Radiolabelled MMP binding agents for the identification, quantification, and targeting of MMPs in central nervous system (CNS) disorders and tumours. Cancer and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) represent two of the major health challenges facing Australia because of the aging population. In order to address these challenges we need to develop methods for identifying tumours and CNS diseases using non-invasive technologies and at an early stage so that treatments can be applied when t ....Radiolabelled MMP binding agents for the identification, quantification, and targeting of MMPs in central nervous system (CNS) disorders and tumours. Cancer and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) represent two of the major health challenges facing Australia because of the aging population. In order to address these challenges we need to develop methods for identifying tumours and CNS diseases using non-invasive technologies and at an early stage so that treatments can be applied when they are most likely to work. In this project, we are developing new radiolabelled compounds that will enable the imaging of tumours, tumour metastases and CNS diseases states.Read moreRead less
Platinum-Carborane Complexes as New Agents for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. The development of new drugs and treatments for cancer is highly important to human health and the well-being of the community. This research has the potential to lead to new anticancer pharmaceuticals that will expand the clinical efficacy of current drugs and generate significant export income through future IP development and possible commercialization. The innovative nature of this research will also contribute t ....Platinum-Carborane Complexes as New Agents for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. The development of new drugs and treatments for cancer is highly important to human health and the well-being of the community. This research has the potential to lead to new anticancer pharmaceuticals that will expand the clinical efficacy of current drugs and generate significant export income through future IP development and possible commercialization. The innovative nature of this research will also contribute to Australia's science knowledge base, a key element in its future economic prosperity, and it will provide excellent training of young researchers for employment in the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Using magnetic nanotechnology to aid recovery from neurotrauma. Nanotechnology is an exciting new field that holds great promise to solve challenging health issues including neurotrauma associated with brain and spinal cord injury. Current methods to deliver drugs and stimulate tissue repair after neurotrauma do not work effectively and new approaches are urgently need. The recently established research team brings together expertise in nanotechnology and neuroscience to develop new, safe ways t ....Using magnetic nanotechnology to aid recovery from neurotrauma. Nanotechnology is an exciting new field that holds great promise to solve challenging health issues including neurotrauma associated with brain and spinal cord injury. Current methods to deliver drugs and stimulate tissue repair after neurotrauma do not work effectively and new approaches are urgently need. The recently established research team brings together expertise in nanotechnology and neuroscience to develop new, safe ways to deliver drugs and stimulate tissue repair after neurotrauma, and provide quality research training. Specifically designed nanomaterials will deliver drugs slowly over time and act as scaffolds to stop cells dying and stimulate them to restore broken connections and work again. Read moreRead less
Molecular probes for pancreatic cancer. Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the main cause of premature death in Australia. Currently one in two men and one in three women are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Australia, and the current lack of effective therapies results in a 1 year survival of just over 10%, and a 5 year survival of less than 5%. This project aims to identify and produce new compounds with novel mech ....Molecular probes for pancreatic cancer. Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the main cause of premature death in Australia. Currently one in two men and one in three women are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Australia, and the current lack of effective therapies results in a 1 year survival of just over 10%, and a 5 year survival of less than 5%. This project aims to identify and produce new compounds with novel mechanisms of action that will facilitate our understanding of pancreatic carcinogenesis and provide the basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Australians diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the future may directly benefit from the results of this work.Read moreRead less
Rational Optimisation of the Uptake of Metal-Based Anti-Cancer Agents by Tumours. In this project will develop an understanding of how anticancer drugs are taken up, distributed and modified in tumours. The information gathered will be of value to all those developing new anticancer drugs and we will then use it to develop new drugs that more selectively target tumours and therefore have reduced side effects. Successful development of less toxic anticancer agents would lead to less debilitating ....Rational Optimisation of the Uptake of Metal-Based Anti-Cancer Agents by Tumours. In this project will develop an understanding of how anticancer drugs are taken up, distributed and modified in tumours. The information gathered will be of value to all those developing new anticancer drugs and we will then use it to develop new drugs that more selectively target tumours and therefore have reduced side effects. Successful development of less toxic anticancer agents would lead to less debilitating treatment, more effective treatment, and an increase in the number of patients effectively treated. Effective anticancer drugs can also be very large income earners for Australia.Read moreRead less
Targeted enzymatic treatment of the injured central nervous system using innovative nanotechnology. Nanotechnology and other frontier areas in science have exciting potential to solve major challenges of the 21st century, including health. The proposed research provides the real possibility of discovering ways to alleviate the many complex problems associated with neurotrauma following, for example, brain and spinal cord injury. Current delivery of therapeutics do not work effectively and new ap ....Targeted enzymatic treatment of the injured central nervous system using innovative nanotechnology. Nanotechnology and other frontier areas in science have exciting potential to solve major challenges of the 21st century, including health. The proposed research provides the real possibility of discovering ways to alleviate the many complex problems associated with neurotrauma following, for example, brain and spinal cord injury. Current delivery of therapeutics do not work effectively and new approaches are urgently needed. The recently established powerful multidisciplinary research team combines expertise in nanotechnology, glycobiology and neuroscience to develop novel, safe ways to deliver therapeutic enzymes over biological time-courses. We aim to make broken connections work again, while providing quality research training.Read moreRead less
Differential Isotope Proteome Mapping of Transforming Growth Factor Beta Cell Signalling. Our research will capitalise on Australia's expertise and prior infrastructure investments in frontier, proteomic technologies to elucidate novel intracellular signalling pathways that contribute to the development of cancer. New approaches will be developed using isotopes to provide sensitive and accurate measurements of changes in protein expression levels. This technology will allow us to define complex ....Differential Isotope Proteome Mapping of Transforming Growth Factor Beta Cell Signalling. Our research will capitalise on Australia's expertise and prior infrastructure investments in frontier, proteomic technologies to elucidate novel intracellular signalling pathways that contribute to the development of cancer. New approaches will be developed using isotopes to provide sensitive and accurate measurements of changes in protein expression levels. This technology will allow us to define complex intracellular signalling networks. This is an important step towards identifying new drug targets that are responsible for tumour growth. Australian science will benefit from the training of new scientists in modern, post-genome technologies where there is currently a world shortage of experienced personnel.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Approach Towards Development of Highly Specific Chemotherapeutics. Many diseases are caused or can be treated by modifying the activities of particular enzymes. Molecules that affect enzymatic activities have potential as therapeutic agents. A successful approach to the discovery of new drug molecules is to design them based on very detailed knowledge of how the target enzyme works. In this project, a highly motivated team of scientists will use state of the art instruments and the ....An Integrated Approach Towards Development of Highly Specific Chemotherapeutics. Many diseases are caused or can be treated by modifying the activities of particular enzymes. Molecules that affect enzymatic activities have potential as therapeutic agents. A successful approach to the discovery of new drug molecules is to design them based on very detailed knowledge of how the target enzyme works. In this project, a highly motivated team of scientists will use state of the art instruments and their combined creativity to understand the intimate details of how one large group of enzymes work. The enzymes selected are the bimetallic hydrolases, many of which are associated with disorders including osteoporosis, mental illnesses, cystic fibrosis and various types of cancer.Read moreRead less
Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with ....Generation of peptidomimetic surfaces for biomaterials applications. Biomedical implants are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. This project will significantly contribute to the development of these bioengineered constructs, by introducing an innovative method for tailoring the nature of the surface of these materials with structures that mimic the response of biological surfaces. This technology has the potential to promote favourable interactions of cells with biomedical implants, and an initial targeted application will be to use these bioengineered constructs in the treatment of preventable blindness and severe visual impairment, afflictions which affect over 180 million individuals worldwide.Read moreRead less
New Strategies for Monitoring DNA-Anticancer Drug Interactions. The highly successful cisplatin works by binding to DNA and partially unwinding or bending the DNA. As a consequence of the success if cisplatin, alternative anticancer drugs are being developed with reduced side effects for patients. One of the bottom necks in the development of alternative drugs is rapid screening of the efficacy on new leads. The proposed research will develop new technologies for monitoring DNA-drug binding, ....New Strategies for Monitoring DNA-Anticancer Drug Interactions. The highly successful cisplatin works by binding to DNA and partially unwinding or bending the DNA. As a consequence of the success if cisplatin, alternative anticancer drugs are being developed with reduced side effects for patients. One of the bottom necks in the development of alternative drugs is rapid screening of the efficacy on new leads. The proposed research will develop new technologies for monitoring DNA-drug binding, DNA damage and DNA repair using novel DNA biosensors. the novelty of the biosensor technology will be to use the modulation of charge transfer through DNA as a method for determining the structural changes that occur in DNA due to these events occurring.Read moreRead less