Investigating the molecular basis of T-cell receptor cross-reactivity. This project will explore the basis of unexpected immune reactions whereby the immune system mistakes one molecular structure for another, a phenomenon known as cross-reactivity. This project will examine how often this is due to molecular mimicry, potentially explaining why immune T cells sometimes react inappropriately to different agents.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100162
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,005.00
Summary
Enzymatic synthesis of pro-resolution lipid mediators: Towards new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases. Inflammation is a major contributing factor in many diseases, including arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease and cancer. It has recently been shown that the resolution of inflammation is an active biological process initiated by lipid mediators. The aim of this project is to synthesise and characterise pro-resolution lipid mediators, elucidate ....Enzymatic synthesis of pro-resolution lipid mediators: Towards new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases. Inflammation is a major contributing factor in many diseases, including arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease and cancer. It has recently been shown that the resolution of inflammation is an active biological process initiated by lipid mediators. The aim of this project is to synthesise and characterise pro-resolution lipid mediators, elucidate the enzyme cascades involved in their biosynthesis and explore their roles in the active resolution of inflammation. This project will provide a fundamental understanding of pro-resolution and anti-inflammatory pathways as well as new therapeutic target molecules for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.Read moreRead less
Investigating the evolution of innate and adaptive cellular immunity. This proposal aims to assess the impact of geographical and genetic isolation of the Australian Indigenous population on adaptive and innate immune systems. The project will use novel DNA sequencing approaches to generate the high resolution sequences of two genetic loci that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses, the major histocompatibility complex locus and the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor locus. In an i ....Investigating the evolution of innate and adaptive cellular immunity. This proposal aims to assess the impact of geographical and genetic isolation of the Australian Indigenous population on adaptive and innate immune systems. The project will use novel DNA sequencing approaches to generate the high resolution sequences of two genetic loci that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses, the major histocompatibility complex locus and the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor locus. In an initial screen, distinct variants and combinations of these genes were identified. This project aims to interrogate how variation in these critical genes impacts on the function of cytotoxic lymphocytes, providing insights into the evolutionary drivers of immune recognition mechanisms.Read moreRead less
Investigating the actions of anti-inflammatory pathways in chronic lung disease. There is an urgent need to develop better drugs for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as patients become resistant to currently used anti-inflammatory drugs with disease progression. This research will uncover fundamental biology into an important class of anti-inflammatory receptor termed ALX/FPR2. This receptor normally coordinates the clearance of infection and injured tissue and subsequently switches ....Investigating the actions of anti-inflammatory pathways in chronic lung disease. There is an urgent need to develop better drugs for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as patients become resistant to currently used anti-inflammatory drugs with disease progression. This research will uncover fundamental biology into an important class of anti-inflammatory receptor termed ALX/FPR2. This receptor normally coordinates the clearance of infection and injured tissue and subsequently switches off inflammation. Essential knowledge into why this receptor pathway fails to switch off inflammation will be determined. Furthermore, the development of targeting strategies to this receptor represents an innovative approach to blocking damaging and chronic airway inflammation.Read moreRead less
Solving the puzzle of complex disease - genes and their interactions with the environment. Many human diseases are caused by the interplay of genetic predisposition (nature) and the environment (nurture); but their causes remain a mystery, since much past research has focused on these aspects in isolation. This project will aim to better understand these complex diseases using a multi-factorial approach that brings both nature and nurture together.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100092
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Fluorescence microscopy with optical tweezers: imaging cellular responses. Life relies on the ability of our cells to receive and respond to signals with pinpoint accuracy, involving both chemical and mechanical signals. This equipment will allow scientists to expose cells to both types of signals and measure the response at an unprecedented level of accuracy for the first time.
Predicting adaptation and range expansion under climate change. This project investigates the repeatability and thereby the predictability of adaptation to climate change by leveraging 1000 genomes sampled over 150 years and multiple climatic gradients in the rapidly adapting, globally invasive, and highly allergenic ragweed. We expect to deepen our understanding of the genetic basis of adaptation and decipher the circumstances under which adaptive genetic change is repeatable, by integrating a ....Predicting adaptation and range expansion under climate change. This project investigates the repeatability and thereby the predictability of adaptation to climate change by leveraging 1000 genomes sampled over 150 years and multiple climatic gradients in the rapidly adapting, globally invasive, and highly allergenic ragweed. We expect to deepen our understanding of the genetic basis of adaptation and decipher the circumstances under which adaptive genetic change is repeatable, by integrating a novel evolutionary model with genomic data. We will develop the capacity to predict species’ distributions and trait evolution under climate change using a powerful empirical dataset. This will provide us with the capacity to anticipate and manage the effects of climate change on noxious and threatened species.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101479
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,948.00
Summary
The investigation of an unconventional Human Leukocyte Antigen molecule. This project aims to characterise a unique and understudied surface molecule (HLA-E). The immune system is activated and regulated by a complex set of molecules including HLA molecules present on the cell surface that inform the immune system of infection. Therefore, this project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of cellular biology and immunology by utilising a cutting-edge and multi-disciplinary approach. Exp ....The investigation of an unconventional Human Leukocyte Antigen molecule. This project aims to characterise a unique and understudied surface molecule (HLA-E). The immune system is activated and regulated by a complex set of molecules including HLA molecules present on the cell surface that inform the immune system of infection. Therefore, this project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of cellular biology and immunology by utilising a cutting-edge and multi-disciplinary approach. Expected outcomes of this project include the generation of new knowledge of this unconventional molecule and its interaction with immune cells. This should provide significant impacts by defining the non-conventional role of HLA-E within the immune system, which may advise future research into vaccines or therapeutics. Read moreRead less
Characterisation of nanobubbles. Surprisingly, nano-sized bubbles have recently been found to exist in aqueous solutions. Classical theory tells us they should rapidly dissolve, yet they are stable for several days, a phenomenon which has only recently been explained. Despite this, nanobubbles are already used in cleaning processes and appear to have significant health benefits. They are being investigated in treatments for asthma and neurodegenerative diseases. In collaboration with a pharmaceu ....Characterisation of nanobubbles. Surprisingly, nano-sized bubbles have recently been found to exist in aqueous solutions. Classical theory tells us they should rapidly dissolve, yet they are stable for several days, a phenomenon which has only recently been explained. Despite this, nanobubbles are already used in cleaning processes and appear to have significant health benefits. They are being investigated in treatments for asthma and neurodegenerative diseases. In collaboration with a pharmaceutical company, the best means to produce and characterise nanobubbles will be investigated, as well as the conditions governing their stability. The project also aims to determine how the nanobubbles interact with surfaces in order to better control their properties and achieve a better understanding of these bubbles.Read moreRead less
An investigation into the basis of the T-cell mediated adaptive immune response. Understanding the adaptive immune response to human pathogens is critically important to develop strategies to combat infection. This project will provide a better understanding of how T cells combat viral infection, and will lead to fundamental advances in our understanding of viral immunity and the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies.