The systems biology of stem cells. Using new bioinformatic methods, this project aims to identify new classifiers of different stem cell populations, develop statistical models that address population heterogeneity and provide molecular predictors of the differentiation potential of stem cells. Understanding, predicting and directing the processes of differentiation are major goals in the disciplines of stem cell biology, developmental biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Molec ....The systems biology of stem cells. Using new bioinformatic methods, this project aims to identify new classifiers of different stem cell populations, develop statistical models that address population heterogeneity and provide molecular predictors of the differentiation potential of stem cells. Understanding, predicting and directing the processes of differentiation are major goals in the disciplines of stem cell biology, developmental biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Molecular atlas projects have successfully revealed rules of genome output and regulation, by mining patterns that are evident across multiple cell types and datasets. By applying this philosophy to relevant, well-curated stem cell experiments, this project aims to create new methods for the integration and interrogation of smaller individual datasets. These methods should have broad utility and enable new avenues in tissue engineering.Read moreRead less
Improving clostridial toxoid production through molecular fermentation maps. This project aims to improve vaccine production by generating detailed molecular maps of fermentation which will be used to design superior fermentation processes with reduced cost. Toxoid vaccines, used routinely in the livestock industry to prevent animal-disease caused by pathogenic Clostridia, are produced using batch fermentation processes. These processes have undergone limited optimisation over the past five deca ....Improving clostridial toxoid production through molecular fermentation maps. This project aims to improve vaccine production by generating detailed molecular maps of fermentation which will be used to design superior fermentation processes with reduced cost. Toxoid vaccines, used routinely in the livestock industry to prevent animal-disease caused by pathogenic Clostridia, are produced using batch fermentation processes. These processes have undergone limited optimisation over the past five decades. Low titres and frequent batch failures greatly affect capital use and represent a significant cost. In addition, current optimisation approaches are limited by the use of expensive and noisy endpoint assays. This project aims to use high-throughput chemistry (multi-omics) that overcome these limitations.Read moreRead less
Advanced solar powered hydrogen production systems based on green algal cells. This project aims to enhance the efficiency of solar powered hydrogen production from water and will facilitate the co-production of H2 and oil through microalgal biofuel systems. This frontier science project will therefore deliver a process with high solar conversion efficiency and will deliver multiple product streams increasing profitability.
The Systems Biochemistry of Adaptation in Cellular Protein Networks. A living cell must process and interpret a host of diverse signals using a complex network of interacting proteins inside the cell. The detailed molecular mechanisms by which cells exhibit adaptation to these signals remains a fundamental question in biology. This project aims to develop a novel mathematical framework for analysing the capacity of intracellular protein interactions to contribute to cellular adaptation, along ....The Systems Biochemistry of Adaptation in Cellular Protein Networks. A living cell must process and interpret a host of diverse signals using a complex network of interacting proteins inside the cell. The detailed molecular mechanisms by which cells exhibit adaptation to these signals remains a fundamental question in biology. This project aims to develop a novel mathematical framework for analysing the capacity of intracellular protein interactions to contribute to cellular adaptation, along with a novel methodology for validating mathematical models against experimental data. These innovations offer a completely fresh approach to identifying and modulating the adaptive capacities of living cells, which may contribute to overcoming the problem of drug resistance in future therapeutic development.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101191
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Formation of the osteocyte network in bone matrix. The formation of new bone, which occurs throughout life for bone renewal and acutely after fractures, entraps a network of cells that can detect micro-damage and direct repair mechanisms. Mathematical and computational methods will be used to understand how this network can lead to a self-detecting and self-repairing biomaterial.
Developing an integrated systems and synthetic biology platform to expand the product spectrum of acetogens. This project aims to advance a waste gas fermentation process to enable the production of sustainable aviation fuel molecules for the first time. LanzaTech are world leaders in microbial gas fermentation and have produced ethanol at large scale in China. This project aims to combine the LanzaTech process with systems biology expertise at The University of Queensland to go beyond ethanol t ....Developing an integrated systems and synthetic biology platform to expand the product spectrum of acetogens. This project aims to advance a waste gas fermentation process to enable the production of sustainable aviation fuel molecules for the first time. LanzaTech are world leaders in microbial gas fermentation and have produced ethanol at large scale in China. This project aims to combine the LanzaTech process with systems biology expertise at The University of Queensland to go beyond ethanol to deliver new value-added products such as butanediol and farnesene. To achieve this aim the project will explore, understand and overcome fundamental energy and metabolic limitations in the production microorganism. Achieving the aims will be of direct relevance to SkyNRG and the new Brisbane Bioport on their path to deliver sustainable fuel to Brisbane Airport.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Wall Biology. The ARC Centre for Plant Cell Wall Biology will define the regulatory mechanisms that control molecular, enzymic and cellular processes involved in the synthesis, deposition, re-modelling and depolymerisation of cell wall polysaccharides of cereals and grasses. Plant cell walls represent the world's largest renewable carbon resource, but the regulatory mechanisms responsible for their synthesis and assembly are not understood. Key distinguishi ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Wall Biology. The ARC Centre for Plant Cell Wall Biology will define the regulatory mechanisms that control molecular, enzymic and cellular processes involved in the synthesis, deposition, re-modelling and depolymerisation of cell wall polysaccharides of cereals and grasses. Plant cell walls represent the world's largest renewable carbon resource, but the regulatory mechanisms responsible for their synthesis and assembly are not understood. Key distinguishing features of the Centre will be the international, integrative, and multidisciplinary approach towards addressing major questions in plant biology, its strategy to leverage ARC funding, and its linkages with potential national and international end-users of the fundamental scientific discoveries.Read moreRead less
A biological model to understand caveolin-1 and lipid raft function in health and disease. This project will generate a biological model for pathological caveolin-1 action on cell membrane domains called lipid rafts to determine how they trigger chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The tools developed in this project will help Australia find new drug targets for the treatment and prevention of these prevalent diseases.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100071
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,000.00
Summary
Chemi–biology computational platform for lead discovery in infectious disease. A challenge in fighting infectious disease is in finding new bioactive compounds. This facility will provide a high performance computational environment designed to accelerate the discovery of quality compounds for use in anti-infective medicine.
The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic c ....The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic cell recirculation, and what consequences the recirculation has for immune cell function. This understanding will significantly advance our basic understanding of the immune system.Read moreRead less