Fabrication of robust nanoscale optical biosensors using the novel spinning disc reactor technology. Spinning Disc Reactor (SDR) technology is new to Australia and will have wide ranging applications in nano-technology, and is destined to attract significant industrial interest beyond the proposed application in nano-scale biosensors. SDR is based on continuous flow and is more benign (less chemical waste) than traditional batch technology with a smaller footprint and significantly reduced capit ....Fabrication of robust nanoscale optical biosensors using the novel spinning disc reactor technology. Spinning Disc Reactor (SDR) technology is new to Australia and will have wide ranging applications in nano-technology, and is destined to attract significant industrial interest beyond the proposed application in nano-scale biosensors. SDR is based on continuous flow and is more benign (less chemical waste) than traditional batch technology with a smaller footprint and significantly reduced capital outlay. The emergence of SDR technology will revolutionize the practice of nano-engineering leading to miniaturization of devices, advances in information technologies and intelligent systems, and the revolution in medical science. The exciting research will enhance public opinion towards science.Read moreRead less
Multipurpose separation platforms for protein purification. Over the next decades, many new therapies and products will be needed to enhance the quality of human life. Biopharmaceuticals and other protein-based products will thus be increasingly in demand. This will require significant improvements in biotechnological procedures, particularly sophisticated purification technologies. Through the development of a novel technology, this project is anticipated to significantly contribute to these so ....Multipurpose separation platforms for protein purification. Over the next decades, many new therapies and products will be needed to enhance the quality of human life. Biopharmaceuticals and other protein-based products will thus be increasingly in demand. This will require significant improvements in biotechnological procedures, particularly sophisticated purification technologies. Through the development of a novel technology, this project is anticipated to significantly contribute to these societal needs and provide a new way to purify these important molecules. National and community benefits will accrue from this scientific innovation and from its application, which is expected to provide more efficient manufacturing opportunities for key biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Novel Technologies for the Purification of Recombinant Proteins. Availability of enabling technologies for the large-scale purification of recombinant proteins is an essential requirement of the biotechnology industry. This project aims to integrate two concepts in molecular biorecognition. New modalities of immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography will be linked with the selection of new types of peptide affinity handles that can be inserted by genetic engineering methods into proteins pro ....Novel Technologies for the Purification of Recombinant Proteins. Availability of enabling technologies for the large-scale purification of recombinant proteins is an essential requirement of the biotechnology industry. This project aims to integrate two concepts in molecular biorecognition. New modalities of immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography will be linked with the selection of new types of peptide affinity handles that can be inserted by genetic engineering methods into proteins produced by biotechnological procedures. The approach followed then allows these handles to be removed following isolation of the target protein. This project could thus lead to a considerable advance in the manufacture of recombinant proteins intended for human therapy.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
Benign fabrication of microfluidic hydrogel for improved artificial vasculature in bone implants. We will create a benign technology for synthesising microfluidic hydrogels to generate artificial vascultures in bone implants. It is a critical step to enable the use of tissue-engineered vital organs, such as bone, heart and kidney in patients with end-stage organ failure. Thicker scaffolds will be possible, as the vasculature will provide nutrients and oxygen for cells to grow into 3D scaffolds. ....Benign fabrication of microfluidic hydrogel for improved artificial vasculature in bone implants. We will create a benign technology for synthesising microfluidic hydrogels to generate artificial vascultures in bone implants. It is a critical step to enable the use of tissue-engineered vital organs, such as bone, heart and kidney in patients with end-stage organ failure. Thicker scaffolds will be possible, as the vasculature will provide nutrients and oxygen for cells to grow into 3D scaffolds. It will promote capacity of Australia for manufacturing global biomaterial products for tissue engineering. We will also develop in-situ imaging analytical protocols for the rapid analysis of broad arrays of functional molecules, with significant bearing on BioMEMS design to develop methods for diagnosis of fatal diseases.Read moreRead less
Rare isotopes as tracers of prosthesis debris. The incidence of knee replacement surgery in Australia is 30,000 per year. Limited by wear debris, the lifespan of knee implants is only 10-15 years and can be much shorter. Due to increasing life expectancy, many patients need several surgical procedures. As a multi-disciplinary team of materials-, isotope-tracing- and medical-experts, we aim to understand and monitor wear debris in prostheses. Knee replacement surgery alone imposes a high burden o ....Rare isotopes as tracers of prosthesis debris. The incidence of knee replacement surgery in Australia is 30,000 per year. Limited by wear debris, the lifespan of knee implants is only 10-15 years and can be much shorter. Due to increasing life expectancy, many patients need several surgical procedures. As a multi-disciplinary team of materials-, isotope-tracing- and medical-experts, we aim to understand and monitor wear debris in prostheses. Knee replacement surgery alone imposes a high burden of annually half a billion dollars on the Australian health budget. Controlling and reducing wear debris in prosthesis joints would reduce these costs and improve patients' quality of life.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354787
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Research Network for Biotechnological and Environmental Applications of Microalgae (BEAM). The network will facilitate inderdisciplinary and collaborative research into the limitations on microalgal growth leading to the development of new, commercial-scale microalgae culture systems, the production of fine chemicals, bioactive compounds and renewable fuels (hydrogen), as well as environmental applications such as monitoring the physiological state of phytoplankton in the environment, CO2 biorem ....Research Network for Biotechnological and Environmental Applications of Microalgae (BEAM). The network will facilitate inderdisciplinary and collaborative research into the limitations on microalgal growth leading to the development of new, commercial-scale microalgae culture systems, the production of fine chemicals, bioactive compounds and renewable fuels (hydrogen), as well as environmental applications such as monitoring the physiological state of phytoplankton in the environment, CO2 bioremediation and algal/bacterial systems for the bioremediation of contaminated soils. This will be achieved by applying research on photosynthetic light utilisation efficiency and carbon fixation, chlorophyll fluorescence, biochemistry of secondary metabolites, molecular biology and photobioreactor design and engineering, informed by an understanding of the ecology of these algae.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454249
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$157,004.00
Summary
Specialist Analysis Facility for the Development of New Nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is a developing technology with a limited number of academic research groups working in this field. Advanced infrastructure is requested for the characterisation and analysis of novel polymers, nanomaterials and biomaterials. The specialist applications herein demand both characterisation and processing control at the nanoscopic level and will greatly enhance teaching and core research capability within Fl ....Specialist Analysis Facility for the Development of New Nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is a developing technology with a limited number of academic research groups working in this field. Advanced infrastructure is requested for the characterisation and analysis of novel polymers, nanomaterials and biomaterials. The specialist applications herein demand both characterisation and processing control at the nanoscopic level and will greatly enhance teaching and core research capability within Flinders University and the University of South Australia. This equipment will allow the universities to carry out this research in a unique manner. Other researchers cannot offer the synergy of synthesis, processing and characterisation of nanomaterials and biomaterials as described in this project.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
Sequence to Sequence: Rigorous Statistical and Mathematical Analysis of Biological Sequence Data. Comparative genomics is fundamental for developing an understanding of genes and their function. For example, using statistical and computational techniques, it was recently demonstrated that 60% of genes are conserved between fly and human. When the human gene that confers susceptibility to Parkinson's disease was transferred into the fly it caused symptoms similar to those seen in humans. The futu ....Sequence to Sequence: Rigorous Statistical and Mathematical Analysis of Biological Sequence Data. Comparative genomics is fundamental for developing an understanding of genes and their function. For example, using statistical and computational techniques, it was recently demonstrated that 60% of genes are conserved between fly and human. When the human gene that confers susceptibility to Parkinson's disease was transferred into the fly it caused symptoms similar to those seen in humans. The future development of 'personalized medicine' will rely upon understanding the function of human genes, as will progress in the agricultural sector. Rigorous statistical analysis and development of appropriate bioinformatic methods are crucial to biological sequence analysis in comparative genomics.Read moreRead less