Precise, Cytosolic Dendrimer Delivery Systems. This project aims to use precisely targeted dendrimer technology to improve the delivery of poorly permeable molecules to their subcellular sites of action. Our cutting edge approach combines innovative phage screening techniques and advanced dendrimer synthesis. The outcomes of this proposal will be: 1) a targeting system that is manufacturable at scale and reasonable cost, 2) a dendrimer delivery system that is rapidly internalised into specifc ta ....Precise, Cytosolic Dendrimer Delivery Systems. This project aims to use precisely targeted dendrimer technology to improve the delivery of poorly permeable molecules to their subcellular sites of action. Our cutting edge approach combines innovative phage screening techniques and advanced dendrimer synthesis. The outcomes of this proposal will be: 1) a targeting system that is manufacturable at scale and reasonable cost, 2) a dendrimer delivery system that is rapidly internalised into specifc target cells and 3) bio-responsive dendrimers that promote delivery of their cargo into the cytosol. This work will strengthen a highly successful collaboration between the Australian biotech company Starpharma and Monash University, to design the next generation of nanomaterials delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Paving the way for ultra-long haul flights: strategies to mitigate jetlag. This project aims to develop and test strategies to mitigate jetlag, founded on biophysical modelling of circadian rhythms. It sets out to quantify the speed of circadian adaptation of sleep, alertness, and metabolism after transmeridian travel and to maximise speed of adaptation via optimised timing of light exposure, food, and exercise in-flight and on-the-ground. Expected outcomes include powerful models for jetlag str ....Paving the way for ultra-long haul flights: strategies to mitigate jetlag. This project aims to develop and test strategies to mitigate jetlag, founded on biophysical modelling of circadian rhythms. It sets out to quantify the speed of circadian adaptation of sleep, alertness, and metabolism after transmeridian travel and to maximise speed of adaptation via optimised timing of light exposure, food, and exercise in-flight and on-the-ground. Expected outcomes include powerful models for jetlag strategies, ready for application in air travel. The project will directly inform Qantas’ operations for ultra-long haul flights and their international network more broadly. Project outcomes will benefit society and the economy through improving travellers’ alertness, sleep, and reducing the risk of fatigue-related accidents.Read moreRead less
Harnessing next-generation technologies to tackle major food-borne parasites and design new interventions. Frontier technologies will be used in this project to unlock the molecular secrets of parasites which cause serious food-borne diseases in animals. The quantum leap made here will lead to radically new ways of treating and controlling such diseases, and provide outstanding international visibility of Australian science and a solid skills/knowledge-base.
Illuminating genomic dark matter to develop new interventions for parasites. This project aims to unravel the molecular basis of parasitism using leading-edge post-genomics approaches. This research expects to explore genomic ‘dark matter’ in the genome to discover how parasites survive and cause disease. The resultant shift in the understanding of molecular mechanisms and processes governing parasitism will lead to new ways of disrupting the intricate parasite-host relationship, which will tran ....Illuminating genomic dark matter to develop new interventions for parasites. This project aims to unravel the molecular basis of parasitism using leading-edge post-genomics approaches. This research expects to explore genomic ‘dark matter’ in the genome to discover how parasites survive and cause disease. The resultant shift in the understanding of molecular mechanisms and processes governing parasitism will lead to new ways of disrupting the intricate parasite-host relationship, which will translate into innovative technologies or products to ameliorate the burden of parasites in livestock animals. Expected socioeconomic benefits include lifting Australia’s scientific knowledge base, reputation in biology and biotechnology, livestock production and investment in translational research.Read moreRead less
Managing microorganisms in Melbourne’s drinking water assets. Safe, fresh drinking water is the most important resource of any country. Melbourne Water Corporation supplies drinking water to more than four million people, and Melbourne is one of the few cities in the world that receives largely unfiltered drinking water from wilderness catchment areas. Built on extensive preliminary collaborative work, the project aims to develop an integrated monitoring and surveillance program, using newly dev ....Managing microorganisms in Melbourne’s drinking water assets. Safe, fresh drinking water is the most important resource of any country. Melbourne Water Corporation supplies drinking water to more than four million people, and Melbourne is one of the few cities in the world that receives largely unfiltered drinking water from wilderness catchment areas. Built on extensive preliminary collaborative work, the project aims to develop an integrated monitoring and surveillance program, using newly developed technologies, to underpin Melbourne Water Corporation’s prevention strategy against key waterborne diseases, including cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis. This project is sharply focused on the National Science and Research Priorities 'Soil and Water', 'Environmental Change' and 'Health'.Read moreRead less
Harnessing the genomics revolution - toward radically new approaches to control neglected parasites of paramount global importance. Frontier technologies will be used to unlock the molecular secrets of neglected parasites causing devastating diseases in animals and humans worldwide. The quantum leap made here will lead to radically new ways of treating and controlling such diseases, outstanding international visibility of Australian science and a solid skills and knowledge-base.
Establishing next-generation technology platforms for the detection and monitoring of microorganisms in Melbourne water catchments. This project will establish a major scientific and technological program in national priority areas to protect drinking water catchments. This industry-linked program will conduct strong applied and basic research. The project will also provide new concepts, a solid skills-base, substantially enhanced global visibility of Australian science and key technological out ....Establishing next-generation technology platforms for the detection and monitoring of microorganisms in Melbourne water catchments. This project will establish a major scientific and technological program in national priority areas to protect drinking water catchments. This industry-linked program will conduct strong applied and basic research. The project will also provide new concepts, a solid skills-base, substantially enhanced global visibility of Australian science and key technological outcomes.Read moreRead less
Designer Nanoparticles Enable mRNA Protein Factories. Intracellular delivery of mRNA facilitates target protein production, which could build protein factories that are essential in biomanufacturing industries. However, the instability of mRNA greatly lowers the protein production performance, limiting the commercial translation potential. This project aims to develop a new generation of nanoparticle delivery system to enhance mRNA stability against intracellular unstable cue, enzymatic digestio ....Designer Nanoparticles Enable mRNA Protein Factories. Intracellular delivery of mRNA facilitates target protein production, which could build protein factories that are essential in biomanufacturing industries. However, the instability of mRNA greatly lowers the protein production performance, limiting the commercial translation potential. This project aims to develop a new generation of nanoparticle delivery system to enhance mRNA stability against intracellular unstable cue, enzymatic digestion and thermal stress. This will be achieved by tailoring the nanochemistry at multi-scales. Expected outcomes include new knowledge in custom-design of functional nanomaterials for mRNA delivery, and new technology that will bring commercial benefits to the partner organisation and the biopharma sector.Read moreRead less
Building giants: the origins of extreme biology in baleen whales. Baleen whales are unlike any other animal. They have evolved unparalleled specialisations for feeding, hearing, smell, cognition and – above all – the largest ever body size. These extreme features underlie the unmatched dominance of baleen whales in today's oceans. The origins of these key adaptations required major changes in the anatomy and function of the skull and teeth. However, exactly how and when the extreme innovations o ....Building giants: the origins of extreme biology in baleen whales. Baleen whales are unlike any other animal. They have evolved unparalleled specialisations for feeding, hearing, smell, cognition and – above all – the largest ever body size. These extreme features underlie the unmatched dominance of baleen whales in today's oceans. The origins of these key adaptations required major changes in the anatomy and function of the skull and teeth. However, exactly how and when the extreme innovations of baleen whales began remains an outstanding question in animal biology. This proposal aims to combine exceptional Australian fossils with recent advances in 3D imaging, biomechanics, and evolutionary analysis to discover how the secrets to the success of baleen whales first evolved.Read moreRead less
Open source drug discovery for malaria. This project aims to discover a new drug for the treatment of malaria. In stark contrast to the traditional process of drug discovery, and to accelerate the project's progress, the research will be open source, meaning that anyone can participate and there will be no patents.