ARC Research Network for Understanding and Managing Australian Biodiversity. Biodiversity research is strong in Australia but is highly uncoordinated and, along with recent major breakthroughs in both theory and techniques, has highlighted the need for a Network to properly integrate research and focus it on the most appropriate scale. This Network aims to bring together a diverse spectrum of highly experienced and early career researchers to pool their ideas and expertise to allow them to deter ....ARC Research Network for Understanding and Managing Australian Biodiversity. Biodiversity research is strong in Australia but is highly uncoordinated and, along with recent major breakthroughs in both theory and techniques, has highlighted the need for a Network to properly integrate research and focus it on the most appropriate scale. This Network aims to bring together a diverse spectrum of highly experienced and early career researchers to pool their ideas and expertise to allow them to determine how best to describe Australia's current biodiversity and the biological and environmental history leading up to the present. A major outcome will be the ability to predict the impacts of environmental change on biodiversity to assist management decisions across Australia, with lessons of global importance.Read moreRead less
Development of Pyrrolopyrimidines as Inhibitors of ATP-Binding Proteins. This project seeks to generate analogues of natural products that have been found to be active against cancer cells and tropical parasites. The new materials produced by this project will aid in the study of biochemical processes involved in diseases such as cancer and lymphatic filariasis, thus leading the way to development of these compounds as potential treatments for such diseases.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882289
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,000.00
Summary
New generation mass spectrometers for characterisation of molecular shape and size. The ion mobility mass spectrometer (IMMS at UOW) will be the first of its kind in Australia, and together with the ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS at ANU) will continue the tradition of this partnership in providing researchers with cutting-edge instrumentation for nationally and internationally important projects including: (i) fundamental understanding of the ways in which biomolecules recognize one another, ( ....New generation mass spectrometers for characterisation of molecular shape and size. The ion mobility mass spectrometer (IMMS at UOW) will be the first of its kind in Australia, and together with the ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS at ANU) will continue the tradition of this partnership in providing researchers with cutting-edge instrumentation for nationally and internationally important projects including: (i) fundamental understanding of the ways in which biomolecules recognize one another, (ii) investigating the structure(s) of lipids (fats) in cardiovascular disease and cataract, (iii) developing anticancer drugs, and (iv) development of new materials.Read moreRead less
Rejuvenating adult stem cells. This project aims to uncover intimate links between metabolic regulation and longevity in adult stem cells, the source of all cells in the body. Understanding why we age and whether ageing is preventable are research challenges which must be first attacked at a cellular level. This project will try to rejuvenate aged stem cells by interfering with a prospective molecular master switch of aging and also develop an approach to identify and select youthful stem cells. ....Rejuvenating adult stem cells. This project aims to uncover intimate links between metabolic regulation and longevity in adult stem cells, the source of all cells in the body. Understanding why we age and whether ageing is preventable are research challenges which must be first attacked at a cellular level. This project will try to rejuvenate aged stem cells by interfering with a prospective molecular master switch of aging and also develop an approach to identify and select youthful stem cells. The results are expected to be important beyond informing the science of ageing, in the areas of tissue engineering, wound healing, embryology and cancer.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560751
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$432,474.00
Summary
Facility for the Analysis of Biomacromolecular Interactions. A facility for the analysis of biological macromolecules and their interactions with ligand molecules is required to support a large number of research projects in high priority areas including mechanisms of aging, drug development and bio/nanotechnology at three different universities. The instrumentation will (i) afford quantitative measurements of binding affinities between biological and chemical macromolecules, which are available ....Facility for the Analysis of Biomacromolecular Interactions. A facility for the analysis of biological macromolecules and their interactions with ligand molecules is required to support a large number of research projects in high priority areas including mechanisms of aging, drug development and bio/nanotechnology at three different universities. The instrumentation will (i) afford quantitative measurements of binding affinities between biological and chemical macromolecules, which are available only in small quantities, and small, drug related molecules (by microcalorimetry and dual polarization interferometry), and (ii) provide equipment necessary for sample characterization and purification prior to quantitative measurements (CD spectroscopy, and FPLC equipment).Read moreRead less
Structural reorganization of the hymenopteran mitochondrial genome. This study will be the first detailed investigation of the evolution of mt genome reorganization, and as such it will identify the processes that shape the evolution of a molecule widely used to interpret phylogeny. A description of the processes that lead to mt genome reorganization will have a substantial impact on our understanding in two areas of mt biology; (1) the discovery of new molecular phenomena that impact on the or ....Structural reorganization of the hymenopteran mitochondrial genome. This study will be the first detailed investigation of the evolution of mt genome reorganization, and as such it will identify the processes that shape the evolution of a molecule widely used to interpret phylogeny. A description of the processes that lead to mt genome reorganization will have a substantial impact on our understanding in two areas of mt biology; (1) the discovery of new molecular phenomena that impact on the organization and evolution of this genome, and (2) the interpretation of its phylogenetic content. It will establish our research group as a leader in the field of evolutionary genetics. Training of high quality students, with exposure to international researchers, will be a significant component of this program.Read moreRead less
The fate of dietary selenium in vivo; a direct approach to linking chemical form with biological activity. Dietary selenium supplementation has great potential as a preventative treatment for a range of human health conditions, including cancer, that widely affect the Australian population. However, the adverse effects of such treatments are not fully recognised. This project will increase our knowledge of how selenium compounds are stored and utilised in the body and relate the information to c ....The fate of dietary selenium in vivo; a direct approach to linking chemical form with biological activity. Dietary selenium supplementation has great potential as a preventative treatment for a range of human health conditions, including cancer, that widely affect the Australian population. However, the adverse effects of such treatments are not fully recognised. This project will increase our knowledge of how selenium compounds are stored and utilised in the body and relate the information to clinical observations regarding dietary intake of selenium and other compounds. The new understanding generated will delineate the conditions for safe intake, so that the beneficial effects associated with selenium supplementation may be harnessed more effectively.Read moreRead less
Learning and choosing in a complex world. How do people make choices in a complex world? Making good choices requires expertise, but people must often forego rewards in order to acquire this knowledge. This is the essence of an "explore-exploit dilemma": to maximise rewards across a long time frame, people must take the time to explore and learn now. Empirically, this project aims to unify much of the existing psychological literature and extend it to cover richer, more complex problems. Theoret ....Learning and choosing in a complex world. How do people make choices in a complex world? Making good choices requires expertise, but people must often forego rewards in order to acquire this knowledge. This is the essence of an "explore-exploit dilemma": to maximise rewards across a long time frame, people must take the time to explore and learn now. Empirically, this project aims to unify much of the existing psychological literature and extend it to cover richer, more complex problems. Theoretically, the project aims to use tools from machine learning to compare human decision making to optimal planning models.Read moreRead less
Fertility Management of Koalas, Kangaroos and Wallabies. The aims of this work are to test a commercially available long-acting contraceptive on large populations of kangaroos and koalas, and to devise efficient, economic and practical ways of delivering these contraceptives to the animals. The outcome will be a system of controlling the number of these animals which is economically realistic and acceptable to national and international communities. The contraceptive is administered as a small, ....Fertility Management of Koalas, Kangaroos and Wallabies. The aims of this work are to test a commercially available long-acting contraceptive on large populations of kangaroos and koalas, and to devise efficient, economic and practical ways of delivering these contraceptives to the animals. The outcome will be a system of controlling the number of these animals which is economically realistic and acceptable to national and international communities. The contraceptive is administered as a small, subcutaneous implant in the back of the neck. It can be inserted very quickly and has no harmful side effects. A further outcome may be its adoption in other parts of the world, to the advantage of the company which manufactures it.Read moreRead less
Mathematical and mechanical models in nano-engineering and nanomedicine. The major environmental problems generated from global warming and the major human health problems, like cancer and diabetes, if they are to be solved at all, will most likely be resolved making use of advances in nanobiotechnology. This proposal will position Australia as a leader in the modelling of nanodevices such as gigahertz oscillators, nano-electromagnets, nanosensors, nanosyringes and nanoporous media suitable for ....Mathematical and mechanical models in nano-engineering and nanomedicine. The major environmental problems generated from global warming and the major human health problems, like cancer and diabetes, if they are to be solved at all, will most likely be resolved making use of advances in nanobiotechnology. This proposal will position Australia as a leader in the modelling of nanodevices such as gigahertz oscillators, nano-electromagnets, nanosensors, nanosyringes and nanoporous media suitable for hydrogen storage and gas separation, which will lead to new technologies and commercial spin-offs that will be of major benefit to this country. The applicants will develop a range of topics in nano-engineering and nanomedicine, training a team that will provide the next generation of researchers in these vital areas.Read moreRead less