Regulation of DNA synthesis and host evasion by Lentivirus Capsids. This project aims to investigate how a type of virus, exemplified by HIV, can synthesise DNA in the cytoplasm of a host cell, without triggering the cell’s innate immunity when DNA is detected outside the nucleus. It expects to advance understanding of the role of the virus’ protein shell in regulating DNA synthesis during infection. The project outcomes should include enhanced capacity for fundamental virus and cell biology re ....Regulation of DNA synthesis and host evasion by Lentivirus Capsids. This project aims to investigate how a type of virus, exemplified by HIV, can synthesise DNA in the cytoplasm of a host cell, without triggering the cell’s innate immunity when DNA is detected outside the nucleus. It expects to advance understanding of the role of the virus’ protein shell in regulating DNA synthesis during infection. The project outcomes should include enhanced capacity for fundamental virus and cell biology research in Australia. The project anticipates contributing to new tools for delivering genes to cells, benefiting therapeutic and biotechnology applications.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC200100052
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,789,838.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins for Drug Discovery. This Centre aims to train industry-ready, world class graduates in cryo-electron microscopy of membrane proteins. The Centre’s graduates and research results would enable tomorrow’s industrial expansion in structure-enhanced drug design. Expected outcomes are world-first structural biology knowledge and techniques, and the entrepreneurial and technical skills desired by industry. This should provide signifi ....ARC Training Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins for Drug Discovery. This Centre aims to train industry-ready, world class graduates in cryo-electron microscopy of membrane proteins. The Centre’s graduates and research results would enable tomorrow’s industrial expansion in structure-enhanced drug design. Expected outcomes are world-first structural biology knowledge and techniques, and the entrepreneurial and technical skills desired by industry. This should provide significant benefits including advancing Australian biotechnological capacity and improved linkages with major pharmaceutical partners. It should also provide a substantive competitive advantage to nascent Australian biotechnology companies that also links into new National investment into drug discovery and development infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100219
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$343,551.00
Summary
Molecular mechanism for the regulation of Polycomb repressive complex 2. This project aims to determine how the histone methyltransferase Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is regulated. The project expects to generate new knowledge in transcription regulation and epigenetics. The intended outcome is to enhance the national capabilities in two important fields, Polycomb biology and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This should provide significant benefits, including strengthening of the epig ....Molecular mechanism for the regulation of Polycomb repressive complex 2. This project aims to determine how the histone methyltransferase Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is regulated. The project expects to generate new knowledge in transcription regulation and epigenetics. The intended outcome is to enhance the national capabilities in two important fields, Polycomb biology and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This should provide significant benefits, including strengthening of the epigenetic community through the development of innovative research program in Polycomb biology and the establishment of a national world-class cryo-EM community.Read moreRead less
The molecular blue-print for a mitochondrial nanomachine. The objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the architecture of a biological nanomachine through broad-reaching investigation of the molecular contacts that enable the component parts to work together. The project plans to take the foundation knowledge of each of the component parts and build a conceptual framework of engineering principles to understand how the nanomachine is assembled, using a breakthroug ....The molecular blue-print for a mitochondrial nanomachine. The objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the architecture of a biological nanomachine through broad-reaching investigation of the molecular contacts that enable the component parts to work together. The project plans to take the foundation knowledge of each of the component parts and build a conceptual framework of engineering principles to understand how the nanomachine is assembled, using a breakthrough technology to address the precise architecture of the component parts within the nanomachine.Read moreRead less
The control of archaeal cell structure by tubulin-family proteins. The objective of this project is to deliver new insights into the evolution and diversity of cell structure and function. Cell theory has been a cornerstone of biology for over 150 years. Yet how early cells developed into modern forms is still a mystery. The primitive and poorly understood third domain of life, Archaea, could hold clues. Recently, proteins were discovered in archaea that are related to the tubulin proteins of al ....The control of archaeal cell structure by tubulin-family proteins. The objective of this project is to deliver new insights into the evolution and diversity of cell structure and function. Cell theory has been a cornerstone of biology for over 150 years. Yet how early cells developed into modern forms is still a mystery. The primitive and poorly understood third domain of life, Archaea, could hold clues. Recently, proteins were discovered in archaea that are related to the tubulin proteins of all higher organisms, which provide the structural framework of cells essential for survival. This project aims to reveal the basis of how the archaeal tubulin proteins control cell shape in response to environmental change, and to develop a new paradigm for archaeal cell biology. This may find application in Australia's biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101669
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,485.00
Summary
Polycomb Group Proteins - Shaping Chromatin Architecture to Silence Genes . This project aims to address the fundamental question of how genes are switched off by studying a group of molecular off-switches, the polycomb group proteins. The project is expected to generate new knowledge in the area of gene regulation and epigenetics by combining innovative methods of structural biology and cell biology in an interdisciplinary way. The expected outcomes include a more complete picture of the molecu ....Polycomb Group Proteins - Shaping Chromatin Architecture to Silence Genes . This project aims to address the fundamental question of how genes are switched off by studying a group of molecular off-switches, the polycomb group proteins. The project is expected to generate new knowledge in the area of gene regulation and epigenetics by combining innovative methods of structural biology and cell biology in an interdisciplinary way. The expected outcomes include a more complete picture of the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression and the development of novel methods to image the genome. This should provide significant benefits, such as facilitated development of gene editing tools and regulatory circuits for synthetic biology, as well as novel capabilities to image the genome at high resolution Read moreRead less
Atomic scale precision engineering of cell-material interfaces. This project aims to determine the molecular structure of the interface between novel peptide self-assemblies and cell membranes through x-ray diffraction and molecular simulation. The project will generate knowledge to enable atomic scale engineering of peptide nanomaterials, and exploitation of these materials to modulate cell responses. Expected outcomes include designed peptide nanostructures with specific chemical and physical ....Atomic scale precision engineering of cell-material interfaces. This project aims to determine the molecular structure of the interface between novel peptide self-assemblies and cell membranes through x-ray diffraction and molecular simulation. The project will generate knowledge to enable atomic scale engineering of peptide nanomaterials, and exploitation of these materials to modulate cell responses. Expected outcomes include designed peptide nanostructures with specific chemical and physical cues to promote sustainable growth of desired cells, whilst inhibiting undesirable responses. These outcomes should provide benefits in terms of a practical toolkit for tailoring structure and function of peptide nanostructures and open up a new era in molecular design of smart biomaterials. This easily scalable, new materials platform will contribute to emerging high-value manufacturing industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100121
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$670,000.00
Summary
A facility for the nanoscale imaging and characterisation of materials. Nanotechnology is dependent on measuring surface properties and this cutting-edge scanning probe microscopy facility will provide this capability. Atomic resolution imaging, along with spectroscopy for chemical information, and nanoindentation for physical information, will generate solutions for physical and life sciences, and materials engineering.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100057
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,000.00
Summary
Australian Stress Engineering Facility. This project aims to radically enhance the Australian capability for residual stress measurements and damage analysis. This project is expected to revolutionise stress engineering research in Australia by providing access to a state-of-the-art measurement capability that will enable on-site measurements at manufacturing plants and in laboratories. Expected outcomes of this project include the development and optimisation of advanced manufacturing and maint ....Australian Stress Engineering Facility. This project aims to radically enhance the Australian capability for residual stress measurements and damage analysis. This project is expected to revolutionise stress engineering research in Australia by providing access to a state-of-the-art measurement capability that will enable on-site measurements at manufacturing plants and in laboratories. Expected outcomes of this project include the development and optimisation of advanced manufacturing and maintenance technologies for civil engineering structures. This should provide significant benefits in safety, reliability and economic impact to Australian researchers in academia and industry across manufacturing, civil, transport, defence and medical sectors.Read moreRead less
Benchmarking of advanced scattering probes for materials characterisation. The project seeks to establish the accuracy and validity of different methods of nanoscale structure determination. Nanoscale structure is crucial to the properties of many modern materials with diverse applications: e.g. sensors and actuators in cell phones; smart shock absorbers and fuel injectors in cars; memory devices; drug delivery devices.