Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100174
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,747.00
Summary
Calcium-mediated regulation of stem cell development. This project aims to clarify the role of syndecan-mediated calcium in stem cell development using Caenorhabditis elegans. Stem cells have great potential for regenerative studies. While stem cells cultures are widely used, we do not fully understand how stem cells develop within an organism. This project expects to uncover the mechanisms underpinning calcium regulation by syndecan in stem cells. The expected outcomes include the optimisation ....Calcium-mediated regulation of stem cell development. This project aims to clarify the role of syndecan-mediated calcium in stem cell development using Caenorhabditis elegans. Stem cells have great potential for regenerative studies. While stem cells cultures are widely used, we do not fully understand how stem cells develop within an organism. This project expects to uncover the mechanisms underpinning calcium regulation by syndecan in stem cells. The expected outcomes include the optimisation of C. elegans stem cell methods to screen calcium regulating compounds and the creation of an in vivo calcium sensor. The project should advance knowledge of the role of syndecans in stem cells and provide the first analysis of in vivo calcium kinetics in stem cells.Read moreRead less
Every cell in our body has an intrinsic orientation that is controlled by a universal set of genes known as polarity genes. Loss of this orientation is a common and early feature of cancer. We have identified the gene Scribble as a gene that controls cell orientation and is essential to prevent the development of prostate cancer. We propose experiments to discover how Scribble controls prostate cancer and whether it can be used to better predict outcome for prostate cancer patients.
Role Of Primary Cilia And PCP Proteins In Lens Development: Implications For Lens Regeneration After Cataract Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,742.00
Summary
Cataract extraction is the most common surgical procedure conducted in our hospitals today. Unfortunately, a complication of surgery is the development of a secondary cataract. This is caused by residual lens epithelial cells undergoing a wound healing response that leads to severe scarring and loss of vision. This project will identify the factors that are needed to maintain lens epithelial cells in a normal state so that they can act as stem cells that can be induced to regenerate a new lens t ....Cataract extraction is the most common surgical procedure conducted in our hospitals today. Unfortunately, a complication of surgery is the development of a secondary cataract. This is caused by residual lens epithelial cells undergoing a wound healing response that leads to severe scarring and loss of vision. This project will identify the factors that are needed to maintain lens epithelial cells in a normal state so that they can act as stem cells that can be induced to regenerate a new lens that can transmit and focus light as normal.Read moreRead less
Dissecting The Embryonic Blood-endothelial Regulatory Code And Investigating Its Role In Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$646,389.00
Summary
Cancer initiating cells acquire stem cell characteristics and multiply within a supportive environment that helps maintain and propagate malignant cells. Identifying the normal hierarchy of gene control within blood stem cells and designing therapies that target cancer cells is the ultimate goal of this body of work.
Microtubule structure in nervous system repair. This Project aims to investigate the role of structural and functional cellular components known as microtubules in nervous system regeneration. This Project aims to use innovative approaches in confocal and electron microscopy, genetics, and cell biology, with the expectation of generating new knowledge into nervous system repair. Expected outcomes of this Project include a comprehensive description of how microtubules are rearranged following ner ....Microtubule structure in nervous system repair. This Project aims to investigate the role of structural and functional cellular components known as microtubules in nervous system regeneration. This Project aims to use innovative approaches in confocal and electron microscopy, genetics, and cell biology, with the expectation of generating new knowledge into nervous system repair. Expected outcomes of this Project include a comprehensive description of how microtubules are rearranged following nervous system injury and the importance of microtubule modifying proteins in promoting regeneration. This should provide significant benefits in our understanding of the cellular mechanisms behind nervous system repair, and offer new approaches for promoting regeneration after injury.Read moreRead less
Imaging the generation and recall of protective antiviral immune responses in vivo. Our understanding of the in vivo dynamics of cellular immune responses to infectious diseases is poor. This project will utilise advanced intravital imaging combined with novel tools to dissect the cellular events involved in the generation and recall of T cell responses to localised virus infection, combined with a detailed functional analysis of the lymphoid organ stroma. Such fundamental information will contr ....Imaging the generation and recall of protective antiviral immune responses in vivo. Our understanding of the in vivo dynamics of cellular immune responses to infectious diseases is poor. This project will utilise advanced intravital imaging combined with novel tools to dissect the cellular events involved in the generation and recall of T cell responses to localised virus infection, combined with a detailed functional analysis of the lymphoid organ stroma. Such fundamental information will contribute to the development of new generation vaccines and therapies to protect against tissue-specific infectious diseases, cancers and autoimmune diseases.Read moreRead less
The molecular interactome and functions of circular RNAs. This project aims to identify the functions of circular RNAs, the most contemporary and enigmatic family of RNA molecules. While their abundance suggests they are important, it is unclear how they function at the molecular level. This project aims to delineate circular RNA function by systematically identifying their interacting partners at the DNA, RNA and protein levels, the so-called molecular interactome. This project will reprogram e ....The molecular interactome and functions of circular RNAs. This project aims to identify the functions of circular RNAs, the most contemporary and enigmatic family of RNA molecules. While their abundance suggests they are important, it is unclear how they function at the molecular level. This project aims to delineate circular RNA function by systematically identifying their interacting partners at the DNA, RNA and protein levels, the so-called molecular interactome. This project will reprogram embryonic stem cells to model developmental processes and is designed to validate circular RNA research. Together, the benefits include a higher-quality research workforce by mentoring students, refining fundamental tenets of RNA biology and may extend to improving health in the long-term.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100200
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$270,427.00
Summary
AutoStem: a high performance, automated stem cell bioengineering facility. This project aims to establish an automated stem cell bioengineering ("AutoStem") facility that will enable critical insights into the molecular mechanisms that underly the loss in stem cell function and tissue homeostasis as we age. The AutoStem facility expects to lead to the discovery of the key drivers of stem cell ageing and the development of novel technological solutions to maintain tissue function with age. The o ....AutoStem: a high performance, automated stem cell bioengineering facility. This project aims to establish an automated stem cell bioengineering ("AutoStem") facility that will enable critical insights into the molecular mechanisms that underly the loss in stem cell function and tissue homeostasis as we age. The AutoStem facility expects to lead to the discovery of the key drivers of stem cell ageing and the development of novel technological solutions to maintain tissue function with age. The outcomes produced from the AutoStem facility will have significant economic and social benefits in enabling healthy ageing and increased productivity for an ageing Australia.Read moreRead less
How cell shape regulators control cell competition in tissue development. This project aims to determine how cell shape (polarity) regulators affect cell survival in an epithelial tissue. When mutation or wounding perturb cell shape regulators in a tissue cell, signalling pathways are altered that kill the aberrant cells. A surveillance mechanism termed "cell competition" is important to remove the damaged cells. This project will investigate a potential regulator of cell competition, the tyrosi ....How cell shape regulators control cell competition in tissue development. This project aims to determine how cell shape (polarity) regulators affect cell survival in an epithelial tissue. When mutation or wounding perturb cell shape regulators in a tissue cell, signalling pathways are altered that kill the aberrant cells. A surveillance mechanism termed "cell competition" is important to remove the damaged cells. This project will investigate a potential regulator of cell competition, the tyrosine phosphatase PTP61F, in response to perturbation of cell shape regulators, using the vinegar fly, Drosophila, and mammalian systems. This study is expected to reveal biomarkers that can be used to improve organismal fitness to increase productivity or to decrease it for pest control.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100604
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,600.00
Summary
How do cells sense and react to mechanical forces? There is accumulating evidence that mechanical forces exerted on tissues and cells strongly influences their behaviour. My research aims to understand how cells sense and respond to forces experienced throughout life. Using a combination of three-dimensional cell and tissue culture methods, I will investigate how compressive forces change the biochemistry of cells and their functionality. This work is aimed at generating fundamental knowledge to ....How do cells sense and react to mechanical forces? There is accumulating evidence that mechanical forces exerted on tissues and cells strongly influences their behaviour. My research aims to understand how cells sense and respond to forces experienced throughout life. Using a combination of three-dimensional cell and tissue culture methods, I will investigate how compressive forces change the biochemistry of cells and their functionality. This work is aimed at generating fundamental knowledge to improve our comprehension of how cells respond to force. The expected outcome is a greater understanding of mechanical and biochemical relationships between cells and the environment, to inform fields of tissue engineering of culture scaffolds to better mimic natural cell-tissue settings.Read moreRead less