Electrophile induced domino reaction sequences with ion-pair chiral induction. In this project, new catalysts and procedures will be developed to improve our capacity to access and modify the structure and properties of complex molecules. These methods will be used to gain access to a number of bioactive natural products in order to better evaluate and develop their therapeutic potential.
Nanoparticle formulations for DNA-targeted radiotherapy and imaging: combinations with chromatin-modifying compounds. This project will develop a new approach for treating and imaging cancer using nanoparticles which target specific cells for cancer therapy and diagnostic imaging. The nanoparticles will be combined with compounds that alter the architecture of DNA to make therapy more effective and to improve the safety of imaging.
Crosstalk between breast cancer cells and the microenvironment to promote metastasis. Breast cancer spread (metastasis) to distant tissues is usually fatal. It is now clear that cross-talk between cancer cells and other normal cells is essential for metastasis and previous studies have discovered two key mechanisms: tumour cell suppression of immune defence pathways to escape immune recognition, and activation of proteases to promote invasion and blood vessel growth. Using unique models and cell ....Crosstalk between breast cancer cells and the microenvironment to promote metastasis. Breast cancer spread (metastasis) to distant tissues is usually fatal. It is now clear that cross-talk between cancer cells and other normal cells is essential for metastasis and previous studies have discovered two key mechanisms: tumour cell suppression of immune defence pathways to escape immune recognition, and activation of proteases to promote invasion and blood vessel growth. Using unique models and cellular imaging, this project aims to investigate the cell specific functions of these pathways and the therapeutic potential of altering their expression and function. This project may lead to the development of novel predictors of metastasis in patients and new targeted therapeutics to prevent breast cancer spread.Read moreRead less
Using Drosophila to analyse a master regulator of epithelial homeostasis. Aims:
This proposal aims to use genetic and cell biological analysis of the vinegar fly, Drosophila, to identify the function of the grainyhead gene in intestinal regeneration.
Significance:
This gene is conserved in all animal species and appears to be a master regulator of epithelial tissue development but it is unclear how it can both influence stem cell maintenance and production of functional cell types.
Expected out ....Using Drosophila to analyse a master regulator of epithelial homeostasis. Aims:
This proposal aims to use genetic and cell biological analysis of the vinegar fly, Drosophila, to identify the function of the grainyhead gene in intestinal regeneration.
Significance:
This gene is conserved in all animal species and appears to be a master regulator of epithelial tissue development but it is unclear how it can both influence stem cell maintenance and production of functional cell types.
Expected outcomes:
We will identify a new mechanism that governs tissue development, and introduce new imaging and genetic technologies to the Australian research community.
Benefit:
We expect potential economic and commercial interest in development of new gene analysis tools and biotechnological tissue manipulation applications.Read moreRead less
Peptide-based Star Polymers for Improved Biointeraction and Targeted Anticancer Therapies. The aim of this project is to develop peptide-based star polymer nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery to cancer stem cells which integrate aptamer targeting technology and biointeraction studies with blood plasma fluid. The significance of this research is it pioneers the development of a drug delivery system that minimises plasma opsonization through understanding polymer-plasma interactions, which in ....Peptide-based Star Polymers for Improved Biointeraction and Targeted Anticancer Therapies. The aim of this project is to develop peptide-based star polymer nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery to cancer stem cells which integrate aptamer targeting technology and biointeraction studies with blood plasma fluid. The significance of this research is it pioneers the development of a drug delivery system that minimises plasma opsonization through understanding polymer-plasma interactions, which in turn increases tumour specificity and cell internalisation through incorporation of targeting aptamers and triggered drug release. This project will use rational design, advanced macromolecular engineering and an interdisciplinary collaboration to generate next-generation polymer therapeutics for drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Microscale microRNA Detection and Delivery for Effective Point-of-Care Cancer Screening and Therapeutics. MicroRNAs are short RNA molecules that play a critical regulatory role in gene expression. Recently discovered in 1993, microRNA research has since received considerable attention and is regarded as an emerging revolutionary frontier in medicine given its therapeutic ability to ‘turn off’ certain genes that lead to various diseases. Additionally, microRNA expression signatures are a strong b ....Microscale microRNA Detection and Delivery for Effective Point-of-Care Cancer Screening and Therapeutics. MicroRNAs are short RNA molecules that play a critical regulatory role in gene expression. Recently discovered in 1993, microRNA research has since received considerable attention and is regarded as an emerging revolutionary frontier in medicine given its therapeutic ability to ‘turn off’ certain genes that lead to various diseases. Additionally, microRNA expression signatures are a strong biomarker for many diseases such as cancer. This project will advance the chip-scale acoustic microcentrifugation and nebulisation technology we recently pioneered to overcome the significant hurdles currently faced in microRNA detection and delivery with the aim of developing prototype portable microdevices for early stage cancer screening and therapy.Read moreRead less