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Understanding the potency and role of individual stem cells in the skin using Rainbow technology. To renew itself, the skin and its components rely on the activity of stem cells. This project will define more precisely the role of each individual stem cell by labelling them with a unique colour and following its fate. This project has the potential to change our current view on how the skin maintains and repairs itself.
Biochemistry of tropoelastin: functional analysis of an essential cell-interactive domain. Elastin is ten times more durable than the best man-made synthetic rubbers because our bodies need to control life-threatening rips in skin, artery and lung. Warm-blooded animals use elastin to build diversely shaped elastic materials for multiple biological environments in these tissues. In this project, we will learn a lot more about the most preserved and functional part of elastin. These discoveries wi ....Biochemistry of tropoelastin: functional analysis of an essential cell-interactive domain. Elastin is ten times more durable than the best man-made synthetic rubbers because our bodies need to control life-threatening rips in skin, artery and lung. Warm-blooded animals use elastin to build diversely shaped elastic materials for multiple biological environments in these tissues. In this project, we will learn a lot more about the most preserved and functional part of elastin. These discoveries will increase our understanding of the grand architectural rules by which elastic protein-based structures are made. We will learn new ways to manage cell interactions in an elastic environment and define design rules to assist in the future design of new cell-binding, elastic, composite materials.Read moreRead less
The role of palmitoylation in hair follicle and epidermal stem cell biology. A proteins activity can be shaped by sugar, phosphate and lipid modifications. This proposal will investigate the effects of the lipid modification called palmitoylation, about which we know very little. Our preliminary experiments suggest that palmitoylation is crucial for normal skin biology. We will explore its effects on the biology of the proteins which are modified, the cells in which they are found and the tis ....The role of palmitoylation in hair follicle and epidermal stem cell biology. A proteins activity can be shaped by sugar, phosphate and lipid modifications. This proposal will investigate the effects of the lipid modification called palmitoylation, about which we know very little. Our preliminary experiments suggest that palmitoylation is crucial for normal skin biology. We will explore its effects on the biology of the proteins which are modified, the cells in which they are found and the tissues in which they reside. Understanding more about these modifications will help us to learn more about the biology of our skin and will help us to understand diseases which affect our largest organ.Read moreRead less
Human skin equivalent constructs: enhanced culturing and application of laboratory-grown skin through mathematical modelling and in silico experimentation. Laboratory-grown human skin equivalent constructs, given social and legislative imperatives, will be critical for advances in novel treatment protocol definitions for wound repair, dermatogical screening of pharmacueticals and fundamental studies of skin diseases.
In silico studies undertaken in this project will make a significant contrib ....Human skin equivalent constructs: enhanced culturing and application of laboratory-grown skin through mathematical modelling and in silico experimentation. Laboratory-grown human skin equivalent constructs, given social and legislative imperatives, will be critical for advances in novel treatment protocol definitions for wound repair, dermatogical screening of pharmacueticals and fundamental studies of skin diseases.
In silico studies undertaken in this project will make a significant contribution to the effectiveness of the application of human skin constructs, by delivering new and deeper insights into the interplay between dependent processes that regulate the behaviour of skin, in vivo or ex vivo. The models and the researchers associated with this project will drive innovative studies in medical science over the next decade.Read moreRead less
Molecular, genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation in human pigmentation. This investigation examines variations in the genes that determine human skin pigmentation and are likely to be associated with skin cancer risk. Our research program will form the basis of future diagnostics based on major genes that determine a persons skin type. Current skin cancer prevention strategies rely predominantly on broad spectrum campaigns that are aimed at increasing the general community awareness of ....Molecular, genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation in human pigmentation. This investigation examines variations in the genes that determine human skin pigmentation and are likely to be associated with skin cancer risk. Our research program will form the basis of future diagnostics based on major genes that determine a persons skin type. Current skin cancer prevention strategies rely predominantly on broad spectrum campaigns that are aimed at increasing the general community awareness of the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A better understanding of the genetic basis of UV-sensitive skin types will greatly enhance the targeting of such skin cancer-prevention campaigns, provide an understanding of changes that occur in skin pathology, and the mechanisms of sun induced tanning.Read moreRead less
Biochemistry of tropoelastin and elastin. Elastin is the main protein responsible for the elasticity of vertebrate tissues. The Weiss Lab makes large quantities of full-length tropoelastin, which is crosslinked to make elastin. We want to examine the biochemistry of tropoelastin, learn how its domains participate in elastin structure and assembly, and explore cellular responses to our synthetic elastin biomaterial. Remarkably little is known of this biochemistry because elastin is a highly cross ....Biochemistry of tropoelastin and elastin. Elastin is the main protein responsible for the elasticity of vertebrate tissues. The Weiss Lab makes large quantities of full-length tropoelastin, which is crosslinked to make elastin. We want to examine the biochemistry of tropoelastin, learn how its domains participate in elastin structure and assembly, and explore cellular responses to our synthetic elastin biomaterial. Remarkably little is known of this biochemistry because elastin is a highly cross-linked and substantially insoluble macroscopic network of tropoelastin multimers. Our availability of tropoelastin and synthetic elastin now makes these studies possible.Read moreRead less
The role of neutral amino acid transport in normal physiology. Future benefits of these studies include the Promotion and Maintenance of Good Health achieved by providing: (1) a better understanding of brain and balance disorders; (2) insights into the damaging effects of the sun and; (3) existing neonatal screening programmes for Hartnup disorder with greater scientific foundation regarding the implications of inheriting this condition, including dietary advce. We will be able to provide Austr ....The role of neutral amino acid transport in normal physiology. Future benefits of these studies include the Promotion and Maintenance of Good Health achieved by providing: (1) a better understanding of brain and balance disorders; (2) insights into the damaging effects of the sun and; (3) existing neonatal screening programmes for Hartnup disorder with greater scientific foundation regarding the implications of inheriting this condition, including dietary advce. We will be able to provide Australians who inherit Hartnup disorder with a better understanding of this disease by enabling individuals and families to make choices that lead to healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of p14ARF intracellular trafficking pathways. Over 3500 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed in NSW each year, and one of the most important proteins involved in suppressing melanoma initiation or growth is p14ARF. This project will characterise the movement and functions of this protein with the aim of identifying novel targets for more effective drug therapies.
Modelling cell invasion incorporating the epithelial to mesenchymal transition: Exploring therapies to control wound healing and cancer progression. Cancer and wounds are closely related, commonly lethal, diseases. Both require cell growth and invasion. This project will apply experimental measurements to create new mathematical models of cancer and wounds; models that will inform new targets and strategies for the treatment of these deadly diseases.
Combined genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation to study variation in human pigmentation. This investigation examines variations in the genes that are important determinants of human skin pigmentation and are likely to be associated with skin cancer risk. Our research program will form the basis of future diagnostics based on major genes that determine a persons skin type. Current skin cancer prevention strategies rely predominantly on broad spectrum campaigns that are aimed at increasi ....Combined genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation to study variation in human pigmentation. This investigation examines variations in the genes that are important determinants of human skin pigmentation and are likely to be associated with skin cancer risk. Our research program will form the basis of future diagnostics based on major genes that determine a persons skin type. Current skin cancer prevention strategies rely predominantly on broad spectrum campaigns that are aimed at increasing the general community awareness of the damaging effects of UV radiation. A better understanding of the genetic basis of UV-sensitive skin types will greatly enhance the targeting of such skin cancer-prevention campaigns, provide an understanding of changes that occur in skin pathology, and the mechanisms of sun induced tanning.Read moreRead less