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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240101233
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,237.00
Summary
Developing the toolbox of compounds that target acid-sensing proteins. This project aims to examine the interaction between acid-sensing proteins and their modulatory compounds. Animals, including humans, must sense changes in environmental acidity to successfully interact with the surrounding world. Expected outcomes of the project include a better understanding of which regions of these proteins detect acidity, and to develop new compounds that modulate the proteins’ function. This would advan ....Developing the toolbox of compounds that target acid-sensing proteins. This project aims to examine the interaction between acid-sensing proteins and their modulatory compounds. Animals, including humans, must sense changes in environmental acidity to successfully interact with the surrounding world. Expected outcomes of the project include a better understanding of which regions of these proteins detect acidity, and to develop new compounds that modulate the proteins’ function. This would advance our fundamental knowledge in the physiological process of acid sensing. This expects to provide significant benefits, by aiding the potential development of agrochemicals and pain-relieving medications that regulate acid-sensing protein function, resulting in economic benefit to Australia via these new products.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100793
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,180.00
Summary
Unraveling a new cytokine working model in immune cell exhaustion. This project will investigate a novel paradigm of how a key messenger protein can be sensed by fundamental immune cells, preventing their ‘exhaustion’. Immune cell exhaustion is a fundamental mechanism to maintain the internal homeostasis of vertebrates. However, it is often hijacked by pathogens to dampen the defensive capacity of the immune system. And this specific messenger protein is the only known soluble factor that can d ....Unraveling a new cytokine working model in immune cell exhaustion. This project will investigate a novel paradigm of how a key messenger protein can be sensed by fundamental immune cells, preventing their ‘exhaustion’. Immune cell exhaustion is a fundamental mechanism to maintain the internal homeostasis of vertebrates. However, it is often hijacked by pathogens to dampen the defensive capacity of the immune system. And this specific messenger protein is the only known soluble factor that can deliver ‘anti-exhaustion’ signals to immune cells. This study will advance basic knowledge in biochemistry and immunology by combining interdisciplinary and cutting-edge approaches. The expected outcomes include the developing new scientific theories and identifying novel molecular basis of biological processes. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101536
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,824.00
Summary
How does heme regulate blood vessel formation in the brain? There are more than 600 kilometres of blood vessels in the brain, all of which are lined by tightly packed cells that protect the brain from toxins. My research aims to investigate how these blood vessels are formed. This project expects to reveal the role that a critical signalling molecule called heme plays in this fundamental biological process. I will use cutting-edge structural biology and biophysical techniques to uncover the mole ....How does heme regulate blood vessel formation in the brain? There are more than 600 kilometres of blood vessels in the brain, all of which are lined by tightly packed cells that protect the brain from toxins. My research aims to investigate how these blood vessels are formed. This project expects to reveal the role that a critical signalling molecule called heme plays in this fundamental biological process. I will use cutting-edge structural biology and biophysical techniques to uncover the molecular mechanisms that allow heme to enter cells and regulate blood vessel growth in the brain. The outcomes of this research will enhance our understanding of the brain’s core infrastructure and will contribute to an understanding of how cerebral blood vessels grow and maintain integrity. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100524
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,057.00
Summary
Manipulating selected inflammatory responses in macrophages. This project aims to define the structural and functional interactions of a new transmembrane adaptor SCIMP. SCIMP has recently been shown to effect the inflammatory pathway. The project outcomes will include the first structure of this unconventional complex. The project will have significant flow on benefits including new knowledge and new protein methodologies for end-users in research and industry, and ultimately economic impact.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240101055
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,737.00
Summary
How blood vessel stiffness regulates their growth and maintenance. This project aims to reveal an unidentified molecular mechanism of how endothelial cells in the walls of blood vessels detect stiffness of the surrounding environment in order to regulate blood vessel growth and maintenance. The results are expected to advance the emerging field of mechanobiology by combining cutting-edge cell biology and microscopy techniques carried out in novel 3D cell culture and unique quail models. The bene ....How blood vessel stiffness regulates their growth and maintenance. This project aims to reveal an unidentified molecular mechanism of how endothelial cells in the walls of blood vessels detect stiffness of the surrounding environment in order to regulate blood vessel growth and maintenance. The results are expected to advance the emerging field of mechanobiology by combining cutting-edge cell biology and microscopy techniques carried out in novel 3D cell culture and unique quail models. The benefits of these outcomes include generation of knowledge on the impact of tissue stiffness on the signalling mechanisms that drive formation and maintenance of blood vessels. In the long term, this fundamental understanding could give rise to major developments in emerging industries such as organ bioengineering.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100546
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Activity-dependent regulation of glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This project will use structural, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to study the molecular processes that control glutamate receptor trafficking in the ....Activity-dependent regulation of glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This project will use structural, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to study the molecular processes that control glutamate receptor trafficking in the postsynaptic compartment. It will elucidate how neural plasticity is generated and maintained, information critical for understanding sensory processing, learning and memory throughout life. The findings could identify cellular targets for interventions to enhance cognitive performance and maintain optimal brain function.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102321
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Exploiting pathogen-host interactions to dissect the mammalian endocytic pathway. Salmonella manipulates the cells of the human body to cause disease. Understanding the molecular machinery that controls this process will provide profound insight into how the bacteria orchestrates this manipulation as well as provide possible avenues for intervention and even cures for diseases like typhoid fever.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100293
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Cracking the phosphoinositide code. This project seeks to determine how protein interactions with membrane lipids regulate recruitment to cellular organelles, providing new insight into the complex pathways of cellular homeostasis. Controlling the distribution of proteins within cells is critical for cell signalling and membrane trafficking. This is orchestrated by the interaction of specific protein modules with lipids on the surface of different organelles. The phox homology (PX) domain is a l ....Cracking the phosphoinositide code. This project seeks to determine how protein interactions with membrane lipids regulate recruitment to cellular organelles, providing new insight into the complex pathways of cellular homeostasis. Controlling the distribution of proteins within cells is critical for cell signalling and membrane trafficking. This is orchestrated by the interaction of specific protein modules with lipids on the surface of different organelles. The phox homology (PX) domain is a lipid-binding module found in numerous proteins essential for normal cell trafficking and homeostasis, and perturbed in many conditions including immune dysfunction and cancer. This project plans to investigate molecular determinants of PX-lipid association, generating knowledge about protein-membrane interactions required for cellular function. These insights may underpin future drug design.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100800
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,693.00
Summary
Legume meristem signalling peptides: an untapped niche. This project aims to characterise novel signalling peptides regulating legume stem cell niches to enhance molecular-genetic networks and uncover potential key targets for crop improvement. Legumes represent agricultural sustainability through their decreased fertiliser requirements resulting in reduced carbon and nitrogen footprints. However, their unique gene signalling networks are poorly understood in comparison to traditional cereal cro ....Legume meristem signalling peptides: an untapped niche. This project aims to characterise novel signalling peptides regulating legume stem cell niches to enhance molecular-genetic networks and uncover potential key targets for crop improvement. Legumes represent agricultural sustainability through their decreased fertiliser requirements resulting in reduced carbon and nitrogen footprints. However, their unique gene signalling networks are poorly understood in comparison to traditional cereal crops. The proposed research intends to generate new knowledge in peptide signalling, plant development and legume symbiosis using multidisciplinary techniques. Expected project outcomes will increase understanding of peptide signalling in legume growth and adaption with useful findings for crop enhancement.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101150
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,000.00
Summary
Using sponge transcriptomes to understand ancestral animal development. The invention of a basic developmental program was likely a key step in the transition to multicellularity in animals, one of the major transitions in the tree of life. By combining next-generation sequencing of a representative panel of sponges and functional studies on an oviparous sponge, this project aims to identify gene interactions and networks that built the first animal embryos over 680 million years ago. Furthermor ....Using sponge transcriptomes to understand ancestral animal development. The invention of a basic developmental program was likely a key step in the transition to multicellularity in animals, one of the major transitions in the tree of life. By combining next-generation sequencing of a representative panel of sponges and functional studies on an oviparous sponge, this project aims to identify gene interactions and networks that built the first animal embryos over 680 million years ago. Furthermore, the role of Wingless (Wnt) signalling in patterning these ancestral embryos along a primordial anterior-posterior axis will be investigated. Piecing together the fundamental molecular machinery shared by all animal embryos will shed light on the molecular basis for the complex development of most animals on Earth.Read moreRead less