Pushing AR Toward Better Outcomes In Breast And Prostate Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$998,754.00
Summary
Breast and prostate cancers kill >6000 Australians each year. These cancers are strikingly similar, both driven by hormone receptors that have ‘gone bad’. Current therapies aim to eradicate the receptors. While often effective, therapeutic resistance is common and results in fatal disease. We aim to develop new, less toxic treatments that switch receptor behaviour from good to bad, without destroying them. This should improve quality of life, while preventing drug resistance and loss of lives ....Breast and prostate cancers kill >6000 Australians each year. These cancers are strikingly similar, both driven by hormone receptors that have ‘gone bad’. Current therapies aim to eradicate the receptors. While often effective, therapeutic resistance is common and results in fatal disease. We aim to develop new, less toxic treatments that switch receptor behaviour from good to bad, without destroying them. This should improve quality of life, while preventing drug resistance and loss of lives.Read moreRead less
Detection and viability of waterborne pathogens using a gut-on-chip. This project aims to resolve a significant problem for water utilities. Microbial pathogens Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus are the main public health concern for drinking water in developed nations. Water monitoring is limited by the lack of fast, reliable detection methods and viability assays for these pathogens. This project will use a novel gut-on-a-chip to develop for the first time rapid infectivity assays for ....Detection and viability of waterborne pathogens using a gut-on-chip. This project aims to resolve a significant problem for water utilities. Microbial pathogens Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus are the main public health concern for drinking water in developed nations. Water monitoring is limited by the lack of fast, reliable detection methods and viability assays for these pathogens. This project will use a novel gut-on-a-chip to develop for the first time rapid infectivity assays for Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus. Significant benefits include improved diagnostics and water disinfection assays, improved water treatment and reduced costs with global impact.Read moreRead less
The molecular basis of zinc toxicity to Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria are a major cause of infectious diseases in both developed and developing countries. This project will contribute to our understanding of how zinc causes toxicity to these bacteria and facilitate our exploitation of this Achilles heel, by providing new insights into fundamental aspects of microbial physiology.
Blue-banded bees as greenhouse pollinators: healthy and consistent supplies for reliable pollination services. Native blue-banded bee pollination of tomatoes will increase crop yield by 15-20% through improved pollination and simultaneously decrease labour costs by $16,000/Ha/year. The use of blue-banded bees will change the face of the industry. It will cause a 90% decrease in the use of pesticides, increase the use of biological pest management and give rise to a novel industry to provide pol ....Blue-banded bees as greenhouse pollinators: healthy and consistent supplies for reliable pollination services. Native blue-banded bee pollination of tomatoes will increase crop yield by 15-20% through improved pollination and simultaneously decrease labour costs by $16,000/Ha/year. The use of blue-banded bees will change the face of the industry. It will cause a 90% decrease in the use of pesticides, increase the use of biological pest management and give rise to a novel industry to provide pollination services. Blue-banded bee pollination will open up international markets through production of improved quality with less production costs and healthier production methods. Furthermore, the project will remove an environmental threat by providing a native substitute for alien bumblebees.Read moreRead less
Development And Evaluation Of Novel Anti-inflammatory Products Derived From An Indigenous Medicinal Plant
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$276,598.00
Summary
This collaborative project between researchers at the University of South Australia and Indigenous traditional owners from Northern Kaanju homelands (Cape York Peninsula, Qld) will develop and evaluate products derived from the Northern Kaanju medicinal plant Dodonaea polyandra. Extracts of the plant and novel compounds isolated from it have anti-inflammatory activity. These have the potential to be used in inflammatory diseases such as dermatitis, arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Lizard social networks and the spread of parasites. Australian ecosystems are continually threatened by new epidemics of diseases and parasites, some local, others from overseas. Examples include the facial tumours of Tasmanian devils and the fungus that threatens many native frog species. To manage these epidemics effectively, we must understand how they spread through animal populations. This project will help to protect our fauna from invasive diseases. It contributes to sustaining the biodiv ....Lizard social networks and the spread of parasites. Australian ecosystems are continually threatened by new epidemics of diseases and parasites, some local, others from overseas. Examples include the facial tumours of Tasmanian devils and the fungus that threatens many native frog species. To manage these epidemics effectively, we must understand how they spread through animal populations. This project will help to protect our fauna from invasive diseases. It contributes to sustaining the biodiversity of the country. With better knowledge of how diseases of wildlife spread, we can develop more effective control of those diseases thereby protecting wildlife species, animal populations and, ultimately, Australian ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989226
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Multi-photon imaging for infection, immunity, and self recognition. This proposal will address a gap in our imaging capabilities, allowing us to visualise the movement of immune cells and infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses within living tissues. This will immensely improve our capacity to understand interactions between the immune system, invading organisms and the rest of our body. The intravital imaging system will provide novel insights into how the immune system works, which will ....Multi-photon imaging for infection, immunity, and self recognition. This proposal will address a gap in our imaging capabilities, allowing us to visualise the movement of immune cells and infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses within living tissues. This will immensely improve our capacity to understand interactions between the immune system, invading organisms and the rest of our body. The intravital imaging system will provide novel insights into how the immune system works, which will benefit the design of vaccines, the treatment of cancer, and our understanding of allergy. This state-of-the-art facility will also provide vital training in an emerging technology that will have application in many areas of biology.
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A comparative study of the distribution and spread of potential molecular markers for Mundulla Yellows disease. Mundulla Yellows (MY), a newly recognised widespread lethal disease of Eucalyptus spp.in Australia, is a serious threat to national biodiversity and conservation. It is contagious, apparently biotic, but the causal agent is unknown. Identification of the cause is essential to establish sustainable control measures. We have detected a range of MY-associated RNAs constituting a disease ' ....A comparative study of the distribution and spread of potential molecular markers for Mundulla Yellows disease. Mundulla Yellows (MY), a newly recognised widespread lethal disease of Eucalyptus spp.in Australia, is a serious threat to national biodiversity and conservation. It is contagious, apparently biotic, but the causal agent is unknown. Identification of the cause is essential to establish sustainable control measures. We have detected a range of MY-associated RNAs constituting a disease 'fingerprint'. To identify individual RNAs uniquely associated with MY we aim to compare MY-RNA fingerprints from a range of affected species from different sites and with varying symptoms. Candidate RNAs will be cloned both for establishing molecular diagnostics for MY and identifying the cause.Read moreRead less
Imaging The Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle In Real-time
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$477,504.00
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious viral pathogen that causes significant liver disease. This proposal plans to examine how two proteins from the HCV, core and NS5A, interact with host proteins and pathways to facilitate viral replication and release of HCV; two processes that are poorly understood. Specifically we will tag viral proteins to allow us to investigate the HCV life cycle in living cells and determine the role of core and NS5A in facilitating HCV replication. This proposal may unco ....Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious viral pathogen that causes significant liver disease. This proposal plans to examine how two proteins from the HCV, core and NS5A, interact with host proteins and pathways to facilitate viral replication and release of HCV; two processes that are poorly understood. Specifically we will tag viral proteins to allow us to investigate the HCV life cycle in living cells and determine the role of core and NS5A in facilitating HCV replication. This proposal may uncover novel therapeutic strategies to combat HCV.Read moreRead less
Targeting RCAN1 To Treat Type 2 Diabetes And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,468.00
Summary
Obesity and impaired insulin secretion are significant contributors to Type 2 diabetes. In this project we demonstrate that a protein called RCAN1 contributes to both fat mass and insulin secretion and that this contribution is exacerbated in obesity and in Type 2 diabetes. We will identify how RCAN1 controls these major metabolic pathways with outcomes including the development of new therapeutics for obesity and Type 2 diabetes.