Understanding The Role Of Circular RNAs In Neuronal Biology Using RNA-targeting CRISPR/Cas9
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,097.00
Summary
The regulation of gene expression through a process known as RNA splicing has been shown to be at the heart of a number of processes required for brain development, memory and learning, and is often dysregulated in a number of neurological diseases. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recently shown to be a relatively abundant class of spliced RNA that are specifically enriched in brain tissue. In this project, I aim to understand the roles of circRNAs in neuronal development.
Structural Characterisation Of Long Non-Coding RNA Bound Histone Modification Complexes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
Cancer is a disease associated with genetic and epigenetic changes of DNA. Epigenetics involves external changes to the DNA, switching processes “on” and “off”, to regulate gene expression. This project aims to provide powerful insight into key processes involved in epigenetic-based carcinogenesis, and thereby lay the foundation for producing novel cancer diagnostic markers and molecular based therapies.
Peptide Toxins From Animal Venoms Specifically Targeting Voltage-gated Sodium Channels As Novel Analgesics And Pesticides
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
This project aims to understand how certain animal toxins that cause analgesic and pesticidal effects in model animals interact with biological ion channels in atomistic detail using computational techniques. By understanding the detailed molecular interactions involved in the binding of the toxins to channels, toxin variants with improved potency and specificity may be designed as promising templates for novel analgesics and pesticides.