Translation Of Glaucoma Blindness Genes To Improve Clinical Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$856,795.00
Summary
Glaucoma is a common cause of irreversible blindness. It is currently difficult to predict which patients with the earliest signs of glaucoma will develop blinding stages of the disease. This study will investigate how genes and eye measurements can be used to predict the risk of developing severe glaucoma in people with early signs of disease. This will ensure that high risk individuals can access treatment early, while those at low risk can be spared unnecessary treatment and seen less often.
Why Is The Bone Marrow A “hot-spot” For Myeloma Plasma Cell Metastasis: Are There Gremlins In The System?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$651,979.00
Summary
Most cancer patients die because their cancer spreads from a primary site to other tissues in the body. Once escaping the primary site, 70% of all tumours will spread to bone. This raises the question, why is bone a preferred destination for cancer cells? We provide evidence that Gremlin1, made by non-cancer cells within bone, is a key protein that supports cancer growth. This study will examine whether inhibiting Gremlin1 is a potential therapy to inhibit cancer spreading to bone.
Tracking Epidermal Clonal Evolution During Skin Cancer Induction And Progression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,168.00
Summary
Skin cancer is the most frequent form of cancer in Australia and in many parts of the world. It is strongly connected to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In this project, we will use our capacity to track individual cells, to observe the heterogeneity of tumours and the lesions that precede them. We will show the importance of this heterogeneity in tumour progression unveiling the limits of current therapies against skin cancer.
CKD-FIX: A Randomised, Controlled Trial Of Allopurinol In The Slowing Of Kidney Disease Progression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,917,147.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem affecting over 1.5 million Australians and is associated with increased risk of death, heart disease and progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Current treatments to slow progression to ESKD are limited. The CKD-FIX trial aims to find out whether treatment with allopurinol, a commonly used drug for gout prevention, safely and effectively slows CKD progression. This could lead to significant health and economic benefits.
Novel collision experiments with metastable neon atoms in an atom trap. The aim of this project is to investigate collisions involving atoms in long lived excited states (metastable states). The project will utilise a magneto-optical trap to investigate electron-atom collisions as well as interatomic collisions for ultra-cold atoms. The outcomes of such investigations extend scientific knowledge of these important processes as a well as provide data for testing fundamental scattering theories. T ....Novel collision experiments with metastable neon atoms in an atom trap. The aim of this project is to investigate collisions involving atoms in long lived excited states (metastable states). The project will utilise a magneto-optical trap to investigate electron-atom collisions as well as interatomic collisions for ultra-cold atoms. The outcomes of such investigations extend scientific knowledge of these important processes as a well as provide data for testing fundamental scattering theories. This scientific knowledge may lead to further technological advances such as more efficient light sources or a metastable-atom laser that could be used for the production of nano-scale electric circuits.Read moreRead less
Dynamics and correlations of many-body systems. The proposed program will greatly enhance Australian science through linking innovative
theoretical techniques with the successful ongoing Australian experimental program in atom
lasers, atom chip interferometry and ultra-cold fermions. Pioneering theoretical methods in
quantum phase-space are internationally recognized, and will be extended into new areas relevant
to Australia. These have fundamental significance to fields ranging from nanotec ....Dynamics and correlations of many-body systems. The proposed program will greatly enhance Australian science through linking innovative
theoretical techniques with the successful ongoing Australian experimental program in atom
lasers, atom chip interferometry and ultra-cold fermions. Pioneering theoretical methods in
quantum phase-space are internationally recognized, and will be extended into new areas relevant
to Australia. These have fundamental significance to fields ranging from nanotechnology to
astrophysics, as well as providing a route to improved atomic clocks and other instruments.
Combining these theoretical and computational methods from the physical sciences with biology
and genetics will provide future cross-disciplinary benefits to Australian biomedical science.Read moreRead less
A Photonic Interconnect for Trapped Ion Quantum Computing. Computer networks are the foundation of our digital economy. Quantum computing offer revolutionary solutions to current limitations by taking advantage of quantum physics. Methods for factoring large numbers or searching unordered databases run with significantly fewer operations on quantum computers. Quantum encryption offers completely secure communication. There have been small-scale demonstrations of these technologies, and clear roa ....A Photonic Interconnect for Trapped Ion Quantum Computing. Computer networks are the foundation of our digital economy. Quantum computing offer revolutionary solutions to current limitations by taking advantage of quantum physics. Methods for factoring large numbers or searching unordered databases run with significantly fewer operations on quantum computers. Quantum encryption offers completely secure communication. There have been small-scale demonstrations of these technologies, and clear roadmaps exist for large-scale implementations. We will advance the state of the art by interconnecting light based quantum communication and trapped ion quantum computing together with phase Fresnel lenses, a micro-fabricated optic similar to a computer generated holographic plate.Read moreRead less
Attosecond physics with ultra cold metastable neon. This research will generate new knowledge about how atoms behave when they are placed in strong optical fields. One of the phenomena which can be observed in these systems is the production of extreme ultraviolet radiation. This radiation has potential applications in areas as diverse as precision spectroscopy and structural biology. The research will use the recently ARC funded, state-of-the-art short pulse laser facility, ultra-cold atom trap ....Attosecond physics with ultra cold metastable neon. This research will generate new knowledge about how atoms behave when they are placed in strong optical fields. One of the phenomena which can be observed in these systems is the production of extreme ultraviolet radiation. This radiation has potential applications in areas as diverse as precision spectroscopy and structural biology. The research will use the recently ARC funded, state-of-the-art short pulse laser facility, ultra-cold atom trap technology and will provide excellent research training opportunities for higher degree students. The outcomes of the research project will enable Australian researchers to make significant contributions to the exciting field of attosecond science which is still in its infancy.
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Low-energy electron transport in soft-condensed biological matter. To obtain optimal accuracy and selectivity of ionising radiation based technologies requires an understanding and quantification of the underpinning fundamental physical processes. This project will focus on developing accurate theoretical models of low-energy electron transport in biological matter which account for new physical mechanisms.
Fundamental tests of Quantum Mechanics with the Atom Laser. This is high profile scientific research that is important to Australia's standing in the world scientific community. Atom optics was singled out as a key area of Australian science through the formation of the ARC Centre for Quantum Atom Optics in 2003, and is in the Breakthrough Science category of the Frontier Technologies priority funding area. The experimental schemes developed in this proposal contribute to the already strong expe ....Fundamental tests of Quantum Mechanics with the Atom Laser. This is high profile scientific research that is important to Australia's standing in the world scientific community. Atom optics was singled out as a key area of Australian science through the formation of the ARC Centre for Quantum Atom Optics in 2003, and is in the Breakthrough Science category of the Frontier Technologies priority funding area. The experimental schemes developed in this proposal contribute to the already strong experimental atom optics research in Australia. In order to remain at the forefront of fundamental physics research, Australia must maintain a world-class research effort in this area. Read moreRead less