Male-female Sperm Signalling - A Novel Pathway For Peri-conceptual Health?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$674,920.00
Summary
This project will investigate a new biological process in reproduction, whereby sperm delivered to the cervix at coitus transmit signalling molecules called microRNAs that influence the female immune response, to increase the chances of conception and pregnancy. We will define the molecular details of this signalling pathway in mouse models, and then determine whether human sperm have a comparable function in ‘priming’ the female body to conceive.
Signaling in the crypt: a novel metabolic pathway in intestinal stem cells. The gut is the most rapidly renewing tissue in the body, driven by a highly active stem cell niche. Bile acids are emerging as critical regulators of this stem cell niche and disruption of bile acid homeostasis has profoundly adverse effects on intestinal renewal and hence gut health. We are addressing a critical gap in our understanding of how bile acids are controlled within stem cell niche. The aim of the project is ....Signaling in the crypt: a novel metabolic pathway in intestinal stem cells. The gut is the most rapidly renewing tissue in the body, driven by a highly active stem cell niche. Bile acids are emerging as critical regulators of this stem cell niche and disruption of bile acid homeostasis has profoundly adverse effects on intestinal renewal and hence gut health. We are addressing a critical gap in our understanding of how bile acids are controlled within stem cell niche. The aim of the project is to define the critical role of a novel enzyme called UGT8 in controlling intestinal stem cell response to bile acids; this is achieved by modulating UGT8 activity in intestinal stem cell models and determining the effects on stem cell function and the key signalling pathways that control intestinal homeostasis and renewal.Read moreRead less
New mechanisms regulating the biogenesis of extracellular vesicles. Extracellular vesicles are small packages that contain active components derived from the cell of origin. These vesicles, released by most cell types, are critical for communication between cells. However, the processes of their formation and release remain poorly understood. This project aims to explore how ubiquitination, a type of protein modification system, controls the production of extracellular vesicles. Using a strong c ....New mechanisms regulating the biogenesis of extracellular vesicles. Extracellular vesicles are small packages that contain active components derived from the cell of origin. These vesicles, released by most cell types, are critical for communication between cells. However, the processes of their formation and release remain poorly understood. This project aims to explore how ubiquitination, a type of protein modification system, controls the production of extracellular vesicles. Using a strong collaborative team and highly innovative approaches, the project will generate new knowledge to inform how cells communicate. Expected outcomes include knowledge of broad significance to cell biology, that can be leveraged to develop extracellular vesicles as tools for various biotechnology applications in the future.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347607
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$306,000.00
Summary
FishWorks - collaborative infrastructure for zebrafish research. Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful and cost-effective animal model for studying development, biology, and disease. FishWorks represents a large-scale co-operative initiative to develop state-of-the-art zebrafish housing, manipulation, genomics and screening infrastructure in Australia. This will both support and further enhance a core group of high quality researchers to engage in cutting-edge research in areas of acknowledged ex ....FishWorks - collaborative infrastructure for zebrafish research. Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful and cost-effective animal model for studying development, biology, and disease. FishWorks represents a large-scale co-operative initiative to develop state-of-the-art zebrafish housing, manipulation, genomics and screening infrastructure in Australia. This will both support and further enhance a core group of high quality researchers to engage in cutting-edge research in areas of acknowledged expertise as well as priority within their respective institutions. In addition, it will facilitate wide-ranging collaborative arrangements to further develop and exploit this research area.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100604
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,600.00
Summary
How do cells sense and react to mechanical forces? There is accumulating evidence that mechanical forces exerted on tissues and cells strongly influences their behaviour. My research aims to understand how cells sense and respond to forces experienced throughout life. Using a combination of three-dimensional cell and tissue culture methods, I will investigate how compressive forces change the biochemistry of cells and their functionality. This work is aimed at generating fundamental knowledge to ....How do cells sense and react to mechanical forces? There is accumulating evidence that mechanical forces exerted on tissues and cells strongly influences their behaviour. My research aims to understand how cells sense and respond to forces experienced throughout life. Using a combination of three-dimensional cell and tissue culture methods, I will investigate how compressive forces change the biochemistry of cells and their functionality. This work is aimed at generating fundamental knowledge to improve our comprehension of how cells respond to force. The expected outcome is a greater understanding of mechanical and biochemical relationships between cells and the environment, to inform fields of tissue engineering of culture scaffolds to better mimic natural cell-tissue settings.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0452977
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$329,504.00
Summary
Upgrade and expansion of Newcastle Plant Growth Facility. The project will upgrade and expand the Newcastle Plant Growth Facility. The upgrades will improve glasshouse environments for the production of high quality plant material. This outcome will be achieved through increasing solar transmittance and more effective temperature control. Expansion will address unmet demand for standard and PC2 plant growth space. Together the infrastructure additions will enhance productivity and excellence ....Upgrade and expansion of Newcastle Plant Growth Facility. The project will upgrade and expand the Newcastle Plant Growth Facility. The upgrades will improve glasshouse environments for the production of high quality plant material. This outcome will be achieved through increasing solar transmittance and more effective temperature control. Expansion will address unmet demand for standard and PC2 plant growth space. Together the infrastructure additions will enhance productivity and excellence of core areas of plant biology research at Newcastle in nutrient transport, cell development as well as environment management and rehabilitation . In addition, they will underpin new collaborative initiatives at the interfaces between plant biology with transgenic delivery of reproductive vaccines and phytoremediation.Read moreRead less
TREX-mediated nuclear mRNA export in neuronal differentiation and function. This project aims to study nucleus-to-cytoplasm information flow and the cellular toolbox required for this process. To ensure competitive growth and survival, plant and animal cells have sophisticated mechanisms of information transfer. One such process is efficient export of molecules from the cell nucleus (the coding space) to the cell cytoplasm (the protein synthesis space). This project will use a cell-based system ....TREX-mediated nuclear mRNA export in neuronal differentiation and function. This project aims to study nucleus-to-cytoplasm information flow and the cellular toolbox required for this process. To ensure competitive growth and survival, plant and animal cells have sophisticated mechanisms of information transfer. One such process is efficient export of molecules from the cell nucleus (the coding space) to the cell cytoplasm (the protein synthesis space). This project will use a cell-based system that can precisely control different aspects of the toolbox performance to understand this process. The knowledge and resources generated can be used to develop products or services with tangible economic and health benefits.Read moreRead less
How do mechanical cues regulate tissue renewal and tumour progression? Imbalances between cell production and cell death in tissues can be catastrophic, leading to major global health issues such as cancer. This project will use modified mice and protein-protein interaction based techniques to identify how changes in the mechanical properties of tissues regulate the balance between cell production and cell death.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453839
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,892.00
Summary
Adelaide Core Laser Capture Microscopy Facility. Laser Capture Microscopy represents a powerful and essential tool in many aspects of modern cell and molecular biology. Although the applications for these machines are very broad, overall the technology can be viewed as allowing collection of rare cells (or objects as small as bacteria and organelles) from complex tissues and cells. This proposal concerns infrastructure funding to obtain a state-of-the-art core Laser Capture Microscope facility ....Adelaide Core Laser Capture Microscopy Facility. Laser Capture Microscopy represents a powerful and essential tool in many aspects of modern cell and molecular biology. Although the applications for these machines are very broad, overall the technology can be viewed as allowing collection of rare cells (or objects as small as bacteria and organelles) from complex tissues and cells. This proposal concerns infrastructure funding to obtain a state-of-the-art core Laser Capture Microscope facility in Adelaide that will significantly enhance scientific progress in a diverse range of areas including functional genomics of animal, plant and prokaryotic cells.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561229
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$518,427.00
Summary
Establishment of a Multiphoton Microscope Imaging Platform for Live Cell and Tissue, and Optical Imaging. This proposal seeks to establish a multidisciplinary multiphoton imaging laboratory, expanding the imaging capabilities of a Core Regional Imaging Facility. This Facility supports researchers across all Monash campuses and hospital-based research Schools, as well as outside research groups in the Victorian region. Furthermore, this equipment will support significant fiber optic research at V ....Establishment of a Multiphoton Microscope Imaging Platform for Live Cell and Tissue, and Optical Imaging. This proposal seeks to establish a multidisciplinary multiphoton imaging laboratory, expanding the imaging capabilities of a Core Regional Imaging Facility. This Facility supports researchers across all Monash campuses and hospital-based research Schools, as well as outside research groups in the Victorian region. Furthermore, this equipment will support significant fiber optic research at Victoria University for the development of communication and endoscopic technology. The instrument design will allow multiple use of the lightsource and choice of specific imaging devices (microscopes) to ensure that applications in biocellular imaging, intravital microscopy and fiber optic design and imaging are individually optimised.Read moreRead less