Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL140100027
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,898,150.00
Summary
Under the hood: single-molecule studies of multi-protein machines. Under the hood: single-molecule studies of multi-protein machines. Living cells are filled with complex protein machines that are responsible for the molecular processes supporting life. This project is aimed towards the development of physical tools that enable the study of these protein complexes at the level of single molecules. This project aims to study the protein machinery responsible for DNA replication, the process of du ....Under the hood: single-molecule studies of multi-protein machines. Under the hood: single-molecule studies of multi-protein machines. Living cells are filled with complex protein machines that are responsible for the molecular processes supporting life. This project is aimed towards the development of physical tools that enable the study of these protein complexes at the level of single molecules. This project aims to study the protein machinery responsible for DNA replication, the process of duplicating genomic information before cell division. By making real-time single-molecule movies of the replication process, this project aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms of this important process and provide the knowledge required to understand disease mechanisms and catalyse drug development.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101331
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Fundamental electromagnetic modelling of light-biological tissue interactions: a platform for future medical microscopy. Methods for modelling the fundamental electromagnetic interaction of light with biological tissue will be developed. This will allow a range of biomedical optical images to be properly interpreted ultimately leading to the holy grail of quick and minimally invasive methods for detecting cancer.
Keeping forces local for epithelial homeostasis. This project probes how epithelial cells use mechanical forces to communicate with one another in biological life. It tests the novel concept that negative feedback is a critical, hitherto unappreciated dimension in mechanical communication, which acts to ensure proportionate responses for homeostasis. It will generate fundamental new knowledge in biology using an innovative combination of cellular and biophysical experiments and physical theory. ....Keeping forces local for epithelial homeostasis. This project probes how epithelial cells use mechanical forces to communicate with one another in biological life. It tests the novel concept that negative feedback is a critical, hitherto unappreciated dimension in mechanical communication, which acts to ensure proportionate responses for homeostasis. It will generate fundamental new knowledge in biology using an innovative combination of cellular and biophysical experiments and physical theory. The expected outcomes are fundamental new knowledge, interdisciplinary training for young scientists, new national research capacity and growing international collaborations. It will benefit Australia by enhancing its scientific world linkage, status in scientific leadership and research capacity.Read moreRead less
Shear stimulated Brillouin microscopy for cell mechanobiology. This project aims to develop novel technology for non-contact imaging of micro-mechanical properties in cells and tissues to answer fundamental questions of cell mechnanobiology. Based on principles of Brillouin light scattering, the project takes advantage of a radio-frequency lock-in detection scheme. The project will result in a real-time, high-sensitivity, non-contact 3D imaging solution for spatial characterisation of cell's loc ....Shear stimulated Brillouin microscopy for cell mechanobiology. This project aims to develop novel technology for non-contact imaging of micro-mechanical properties in cells and tissues to answer fundamental questions of cell mechnanobiology. Based on principles of Brillouin light scattering, the project takes advantage of a radio-frequency lock-in detection scheme. The project will result in a real-time, high-sensitivity, non-contact 3D imaging solution for spatial characterisation of cell's local stiffness and compressibility. This will underpin the advancement of knowledge in the area of cell mechanobiology and the investigation of diseases, where microscale changes in cell mechanical properties lead to cell dysfunction and apoptosis.Read moreRead less
NMR of enzymic reactions and membrane transport in cells: dynamic nuclear polarization, quadrupolar relaxation, and computer modelling. This project will investigate the kinetics of urea transport and the glyoxalase pathway in human red blood cells using 13C rapid-dissolution dynamic nuclear polarisation NMR spectroscopy, which enhances 13C-detection 10,000 fold. Thus cellular processes will be studied on the one-second-to-four minute timescale. Also, relaxation analysis of the 133Cs+ quadrupola ....NMR of enzymic reactions and membrane transport in cells: dynamic nuclear polarization, quadrupolar relaxation, and computer modelling. This project will investigate the kinetics of urea transport and the glyoxalase pathway in human red blood cells using 13C rapid-dissolution dynamic nuclear polarisation NMR spectroscopy, which enhances 13C-detection 10,000 fold. Thus cellular processes will be studied on the one-second-to-four minute timescale. Also, relaxation analysis of the 133Cs+ quadrupolar nucleus will probe the energy cost of shape and membrane fluctuations in the cells. Outcomes will include how changes in these fast processes can distinguish normal from diseased cells, and new NMR methods for studying cells, multi-parameter NMR-data analysis, and mathematically modeling cellular events to predict responses to physical changes and drug interactions will emerge.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100132
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$860,000.00
Summary
3D Cryo-FIBSEM Imaging Facility for Biological and Material Sciences. 3D Cryo-FIBSEM imaging facility for biological and material sciences: The Cryo-Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (Cryo-FIBSEM) will reveal isometric 3D information on the structure and composition of specimens at the nanometre scale. The cryo-FIBSEM will be the first instrument of this type in Australia able to operate in a low temperature cryogenic mode. This will enable the imaging of vitrified biological materia ....3D Cryo-FIBSEM Imaging Facility for Biological and Material Sciences. 3D Cryo-FIBSEM imaging facility for biological and material sciences: The Cryo-Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (Cryo-FIBSEM) will reveal isometric 3D information on the structure and composition of specimens at the nanometre scale. The cryo-FIBSEM will be the first instrument of this type in Australia able to operate in a low temperature cryogenic mode. This will enable the imaging of vitrified biological materials in a near native state and of non-biological material to allow imaging of, for example, fluids, emulsions, gels and interfaces between biological and non-biological materials. Synergistic workflows incorporating unique high-end microscopes will enable the study of complex biological structures in their native context and atomic scale imaging of beam sensitive materials.Read moreRead less
Single-molecule view of actin-tropomyosin filament dynamics. This project aims to develop a microscopy platform to resolve how filaments of the cytoskeleton, the cell's internal scaffolding, are assembled. This technology will then be used to understand how drugs can target specific components and functions of the cytoskeleton that are hijacked in cancer cells.
Modelling and characterisation of radiation beams used in radiotherapy. The purpose of this project is to use computer modelling of radiation fields in radiotherapy to investigate and improve their precision. It is expected that this will result in improved outcomes and fewer side-effects for radiotherapy patients.
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL110100003
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,814,346.00
Summary
New directions, new problems and new data types in statistical science. Statistically challenging problems today involve answering many more questions than we have data. Solving them will elucidate the causes of diseases such as cancer, and provide better security for the community. The project will develop new methods for tackling these challenging problems, taking statistical science in new directions.
Imaging the action of antimicrobial peptides in living cells. The purpose of this project to use a special magnifying glass to watch molecules invading and killing cells. The outcome will be to identify the mechanism of cell killing to help in the future design of better antibiotics.