$661,966.00
Summary
Sedentary lifestyles and consumption of high energy foods has led to epidemics of obesity-related metabolic diseases that place enormous financial and medical burden on the Australian economy. An attractive drug target to treat these diseases is AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) which functions as both a cellular fuel gauge and co-ordinator of whole-body metabolism. Our goal is to improve AMPK drug potency by identifying novel processes that sensitize AMPK to drugs.