High performance electrolyte for the vanadium redox flow battery. Vanadium batteries present a highly-scalable, sustainable solution for storage of renewable electricity, but the technology needs to be improved for robust and efficient operation in the warm Australian climate. This project aims to design and extensively test new high-performance electrolyte compositions with advanced thermal stabilising additives for safe long-term battery operation at 60 °C. New knowledge in materials science a ....High performance electrolyte for the vanadium redox flow battery. Vanadium batteries present a highly-scalable, sustainable solution for storage of renewable electricity, but the technology needs to be improved for robust and efficient operation in the warm Australian climate. This project aims to design and extensively test new high-performance electrolyte compositions with advanced thermal stabilising additives for safe long-term battery operation at 60 °C. New knowledge in materials science and electrochemistry will be generated. The core outcome of the project is a sustainable large-scale energy storage technology ready for immediate application in Australia. This will support the transition of the Australian energy sector to renewables and provide businesses with distributed energy storage solutions.Read moreRead less
Crosstalk Between The Repressive Histone Methyltransferases PRC2 And G9A: Structure-function Investigation To Open New Therapeutic Opportunities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$595,205.00
Summary
The gene expression programs need to be precisely regulated and the misregulation of these programs can cause a broad range of human diseases. My research will focus on two protein complexes, which heavily contribute to the regulation of gene expression. My study will open a new path for developing new therapeutic strategies.
The dramatic increase in obesity and age-related metabolic disorders demonstrates the importance of gaining a better understanding of how cells and organisms regulate their energy stores. This project will identify novel molecular mechanisms that control the enzyme CaMKK2, which is a key regulator of whole-body energy metabolism. This will provide new opportunities to inform more effective strategies to tackle metabolic diseases, and improve health in an increasingly ageing population.
Bioinspired interfaces for improved carbon fibre composite performance. Carbon fibre composites, where carbon fibres are embedded in a polymer matrix, are gradually replacing traditional materials such as steel. For example, composites make up 50 per cent of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, resulting in a 20 per cent improvement in fuel economy. There is significant scope for improving the damage tolerance of these materials. A fundamental lack of understanding around the fibre matrix interface currentl ....Bioinspired interfaces for improved carbon fibre composite performance. Carbon fibre composites, where carbon fibres are embedded in a polymer matrix, are gradually replacing traditional materials such as steel. For example, composites make up 50 per cent of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, resulting in a 20 per cent improvement in fuel economy. There is significant scope for improving the damage tolerance of these materials. A fundamental lack of understanding around the fibre matrix interface currently limits the development of new composite systems to overcome the problems with damage tolerance. This project takes inspiration from nature to develop a fundamental understanding of the interfaces within carbon fibre composites and optimise their behaviour via model-guided surface and interface engineering. Read moreRead less
Glycosyltransferase Effectors Of Enteropathogenic E. Coli And Salmonella
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
This project aims to characterise the mechanisms of disease caused by bacterial pathogens including Salmonella and enteropathogenic E. coli. These pathogens cause a significant amount of diarrhoeal disease and mortality worldwide particularly in infants and in countries where water sanitation is poor. I aim to investigate the specific mechanisms the bacteria employ to manipulate and avoid our immune response during infection in order to better understand and combat diarrhoeal disease.
Targeting Novel Sites On Reverse Transcriptase For HIV Treatment And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$978,994.00
Summary
HIV/AIDS remains a major global threat with 37 million individuals living with HIV in 2014. Antiretroviral drugs have transformed HIV from a death sentence into a chronic disease. Public health organisations recommend dramatic scale up of drugs for HIV treatment and prevention. However, a major threat is that drug options will be exhausted due to drug resistance and toxicity. The major aim of this study is to undertake fundamental studies to advance the development of a new HIV drug class.
Towards A New Class Of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor For HIV Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$688,833.00
Summary
There remains an urgent need for new HIV prevention strategies. New HIV drugs that block the virus by distinct ways are needed to prevent transmission of drug resistant HIV. This study seeks to identify very small molecules called “fragments” that bind to previously undiscovered pockets on the HIV reverse transcriptase to stop its function, and that can be used as building blocks to design more potent HIV drugs to be used solely for HIV prevention.
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100468
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Scalable high-performance electrolytic hydrogen generator. The project aims to demonstrate energy-efficient generation of compressed hydrogen by water electrolysis in a high pressure electrolyser test-rig produced by Melbourne company Energys Australia P/L, using high-performance membrane-electrode assemblies. Innovative electrode architectures, membranes, and method for their high through-put lamination will be developed. New knowledge in catalysis, device fabrication and materials science is e ....Scalable high-performance electrolytic hydrogen generator. The project aims to demonstrate energy-efficient generation of compressed hydrogen by water electrolysis in a high pressure electrolyser test-rig produced by Melbourne company Energys Australia P/L, using high-performance membrane-electrode assemblies. Innovative electrode architectures, membranes, and method for their high through-put lamination will be developed. New knowledge in catalysis, device fabrication and materials science is expected to be generated. The major project outcome is sustainable method for generation of compressed hydrogen at significantly reduced cost as compared to the existing technologies. Benefits include industry-ready processes for electrolyser and hydrogen production that support Australian energy industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101268
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,820.00
Summary
Stochastic mathematical modelling of the Wnt signalling pathway. The Wnt signalling pathway is pivotal in multicellular organisms, regulating cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Faulty Wnt signalling is associated with degenerative diseases, developmental disorders and cancers and is therefore a potential target for therapeutic drugs. This project will perform a stochastic spatial simulation of the Wnt signalling pathway which will be matched to experimental data. ....Stochastic mathematical modelling of the Wnt signalling pathway. The Wnt signalling pathway is pivotal in multicellular organisms, regulating cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Faulty Wnt signalling is associated with degenerative diseases, developmental disorders and cancers and is therefore a potential target for therapeutic drugs. This project will perform a stochastic spatial simulation of the Wnt signalling pathway which will be matched to experimental data. The model will be extended to integrate with the cell cycle. Increased proliferation in tumours has been linked to mutations in Wnt components. Using the extended model, the effect of Wnt-targeting therapeutic cancer drugs on cancer cell proliferation rates will be predicted and compared to experiments.Read moreRead less