Translating Molecular Pathology Into Cancer Diagnostics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,285,520.00
Summary
Precision oncology, the treatment of cancer patients selected with a particular molecular characteristic (biomarker) matched to a therapy, has transformed the treatment of cancer patients. However, many biomarkers used for clinical care are not reliable and do not perform their role. I will translate new research tests from fundamental discovery, clinical trials and the development of novel diagnostics using innovative high throughput laboratory technologies to enhance patient outcomes.
Printhotics: A Digital Solution To Optimise Personalised Children’s Orthotic Devices
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are custom plastic braces worn around the foot and ankle that are crucial for the daily function of children with nerve, muscle and brain disorders. However, AFO usage is limited by significant wait times, poor adherence and a disconnect with patient preferences. My project, Printhotics, will generate novel AFO designs and production methods based on a concurrent discovery pipeline of co-design, 3D scanning, machine learning, and 3D printing.
An In Vitro Pipeline For Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers For Cancer Diagnosis And Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,764,215.00
Summary
A droplet of blood contains information whether a person has cancer, the stage of the cancer and how their response to treatment. The proposed research will employ ultrasensitive detection technologies to analyse so-called biomarkers released from cancer cells. We will use lab-based models of cancer, generated with a 3D bioprinter, to learn what biomarkers tell us about cancer type and response to drugs. This knowledge is urgently needed for early cancer detection and better cancer treatment.
Systems-based Study, Intervention, Diagnosis And Control Of Gastrointestinal Parasites
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,538,220.00
Summary
Gastrointestinal parasites cause billions of infections and hundreds of thousand of deaths globally each year. Even in developed countries, these parasites remain an important public health risk, through the cost of their control, the acute impacts of infection and their contribution to post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue. My team employs cutting-edge methods to improve their diagnosis, surveillance, treatment and control.
RNA viruses are one of the last frontiers for globally significant infections. There ability to rapidly hide from the host's immune response and cause additional infections has made the ability to make vaccines very difficult. By studying patients that naturally and rapidly clear multiple infections we have identified strategies to conquer these highly divergent viruses. We are currently dedicated to trying to understand how we can mold this knowledge into a protective vaccine.
Structural Biology And Therapeutic Targeting Of Axon Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,512,250.00
Summary
The molecular mechanisms underlying SARM1 (sterile alpha and TIR 1) function will be investigated, which will allow design of inhibitors of axon degeneration, which can be developed into therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative disease. Outcomes are not only anticipated to support excellence in basic research, but have potential of assisting health sectors and the economy, by reducing the burden of prevalent neurodegenerative diseases such as peripheral neuropathies and traumatic brain injury.
Repairing Soft Tissues With Engineered Elastic Biomaterials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,914,215.00
Summary
There is an urgent medical demand for implantable soft materials that harmonise with surrounding elastic tissue and promote repair. This integrated research program leverages our leading knowledge of human elastic protein. The program’s goals are to develop powerful platform technologies that use this elastic protein, and deliver a new generation of elastic surgical products that can help treat pelvic organ prolapse and repair damaged heart tissue.
Addressing Healthcare Disparities In Remote And Low Resource Settings With Solid-State Biodiagnostic Devices
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,194,658.00
Summary
The vision and aspiration of this Fellowship research program is to transform the way we diagnose and monitor medical conditions affecting millions of people, namely preeclampsia, epilepsy, fetal arrhythmias and heart attacks. To this end, cutting-edge solid-state technologies will be integrated within point-of-care and wearable biodiagnostic technologies.