Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354474
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Metals in Medicine. Metal-based drugs account for several billion dollars of pharmaceutical sales worldwide, but proportionally much less research and development has focussed on this area than organic drugs. Australia has played a pivotal role in the early development of metal-based pharmaceuticals, which remains a research strength. The dual aims of the initiative are to provide a network for a vibrant industry based around metals in medicine and to improve the health of Australians. The ini ....Metals in Medicine. Metal-based drugs account for several billion dollars of pharmaceutical sales worldwide, but proportionally much less research and development has focussed on this area than organic drugs. Australia has played a pivotal role in the early development of metal-based pharmaceuticals, which remains a research strength. The dual aims of the initiative are to provide a network for a vibrant industry based around metals in medicine and to improve the health of Australians. The initiative will foster national and international cross-disciplinary collaborations to address the impediments holding back Australia's potential to take full advantage of our research strength in metals in medicine.Read moreRead less
Coupling biophotonic modalities with machine based recognition systems for disease diagnosis. This project will develop new ways to diagnose canine cancer, malaria and atherosclerosis using infrared-based technology and sophisticated pattern recognition techniques in the hope to discover infrared biomarkers that will lead to early diagnosis of the disease and ultimately save lives.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775684
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,000.00
Summary
The polymer pharmaceutical/drug characterization and processing facility. The Australian population is ageing, and this is leading to ever increasing burdens upon our health system. In addition new understanding of disease states has lead to a demand for improved materials for drug delivery and for tissue regeneration. This proposal will lead to novel biomaterials designed to meet these demands. Polymers are seen as essential elements for construction of such biomedical devices due to the myriad ....The polymer pharmaceutical/drug characterization and processing facility. The Australian population is ageing, and this is leading to ever increasing burdens upon our health system. In addition new understanding of disease states has lead to a demand for improved materials for drug delivery and for tissue regeneration. This proposal will lead to novel biomaterials designed to meet these demands. Polymers are seen as essential elements for construction of such biomedical devices due to the myriad forms in which they can be made, and the large number of different materials to choose from. This proposal will lead to the formation of the PolyPharma network which will produce polymeric biomaterials to benefit our health industries.Read moreRead less
Natural Therapeutic Products from Shark Bile. Scymnol and its sulfate are natural therapeutic products from shark bile with highly potent anti-oxidant and liver-protective activities. The Industry Partner and Macrides have co-patented the synthesis of scymnol to avoid using scarce natural resources. However, unresolved problems in scale-up of production have prevented them from supplying the growing demands of cosmetic and health food companies. Our research group has recently developed a potent ....Natural Therapeutic Products from Shark Bile. Scymnol and its sulfate are natural therapeutic products from shark bile with highly potent anti-oxidant and liver-protective activities. The Industry Partner and Macrides have co-patented the synthesis of scymnol to avoid using scarce natural resources. However, unresolved problems in scale-up of production have prevented them from supplying the growing demands of cosmetic and health food companies. Our research group has recently developed a potential synthetic route for scymnol sulfate. The present project aims to develop a commercially-viable scale-up of this synthesis for manufacturing scymnol and scymnol sulfate to solve current supply problems; and to provide essential safety information for their appropriate use; and evaluate potential new therapeutic uses.Read moreRead less
Understanding the cardioprotective effects of flavonols. Heart attack and stroke are a major cause of death and disablement in Australia. Current therapies do not treat the underlying causes of these diseases. In this project we will investigate a promising new drug treatment for these diseases and will determine how this poorly understood drug acts to reduce damage to the heart. This project will lead to new treatments for cardiovascular diseases and will enhance our understanding of the causes ....Understanding the cardioprotective effects of flavonols. Heart attack and stroke are a major cause of death and disablement in Australia. Current therapies do not treat the underlying causes of these diseases. In this project we will investigate a promising new drug treatment for these diseases and will determine how this poorly understood drug acts to reduce damage to the heart. This project will lead to new treatments for cardiovascular diseases and will enhance our understanding of the causes of these disease states.Read moreRead less
Protein self-assembly on surfaces, interfaces and nanoparticles. Surfaces such as those presented by an air-liquid interface or air-borne nanoparticles exert significant effects on protein aggregation in biological environments. We will develop a comprehensive theoretical and experimental approach to study the effects of such surfaces on the self assembly of proteins leading to disease causing amyloid fibrils. This will provide a molecular level understanding of protein self-association and a ....Protein self-assembly on surfaces, interfaces and nanoparticles. Surfaces such as those presented by an air-liquid interface or air-borne nanoparticles exert significant effects on protein aggregation in biological environments. We will develop a comprehensive theoretical and experimental approach to study the effects of such surfaces on the self assembly of proteins leading to disease causing amyloid fibrils. This will provide a molecular level understanding of protein self-association and a rational basis for the design of inhibitors to stop protein aggregation. The work will also establish design principles for new nanomaterials via the controlled self assembly of proteins on surfaces.Read moreRead less
Cross-linked Tyrosine Residues in Peptides and Proteins. Many peptides and proteins have recently been found to contain unusual structural modifications, commonly in the form of cross-linked tyrosine residues. The aims of this project are to design and synthesise examples of these cross-linked tyrosine structures, thereby enabling the preparation of models of the modified proteins. Outcomes of this research will include an increased understanding of the relationship between the three-dimensional ....Cross-linked Tyrosine Residues in Peptides and Proteins. Many peptides and proteins have recently been found to contain unusual structural modifications, commonly in the form of cross-linked tyrosine residues. The aims of this project are to design and synthesise examples of these cross-linked tyrosine structures, thereby enabling the preparation of models of the modified proteins. Outcomes of this research will include an increased understanding of the relationship between the three-dimensional structure and biological activity of peptides/proteins, the generation of lead compounds for new anti-bacterial and anti-fungal pharmaceuticals, and the preparation of biological 'markers' of the processes involved in neurodegenerative diseases and aging.Read moreRead less
Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with ....Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with predetermined properties or functions would make possible diverse applications of great practical value; the project will contribute significantly to the basis for such capabilities leading to ?designer materials? of the future.Read moreRead less
Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Chemically Active Reaction Sites. Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering are two related areas of chemistry which examine the way molecules can come together to form larger structures. Usually, however, the aggregations formed are chemically inert, limiting the scope of their potential applications. This project aims to design and synthesise such assemblies that are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions after assembly. The ....Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Chemically Active Reaction Sites. Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering are two related areas of chemistry which examine the way molecules can come together to form larger structures. Usually, however, the aggregations formed are chemically inert, limiting the scope of their potential applications. This project aims to design and synthesise such assemblies that are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions after assembly. The realisation of these aims will give new routes to the production of new catalysts (analogous to enzymes in biological systems), nanoscale molecular sieves, molecular sensors, or materials that show unusual host-guest chemistryRead moreRead less
Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Potential Post-Assembly Chemical Activity. Two areas of chemistry currently receiving a great deal of attention are supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. However, in the majority of these systems, once synthesised the assemblies are chemically inert. This project aims to assemble supramolecules and coordination polymers which are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions. Such systems show potential as new heterogeneous or h ....Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Potential Post-Assembly Chemical Activity. Two areas of chemistry currently receiving a great deal of attention are supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. However, in the majority of these systems, once synthesised the assemblies are chemically inert. This project aims to assemble supramolecules and coordination polymers which are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions. Such systems show potential as new heterogeneous or homogeneous catalysts, selective molecular sieves, or show unusual host-guest chemistry. Techniques developed will provide a means by which present homogeneous catalysts used widely in industry could be converted into heterogeneous species. This would have many benefits, including improved recovery and re-use of catalysts.Read moreRead less