Bayesian statistical models for understanding outcomes and improving decision-making for women screened for breast cancer. This project has two key benefits: (i) the development of frontier statistical methods for spatio-temporal analysis and data synthesis, which are imperative in a wide range of disciplines; and (ii) the application of these methods for improved understanding of breast cancer outcomes for women screened in Queensland. The project results will lead to direct health and financi ....Bayesian statistical models for understanding outcomes and improving decision-making for women screened for breast cancer. This project has two key benefits: (i) the development of frontier statistical methods for spatio-temporal analysis and data synthesis, which are imperative in a wide range of disciplines; and (ii) the application of these methods for improved understanding of breast cancer outcomes for women screened in Queensland. The project results will lead to direct health and financial benefits through targeted policies for increasing screening uptake and reducing cancer morbidity and mortality and therefore health spending in this area. Importantly, the project represents an excellent training opportunity to develop a PhD candidate into an experienced interdisciplinary researcher.Read moreRead less
Structure and function of a new class of multi-zinc finger (MZF) transcriptional regulators. An understanding of how genes are switched on and off during the development and lifetime of an organism is central to developing the ability to fight many diseases in a rational way. This project will advance our knowledge in this area at a fundamental molecular level by examining the mechanisms through which a specific set of proteins controls gene expression.
Advanced Nanostructured Biointerfaces for Cell Capture. The expected outcomes of this interdisciplinary project, which apply the most recent advances in nanotechnology and biophysics to cancer research, will enhance Australia's capacity in Frontier Technology and build strength in Nanobiotechnology. They will bring competitive advantages to the Australian biotechnology and biomedical community for further developments and applications in the multi-billion dollar field of biodiagnostics. These in ....Advanced Nanostructured Biointerfaces for Cell Capture. The expected outcomes of this interdisciplinary project, which apply the most recent advances in nanotechnology and biophysics to cancer research, will enhance Australia's capacity in Frontier Technology and build strength in Nanobiotechnology. They will bring competitive advantages to the Australian biotechnology and biomedical community for further developments and applications in the multi-billion dollar field of biodiagnostics. These innovative biodiagnostic strategies will potentially achieve a significant step in the direction of the once elusive goal of early detection and improved understanding of cancer.Read moreRead less
Platinum-Carborane Complexes as New Agents for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. The development of new drugs and treatments for cancer is highly important to human health and the well-being of the community. This research has the potential to lead to new anticancer pharmaceuticals that will expand the clinical efficacy of current drugs and generate significant export income through future IP development and possible commercialization. The innovative nature of this research will also contribute t ....Platinum-Carborane Complexes as New Agents for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. The development of new drugs and treatments for cancer is highly important to human health and the well-being of the community. This research has the potential to lead to new anticancer pharmaceuticals that will expand the clinical efficacy of current drugs and generate significant export income through future IP development and possible commercialization. The innovative nature of this research will also contribute to Australia's science knowledge base, a key element in its future economic prosperity, and it will provide excellent training of young researchers for employment in the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Examining the relationship between error processing, cognitive control and emotion: a cognitive neuroscience approach. The proposed research aims to contribute to current scientific thinking on how the processing of errors influences self-monitoring and cognitive performance. The ability to monitor one's cognitive performance deteriorates with normal ageing, and is particularly affected in a range of clinical conditions, where it is a reliable predictor of a poor prognostic outcome. This project ....Examining the relationship between error processing, cognitive control and emotion: a cognitive neuroscience approach. The proposed research aims to contribute to current scientific thinking on how the processing of errors influences self-monitoring and cognitive performance. The ability to monitor one's cognitive performance deteriorates with normal ageing, and is particularly affected in a range of clinical conditions, where it is a reliable predictor of a poor prognostic outcome. This project aims to clarify understanding of the cognitive and neural processes underlying self-monitoring, as an important first step to improving rehabilitation and management methods for age-related impairments such as Alzheimer's disease, and prominent mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.Read moreRead less
Molecular probes for pancreatic cancer. Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the main cause of premature death in Australia. Currently one in two men and one in three women are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Australia, and the current lack of effective therapies results in a 1 year survival of just over 10%, and a 5 year survival of less than 5%. This project aims to identify and produce new compounds with novel mech ....Molecular probes for pancreatic cancer. Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the main cause of premature death in Australia. Currently one in two men and one in three women are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Australia, and the current lack of effective therapies results in a 1 year survival of just over 10%, and a 5 year survival of less than 5%. This project aims to identify and produce new compounds with novel mechanisms of action that will facilitate our understanding of pancreatic carcinogenesis and provide the basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Australians diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the future may directly benefit from the results of this work.Read moreRead less
Probing membrane rafts using surface-selective multi-dimensional microscopy. The results of this project will provide fundamental insights into the role played by domains in cell membranes in the regulation of membrane protein function. These insights will create new avenues in the biotechnology industry for development of novel therapeutics aimed at disruption of membrane protein-protein interactions that cause aberant cell signalling in disease states such as cancer.
Rational Optimisation of the Uptake of Metal-Based Anti-Cancer Agents by Tumours. In this project will develop an understanding of how anticancer drugs are taken up, distributed and modified in tumours. The information gathered will be of value to all those developing new anticancer drugs and we will then use it to develop new drugs that more selectively target tumours and therefore have reduced side effects. Successful development of less toxic anticancer agents would lead to less debilitating ....Rational Optimisation of the Uptake of Metal-Based Anti-Cancer Agents by Tumours. In this project will develop an understanding of how anticancer drugs are taken up, distributed and modified in tumours. The information gathered will be of value to all those developing new anticancer drugs and we will then use it to develop new drugs that more selectively target tumours and therefore have reduced side effects. Successful development of less toxic anticancer agents would lead to less debilitating treatment, more effective treatment, and an increase in the number of patients effectively treated. Effective anticancer drugs can also be very large income earners for Australia.Read moreRead less
The role of human single-stranded binding protein (hSSB1) in DNA damage repair and tumorogenesis. Cancer is a leading cause of disease related death world wide, accounting for over 13% of all deaths in 2007. Approximately 38,000 people died in Australia from cancer in 2005. Cancer results from a single cell losing a vital part of its genetic information, this results in the cell losing its normal programming and initiates a process of rapid growth and multiplication. This research project aims t ....The role of human single-stranded binding protein (hSSB1) in DNA damage repair and tumorogenesis. Cancer is a leading cause of disease related death world wide, accounting for over 13% of all deaths in 2007. Approximately 38,000 people died in Australia from cancer in 2005. Cancer results from a single cell losing a vital part of its genetic information, this results in the cell losing its normal programming and initiates a process of rapid growth and multiplication. This research project aims to look at the mechanisms that exist to prevent this initial loss of genetic material within an individual cell. It further aims to translate theses discoveries into the clinic, providing new tools for diagnosis and prognosis of specific cancers and to establish links with major pharmaceutical companies to develop novel anticancer therapies.Read moreRead less
Structure and dynamics of a multiprotein-mRNA complex involved in the regulation of gene expression. RNA/protein interactions are now recognised as a major control point in the regulation of gene-expression. Proteins such as HuR and the poly(C)-binding proteins (PCBPs) act to stabilise and transport specific messenger (m)RNAs, and thus determine their translation levels. In contrast to such an important function, very little is known about these protein/mRNA interactions at an atomic level. The ....Structure and dynamics of a multiprotein-mRNA complex involved in the regulation of gene expression. RNA/protein interactions are now recognised as a major control point in the regulation of gene-expression. Proteins such as HuR and the poly(C)-binding proteins (PCBPs) act to stabilise and transport specific messenger (m)RNAs, and thus determine their translation levels. In contrast to such an important function, very little is known about these protein/mRNA interactions at an atomic level. The current study will investigate the structural and biophysical properties of a recently discovered HuR/PCBP/mRNA complex implicated in the regulation of androgen receptor expression. This information has the potential to assist in the development of drugs to reduce AR expression in prostate cancer.Read moreRead less