Novel approaches for structural and functional analysis of the protein complex COG, a tether that controls intra-Golgi trafficking. Production and engineering of proteins are key methodologies of the life sciences in general and biotechnology in particular. Our ability to produce and analyse protein-based components of the cell determines the expense and speed of discovery, as well as the creation of new vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic methods. The current project aims to develop new approaches ....Novel approaches for structural and functional analysis of the protein complex COG, a tether that controls intra-Golgi trafficking. Production and engineering of proteins are key methodologies of the life sciences in general and biotechnology in particular. Our ability to produce and analyse protein-based components of the cell determines the expense and speed of discovery, as well as the creation of new vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic methods. The current project aims to develop new approaches for protein production and to apply them to the analysis of the basic mechanisms of cell self-maintenance.Read moreRead less
The molecular mechanism of retromer and sorting nexin function in endosomal membrane trafficking. The proposed research represents breakthrough science that will lead to a fundamental understanding at the molecular level of the structure and assembly of the retromer complex and how it regulates sorting of receptors in the endosomal system. It will provide excellent research training for top graduate students and post-doctoral scientists in multidisciplinary methods that constitute state-of the- ....The molecular mechanism of retromer and sorting nexin function in endosomal membrane trafficking. The proposed research represents breakthrough science that will lead to a fundamental understanding at the molecular level of the structure and assembly of the retromer complex and how it regulates sorting of receptors in the endosomal system. It will provide excellent research training for top graduate students and post-doctoral scientists in multidisciplinary methods that constitute state-of the-art structural and molecular cell biology research. By addressing an area of great interest internationally the project will have the capacity to increase Australia's knowledge base and strengthen it's reputation for research excellence.Read moreRead less
Endosomal Protein Transport: From Molecular Structures to Biological Function. Intracellular transport of biomolecules through the endosomal organelle is critical for normal cellular processes such as signalling, homoeostasis and development. Defects in this fundamental process and subversion of it by bacterial and viral pathogens also lead to many different human diseases. This project will build on Australia's strong programme of structural and cellular biology research to develop key insights ....Endosomal Protein Transport: From Molecular Structures to Biological Function. Intracellular transport of biomolecules through the endosomal organelle is critical for normal cellular processes such as signalling, homoeostasis and development. Defects in this fundamental process and subversion of it by bacterial and viral pathogens also lead to many different human diseases. This project will build on Australia's strong programme of structural and cellular biology research to develop key insights into endosomal trafficking at the molecular level. Outcomes from this work will place Australia at the forefront of international efforts to understand this essential biological process and will have important implications for future design of pharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Refinement of dynamic combinatorial chemistry as a drug discovery tool. Medicinal chemistry is constantly being challenged to develop efficient methodologies for the synthesis of compounds for drug discovery. Following completion of the Human Genome project, the cloning and expression of new proteins will proceed at an accelerated rate. In the absence of biochemical knowledge of the target protein there is a growing interest in techniques that expand the structural and biological diversity of co ....Refinement of dynamic combinatorial chemistry as a drug discovery tool. Medicinal chemistry is constantly being challenged to develop efficient methodologies for the synthesis of compounds for drug discovery. Following completion of the Human Genome project, the cloning and expression of new proteins will proceed at an accelerated rate. In the absence of biochemical knowledge of the target protein there is a growing interest in techniques that expand the structural and biological diversity of compound libraries. Dynamic combinatorial chemistry is an innovative technology with the capacity for supporting the shift from focussed to diverse compound libraries. This application seeks funding to refine dynamic combinatorial chemistry into an effective drug discovery tool.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347955
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
A Cell Sorter Facility for Neuroscience and Related Biotechnology. Neuroscience is entering an era of accelerated discovery in which Queensland neuroscientists can excel if they gain leadership in key technologies. One critical technology is the ability to obtain specific cell populations from various parts of the nervous system in sufficient quantity and purity to enable their accurate examination by gene array, proteomics and physiological techniques. The aim is to establish the world's first ....A Cell Sorter Facility for Neuroscience and Related Biotechnology. Neuroscience is entering an era of accelerated discovery in which Queensland neuroscientists can excel if they gain leadership in key technologies. One critical technology is the ability to obtain specific cell populations from various parts of the nervous system in sufficient quantity and purity to enable their accurate examination by gene array, proteomics and physiological techniques. The aim is to establish the world's first cell-sorting facility dedicated to the production of nerve cells suitable for molecular characterization and screening, providing the basis for identifying key molecules regulating brain function, ageing and repair of great importance to the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775649
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
An Integrated Multi-Node Microfluidics Facility. The establishment of the proposed facility will enhance Australia's position in microfluidics research, thus contributing to all National Priority areas, particularly the National Priority area 3 through advancement in breakthrough science and frontier technologies. In addition to researchers from participating institutions, the Facility will be made available to other Australian researchers from non-participating organisations at minimum cost. Th ....An Integrated Multi-Node Microfluidics Facility. The establishment of the proposed facility will enhance Australia's position in microfluidics research, thus contributing to all National Priority areas, particularly the National Priority area 3 through advancement in breakthrough science and frontier technologies. In addition to researchers from participating institutions, the Facility will be made available to other Australian researchers from non-participating organisations at minimum cost. The socio-economic potentials of the research carried out using the proposed facility are significant and include: R&D development, small scale high technology manufacture, exports, and improved methods of biochemical processing and medical diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354797
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
The Australian Tissue Engineering Network. Driven by four key nodes across the country, the Initiative aims to bring together geographically and financially separated groups into a critical mass of cell and tissue engineering research. This new and rapidly-growing field uses a bio-synthetic approach to replace, repair or regenerate damaged tissues and organs. The Initiative will build the framework which will enable the Network to: identify appropriate expertise, manage duplication, enhance co ....The Australian Tissue Engineering Network. Driven by four key nodes across the country, the Initiative aims to bring together geographically and financially separated groups into a critical mass of cell and tissue engineering research. This new and rapidly-growing field uses a bio-synthetic approach to replace, repair or regenerate damaged tissues and organs. The Initiative will build the framework which will enable the Network to: identify appropriate expertise, manage duplication, enhance communication, bring together innovative skill sets, create linkages, generate focussed research programs and foster novel commercial opportunities. Ultimately the Initiative and Network will deliver an improved quality of life, reduced healthcare costs, and increased productivity to Australia.Read moreRead less
Disulfide Bonds and Protein Folding. This work will advance our understanding of protein folding, which has important implications in biotechnology, impacting on commercial production of recombinant proteins (for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications) and on 1000s of research laboratories worldwide that use recombinant technologies. This research could also contribute to medicine (new treatments for diseases of protein misfolding like Alzheimer's), and to membrane protein structural biology ....Disulfide Bonds and Protein Folding. This work will advance our understanding of protein folding, which has important implications in biotechnology, impacting on commercial production of recombinant proteins (for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications) and on 1000s of research laboratories worldwide that use recombinant technologies. This research could also contribute to medicine (new treatments for diseases of protein misfolding like Alzheimer's), and to membrane protein structural biology. This work could yield economic benefits in the long-term through patentable outcomes and will benefit the community by producing high impact research papers, providing training to Australians and forging links with renowned international scientists.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989759
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Australian Access to and Operation of Advanced Synchrotron Radiation Facilities at the Photon Factory. The primary national benefit of this application will be continued access by peer review for Australian scientists to the advanced synchrotron-radiation capabilities of the Australian National Beamline Facility and other complementary beamlines at the Photon Factory, Japan. This proposal is consistent with the National Research Priorities of An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, Promoting a ....Australian Access to and Operation of Advanced Synchrotron Radiation Facilities at the Photon Factory. The primary national benefit of this application will be continued access by peer review for Australian scientists to the advanced synchrotron-radiation capabilities of the Australian National Beamline Facility and other complementary beamlines at the Photon Factory, Japan. This proposal is consistent with the National Research Priorities of An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and will generate science to support and stimulate domestic industry, enhance the domestic knowledge base and international research profile, train students and future synchrotron scientists and foster domestic and international collaborations.Read moreRead less