China's Industrialisation and Demand for Energy and Minerals. Understanding China's medium and long-term growth prospects and the implications for both demand and supply of resources are critically important to Australian economic policy and performance, as well as to investment decisions of Australian resource producers, and professional decisions of Australians in a wide range of occupations. Analysis of the medium and long-term demand for resources from China would be beneficial for Australia ....China's Industrialisation and Demand for Energy and Minerals. Understanding China's medium and long-term growth prospects and the implications for both demand and supply of resources are critically important to Australian economic policy and performance, as well as to investment decisions of Australian resource producers, and professional decisions of Australians in a wide range of occupations. Analysis of the medium and long-term demand for resources from China would be beneficial for Australian resource industries. It is also important to Australian budget, education and infrastructure policy. Increasing Chinese demand for resources will be critical in shaping global environmental policies.Read moreRead less
Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion- A new route to therapeutics of chronic inflammatory disease. Chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, affect millions of people leading to considerable suffering, economic loss and premature death. Anti-TNF treatments have recently shown success in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions, however, a substantial number of patients (~50%) do not re ....Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion- A new route to therapeutics of chronic inflammatory disease. Chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, affect millions of people leading to considerable suffering, economic loss and premature death. Anti-TNF treatments have recently shown success in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions, however, a substantial number of patients (~50%) do not respond to the current TNF treatments. Improved anti-TNF strategies would provide enhanced health outcomes and welcome relief to many Australians. In addition, the economic benefit of the TNF market is very substantial. Therefore the potential impact of this research is very high both for health care and economical potential.Read moreRead less
Auctions of Standing Trees. This project is critical to the ecological well-being of Australia. Standing trees are extremely important in Australia because they prevent soil erosion and stabilize water tables; their location influences fire risks. Much timber is sold at auction. While it is possible and desirable to learn how other nations use auctions to sell standing trees, information from those locales needs to be used with care when adapting it to the Australian experience. The project ....Auctions of Standing Trees. This project is critical to the ecological well-being of Australia. Standing trees are extremely important in Australia because they prevent soil erosion and stabilize water tables; their location influences fire risks. Much timber is sold at auction. While it is possible and desirable to learn how other nations use auctions to sell standing trees, information from those locales needs to be used with care when adapting it to the Australian experience. The project will use state-of-the art theory and methods to implement novel public policy. It will also develop expertise necessary to implement modern economic methods in environmental policy settings.Read moreRead less
Rational structure-based drug design of protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) are a large, pivotal family of signalling molecules implicated in diseases such as cancer and immune-related disorders, that cause significant morbidity and mortality within the population. This research proposal aims to develop PTK-specific small molecule inhibitors to combat such diseases. Cytopia's drug discovery capability, coupled with the X-ray crystallographic expertise within Monas ....Rational structure-based drug design of protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) are a large, pivotal family of signalling molecules implicated in diseases such as cancer and immune-related disorders, that cause significant morbidity and mortality within the population. This research proposal aims to develop PTK-specific small molecule inhibitors to combat such diseases. Cytopia's drug discovery capability, coupled with the X-ray crystallographic expertise within Monash University, will permit a rational, structure-based drug discovery platform to be established. The ultimate goal of this innovative and mutlidisciplinary approach, namely a portfolio of phase I therapeutics, will be of substantial benefit in the medical health area.Read moreRead less
Rational structure-based drug design of protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This research project is focussed on understanding the physiological roles of a group of enzymes within the cell, as well as developing therapeutics to combat significant diseases. It will achieve this by developing compounds to enzymes that are implicated in the disease process. The research project represents a continuation of a collaboration between academic researchers at Monash University, and an Australian biotec ....Rational structure-based drug design of protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This research project is focussed on understanding the physiological roles of a group of enzymes within the cell, as well as developing therapeutics to combat significant diseases. It will achieve this by developing compounds to enzymes that are implicated in the disease process. The research project represents a continuation of a collaboration between academic researchers at Monash University, and an Australian biotechnology company, Cytopia Ltd.Read moreRead less
Systemic and adaptive water governance: lessons for Australia from China and South Africa. The way we manage catchments under climate change is one of Australia’s major public policy challenges. This project will give new direction to catchment management by developing a science-policy linked, systemic and adaptive water governance mechanism. By recommending policy options for more sustainable water use and creating favourable social-institutional factors for the implementation of these policy o ....Systemic and adaptive water governance: lessons for Australia from China and South Africa. The way we manage catchments under climate change is one of Australia’s major public policy challenges. This project will give new direction to catchment management by developing a science-policy linked, systemic and adaptive water governance mechanism. By recommending policy options for more sustainable water use and creating favourable social-institutional factors for the implementation of these policy options in two Australian catchment authorities through comparative and parallel research in China and South Africa. This project directly addresses the national priority goals of “Water - a critical resource” and “Responding to climate change”. This project will also stress Australia's important role in this globally significant issue. Read moreRead less
Interactions between Social, Economic and Regulatory Aspects of Residential Household Water Consumption. Water security is at crisis point in many Australian regions and overseas. This research will engage citizens in water conservation and management, and will have a number of significant outcomes that will benefit national and community interests. These include (1) devising effective water management strategies that are acceptable to residential customers in two contrasting water service regi ....Interactions between Social, Economic and Regulatory Aspects of Residential Household Water Consumption. Water security is at crisis point in many Australian regions and overseas. This research will engage citizens in water conservation and management, and will have a number of significant outcomes that will benefit national and community interests. These include (1) devising effective water management strategies that are acceptable to residential customers in two contrasting water service regions, (2) a generalisable and replicable model of residential household water consumption that highlights the issues of public trust in current water governance arrangements, and (3) recommendations for communication and behaviour change interventions that promote water-use efficiency and conservation, and are sensitive to regional differences.Read moreRead less
Improving the efficiency of CRISPR gene editing in cells. Human red blood cells are well-characterised and the globin gene locus is a model system for the study of gene regulation. Gene editing technologies and delivery tools are evolving rapidly and the globin gene locus is the perfect model for gene editing optimisation. This collaboration between UNSW Sydney and CSL aims to bring together our combined expertise and new technologies to develop an optimal platform for genetic modification in a ....Improving the efficiency of CRISPR gene editing in cells. Human red blood cells are well-characterised and the globin gene locus is a model system for the study of gene regulation. Gene editing technologies and delivery tools are evolving rapidly and the globin gene locus is the perfect model for gene editing optimisation. This collaboration between UNSW Sydney and CSL aims to bring together our combined expertise and new technologies to develop an optimal platform for genetic modification in a red blood cell line. Simultaneously, this project aims to generate fundamental insights into mechanisms of human gene regulation. The technological and biological outcomes of this project will be of benefit for future gene editing applications.Read moreRead less
Studies of the pi3-kinase enzyme family using selective inhibitors. The objective of this project is to study the function of the PI3-kinase enzyme family in blood platelets. To do this, inhibitors which block the action of specific family members, will be evaluated for their effects in assays of platelet function. The results will enhance our understanding of the way in which platelets and other cells respond to stimuli, and lead new approaches to designing novel drugs that block these response ....Studies of the pi3-kinase enzyme family using selective inhibitors. The objective of this project is to study the function of the PI3-kinase enzyme family in blood platelets. To do this, inhibitors which block the action of specific family members, will be evaluated for their effects in assays of platelet function. The results will enhance our understanding of the way in which platelets and other cells respond to stimuli, and lead new approaches to designing novel drugs that block these responses.Read moreRead less
Gut Absorption of Constrained Peptides for Local and Systemic Targeting. Aims: This project aims to investigate how peptides are absorbed across the intestinal wall and distributed to organs and fluids in a rodent model by combining bio-analysis and pharmacokinetics with high-resolution microscopy and imaging.
Significance: This project expects to generate the most comprehensive survey to date of the pathways and mechanisms of peptide absorption, biodistribution and immune cell targeting, by ....Gut Absorption of Constrained Peptides for Local and Systemic Targeting. Aims: This project aims to investigate how peptides are absorbed across the intestinal wall and distributed to organs and fluids in a rodent model by combining bio-analysis and pharmacokinetics with high-resolution microscopy and imaging.
Significance: This project expects to generate the most comprehensive survey to date of the pathways and mechanisms of peptide absorption, biodistribution and immune cell targeting, by implementing innovative approaches.
Expected Outcomes: Expected outcomes include significant new knowledge and a new multi-disciplinary platform for measuring peptide absorption.
Benefits: This should provide significant benefits by informing the future design of peptides for supplements, therapeutics and carriers. Read moreRead less