Advancing The Assessment Of Environmental Impacts On Human Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Key questions and methodology challenges remain in the assessment of environmental impacts on human health. Through the Career Development Fellowship, I will lead a multidisciplinary program of research to further my research aspirations of developing advanced methods in the field of environmental health. The findings will provide epidemiological evidence that would be the basis of policies and guidelines for effective prevention of adverse health impacts from environmental factors.
Structural And Drug Discovery Studies Of Medically Important Protein Complexes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,577.00
Summary
My research is focused on structural studies of medically important biological systems, where specific protein complex formation contributes to human illnesses. I use X-ray crystallography to visualize the whole complex at atomic resolution as well as to determine whether binding partners have undergone changes in shape upon complex formation. This structural information then helps me in drug design with goals to either disrupt or modulate the complex.
The Hunt For New-generation Lipopeptide Antibiotics Targeting Gram-negative ‘Superbugs’
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
The dry antibiotic discovery and development pipeline, together with the increasing incidence of bacterial resistance in the clinic has been dubbed ‘the perfect storm’. This project involves the design, synthesis and preclinical evaluation of a new generation of polymyxin-like lipopeptides that have low nephrotoxicity and specifically target polymyxin-resistant Gram-negative ‘superbugs’.
Follicular Helper T Cell Development And Function: From Mechanisms To Application
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
Antibodies are the basis of most successful vaccinations. Diminished antibody responses lead to immunodeficiency while excessive antibody responses contribute to autoimmune diseases. We are studying a newly identified specialised helper T cell subset, termed follicular helper T cells, which is essential to regulate the high-affinity and long-lived antibody responses. The knowledge should provide new strategies to design better vaccines, to control infections, or to treat autoimmune disorders.
Investigations Into Supraphysiologic T Cell Receptors And T Cell Agonists.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
T cells are critical in controlling infection and important for the natural eradication of cancer. Through shape recognition, T cells identify dangerous antigens via the surface-bound T cell receptor (TCR). Using new technologies this project aims to "tune up" the strength of this molecular interaction and create a new generation of high affinity TCR and antigens for use as therapeutic and prophylactic drugs in the battle against infectious disease and cancer.
Neurodevelopmental Risk Factors For Depression From Childhood To Early Adulthood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
To understand who is at risk for depression, we need to understand how both the environment and biological factors promote risk at specific times in the life cycle. This research project will examine such risk factors in different phases of life (from in utero to early adulthood) using a developmental framework. The results of this research will provide a clearer basis for the design of prevention strategies that target individuals, their families and/or broader environmental factors.
How Genetic And Environmental Risk Factors Interactively Impact On Animal Models For Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,489.00
Summary
The proposed research will clarify to what degree a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia alters the response to environmental risk factors (e.g. social stress and drugs of abuse) or interacts with them. Further, it will provide more sophisticated animal models for schizophrenia as well as better tools to validate these models. These studies may offer novel genetic and molecular clues to help explain the interactive nature of the impact genetic and environmental factors have on schizophrenia.