ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development. The Centre will create a multidisciplinary research team focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive the specification and differentiation of male germ cells. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of how complex regulatory networks control the expression of a complex phenotype, the spermatozoon. It will also create a platform of knowledge from which we can stimulate the growth of the Australian Biotechnology indust ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development. The Centre will create a multidisciplinary research team focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive the specification and differentiation of male germ cells. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of how complex regulatory networks control the expression of a complex phenotype, the spermatozoon. It will also create a platform of knowledge from which we can stimulate the growth of the Australian Biotechnology industry, the protection of the Australian Environment and the well-being of the Australian people. Key issues for this Centre include testicular cancer, male infertility, contraception, pest animal control, environmental impacts on human health and gene pharming.Read moreRead less
Regulation of tissue morphogenesis in reproductive function and metastatic cancer. Infertility, endocrine and metabolic disorders and reproductive cancers are all increasing medical problems and principal contributors to morbidity and mortality in the Australian community. This research takes the novel approach of investigating the mechanisms of dynamic remodeling in reproductive organs. Novel hormonally controlled mechanisms of tissue remodeling unique to reproductive organs and cancers in ad ....Regulation of tissue morphogenesis in reproductive function and metastatic cancer. Infertility, endocrine and metabolic disorders and reproductive cancers are all increasing medical problems and principal contributors to morbidity and mortality in the Australian community. This research takes the novel approach of investigating the mechanisms of dynamic remodeling in reproductive organs. Novel hormonally controlled mechanisms of tissue remodeling unique to reproductive organs and cancers in adults have been discovered. The results are being applied to new medical alternatives for infertile patients and new diagnostics and therapeutics for patients with metastatic cancers. The information is also being applied to improve reproductive efficiency in animal production industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989084
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,000.00
Summary
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging. The University of Newcastle has invested heavily in its biological and life sciences to create a research nexus focusing on national research priorities in biotechnology and environmental protection. The Live Cell Imaging platform will be utilized by scientists researching such strategically important areas including developmental biology, intracellular signalling cascades, cell cycle dynamics, plant development and microbiology. Moreover ....Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging. The University of Newcastle has invested heavily in its biological and life sciences to create a research nexus focusing on national research priorities in biotechnology and environmental protection. The Live Cell Imaging platform will be utilized by scientists researching such strategically important areas including developmental biology, intracellular signalling cascades, cell cycle dynamics, plant development and microbiology. Moreover, this component of the University's research portfolio plays a major role in the postgraduate training of young Australian scientists who will, in turn, fuel future developments in both the life sciences and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Monotremes provide a key to understanding the molecular biology of mammalian gamete evolution. As the platypus and echidna (monotremes) are our most distant relatives among living mammals, interpreting their genome is important to determine the molecular sequences in human genes that are essential for fertility, and possibly responsible for infertility. As the only country with monotremes accessible for research, Australia has a responsibility to promote the work. The research can be applied to ....Monotremes provide a key to understanding the molecular biology of mammalian gamete evolution. As the platypus and echidna (monotremes) are our most distant relatives among living mammals, interpreting their genome is important to determine the molecular sequences in human genes that are essential for fertility, and possibly responsible for infertility. As the only country with monotremes accessible for research, Australia has a responsibility to promote the work. The research can be applied to improve the poor breeding record in zoos of these unique, iconic Australian fauna which generate considerable tourist interest. Publication of monotreme research attracts considerable publicity internationally. Publication of the platypus genome sequence in 2008 attracted headlines all over the world.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561173
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$207,189.00
Summary
High throughput proteomics - Thermo Finnigan ProteomeX LCQ Integrated Proteomics Workstation. As research in the biological sciences moves into post-genomics era, so attention has focused on the development of technologies capable of characterizing the molecular complexity inherent in the proteome. Recent technical innovations in this field have resulted in the advancement of mass spectrometers that are capable of exemplifying unknown proteins with great efficiency. These new technologies are ....High throughput proteomics - Thermo Finnigan ProteomeX LCQ Integrated Proteomics Workstation. As research in the biological sciences moves into post-genomics era, so attention has focused on the development of technologies capable of characterizing the molecular complexity inherent in the proteome. Recent technical innovations in this field have resulted in the advancement of mass spectrometers that are capable of exemplifying unknown proteins with great efficiency. These new technologies are central to any institution committed to the development of a competitive research nexus in biological sciences. The purpose of this application is to upgrade the mass spectrometry facility at the University of Newcastle such that it is able to provide cutting edge support to the extensive scientific community within the Hunter region.Read moreRead less
Keeping stem cells on track: maintaining organ and tissue homeostasis. The novel findings from this study are of fundamental importance of understanding how stem cells maintain their characteristic features as they renew themselves over a lifetime. This work will inform the National Research Priority of ''Promoting and maintaining good health''' because stem cell renewal is required during tissue turnover and these results will show how cells communicate with each other to achieve this.
This wo ....Keeping stem cells on track: maintaining organ and tissue homeostasis. The novel findings from this study are of fundamental importance of understanding how stem cells maintain their characteristic features as they renew themselves over a lifetime. This work will inform the National Research Priority of ''Promoting and maintaining good health''' because stem cell renewal is required during tissue turnover and these results will show how cells communicate with each other to achieve this.
This work is based on a unique combination of expertise in stem cell and reproductive biology and showcases Australian science.Read moreRead less
Cellular signals controlling oocyte activation. This research will significantly advance our understanding of the basic biological processes that underpin the fertility rate of all mammals and are key to the immediate and future health and well-being of Australian landscape and society. Understanding the processes that maintain healthy quiescent oocytes over many years before activation and subsequent growth will enable development of methods of increasing productivity in domestic animals and en ....Cellular signals controlling oocyte activation. This research will significantly advance our understanding of the basic biological processes that underpin the fertility rate of all mammals and are key to the immediate and future health and well-being of Australian landscape and society. Understanding the processes that maintain healthy quiescent oocytes over many years before activation and subsequent growth will enable development of methods of increasing productivity in domestic animals and enhancing fertility in endangered species. Knowledge of these cellular mechanisms will underpin biotechnology platforms necessary for novel methods of feral animal population control thus contributing at multiple levels to an economically sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454170
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,341.00
Summary
Biacore3000-Expansion of Proteomics Facility. The sequencing of the human genome has led to redirection of effort towards the rapid characterisation of the products of genes, proteins. This project will establish state of the art facilities for protein identification and characterisation in the Hunter Region. The investigators are representative of several major research programs and are unified by their specific expertise in the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the control of cellula ....Biacore3000-Expansion of Proteomics Facility. The sequencing of the human genome has led to redirection of effort towards the rapid characterisation of the products of genes, proteins. This project will establish state of the art facilities for protein identification and characterisation in the Hunter Region. The investigators are representative of several major research programs and are unified by their specific expertise in the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the control of cellular processes in plants, animals and humans. Understanding these mechanisms will provide the basis for improved management of the environment and pathological conditions through identifying molecular targets for diagnosis, genetic manipulation or drug design.Read moreRead less
Developmental Switches: Nuclear Transport and Spermatogenesis. We propose to test the novel hypothesis that changes in the nuclear import machinery are a key facet of cellular differentiation. We will investigate a new paradigm in developmental biology regarding whether differentiation is achieved, or can be directed, by altering transport of macromolecules, such as specific transcription factors, into the nucleus. This project will define changes in the nuclear import machinery that accomp ....Developmental Switches: Nuclear Transport and Spermatogenesis. We propose to test the novel hypothesis that changes in the nuclear import machinery are a key facet of cellular differentiation. We will investigate a new paradigm in developmental biology regarding whether differentiation is achieved, or can be directed, by altering transport of macromolecules, such as specific transcription factors, into the nucleus. This project will define changes in the nuclear import machinery that accompany germ and somatic cell differentiation in the developing and adult mammalian testis. This will be linked to changes in the function of key proteins acting within the nucleus using both in vitro and in vivo approaches.
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Investigation of Macrophage Function in an Immunologically Privileged Site. The unique phenotype of the testicular macrophage demands understanding, and this project has the potential to open up an entirely new direction of research. The basic information so generated could facilitate development of strategies to alter either host or donor tissue macrophage functions in order to prevent rejection responses in humans, and be used in the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. Such technologie ....Investigation of Macrophage Function in an Immunologically Privileged Site. The unique phenotype of the testicular macrophage demands understanding, and this project has the potential to open up an entirely new direction of research. The basic information so generated could facilitate development of strategies to alter either host or donor tissue macrophage functions in order to prevent rejection responses in humans, and be used in the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. Such technologies will have application in development of novel therapeutics for transplantation and the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Read moreRead less