Targeting Iron Piracy From Host Proteins By Neisseria And Haemophilus Spp. For The Development Of Novel Antimicrobials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
The bacteria that cause the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea and meningococcal disease are a serious health concern. In order to cause disease, these bacteria must obtain the nutrient iron from our bodies. This proposed research will use cutting edge technologies to understand on a molecular level how these bacteria obtain iron during infection. It will then apply this knowledge to develop molecules that prevent these bacteria from obtaining iron, as a means of treating these diseases.
Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance In Neonatal Sepsis: Australia And Beyond
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,164.00
Summary
This project aims to establish clear data regarding the burden of antibiotic resistance in neonates in Australia & in our local South East Asian region. This will be achieved by establishing systematic data collection for infections with multi-resistant bacteria in Australian neonatal intensive care units, reviewing published literature regarding the cause of infections in South East Asian neonates, and continuing collaborative work to establish a new treatment regimen for neonatal sepsis.
How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understandi ....How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understanding the dynamics of developmental systems that shape complex brain traits includes establishing new developmental paradigms in evolutionary theory, generating new tools to investigate and manipulate brain gene expression in vivo, and the potential discovery of the causes of neurodevelopmental dysfunction.Read moreRead less
Social cohesion and resilience through intercultural music engagement. This project aims to identify, evaluate and develop theoretical and practical ways in which intercultural music engagement can facilitate social cohesion and enhance community resilience and intercultural empathy. There is growing evidence that music is a powerful stimulus for wellbeing and interpersonal connection and it is increasingly applied to promote intercultural understanding. This project will use detailed observatio ....Social cohesion and resilience through intercultural music engagement. This project aims to identify, evaluate and develop theoretical and practical ways in which intercultural music engagement can facilitate social cohesion and enhance community resilience and intercultural empathy. There is growing evidence that music is a powerful stimulus for wellbeing and interpersonal connection and it is increasingly applied to promote intercultural understanding. This project will use detailed observational, participatory and experimental strategies to elucidate the psychosocial processes underpinning intercultural music engagement, isolating variables that promote social cohesion. The project will develop best practice guidelines for organisations seeking to use cultural exposure and interaction to promote positive multicultural experiences.Read moreRead less
Electron, positron, and heavy-particle collisions with molecules. This project aims to develop a computational approach to collisions involving molecular targets with electrons, positrons and heavy particles. Recently, the approach to atomic collisions, the Convergent Close Coupling (CCC) method, has been extended and verified for positron, electron, and heavy particle collisions with the simplest molecular systems (molecular hydrogen and its ion). This project now aims to extend the CCC method ....Electron, positron, and heavy-particle collisions with molecules. This project aims to develop a computational approach to collisions involving molecular targets with electrons, positrons and heavy particles. Recently, the approach to atomic collisions, the Convergent Close Coupling (CCC) method, has been extended and verified for positron, electron, and heavy particle collisions with the simplest molecular systems (molecular hydrogen and its ion). This project now aims to extend the CCC method to study collisions with more complex molecules. Expected benefits include more accurate data for diagnostic tools such as Positron Emission Tomography, and potential advances in particle-based cancer therapy.Read moreRead less
Programmed cell death signalling in innate immunity. This proposal aims to address the under-explored potential for programmed cell death to promote innate immune cell signalling, which is a critical and fundamental biological process. It aims to generate new knowledge in the areas of cell death and innate signalling using innovative interdisciplinary approaches and discover new molecules that impact innate inflammatory responses. The expected outcomes of this project are to enhance our basic un ....Programmed cell death signalling in innate immunity. This proposal aims to address the under-explored potential for programmed cell death to promote innate immune cell signalling, which is a critical and fundamental biological process. It aims to generate new knowledge in the areas of cell death and innate signalling using innovative interdisciplinary approaches and discover new molecules that impact innate inflammatory responses. The expected outcomes of this project are to enhance our basic understanding of cell death, and build interdisciplinary collaborations. This work should provide significant benefit to the economy and health of Australians, as it is expected to identify molecules that will be of interest to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Improving the efficiency of CRISPR gene editing in cells. Human red blood cells are well-characterised and the globin gene locus is a model system for the study of gene regulation. Gene editing technologies and delivery tools are evolving rapidly and the globin gene locus is the perfect model for gene editing optimisation. This collaboration between UNSW Sydney and CSL aims to bring together our combined expertise and new technologies to develop an optimal platform for genetic modification in a ....Improving the efficiency of CRISPR gene editing in cells. Human red blood cells are well-characterised and the globin gene locus is a model system for the study of gene regulation. Gene editing technologies and delivery tools are evolving rapidly and the globin gene locus is the perfect model for gene editing optimisation. This collaboration between UNSW Sydney and CSL aims to bring together our combined expertise and new technologies to develop an optimal platform for genetic modification in a red blood cell line. Simultaneously, this project aims to generate fundamental insights into mechanisms of human gene regulation. The technological and biological outcomes of this project will be of benefit for future gene editing applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101494
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,280.00
Summary
'There's no place like home': optimising the home environment to age well. This project aims to create new knowledge and digital tools for older people to be able to assess their home for access and safety, and arrange modifications enabling them to remain in their own home for as long as possible. Most older people wish to remain in their own home but often require home modifications in order to do so, which are traditionally prescribed by occupational therapists. The expected outcome of this p ....'There's no place like home': optimising the home environment to age well. This project aims to create new knowledge and digital tools for older people to be able to assess their home for access and safety, and arrange modifications enabling them to remain in their own home for as long as possible. Most older people wish to remain in their own home but often require home modifications in order to do so, which are traditionally prescribed by occupational therapists. The expected outcome of this project includes new digital tools which will enable optimal adaptation of the home environment. This should provide significant social benefits, such as increased safety, independence and support for older people to remain at home, and economic benefits from a reduced need for residential aged care or health services.Read moreRead less
Multilevel selection and the integrity of mitochondrial DNA. This project aims to investigate the evolutionary conundrum of how and why organelles remain asexual. The widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction suggests that sex is beneficial to organisms. Yet we all carry an ancient genome that never had sex, the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). Theory predicts that mtDNA should no longer exist, because without sex it accumulates deleterious mutations and cannot accumulate beneficial ones. Yet mt ....Multilevel selection and the integrity of mitochondrial DNA. This project aims to investigate the evolutionary conundrum of how and why organelles remain asexual. The widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction suggests that sex is beneficial to organisms. Yet we all carry an ancient genome that never had sex, the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). Theory predicts that mtDNA should no longer exist, because without sex it accumulates deleterious mutations and cannot accumulate beneficial ones. Yet mtDNA does not suffer mutational meltdown and is shown to adapt. This project will explain how, proposing that the combination of two traits, uniparental inheritance and multiple genomes per cell, make up for the lack of sex. This project expects to provide an explanation for the evolutionary question of what keeps mitochondria healthy, important as mitochondria affect ageing and health.Read moreRead less
Gene regulation by retroelement encoded natural antisense transcripts. Genetic information underpins all life on earth and is processed to make proteins, which determine the characteristics of an organism. However, only about 2% of our whole genome is made up of genes that encode proteins; the other 98% is non-coding and its function remains poorly understood. Aims and Significance: This proposal aims to utilise cutting edge genomic technologies to generate new knowledge about how the non-coding ....Gene regulation by retroelement encoded natural antisense transcripts. Genetic information underpins all life on earth and is processed to make proteins, which determine the characteristics of an organism. However, only about 2% of our whole genome is made up of genes that encode proteins; the other 98% is non-coding and its function remains poorly understood. Aims and Significance: This proposal aims to utilise cutting edge genomic technologies to generate new knowledge about how the non-coding genome regulates the expression of protein coding genes. Expected Outcomes and Benefits: This proposal will provide novel targets and methodology for gene modulation with broad applications from biology to environmental sciences.Read moreRead less