Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to dete ....Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to detect parasite products in stool. Such testing technology is amenable to configuration in a robust format, suitable for large-scale manufacture. Given the worldwide prevalence of these parasites, the tests will have a market potential of international significance.Read moreRead less
Development of class-leading bioluminescence resonance energy transfer technologies for real-time monitoring of molecular interactions. The purpose of this project is to develop improved technologies for identifying and developing pharmaceuticals with fewer side effects. The expected outcome is the development of technologies that provide a level of sensitivity and data quality that enables adoption by the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Hybrid radiofrequency/optical catheter for effective atrial fibrillation ablation. This research project aims to advance engineering knowledge by applying an innovative, fibre-optics-based discrete optical coherence tomography to technology used for atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. RadioFrequency catheter-based ablation is far superior to cardiac drug therapy for atrial fibrillation patients. RadioFrequency catheters are not equipped with real-time lesion formation monitoring means, which ....Hybrid radiofrequency/optical catheter for effective atrial fibrillation ablation. This research project aims to advance engineering knowledge by applying an innovative, fibre-optics-based discrete optical coherence tomography to technology used for atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. RadioFrequency catheter-based ablation is far superior to cardiac drug therapy for atrial fibrillation patients. RadioFrequency catheters are not equipped with real-time lesion formation monitoring means, which enable the assessment of continuity-transmurality and prevent extra-cardiac complications, such as steam pops. Optical Coherece Tomography enables non-invasive, microscopic lesion formation assessment in real time during atrial fibrillation ablation procedures. The expected outcomes of this project are to develop a new hybrid fibre-optic/RadioFrequency catheter system and user-friendly driving software that will enable cardiac electrophysiologists to perform three key tasks not previously available.Read moreRead less
Targeting the undruggable: epitope mapping using Phylomers peptides to modulate activity of Transcription Factors. This project aims at expanding the pool of drug targets, by extending drug screening to protein-protein interaction networks. This project aims to assemble a novel technical platform to detect binding between proteins, using a combination of cell-free protein expression, AlphaScreen and single-molecule fluorescence. This pipeline has great potential to accelerate the exploration of ....Targeting the undruggable: epitope mapping using Phylomers peptides to modulate activity of Transcription Factors. This project aims at expanding the pool of drug targets, by extending drug screening to protein-protein interaction networks. This project aims to assemble a novel technical platform to detect binding between proteins, using a combination of cell-free protein expression, AlphaScreen and single-molecule fluorescence. This pipeline has great potential to accelerate the exploration of protein networks, and provides also a generic platform for drug screening on difficult targets. The project intends to screen Phylogica's libraries of peptides called Phylomers to discover tight binders to a Transcription Factor, Sox18. The objective of this project is to determine which Phylomers can disrupt specific interactions between Sox18 and its binding partners involved in lymphangiogenesis.Read moreRead less
A microfluidic array of phylomers for rapid discovery of peptide probes and biomarkers. This project, through an alliance with Phylogica, aims at exploiting a unique source of structural diversity for drug discovery, harvesting the creativity of nature in its most exotic places. The project will develop a novel approach to validate design and validate drug candidates, by gathering them on a single screening chip for a powerful discovery platform.
Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS), a peptide biomarker discovery tool using tissue. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Australia. The newly developed technology of Imaging Mass Spectrometry for peptides in tissue has the potential to discover biomarkers for early diagnosis of cancer. This new technology could avoid a number of cancer deaths and reduce suffering of patients through earlier and better diagnosis.
Improved design of hearing protection devices with binaural voice pick-up and hearing loss compensation. Hearing protection is essential to industries operating under extreme noise conditions. However, conventional hearing protection devices such
as earplugs and earmuffs inhibit face-to-face communications. Sensear
has developed and marketed a world-first product that, apart from overcoming the aforesaid limitation, also gives the wearer a perception of his surrounding sound field. This projec ....Improved design of hearing protection devices with binaural voice pick-up and hearing loss compensation. Hearing protection is essential to industries operating under extreme noise conditions. However, conventional hearing protection devices such
as earplugs and earmuffs inhibit face-to-face communications. Sensear
has developed and marketed a world-first product that, apart from overcoming the aforesaid limitation, also gives the wearer a perception of his surrounding sound field. This project seeks to extend Sensear's products to include compensation for people with hearing loss. This will give Sensear a competitive edge in hearing protection products, and enhance Australia's reputation in assistive hearing technology. The project also presents a number of opportunities to provide
industry-focussed research training to PhD students.Read moreRead less
From causative genes to establishing therapies for patients with neuromuscular diseases. A major focus of this project will be pursuing multiple therapeutic approaches for a class of skeletal muscle diseases, which are most often severe and lethal within the first year of life. It will also hunt down the defective genes in human patients with other neuromuscular diseases and explore how these cause disease.
Functional proteomics of Giardia. This project will use the latest tools for dissecting and comparing genes and their protein products from one of the most common parasites infecting people, their pets, livestock and wildlife. This protozoan parasite Giardia is also of evolutionary and biological significance in terms of understanding the origin of higher animals from bacteria as well as fundamental questions about the parasitic way of life. Giardia proteins will be identified and characterised ....Functional proteomics of Giardia. This project will use the latest tools for dissecting and comparing genes and their protein products from one of the most common parasites infecting people, their pets, livestock and wildlife. This protozoan parasite Giardia is also of evolutionary and biological significance in terms of understanding the origin of higher animals from bacteria as well as fundamental questions about the parasitic way of life. Giardia proteins will be identified and characterised on the basis of their value in understanding disease processes and treatment, and by working with appropriate industry partners, proteins of commercial value will be exploited.Read moreRead less
Biomechanical model-based algorithms for computational radiology of the brain. The proposed research will develop computational framework, which will allow matching high quality pre-operative brain images with lower resolution images taken during neurosurgery. The success of this work will greatly improve effectiveness of brain tumour removal, and therefore improve clinical outcomes. The proposed work will provide enabling technology for other areas of computer aided medicine, such as virtual re ....Biomechanical model-based algorithms for computational radiology of the brain. The proposed research will develop computational framework, which will allow matching high quality pre-operative brain images with lower resolution images taken during neurosurgery. The success of this work will greatly improve effectiveness of brain tumour removal, and therefore improve clinical outcomes. The proposed work will provide enabling technology for other areas of computer aided medicine, such as virtual reality operation planning systems with realistic force and tactile feedback, control systems of neurosurgical robots with tissue deformation prediction module, etc.Read moreRead less