Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120103152
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Development of next generation drugs against Helicobacter pylori. Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the world and infection by Helicobacter pylori bacteria is the main cause of this disease. The aim of this project is to develop new approaches to treat Helicobacter pylori infection that will give superior results and lower side effects than available therapies.
New approaches to inhibition of activity of HIV integrase. This project aims to assist in the development of novel anti-HIV drugs that will benefit the 17000 Australians and more than 33 million people worldwide who are currently suffering with this terrible disease. The project will utilise state-of-the-art approaches in structure-based drug design to identify and synthesise compounds as leads for the development of anti-HIV drugs. Furthermore, the project will provide invaluable training for t ....New approaches to inhibition of activity of HIV integrase. This project aims to assist in the development of novel anti-HIV drugs that will benefit the 17000 Australians and more than 33 million people worldwide who are currently suffering with this terrible disease. The project will utilise state-of-the-art approaches in structure-based drug design to identify and synthesise compounds as leads for the development of anti-HIV drugs. Furthermore, the project will provide invaluable training for the researchers involved and enhance the relationship between the academic and commercial collaborators.Read moreRead less
Chemical-biology approaches to pathway selective adenosine receptor ligands. This project aims to develop new chemical-biology tools and approaches for selectively targeting signalling pathways mediated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). GPCRs are an important family of cell surface signalling proteins that are responsible for the regulation of numerous vital physiological functions. The A1 adenosine receptor is an important model and therapeutically relevant GPCR that will be the focus of t ....Chemical-biology approaches to pathway selective adenosine receptor ligands. This project aims to develop new chemical-biology tools and approaches for selectively targeting signalling pathways mediated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). GPCRs are an important family of cell surface signalling proteins that are responsible for the regulation of numerous vital physiological functions. The A1 adenosine receptor is an important model and therapeutically relevant GPCR that will be the focus of this project. Compounds known as bitopic ligands, which can interact with distinct binding sites (termed orthosteric and allosteric sites), will be explored as pathway selective agents capable of activating the signalling pathways mediating the desired effect in preference to those producing adverse effects. Longer-term benefits include the identification of bioactive compounds with more selective modes of action and improved safety profiles.Read moreRead less
Novel conotoxins that target ion channels and receptors. This project will discover peptides from cone snail venom that are potential drug candidates. The project will expand our knowledge of these biological active peptides and their mode of action. It will also protect key molecules through patent applications, providing a competitive edge for Australian biotechnology.
Development of potent and specific modulators of the human sodium channel Nav1.7. There are few effective drugs available for the treatment of chronic pain. This team recently discovered that spider venoms are a rich source of inhibitors of Nav1.7, a new target for anti-pain drugs. The goal of this project is to develop potent blockers of Nav1.7 that can be used to critically assess the role of this ion channel in mediating pain.
Aquatic chemo-modulators: a novel source for potent molecular probes. This project aims to investigate peptides that modulate prey behaviour. Chemical signalling constitutes much of the language of life underwater. Certain cone snails evolved a hunting strategy, where they release potent peptides to modulate fish behaviour through yet unknown mechanisms. The snail then expands its mouth and eats the fish without resistance. This project will investigate the mechanisms at play using transcriptomi ....Aquatic chemo-modulators: a novel source for potent molecular probes. This project aims to investigate peptides that modulate prey behaviour. Chemical signalling constitutes much of the language of life underwater. Certain cone snails evolved a hunting strategy, where they release potent peptides to modulate fish behaviour through yet unknown mechanisms. The snail then expands its mouth and eats the fish without resistance. This project will investigate the mechanisms at play using transcriptomics, proteomics, peptide synthesis, behavioural pharmacology and nuclear magnetic resonance. This will advance the knowledge of aquatic chemo-modulators on a functional, structural and evolutionary level, and provide a source of molecular probes with unique pharmacology and applications in human physiology, developmental biology and aquacultures.Read moreRead less
Structure and activity determination of membrane-active peptides. Membrane-active peptides, such as antimicrobial and amyloid (Ab) peptides, play an important role in disease. With the growth of antibiotic resistance and increase in Alzheimer’s disease, which is epitomised by plaques of Ab, new drugs are required. Although Ab is toxic in neuronal cell cultures and disrupts cell membranes, the mechanism is unknown. Antimicrobial peptides that target bacterial membranes have evolved as a defence m ....Structure and activity determination of membrane-active peptides. Membrane-active peptides, such as antimicrobial and amyloid (Ab) peptides, play an important role in disease. With the growth of antibiotic resistance and increase in Alzheimer’s disease, which is epitomised by plaques of Ab, new drugs are required. Although Ab is toxic in neuronal cell cultures and disrupts cell membranes, the mechanism is unknown. Antimicrobial peptides that target bacterial membranes have evolved as a defence mechanism against infection and, since membranes show little genetic adaptation, could be drug candidates. Model membranes will be developed to elucidate the mechanism of action and key molecular features that determine affinity for membrane lipids of an antimicrobial peptide and full length Ab peptides.Read moreRead less
Novel cysteine-rich conotoxin frameworks from Australian cone snails. This project aims to discover conotoxins that are potential drug leads or useful pharmacological tools. It aims to increase both the discovery of novel conotoxin cysteine-rich frameworks through integrated transcriptomics and proteomics (venomics), conotoxin synthesis and 3-D structure determination, and to generate conotoxin disulfide bond mimetics and conotoxin dendrimers to increase stability, potency and selectivity. The w ....Novel cysteine-rich conotoxin frameworks from Australian cone snails. This project aims to discover conotoxins that are potential drug leads or useful pharmacological tools. It aims to increase both the discovery of novel conotoxin cysteine-rich frameworks through integrated transcriptomics and proteomics (venomics), conotoxin synthesis and 3-D structure determination, and to generate conotoxin disulfide bond mimetics and conotoxin dendrimers to increase stability, potency and selectivity. The work is designed to be based on a venomics platforms to accelerate conotoxin framework discovery while using novel mimetics and dendrimeric constructs to improve their biophysical properties. The expected outcomes include an expansion of novel conotoxin sequences and novel frameworks to generate lead molecules for potential development.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100120
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$800,000.00
Summary
Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation system for molecular structure determination. Dynamic nuclear polarisation system for molecular structure determination:
This project aims to establish the first dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) spectrometer in Australia. DNP is designed to enhance the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance techniques for molecular structure determination. The instrumentation would enable advancements in the biological and material sciences by providing enhanced sensitivity to ....Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation system for molecular structure determination. Dynamic nuclear polarisation system for molecular structure determination:
This project aims to establish the first dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) spectrometer in Australia. DNP is designed to enhance the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance techniques for molecular structure determination. The instrumentation would enable advancements in the biological and material sciences by providing enhanced sensitivity to allow biomolecular and in-cell structure determination and the characterisation of new advanced materials. The facility is expected to drive interdisciplinary research and bring together scientific expertise that will accelerate advances in biomedical science, biochemistry, forensic science and security, polymers and nano-electronics.Read moreRead less