The Mezzanine T Cell Response: Intervening At The Coal Face
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$765,585.00
Summary
In an initial immune response, specialised cells in lymph nodes tell T cells to multiply; the stimulated T cells depart and enter target tissue (e.g. lung in the case of flu). We describe a new response whereby the target tissue itself can tell T cells to multiply further. This response in target tissues reveals a new way of altering immune responses. This is especially important as in many diseases, the primary lymph node response has already occurred, so cannot be therapeutically intervened.
The Molecular Determinants Of Immunological Tolerance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
Autoimmune diseases, such as type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis, are debilitating disorders that impose a massive toll on wellbeing in Australia and worldwide. This fellowship will support research aimed at determining the genes and mechanisms that control autoimmunity. New technologies will be brought to bear to track immune cells throughout their development, maturity and malfunction in disease settings. We aim to uncover new therapeutic targets to prevent and reverse autoimmune disease.
Virtual testing of orthopaedic devices as part of the design and development process: strategies to account for patient and surgical variability. Novel computational tools will be developed through this project to help account for patient and surgical variability in the design of orthopaedic implants, such as hip and knee replacements and spinal products. These tools will reduce the design time, give greater insight in implant performance and ultimately lead to safer implants with improved longe ....Virtual testing of orthopaedic devices as part of the design and development process: strategies to account for patient and surgical variability. Novel computational tools will be developed through this project to help account for patient and surgical variability in the design of orthopaedic implants, such as hip and knee replacements and spinal products. These tools will reduce the design time, give greater insight in implant performance and ultimately lead to safer implants with improved longevity.Read moreRead less
Programming soft plasmene nanosheets with living RAFT functional polymers. This project aims to use recently discovered plasmene to demonstrate programmable materials properties using living RAFT polymeric ligands. Plasmene is free-standing, one-particle-thick, superlattice sheets of plasmonic nanoparticles. It represents a conceptually new class of two-dimensional metamaterials with broad applications in energy, environment, sensors and optoelectronic devices. This project expects to generate n ....Programming soft plasmene nanosheets with living RAFT functional polymers. This project aims to use recently discovered plasmene to demonstrate programmable materials properties using living RAFT polymeric ligands. Plasmene is free-standing, one-particle-thick, superlattice sheets of plasmonic nanoparticles. It represents a conceptually new class of two-dimensional metamaterials with broad applications in energy, environment, sensors and optoelectronic devices. This project expects to generate new knowledge and patentable technologies, and advance Australian worldwide standing in the field of nanotechnology and polymer science.Read moreRead less
The Calcium Channel TRPV4 In Skeletal Development And Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$683,069.00
Summary
We have discovered that mutations in a calcium channel gene, TRPV4, cause an inherited osteoarthritis in the hands and feet. This work suggests that TRPV4 may be important in osteoarthritis and suggests the exciting possibility that modulating TRPV4 activity may provide a new therapeutic approach for arthritis. We will study how and why the mutations disrupt channel function and study mouse models to see if they are more or less susceptible to arthritis.
Targeting Adenosine Mediated Immunosuppression To Enhance CAR T Cell Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$633,447.00
Summary
The use of white blood cells genetically engineered to eradicate cancer cells specifically has been a major breakthrough in cancer treatment. These cells (CAR T cells) are very effective in blood cancers, but do not currently work well in other cancers. This is due to the immune suppressing nature of the cancer environment. I propose to use strategies to overcome this by genetically reprogramming the CAR T cells to be resistant to suppression by the cancer and therefore be more effective.
Organically-Capped Copper Nanowires for Soft Electronic Skin Sensors. Soft skin-like electronics can enable applications that are impossible to achieve with today's rigid circuit board technologies. However, it is difficult to realise such future soft electronics with traditional materials and conventional manufacturing methodologies. This project aims to synthesise novel organically-capped copper nanowires as electronic inks (e-inks) for developing cost-effective, soft, stretchable conductor (e ....Organically-Capped Copper Nanowires for Soft Electronic Skin Sensors. Soft skin-like electronics can enable applications that are impossible to achieve with today's rigid circuit board technologies. However, it is difficult to realise such future soft electronics with traditional materials and conventional manufacturing methodologies. This project aims to synthesise novel organically-capped copper nanowires as electronic inks (e-inks) for developing cost-effective, soft, stretchable conductor (e-skin) sensors, which are wearable for monitoring blood pulses, body motions and hand gestures in real-time and in situ. This is expected to advance our knowledge in nanotechnology and generate patentable technologies in soft e-skin sensors, and to bring significant scientific and economic gains to Australia.Read moreRead less
Developing Multi-Scale Technologies for Two-Dimensional Metal Nanoparticle Superlattice Sheets. Nanoparticle superlattices refer to highly ordered nanoparticle arrays, which are a new class of crystalline materials with collective properties different from those of bulk phase crystals, isolated nanocrystals and even disordered nanocrystal assemblies. However nanoparticle superlattice is still in the embryonic stage of development due to the lack of multiscale technologies. This project aims to d ....Developing Multi-Scale Technologies for Two-Dimensional Metal Nanoparticle Superlattice Sheets. Nanoparticle superlattices refer to highly ordered nanoparticle arrays, which are a new class of crystalline materials with collective properties different from those of bulk phase crystals, isolated nanocrystals and even disordered nanocrystal assemblies. However nanoparticle superlattice is still in the embryonic stage of development due to the lack of multiscale technologies. This project aims to develop such important technologies to produce two-dimensional nanoparticle superlattice sheets for novel energy-harvesting devices. This will generate new knowledge and important patentable technologies for future energy industries, contributing to further advance Australian knowledge base and build a greener world.Read moreRead less
Highly durable electronic skins for multifunctional tactile sensing. This project aims to develop next-generation, multifunctional, wearable tactile sensors that can perceive and discriminate between different types of physical and chemical stimuli. These wearable e-skin sensors will mimic the sensing capabilities of real skin, and will measure a broader range of aspects of a person’s physical and biological condition than current wearable sensors. It will generate a new platform technology capa ....Highly durable electronic skins for multifunctional tactile sensing. This project aims to develop next-generation, multifunctional, wearable tactile sensors that can perceive and discriminate between different types of physical and chemical stimuli. These wearable e-skin sensors will mimic the sensing capabilities of real skin, and will measure a broader range of aspects of a person’s physical and biological condition than current wearable sensors. It will generate a new platform technology capable of commercialisation, bringing economic gains to Australia.Read moreRead less
The great divergence, long-run growth and unified theories of economic growth. This project investigates why income has been close to subsistence levels for most of human history, and in particular, the factors that were responsible for take-off in Europe two centuries ago and then later in other countries. It is expected that both major and minor technological innovations have played a critical role in take-off.