Development of an ultrasensitive assay for human prion proteins. The aim of this work is to enable the detection of prion proteins in human blood and other tissues. The assay system to be developed will detect much lower levels of these disease-causing proteins than is possible at present; it will be more rapid and will measure prion protein levels more accurately than existing assays. The outcome of the work is expected to facilitate the production and certification of prion-free blood and bl ....Development of an ultrasensitive assay for human prion proteins. The aim of this work is to enable the detection of prion proteins in human blood and other tissues. The assay system to be developed will detect much lower levels of these disease-causing proteins than is possible at present; it will be more rapid and will measure prion protein levels more accurately than existing assays. The outcome of the work is expected to facilitate the production and certification of prion-free blood and blood products. Prions cause Bovine Spongiform Encaphalopathy and Creutzfeld Jacob Disease and attempts to control of these diseases would be greatly abetted by an optimal test for the disease-causing agent.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC220100035
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,958,927.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical Separation Technologies . The toughest analytical science challenges typically require advanced analytical technologies to acquire the desired solutions. In the field of separation science this inevitably involves hyphenated separation technologies, specifically the combination of chromatography and mass spectrometry. Advancing this technology to its full capability requires the collaborative strength of academic, industry and end-user partnerships, ....ARC Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical Separation Technologies . The toughest analytical science challenges typically require advanced analytical technologies to acquire the desired solutions. In the field of separation science this inevitably involves hyphenated separation technologies, specifically the combination of chromatography and mass spectrometry. Advancing this technology to its full capability requires the collaborative strength of academic, industry and end-user partnerships, providing the materials and inspiration for young researchers to apply novel hyphenated methods to complex environmental and industrial systems. This Centre will deliver fundamental developments in hyphenated technologies, new analytical capability, and applied outcomes across multiple end-user groups and interests. Read moreRead less
Photodissociation mass spectrometry for lipidome analysis. This project aims to develop and apply novel bioanalytical mass spectrometry-based methods and workflows to illuminate the otherwise hidden structural diversity and molecular complexity of the lipidome. The structure of individual lipids define their specific biological functions. A major requirement of analytical methods employed for lipid analysis on a lipidome-wide scale, therefore, is to enable the detailed structural characterisatio ....Photodissociation mass spectrometry for lipidome analysis. This project aims to develop and apply novel bioanalytical mass spectrometry-based methods and workflows to illuminate the otherwise hidden structural diversity and molecular complexity of the lipidome. The structure of individual lipids define their specific biological functions. A major requirement of analytical methods employed for lipid analysis on a lipidome-wide scale, therefore, is to enable the detailed structural characterisation of the, potentially, tens of thousands of individual molecular lipid species that may be present within a sample of interest. This project will develop and optimise novel, ultraviolet photodissociation-tandem mass spectrometry methods which will be integrated within an automated lipidome analysis workflow, to enable comprehensive global lipidome profiling and to reveal the structural diversity of lipids involved in fundamental cellular signalling processes.Read moreRead less
The RGG/RG motif as an RNA chaperone: advancing CRISPR-Cas RNA technology. This project investigates the way in which protein molecules interact effectively with RNA molecules and also aims to enhance the CRISPR-Cas13a system for RNA detection. Innovative approaches will be used to test the role of a particular protein motif, called the RGG/RG motif, in remodelling RNA structure and enhancing the Cas13a protein. This knowledge is expected to shift our understanding of protein-RNA interactions th ....The RGG/RG motif as an RNA chaperone: advancing CRISPR-Cas RNA technology. This project investigates the way in which protein molecules interact effectively with RNA molecules and also aims to enhance the CRISPR-Cas13a system for RNA detection. Innovative approaches will be used to test the role of a particular protein motif, called the RGG/RG motif, in remodelling RNA structure and enhancing the Cas13a protein. This knowledge is expected to shift our understanding of protein-RNA interactions that are fundamental to almost every aspect of cell biology. The project is intended to benefit Australia through contributing to fundamental knowledge in the field, facilitating the development of new CRISPR-Cas biotechnologies for RNA detection and through the training of young researchers in frontier technologies. Read moreRead less
A high speed, high fidelity 3D printer for fabricating microfluidic devices. This project aims to develop a novel 3D printer offering the highest resolution available and fastest printing speed for the single-step manufacturing of complex microfluidic devices. New resins developed to exploit the inert liquid interface layer printing approach will provide unprecedented capability to create micron sized channels interconnected in 3D space and fabricate Lab-on-a-Chip systems that cannot be generate ....A high speed, high fidelity 3D printer for fabricating microfluidic devices. This project aims to develop a novel 3D printer offering the highest resolution available and fastest printing speed for the single-step manufacturing of complex microfluidic devices. New resins developed to exploit the inert liquid interface layer printing approach will provide unprecedented capability to create micron sized channels interconnected in 3D space and fabricate Lab-on-a-Chip systems that cannot be generated by any current fabrication approach. This novel high speed, high fidelity 3D printer and the new resins to be developed are expected to lead to more effective manufacturing approaches for portable chemical devices and to promote complex chemical analysis into the knowledge immediacy culture of today.Read moreRead less
Spectroscopic investigations into nano-scale drug interactions and molecular processes in single living cells and isolated molecules. This project will develop micro-spectroscopy and nano-spectroscopy molecular imaging based techniques to spatially locate and determine the bonding sites of a new range of chemotherapeutic drugs designed to treat cancer and malaria. This project will adopt a translational approach looking first at drug interactions directly with molecules such as DNA. Secondly, in ....Spectroscopic investigations into nano-scale drug interactions and molecular processes in single living cells and isolated molecules. This project will develop micro-spectroscopy and nano-spectroscopy molecular imaging based techniques to spatially locate and determine the bonding sites of a new range of chemotherapeutic drugs designed to treat cancer and malaria. This project will adopt a translational approach looking first at drug interactions directly with molecules such as DNA. Secondly, investigating these interactions in living cells and finally applying the technology to tissue samples. The outcome of this research will be new drug screening technologies and methodologies to address two of the most devastating diseases to afflict human kind, offering hope to the countless millions suffering from these diseases.Read moreRead less
Transformational diagnostics. Australia has established world-leading capabilities in optical fibres and surface science that, when brought together, have the potential to transform applications that require non-invasive, real-time and/or portable biological detection tools. We propose a novel and ambitious suite of projects that bring together these capabilities with experts in reproductive health, forensics and explosives to solve pressing problems in each of these areas that have the promise ....Transformational diagnostics. Australia has established world-leading capabilities in optical fibres and surface science that, when brought together, have the potential to transform applications that require non-invasive, real-time and/or portable biological detection tools. We propose a novel and ambitious suite of projects that bring together these capabilities with experts in reproductive health, forensics and explosives to solve pressing problems in each of these areas that have the promise to develop into new industries for Australia as well as to explore rich science opportunities at the boundaries of these disciplines.Read moreRead less
New hyphenated chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for oil analysis. This project aims to use novel chemical separation methods combined with spectroscopy to identify useful markers in olive oil and essential oil to ensure purity, quality and authenticity, which are all ongoing issues in these industries in Australia and overseas. The project plans to compare and integrate results of multidimensional gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared analyses ....New hyphenated chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for oil analysis. This project aims to use novel chemical separation methods combined with spectroscopy to identify useful markers in olive oil and essential oil to ensure purity, quality and authenticity, which are all ongoing issues in these industries in Australia and overseas. The project plans to compare and integrate results of multidimensional gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared analyses with data libraries to generate precise molecular identification. The outcome is expected to help monitor adulteration of oils and maintain the high quality standards of Australian produce.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100056
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,975,864.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Next-Gen Technologies in Biomedical Analysis . The Centre for Next-Gen Technologies in Biomedical Analysis will deliver workforce trained in the development of transformative technologies that will rapidly expand the Australian pharmaceutical, diagnostic and defence sector. The university-industry partnership will increase Australia’s manufacturing capability by fast tracking screening, by integrating 3D printing, advanced sensing, big data analytics, machine learning an ....ARC Training Centre for Next-Gen Technologies in Biomedical Analysis . The Centre for Next-Gen Technologies in Biomedical Analysis will deliver workforce trained in the development of transformative technologies that will rapidly expand the Australian pharmaceutical, diagnostic and defence sector. The university-industry partnership will increase Australia’s manufacturing capability by fast tracking screening, by integrating 3D printing, advanced sensing, big data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence for the delivery of optimal solutions in diagnosis, treatment and wellbeing. The centre will deliver training in Industry 4.0 skills which will boost early-stage scale-up and accelerate the sector’s supply chain, which is pivotal for the Australian industries to maintain a competitive edge. Read moreRead less
Building bio-inspired smart nanochannels for virus detection. This project aims to harness high-precision silicon nanofabrication methods to create the next generation of bio-inspired viral biosensors. The new technology would enable prompt, cost-efficient, and accurate detection of virus contamination of our water and food supplies. The project plans to fabricate arrays of parallel double-layered nanochannels in silicon via templated etching, with surface functionalisation to display receptors. ....Building bio-inspired smart nanochannels for virus detection. This project aims to harness high-precision silicon nanofabrication methods to create the next generation of bio-inspired viral biosensors. The new technology would enable prompt, cost-efficient, and accurate detection of virus contamination of our water and food supplies. The project plans to fabricate arrays of parallel double-layered nanochannels in silicon via templated etching, with surface functionalisation to display receptors. These nanochannels are designed to act as size-selective filters for electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence sensing. The project plans to explore innovative signal amplification and multiplexing capabilities for ultrasensitive detection of norovirus and bacteriophages.Read moreRead less