Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100006
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
An adaptable and dedicated linear accelerator for medical radiation research. Leading radiation scientists developing innovative methods and devices for treating cancer patients will collaborate in future research using this highly adaptable linear accelerator for medical radiation research. Innovations in tumour targeting, better patient safety, new medical devices and improved cancer outcomes are expected.
A phenomenological approach to improve radioembolisation treatment of cancer. In recent years, radioembolisation for liver cancer has become an effective therapeutic option. However, it is likely that patients are being “under-treated” as doses remain based on results from external radiation therapy. This project will develop a phenomenological approach to radionuclide therapy to improve outcomes for cancer patients.
Nanoparticle formulations for DNA-targeted radiotherapy and imaging: combinations with chromatin-modifying compounds. This project will develop a new approach for treating and imaging cancer using nanoparticles which target specific cells for cancer therapy and diagnostic imaging. The nanoparticles will be combined with compounds that alter the architecture of DNA to make therapy more effective and to improve the safety of imaging.
Modelling and characterisation of radiation beams used in radiotherapy. The purpose of this project is to use computer modelling of radiation fields in radiotherapy to investigate and improve their precision. It is expected that this will result in improved outcomes and fewer side-effects for radiotherapy patients.
High-resolution elastography – Using optical micro-imaging of tissue mechanics to identify disease. Optical elastography, the probing of tissue’s micro-mechanical properties using optical imaging, offers new tools in surgery and pathology to improve differentiation of tissues. This project lays the groundwork for optical elastography to become a new medical micro-imaging modality by removing impediments to progress in this rapidly emerging field. On the micro-scale, between the scales of cells a ....High-resolution elastography – Using optical micro-imaging of tissue mechanics to identify disease. Optical elastography, the probing of tissue’s micro-mechanical properties using optical imaging, offers new tools in surgery and pathology to improve differentiation of tissues. This project lays the groundwork for optical elastography to become a new medical micro-imaging modality by removing impediments to progress in this rapidly emerging field. On the micro-scale, between the scales of cells and organs. This project will elucidate the origins of tissue mechanical contrast and determine limits on its measurement. It will develop a suite of probes: noncontact, endoscopic and needle, to enable access to all tissues in the body. To progress toward a new modality and inform our research, the project will test our tools on breast cancer tissues and burn scars.Read moreRead less
Proteomic study of urine to discover novel biomarkers for human prostate cancer. The purpose of this project is to identify novel markers in the urine of patients with prostate cancer. These biomarkers may ultimately prove useful in the development of novel diagnostic tools for the management of this disease.
Proteomic study of tears to discover novel biomarkers for human breast cancer. The purpose of this project is to identify novel markers in the tears of patients with breast cancer. The results from this study may improve the prognosis of breast cancer patients.
Unified platform for real time QA in radiation therapy in brachytherapy based on high resolution silicon detectors (Magic Plate). This project will design and manufacture new devices for measuring the amount of radiation given to the patient during radiotherapy. This will improve the accuracy and safety of cancer treatment as well as greatly reducing the time needed to perform essential safety checks.
DNA end resection: from basic mechanisms to genome editing. The project aims to understand processes underlying genome editing, a bioengineering process that introduces specific mutations into genomic DNA. Homologous recombination and nonhomologous end-joining pathways play a crucial role in repairing broken DNA strands, which are a toxic form of DNA damage. The proteins that function in the repair process have been recently identified, but it remains unclear how they function on a mechanistic l ....DNA end resection: from basic mechanisms to genome editing. The project aims to understand processes underlying genome editing, a bioengineering process that introduces specific mutations into genomic DNA. Homologous recombination and nonhomologous end-joining pathways play a crucial role in repairing broken DNA strands, which are a toxic form of DNA damage. The proteins that function in the repair process have been recently identified, but it remains unclear how they function on a mechanistic level and how either of the two main pathways is selected. The project aims to define how the activity of a key control protein, Sae2 (Sporulation in the Absence of Spo Eleven), is regulated by posttranslational modifications, and how this activates homologous recombination. The project plans to first use Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast as a model and then to extend research into the human system in an attempt to improve the efficiency of genome editing. Read moreRead less
Rapid detection of rare-event cells by strong UP-conversion
encoded nano-radiators (SUPER Dots): finding a needle in a haystack. Current diagnostic tests are not sensitive enough to detect cancer in its very early stages or early recurrence following treatment. The new technologies developed by this project will be able to find single cancer cells in blood and urine samples heralding a new era in medical diagnostics.