Novel kinases: How do they regulate epithelial ion transport, and what is their role in epithelial function? The project will produce the knowledge of fundamental physiology that will lead to novel approaches for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and cystic fibrosis, as well as for the accumulation of fluid in the lungs and abdomen that accompany many advanced malignancies. It thus has the potential to have a significant economic and social impact in Australia and internation ....Novel kinases: How do they regulate epithelial ion transport, and what is their role in epithelial function? The project will produce the knowledge of fundamental physiology that will lead to novel approaches for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and cystic fibrosis, as well as for the accumulation of fluid in the lungs and abdomen that accompany many advanced malignancies. It thus has the potential to have a significant economic and social impact in Australia and internationally. Furthermore, it will provide advanced training in research methods to Australian scientists, equipping them to undertake challenging and interesting positions in the medical and life sciences and beyond.Read moreRead less
Structural determination of respiratory membrane protein complexes by X-ray crystallography. Membrane proteins form only 0.3% of the available protein structures in the protein data bank (PDB), yet 30% of the proteins in the human genome and 50% of human drug targets are membrane proteins. We have managed to increase the success rate through rational screening and development of new crystallization screens, with downstream implications for basic and medical research. Results from this proposal w ....Structural determination of respiratory membrane protein complexes by X-ray crystallography. Membrane proteins form only 0.3% of the available protein structures in the protein data bank (PDB), yet 30% of the proteins in the human genome and 50% of human drug targets are membrane proteins. We have managed to increase the success rate through rational screening and development of new crystallization screens, with downstream implications for basic and medical research. Results from this proposal will receive international recognition and will encourage more research in this field, attracting international funding, and create new research opportunities. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882357
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
A Computational Facility for Multi-scale Modelling in Bio and Nanotechnology. Bio- and nanotechnology have the potential to transform Australian industry and research, and to bring significant benefits for consumers. The scope will include materials for energy storage, medical diagnostics and cellular imaging, bioengineering, drug and gene delivery, improved foods by molecular design, novel materials for electronics, improved techniques for particle processing, and molecular sieves for filtering ....A Computational Facility for Multi-scale Modelling in Bio and Nanotechnology. Bio- and nanotechnology have the potential to transform Australian industry and research, and to bring significant benefits for consumers. The scope will include materials for energy storage, medical diagnostics and cellular imaging, bioengineering, drug and gene delivery, improved foods by molecular design, novel materials for electronics, improved techniques for particle processing, and molecular sieves for filtering/purifying water and gases. The dedicated computing facility will enable a fast interactive cycle between simulation and experiment in these areas, accelerating the pace of research and applications.Read moreRead less
Understanding social cancers: Intra-specific parasitism by honeybee workers. Our project will study the conditions under which normally altruistic honeybee workers parasitise other colonies. Thus we will explore a fundamental question: how is the expression of selfish behaviour normally controlled? Outcomes of this project will be important to our understanding of insect societies but will also have application for those studying the development of tumours in multicellular organisms, the develop ....Understanding social cancers: Intra-specific parasitism by honeybee workers. Our project will study the conditions under which normally altruistic honeybee workers parasitise other colonies. Thus we will explore a fundamental question: how is the expression of selfish behaviour normally controlled? Outcomes of this project will be important to our understanding of insect societies but will also have application for those studying the development of tumours in multicellular organisms, the development of metazoan bodies, and social cohesion in human and non-human societies. Our project will also help protect Australia's honey industry from the devastating social parasites that have ruined the industry in South Africa.Read moreRead less
Northern connections-movement of birds between Australia and its near northern neighbours. This project will better enable Australia to meet its international treaty obligations on migratory birds and provide much needed data on patterns of migratory connectivity in northern Australia. These data are critical for the conservation and management of bird species that spend part of their life-cycle outside Australia. The outputs of the project will be used to assist decision makers with policy and ....Northern connections-movement of birds between Australia and its near northern neighbours. This project will better enable Australia to meet its international treaty obligations on migratory birds and provide much needed data on patterns of migratory connectivity in northern Australia. These data are critical for the conservation and management of bird species that spend part of their life-cycle outside Australia. The outputs of the project will be used to assist decision makers with policy and management decisions relevant to (1) targeted surveillance for exotic and emergent diseases of relevance to Australia and (2) the conservation and management of bird populations in Northern Australia.Read moreRead less
Rheological and Electrical Properties of Biological Soft Tissues. Research on coupling rheological and electrical properties of biological soft tissues and their composites is fundamental to medical and sport sciences, as well as the optimal design and management of smart biomedical devices and bio-microtransducers. This project aims to develop an effective rheological and electrical constitutive law and finite element implementation together with supporting experiments to reveal the novel coupl ....Rheological and Electrical Properties of Biological Soft Tissues. Research on coupling rheological and electrical properties of biological soft tissues and their composites is fundamental to medical and sport sciences, as well as the optimal design and management of smart biomedical devices and bio-microtransducers. This project aims to develop an effective rheological and electrical constitutive law and finite element implementation together with supporting experiments to reveal the novel coupling behaviour of viscoelastic and electric fields of the innovative smart biological soft tissue. These results will provide a guideline for future research in tissue engineering and help Australian biomedical science and industries improve the modern biotransducers and smart biomicro-devices.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear Dynamics of Pulse Coupled Oscillators. A mathematical model of the heart pacemaker system will be created, based on simple interacting units. These units have been shown to be good models of physiological information e.g. the discrimination of different influences on heart rate. We will firstly look at the interaction of the units in simple combinations and then tune the model to mimic the behaviour of the cardiac pacemaker.
Potential benefits may arise from elucidating the mechanis ....Nonlinear Dynamics of Pulse Coupled Oscillators. A mathematical model of the heart pacemaker system will be created, based on simple interacting units. These units have been shown to be good models of physiological information e.g. the discrimination of different influences on heart rate. We will firstly look at the interaction of the units in simple combinations and then tune the model to mimic the behaviour of the cardiac pacemaker.
Potential benefits may arise from elucidating the mechanisms underlying arrhythmias which contribute to ?sudden cardiac death? in young men, and suggesting strategies for artificial pacemakers to effectively arrest abnormal rhythms before they convert to potentially fatal fibrillation.Read moreRead less
Heterarchical modelling of nutritional ecology: from individuals to communities. The project will combine advances in nutritional theory, agent-based modelling and landscape ecology to produce a modelling framework with which to understand the interrelationships between the physiology and behaviour of individual organisms and the populations, communities and ecosystems in which they reside. The resulting computational model will provide a major new initiative in quantitative ecology and allow sp ....Heterarchical modelling of nutritional ecology: from individuals to communities. The project will combine advances in nutritional theory, agent-based modelling and landscape ecology to produce a modelling framework with which to understand the interrelationships between the physiology and behaviour of individual organisms and the populations, communities and ecosystems in which they reside. The resulting computational model will provide a major new initiative in quantitative ecology and allow specific practical problems to be addressed in relation to agricultural pests, invasive species, conservation biology and animal production systems.Read moreRead less
Stress, virulence and bacterial disease in temperate seaweeds: the rise of the microbes. Climate change is predicted to increase the spread and virulence of pathogens, and decrease the resistance to disease via temperature stress on the hosts. Combined with other human impacts (higher nutrients, pollution), we may be facing a major rise in the effect of disease on natural communities. However, these effects are largely unstudied. We will investigate the impact of marine pathogens on kelps and ....Stress, virulence and bacterial disease in temperate seaweeds: the rise of the microbes. Climate change is predicted to increase the spread and virulence of pathogens, and decrease the resistance to disease via temperature stress on the hosts. Combined with other human impacts (higher nutrients, pollution), we may be facing a major rise in the effect of disease on natural communities. However, these effects are largely unstudied. We will investigate the impact of marine pathogens on kelps and other seaweeds when they are stressed by temperature, elevated nutrients or other anthropogenic stressors. Kelp are the 'trees of the oceans', the organisms responsible for creating much of the habitat that fishes and other organisms live in. The loss of kelp forests due to disease would radically change these environments.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775666
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Flora and Fauna Research Facility. Our ability to make informed decisions regarding conservation and management of unique Australian ecosytems depends greatly on our understanding of the organisms inhabiting them. Researchers at the University of Wollongong are addressing this need through a wide range of studies including the: effects of climate change on plants, biology of invasive species, possible causes for declining frog populations, role of the immune system in aging and natural selection ....Flora and Fauna Research Facility. Our ability to make informed decisions regarding conservation and management of unique Australian ecosytems depends greatly on our understanding of the organisms inhabiting them. Researchers at the University of Wollongong are addressing this need through a wide range of studies including the: effects of climate change on plants, biology of invasive species, possible causes for declining frog populations, role of the immune system in aging and natural selection, effects of maternal hormones on offspring, effects of pesticides on native vertebrates, and impacts of bushfires on ecosystems. The infrastructure requested will enable research in these and other important areas.Read moreRead less