Investigations Into Supraphysiologic T Cell Receptors And T Cell Agonists.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
T cells are critical in controlling infection and important for the natural eradication of cancer. Through shape recognition, T cells identify dangerous antigens via the surface-bound T cell receptor (TCR). Using new technologies this project aims to "tune up" the strength of this molecular interaction and create a new generation of high affinity TCR and antigens for use as therapeutic and prophylactic drugs in the battle against infectious disease and cancer.
Vaccine Discovery For Human Mucosal Pathogens: Identifying Novel Vaccine Antigens That Are Stably Expressed During Host Interactions, Using Analysis Of Cell-contact And Phasevarion Mediated Expression Profiles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,482.00
Summary
The control of several human pathogens depends on vaccine development due to antibiotic resistance and the devastating outcome of infection. This work aims to identify new vaccine targets for diseases including gonorrhoae, ear infections, meningitis and sepsis, based on proteins required for interaction with human cells. Proteins that are randomly switched on and off in these bacteria will also be studied to better understand disease and to rule out variably expressed genes from new vaccines.
Discovering And Targeting Genes Regulating Skeletal Muscle Function, Metabolism, And Adaptations To Exercise Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Muscle wasting and decreased in mitochondrial function due to ageing or lack of physical activity are associated with reduced quality of life. The overarching aim is to develop a unique research program focusing on targeting specific genes, and to discover novel genes regulating muscle wasting and mitochondrial (dis)function. I anticipate this approach to assist in the development of targeted and personalised prevention and therapy for diseases associated with muscle (dis)function.
Development And Application Of A Novel Technology, CaptureSeq, To Focus Sequencing To Discover Genes In ‘empty’ Genomic Regions Associated With Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,747.00
Summary
Dr. Mercer will develop a new technology, CaptureSeq that is able to focus RNA sequencing on targeted regions of interest. This focus gives CaptureSeq an unprecedented sensitivity to discover new genes and regulatory elements in regions of the genome that have been associated with disease but are otherwise barren and empty. This project will thereby uncover both new genes candidates for further disease research and develop a technology with unique and widespread research and clinical potential.
Understanding Gene Regulation In Disease Using High Throughput Sequencing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
While genetics refers to the gene sequence, or DNA code, epigenetics refers to all the other factors that control how and when each gene is expressed. New technologies with the ability to sequencing billions of bases of DNA are now being used to study epigenetics. However the data sets are vast and complex. I use statistical and computational approaches in the emerging field of bioinformatics to make sense of this data and relate genome wide disruption of epigenetic marks to diseases.
Improving Bioinformatic Methods For Studying Gene Regulation In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
New methods for analysing genome-wide data will be developed to ease the data analysis bottleneck that currently exists in medical research. Modelling variation in gene expression from single cells, in screens designed to uncover gene function and assays that measure the factors that turn genes on or off will be the focus. Free software will be developed and made available to researchers worldwide to help them interpret the large and complex data sets that are now routine in genomic medicine.