Cell-Sort MultiTool: a Novel Platform for Bacterial Single-Cell Analysis . This project aims to advance molecular understanding of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations at the single-cell level, using an innovative approach integrating microfluidics, microscopy and genomics. The study of individual bacterial cell genetics is essential to provide fundamental insights into heterogeneous resistance, an important component of resistance development. Expected outcomes include a new platform ....Cell-Sort MultiTool: a Novel Platform for Bacterial Single-Cell Analysis . This project aims to advance molecular understanding of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations at the single-cell level, using an innovative approach integrating microfluidics, microscopy and genomics. The study of individual bacterial cell genetics is essential to provide fundamental insights into heterogeneous resistance, an important component of resistance development. Expected outcomes include a new platform technology for high-throughput multiplexed screening and improved knowledge of bacterial heterogeneity, informing antibiotic usage. This interdisciplinary project should yield significant benefits in society and economy by reducing healthcare costs, boosting health for Australians and commercialising advanced technologies. Read moreRead less
Drugging the undruggable: Development of novel technologies to selectively regulate the expression of targets driving cancer and other diseases. Transcription factors are “undruggable” targets playing a principal role driving cancer. This project will create novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit transcription factors and other elusive targets differentially expressed in diseased cells, without affecting normal tissue. It proposes to construct engineered proteins able to bind and modify specifi ....Drugging the undruggable: Development of novel technologies to selectively regulate the expression of targets driving cancer and other diseases. Transcription factors are “undruggable” targets playing a principal role driving cancer. This project will create novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit transcription factors and other elusive targets differentially expressed in diseased cells, without affecting normal tissue. It proposes to construct engineered proteins able to bind and modify specific key genes deregulated in cancer, to correct their expression and stably reprogram the phenotype of the tumour cell in a normal-like state. It outlines the engineering of novel synthetic agents to block specific protein-protein interactions in cancer cells and to induce potent tumour cell death. This work will generate novel and selective therapeutics to treat un-curable forms of tumours.Read moreRead less
Comprehensive characterisation of DNA demethylation pathways in vivo. This project aims to provide a better understanding of the roles that DNA methylation plays during embryonic development. DNA methylation is a major regulatory mark present in vertebrate genomes. It is well established that the genomic patterns of DNA methylation are being actively remodelled during vertebrate embryogenesis. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how these events impact gene regulation and embryonic development itse ....Comprehensive characterisation of DNA demethylation pathways in vivo. This project aims to provide a better understanding of the roles that DNA methylation plays during embryonic development. DNA methylation is a major regulatory mark present in vertebrate genomes. It is well established that the genomic patterns of DNA methylation are being actively remodelled during vertebrate embryogenesis. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how these events impact gene regulation and embryonic development itself. This project expects to unravel the functional contributions of DNA methylation to vertebrate embryogenesis by using latest cutting-edge genomics techniques. The project will be carried out on the highly tractable zebrafish model system which allows for easy genetic manipulation of the desired sequences. This project aims to provide a better understanding of embryonic development of vertebrates, including humans.Read moreRead less
Towards a new understanding of the reproductive system. The proposed analysis of the reproductive system will provide important new knowledge of gene regulation driving organ development. The insights and technologies developed in this program will be widely applicable in biotechnological and pharmacogenomic research in Australia and worldwide, and assert Australia's leadership in this area of research.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101728
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
The regulation and evolution of posttranscriptional gene networks. The ability of cells to regulate gene expression is key for organism development, adaptation to new environments and evolutionary changes that shape the diversity of life on Earth. This project studies the RNA binding proteins called PUFs which are central for gene expression in diverse organisms. Using cutting-edge new generation systems biology approaches, this project will study how PUF proteins regulate genes to enable metabo ....The regulation and evolution of posttranscriptional gene networks. The ability of cells to regulate gene expression is key for organism development, adaptation to new environments and evolutionary changes that shape the diversity of life on Earth. This project studies the RNA binding proteins called PUFs which are central for gene expression in diverse organisms. Using cutting-edge new generation systems biology approaches, this project will study how PUF proteins regulate genes to enable metabolic adaptation, differentiation of cell types and the evolution of new gene expression outputs in distinct biological species. The outcomes will include new insights into the regulation and evolution of posttranscriptional gene networks. Read moreRead less
Quantitative micro-computed tomography for mechanobiological measurement. This project aims to investigate novel measurement approaches for complex cartilage and joint systems by utilising engineering and software design, imaging physics and musculoskeletal biology. Accurate measurement of these living biological systems in action expects to generate new knowledge and a fundamental understanding of their mechanobiological processes. This project will enhance understanding of this complex system ....Quantitative micro-computed tomography for mechanobiological measurement. This project aims to investigate novel measurement approaches for complex cartilage and joint systems by utilising engineering and software design, imaging physics and musculoskeletal biology. Accurate measurement of these living biological systems in action expects to generate new knowledge and a fundamental understanding of their mechanobiological processes. This project will enhance understanding of this complex system and facilitate our capacity to innovate functional solutions in biomedical engineering and biosciences.Read moreRead less
Engineering floating liquid marbles for three-dimensional cell cultures. This project aims to understand the physics of three-dimensional cell cultures in a liquid marble floating on a liquid free surface. New methodology developed can produce these cell cultures without using matrices or scaffolds and with run-times well beyond existing technologies. This methodology closely mimics a normal in-vivo environment and produces spheroids needed in cell transplantation therapies. This project will re ....Engineering floating liquid marbles for three-dimensional cell cultures. This project aims to understand the physics of three-dimensional cell cultures in a liquid marble floating on a liquid free surface. New methodology developed can produce these cell cultures without using matrices or scaffolds and with run-times well beyond existing technologies. This methodology closely mimics a normal in-vivo environment and produces spheroids needed in cell transplantation therapies. This project will resolve uncertainties in the underlying phenomena. The expected outcome should support future high quality cell cultures suitable for transplantation therapies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100909
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,523.00
Summary
3D micro-bioprinting: acoustic actuation to shape single-cell organization. This project aims to develop an innovative cell-printing technology to replicate the microscale cell structure found in native human and animal tissues. This is based on an interdisciplinary concept that combines ultra-high frequency acoustic cell manipulation with 3D stereolithography printing, and will examine acoustic waveguide element design and their topological optimisation. In contrast to current 3D printing metho ....3D micro-bioprinting: acoustic actuation to shape single-cell organization. This project aims to develop an innovative cell-printing technology to replicate the microscale cell structure found in native human and animal tissues. This is based on an interdisciplinary concept that combines ultra-high frequency acoustic cell manipulation with 3D stereolithography printing, and will examine acoustic waveguide element design and their topological optimisation. In contrast to current 3D printing methods that are not suitable for precisely integrating microscale elements in the printing process, this work will open up the range of materials, including functional human tissues, that can be printed.Read moreRead less
Practical model-based control for low emission and low cost diesel engines. Practical model-based control for low emission and low cost diesel engines. This project aims to develop and implement robust multivariable model predictive control algorithms for low emission and low cost diesel engines that reduce calibration effort. Legislative and increasing consumer requirements demand better control approaches than have been deployed in production vehicles to date, and motivate the use of model bas ....Practical model-based control for low emission and low cost diesel engines. Practical model-based control for low emission and low cost diesel engines. This project aims to develop and implement robust multivariable model predictive control algorithms for low emission and low cost diesel engines that reduce calibration effort. Legislative and increasing consumer requirements demand better control approaches than have been deployed in production vehicles to date, and motivate the use of model based techniques to meet performance and emissions specifications. However, current model-based controllers amplify the calibration effort and increase development costs as the tuning parameters are not related to time domain specifications. The anticipated outcome is new model based control architectures that improve diesel engine operation and reduce its calibration effort and cost.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101962
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Functional epigenomics interrogation of DNA methylation dynamics during vertebrate development and evolution. DNA methylation (mC) is an epigenetic signal essential for the maintenance of correct gene expression patterns. To investigate the causal relationships between mC and transcription during vertebrate embryonic development and evolution, this project will perform high-resolution mC profiling at different stages of teleost, amphibian and mammalian development. Highly conserved and syntenic, ....Functional epigenomics interrogation of DNA methylation dynamics during vertebrate development and evolution. DNA methylation (mC) is an epigenetic signal essential for the maintenance of correct gene expression patterns. To investigate the causal relationships between mC and transcription during vertebrate embryonic development and evolution, this project will perform high-resolution mC profiling at different stages of teleost, amphibian and mammalian development. Highly conserved and syntenic, methylated sequences will then be used as baits in proteomics screens to identify novel 5mC 'readers'. The generation of genomic profiles of mC 'readers' and their integration with developmental mC maps will reveal transient epigenome dynamics during vertebrate embryogenesis and provide new insights into the conservation of these crucial developmental mechanisms.Read moreRead less