Development of class-leading bioluminescence resonance energy transfer technologies for real-time monitoring of molecular interactions. The purpose of this project is to develop improved technologies for identifying and developing pharmaceuticals with fewer side effects. The expected outcome is the development of technologies that provide a level of sensitivity and data quality that enables adoption by the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to dete ....Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to detect parasite products in stool. Such testing technology is amenable to configuration in a robust format, suitable for large-scale manufacture. Given the worldwide prevalence of these parasites, the tests will have a market potential of international significance.Read moreRead less
Development of a prime-boost anti-cancer vaccine. New vaccination strategies are urgently needed for a variety of diseases, including cancer. The problem with cancer vaccines is that it is difficult to trigger a response to a self protein. We propose that a prime-boost vaccination, using yellow fever virus and modified vaccinia virus ankara, could create very strong responses against tumor antigens. This approach can be patented and can revive that field of tumor vaccination, which is currently ....Development of a prime-boost anti-cancer vaccine. New vaccination strategies are urgently needed for a variety of diseases, including cancer. The problem with cancer vaccines is that it is difficult to trigger a response to a self protein. We propose that a prime-boost vaccination, using yellow fever virus and modified vaccinia virus ankara, could create very strong responses against tumor antigens. This approach can be patented and can revive that field of tumor vaccination, which is currently restrained by the difficulty of breaking immunological tolerance. We envisage the construction of a anti-cancer vaccine vector with obvious market potential. An exciting prospect is that this approach could be used as a prophylactic vaccine and possibly also as a therapeutic vaccine.Read moreRead less
Fabrication of robust nanoscale optical biosensors using the novel spinning disc reactor technology. Spinning Disc Reactor (SDR) technology is new to Australia and will have wide ranging applications in nano-technology, and is destined to attract significant industrial interest beyond the proposed application in nano-scale biosensors. SDR is based on continuous flow and is more benign (less chemical waste) than traditional batch technology with a smaller footprint and significantly reduced capit ....Fabrication of robust nanoscale optical biosensors using the novel spinning disc reactor technology. Spinning Disc Reactor (SDR) technology is new to Australia and will have wide ranging applications in nano-technology, and is destined to attract significant industrial interest beyond the proposed application in nano-scale biosensors. SDR is based on continuous flow and is more benign (less chemical waste) than traditional batch technology with a smaller footprint and significantly reduced capital outlay. The emergence of SDR technology will revolutionize the practice of nano-engineering leading to miniaturization of devices, advances in information technologies and intelligent systems, and the revolution in medical science. The exciting research will enhance public opinion towards science.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354766
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Molecular farming: seizing the opportunity to establish a new technology based, value adding industry in and for Australia. Molecular farming involves the production of novel products in plants and brings together the technology to genetically modify plants to produce these products with efficient production of plant biomass. The range of potential products is very broad and includes therapeutic and industrial proteins, bioplastics, fibres, food additives, glues and dyes. The molecular farming i ....Molecular farming: seizing the opportunity to establish a new technology based, value adding industry in and for Australia. Molecular farming involves the production of novel products in plants and brings together the technology to genetically modify plants to produce these products with efficient production of plant biomass. The range of potential products is very broad and includes therapeutic and industrial proteins, bioplastics, fibres, food additives, glues and dyes. The molecular farming industry is already established in North America with products on the market. Australia has an outstanding opportunity to participate in this new industry as a producer if we can aggregate the critical scientific mass and work together with the current fledgling industry and State and Federal regulators.Read moreRead less
ARC/NHMRC Research Network Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. This Network will concentrate Australian research in new applications of fluorescence to biological systems to solve significant problems in health diagnostics, biotechnology and the environment. The scientific goals identified by the Network such as highly selective fluorescent labelling and purpose-engineered fluorochromes will be accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation. These resear ....ARC/NHMRC Research Network Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. This Network will concentrate Australian research in new applications of fluorescence to biological systems to solve significant problems in health diagnostics, biotechnology and the environment. The scientific goals identified by the Network such as highly selective fluorescent labelling and purpose-engineered fluorochromes will be accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation. These research directions pursued by strong multi-disciplinary teams spanning biology, chemistry, physics, bioengineering and medicine will benefit from the support of the Network programs. Through its focus on academic - industry collaboration the Network will also facilitate development of basic scientific discoveries into commercial outcomes.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Magnetic biosensing: developing high frequency spintronic sensors for magnetic label detection. This project builds upon recent advances in nano-magnetism to develop novel, miniaturised, electronic biosensors. Such biosensors will one day enable the production of portable devices for rapid, on-site detection of cancer and other diseases, thereby reducing reliance on costly laboratory based analyses and improving remote and rural healthcare.
Studying the impact of pulsed magnetic fields on neural tissue. This project will determine the optimal parameters of pulsed magnetic fields for treating the ageing and/or damaged brain. The safety features, low cost and compact size of the medical device being investigated maximise compliance and make it relevant to populations in remote and rural areas.
Immobilized biocatalysts on selected filter media to control odour emissions from wastewater treatment and composting facilities. Odour is one of the common problems faced by wastewater and solid waste industries as a result of public complaints about poor local air quality. Although odour removal technologies exist, they encounter a number of problems. The lack of harsh chemicals required for the proposed technology means there is no wastewater stream to treat. This will have an impact on the r ....Immobilized biocatalysts on selected filter media to control odour emissions from wastewater treatment and composting facilities. Odour is one of the common problems faced by wastewater and solid waste industries as a result of public complaints about poor local air quality. Although odour removal technologies exist, they encounter a number of problems. The lack of harsh chemicals required for the proposed technology means there is no wastewater stream to treat. This will have an impact on the reduction of chemicals disposed to the environment, preventing unnecessary contamination of land and water resources. The lower space requirement of the technology will free up land, formerly required for large biofilters, for other uses including civic amenities.Read moreRead less
Expanding the gene pool of canola (Brassica napus) by introgressing valuable genes from related species. Canola is a high value export crop from Australia, and an important rotational crop which improves sustainability of agriculture through a disease and weed break for cereal crops. While breeders have improved quality, disease resistance and adaptation of canola to Australian conditions over the past 30 years, this has reduced genetic variation to dangerously low levels. Wide crossing with d ....Expanding the gene pool of canola (Brassica napus) by introgressing valuable genes from related species. Canola is a high value export crop from Australia, and an important rotational crop which improves sustainability of agriculture through a disease and weed break for cereal crops. While breeders have improved quality, disease resistance and adaptation of canola to Australian conditions over the past 30 years, this has reduced genetic variation to dangerously low levels. Wide crossing with drought tolerant Brassica carinata (Ethiopean mustard) will help to alleviate this problem. New uses of biotechnology, combined with molecular genetics, will help to overcome species barriers to introduce useful new genes into canola for Australian canola breeders.Read moreRead less