TeraHertz Cell Cluster Imaging. With this program, Australia will benefit from the interaction between physics, engineering, biology and medicine to develop a new TeraHertz imaging system. The project will identify the factors that contribute to TeraHertz contrast in soft tissue cell cultures, thereby developing a non-invasive imaging system to show contrast between diseased and healthy cells. This is a fundamental step towards a system for diagnosing disease states of skin cells, for example, t ....TeraHertz Cell Cluster Imaging. With this program, Australia will benefit from the interaction between physics, engineering, biology and medicine to develop a new TeraHertz imaging system. The project will identify the factors that contribute to TeraHertz contrast in soft tissue cell cultures, thereby developing a non-invasive imaging system to show contrast between diseased and healthy cells. This is a fundamental step towards a system for diagnosing disease states of skin cells, for example, the early detection of melanoma. Ultimately, Australia will benefit from a new technology, and new diagnostic biomedical techniques, for rapid, non-invasive and reliable skin cancer diagnosis.Read moreRead less
Intravital super-resolution imaging via Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy (STED)-microendoscopy. We will develop a new technology to enable the imaging of sub-cellular structures within a biological specimen, with super-resolution. This intravital super-resolution imaging technology will build off world leading techniques to image objects with super-resolution and to perform this within a specimen, with minimal invasion. The broad ramifications of this technology apply to biology, medical ....Intravital super-resolution imaging via Stimulated Emission Depletion microscopy (STED)-microendoscopy. We will develop a new technology to enable the imaging of sub-cellular structures within a biological specimen, with super-resolution. This intravital super-resolution imaging technology will build off world leading techniques to image objects with super-resolution and to perform this within a specimen, with minimal invasion. The broad ramifications of this technology apply to biology, medical science, imaging and sensing. Important applications include the early detection of debilitating diseases and the advancement of understanding of cellular biology. This research will raise Australia's profile as a world leader in science and technology, building on our emerging presence in the biophysical sciences.Read moreRead less
Breaking The Wavelength Barrier: Near-Field T-ray Imaging. Australia will benefit from the interaction between engineering, physics, and biology to develop a new T-ray imaging system that will ultimately be able to probe microstructures, biological single cells or even neurons. The project will exploit a powerful new electrooptical technique for obtaining chemical 'fingerprints' at the cellular level. This breakthrough will be a fundamental step towards a system for probing disease states of sin ....Breaking The Wavelength Barrier: Near-Field T-ray Imaging. Australia will benefit from the interaction between engineering, physics, and biology to develop a new T-ray imaging system that will ultimately be able to probe microstructures, biological single cells or even neurons. The project will exploit a powerful new electrooptical technique for obtaining chemical 'fingerprints' at the cellular level. This breakthrough will be a fundamental step towards a system for probing disease states of single cells and will open up new lines of scientific enquiry. Ultimately, Australia will benefit from a new technology and new diagnostic biomedical techniques. This is potentially an enabling technology for future customised medicine, where rapid biochip sensing becomes foreseeable.Read moreRead less
Towards a miniaturised on-chip terahertz biosensing system. Terahertz (or T-ray) radiation is highly sensitive to minute changes in the molecular structure of many substances. Furthermore most packing materials are transparent to this new form of radiation. This implies enormous potential for T-rays in a range of applications from quality control via non-invasive contact-less chemical fingerprinting through to safety and security applications. A detailed study of the molecular vibrations that gi ....Towards a miniaturised on-chip terahertz biosensing system. Terahertz (or T-ray) radiation is highly sensitive to minute changes in the molecular structure of many substances. Furthermore most packing materials are transparent to this new form of radiation. This implies enormous potential for T-rays in a range of applications from quality control via non-invasive contact-less chemical fingerprinting through to safety and security applications. A detailed study of the molecular vibrations that give rise to these fingerprints will help chemists and biologists to learn more about the underlying molecular binding forces, impacting on wide applications for safe non-invasive sensing in the medical, security, chemical and food industries.Read moreRead less
New Membrane Chips For Protein Interaction Analysis. This proposal is based on a strategic partnership between Monash University and Farfield Sensors. We will create a series of new biosensors that will be used to establish a new approach to the structural analysis of membrane protein function. In particular, this technology may lead to the identification of new proteins and drug targets for therapeutic development. The long-term outcome would be the development of improved therapeutics which wo ....New Membrane Chips For Protein Interaction Analysis. This proposal is based on a strategic partnership between Monash University and Farfield Sensors. We will create a series of new biosensors that will be used to establish a new approach to the structural analysis of membrane protein function. In particular, this technology may lead to the identification of new proteins and drug targets for therapeutic development. The long-term outcome would be the development of improved therapeutics which would be coupled to potential economic returns when further commercialisation is achieved. Read moreRead less
Protein chips for the high-throughput study of immune complexes by mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry is a core enabling technology for proteomics with proteins identified by molecular weight, mass maps and sequencing within the confines of a mass spectrometer. We have found conditions under which it is possible to preserve and detect protein complexes by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry that has promising implications for the high-throughput screening of p ....Protein chips for the high-throughput study of immune complexes by mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry is a core enabling technology for proteomics with proteins identified by molecular weight, mass maps and sequencing within the confines of a mass spectrometer. We have found conditions under which it is possible to preserve and detect protein complexes by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry that has promising implications for the high-throughput screening of protein-protein interactions. Technologies pioneered by the applicant will be advanced to achieve the high-throughput analysis of antibody complexes with native gel recovered protein antigens across emerging strains of the influenza virus by means of miniature protein chips.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237527
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force meas ....Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force measurement Australian researchers are leaders. The proposed instrument expands the capabilities of this effort, and develops exciting new directions including the direct manipulation of molecules through a novel feedback and control (haptic) interface.Read moreRead less
Elucidating the mechanisms by which Scribble, Discs Large and Lethal Giant Larvae regulate epithelial polarity. Discs Large (Dlg) and Scribble are proteins that regulate cell shape by concentrating at particular regions within the cell and recruiting other proteins to that region. It is thought that the two proteins interact with each other, and with other proteins involved in protein trafficking and cell architecture, but it is not known how these events coordinate to produce a net outcome on ....Elucidating the mechanisms by which Scribble, Discs Large and Lethal Giant Larvae regulate epithelial polarity. Discs Large (Dlg) and Scribble are proteins that regulate cell shape by concentrating at particular regions within the cell and recruiting other proteins to that region. It is thought that the two proteins interact with each other, and with other proteins involved in protein trafficking and cell architecture, but it is not known how these events coordinate to produce a net outcome on cell shape. To answer these questions, the dynamic events involved in localization of Dlg, Scribble, and associated proteins will be determined, in mammalian cells and in whole organs of the vinegar fly.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347356
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$238,000.00
Summary
Real-time multi-dimensional multi-photon microscopy facility. The proposal seeks to establish an integrated microscopy facility and thus to expand the high-resolution imaging capabilities at Swinburne University of Technology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute and the University of Melbourne. The provision of the equipment requested will establish an innovative real-time multi-dimensional multi-photon imaging facility of world class. This facility will be accessed on a cooperative basis by the pa ....Real-time multi-dimensional multi-photon microscopy facility. The proposal seeks to establish an integrated microscopy facility and thus to expand the high-resolution imaging capabilities at Swinburne University of Technology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute and the University of Melbourne. The provision of the equipment requested will establish an innovative real-time multi-dimensional multi-photon imaging facility of world class. This facility will be accessed on a cooperative basis by the participants and will be available for collaborative projects with other Australian institutions and industry. The requested equipment will be used in conjunction with existing femtosecond laser and lifetime imaging systems installed in the research laboratories of the participating institutions. The facility will enable real-time investigations of biomolecular processes and the development of novel biomedical imaging techniques as well as the state-of-the-art nanophotonic devices such as nano-tweezers and nano compact disks.Read moreRead less
Enabling Technologies for Motion Corrected Positron Emission Tomography (PET) of Unanaesthetized Laboratory Animals. Small animal molecular imaging is a powerful tool in biological research and drug discovery. Anaesthesia is routinely used to avoid motion distortion, but can profoundly alter the biological process studied. This research will enable quantitative imaging of neurobiological phenomena in awake laboratory animals. It will create new opportunities for Australian basic researchers to ....Enabling Technologies for Motion Corrected Positron Emission Tomography (PET) of Unanaesthetized Laboratory Animals. Small animal molecular imaging is a powerful tool in biological research and drug discovery. Anaesthesia is routinely used to avoid motion distortion, but can profoundly alter the biological process studied. This research will enable quantitative imaging of neurobiological phenomena in awake laboratory animals. It will create new opportunities for Australian basic researchers to use innovative technology with expected high economic potential, and benefit small biotech companies by facilitating pre-clinical and clinical development of new pharmaceuticals. The new motion tracking and image reconstruction technologies developed will strengthen Australia's leading position in engineering and biomedical systems development.Read moreRead less