Assessing the mechanisms and dynamics of myelination in the brain. This project is expected to refine our understanding of brain plasticity by revealing how myelin plasticity optimises brain function in response to experience. Using a multidisciplinary approach incorporating animal studies, mathematical modelling and computational neuroscience, the project seeks to redefine our understanding of myelin remodelling using an entirely new integrated cell-to-system approach. The expected outcome is f ....Assessing the mechanisms and dynamics of myelination in the brain. This project is expected to refine our understanding of brain plasticity by revealing how myelin plasticity optimises brain function in response to experience. Using a multidisciplinary approach incorporating animal studies, mathematical modelling and computational neuroscience, the project seeks to redefine our understanding of myelin remodelling using an entirely new integrated cell-to-system approach. The expected outcome is fundamental knowledge revealing how myelination is dynamically regulated by neural activity throughout life. This may transform current understanding of neuroplasticity that could aid in the future development of strategies to improve brain health.Read moreRead less
Structural studies of host-pathogen interactions. The host-pathogen interface represents a major frontier for biomedical and biotechnological applications. This project aims to understand at the atomic level two such interfaces. In the first instance, the project will elucidate the molecular basis for inhibition of premature host cell death by poxviruses, in particular vaccinia and variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox. In the second instance, the aim is to understand how defensins, a ....Structural studies of host-pathogen interactions. The host-pathogen interface represents a major frontier for biomedical and biotechnological applications. This project aims to understand at the atomic level two such interfaces. In the first instance, the project will elucidate the molecular basis for inhibition of premature host cell death by poxviruses, in particular vaccinia and variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox. In the second instance, the aim is to understand how defensins, a major class of host defence molecules, recognise microbial targets such as fungi, and exert a potent antimicrobial effect. Understanding the precise molecular mechanisms operating at both these host-pathogen interfaces this will provide novel avenues for the design of antiviral and antimicrobial agents.Read moreRead less
Optimal Control of Multi-Object System. Better understanding of multi-object systems developed from this research, in particular, optimal control algorithms for multi-object systems have several significant socio-economic benefits. Application areas that benefits from our research include aerospace applications such as radar, sonar, guidance, navigation, and air traffic control and non-aerospace areas such as image processing, oceanography autonomous vehicles and robotics, remote sensing, and bi ....Optimal Control of Multi-Object System. Better understanding of multi-object systems developed from this research, in particular, optimal control algorithms for multi-object systems have several significant socio-economic benefits. Application areas that benefits from our research include aerospace applications such as radar, sonar, guidance, navigation, and air traffic control and non-aerospace areas such as image processing, oceanography autonomous vehicles and robotics, remote sensing, and biomedical research. The sensor network discipline also stand to benefit from the understanding of multi-object system and control framework. Read moreRead less
Structural analysis of poxviruses: advancing our understanding of complex DNA viruses and their in vivo crystals. This project will use innovative structural biology approaches to investigate two key particles of poxviruses, the largest viruses infecting humans. Advance in understanding of immature particles and natural crystals of poxviruses will provide the basis for the development of broad-spectrum antivirals and novel microparticles for vaccine-delivery.
The structural biology of trace metal trafficking across membranes. This project aims to investigate how essential trace element nutrients are recognised and specifically acquired and expelled by bacterial cells. Cells are surrounded by biomembranes that separate and protect them from their environments. Embedded within these membranes are proteins that perform essential functions. In bacteria, membrane proteins are responsible for the uptake and elimination of trace elements that are required f ....The structural biology of trace metal trafficking across membranes. This project aims to investigate how essential trace element nutrients are recognised and specifically acquired and expelled by bacterial cells. Cells are surrounded by biomembranes that separate and protect them from their environments. Embedded within these membranes are proteins that perform essential functions. In bacteria, membrane proteins are responsible for the uptake and elimination of trace elements that are required for survival. This project will investigate the features of integral membrane proteins that allow discrimination between cargo, by defining their three dimensional architectures using X-ray crystallography. This will contribute to the field of membrane protein structural biology and fundamental discoveries in the area of cellular trace element homeostasis and toxicity.Read moreRead less
Bioactive Peptides as Pharmacological Tools and Novel Drug Leads. Bioactive peptides are produced by all organisms and play numerous critical physiological roles, including in cellular communication, host defence and capture of prey. Peptides have huge potential as tools for studying roles of signalling pathways and as novel drugs due to their high affinity and selectivity for various therapeutically relevant targets. However their use has been limited by poor in vivo stability. This project is ....Bioactive Peptides as Pharmacological Tools and Novel Drug Leads. Bioactive peptides are produced by all organisms and play numerous critical physiological roles, including in cellular communication, host defence and capture of prey. Peptides have huge potential as tools for studying roles of signalling pathways and as novel drugs due to their high affinity and selectivity for various therapeutically relevant targets. However their use has been limited by poor in vivo stability. This project is focused on studying structural features of a range of peptides and their contributions to both activity and to resistance against degradation, with the aim to develop stabilised bioactive peptide sequences for in vivo applications, allowing the full potential of peptides as drugs to be realised.Read moreRead less
Increasing internet energy and cost efficiency by improving higher-layer protocols. Australians rely heavily on our telecommunications infrastructure due to our geographic dispersion. We are also very susceptible to climate change, given our reliance on agriculture. Information technology is consuming a rapidly increasing fraction of our power and our budget. This research will help to reverse both those trends, by finding novel and practical ways to use our infrastructure more efficiently, and ....Increasing internet energy and cost efficiency by improving higher-layer protocols. Australians rely heavily on our telecommunications infrastructure due to our geographic dispersion. We are also very susceptible to climate change, given our reliance on agriculture. Information technology is consuming a rapidly increasing fraction of our power and our budget. This research will help to reverse both those trends, by finding novel and practical ways to use our infrastructure more efficiently, and to minimise its energy use. This will enable the Australian telecommunications industry to provide better service (including to Australian industries and rural communities) at lower economic and environmental cost. This project will put Australia on the international stage as a leading contributor to energy-efficient internet technology.Read moreRead less
Easing urban congestion through intelligent use of distributed information. Vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication can be a solution to road traffic congestion and control without enormous additional infrastructure costs. This project will investigate the fundamental properties of such solution and to devise the practical policies and protocols resulting in interacting game-like behaviours.
Crosstalk between cell survival and cell death pathways. This project aims to determine the precise molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate decisions. The dynamics between cell survival (autophagy) and cell death (apoptosis) are complex, involving significant crosstalk between these pathways. This is fundamentally important to cellular processes. Aberrant control of autophagy and apoptosis affects the function of all organisms as well as the development and treatment of diseases ranging from c ....Crosstalk between cell survival and cell death pathways. This project aims to determine the precise molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate decisions. The dynamics between cell survival (autophagy) and cell death (apoptosis) are complex, involving significant crosstalk between these pathways. This is fundamentally important to cellular processes. Aberrant control of autophagy and apoptosis affects the function of all organisms as well as the development and treatment of diseases ranging from cancer to heart disease. This project endeavours to advance our understanding of the proteins that interconnect autophagy and apoptosis. The results are expected to explain how cells determine their fate and inform future development of strategies to treat disease.Read moreRead less
Topology Optimisation for Three-dimensional Periodic Nanophotonic Structures. Three-dimensional dielectric and/or metallic nanophotonic structures are of critical importance to a wide variety of applications ranging from sensing and biomedicine to imaging and information technology. This project aims to establish effective and efficient topology optimisation algorithms for the designs of nanophotonic structures with specific functional properties. The expected outcome will be a new methodology a ....Topology Optimisation for Three-dimensional Periodic Nanophotonic Structures. Three-dimensional dielectric and/or metallic nanophotonic structures are of critical importance to a wide variety of applications ranging from sensing and biomedicine to imaging and information technology. This project aims to establish effective and efficient topology optimisation algorithms for the designs of nanophotonic structures with specific functional properties. The expected outcome will be a new methodology and an advanced design tool for scientists and engineers to create novel nanophotonic structures to improve capabilities in devices such as waveguides, sensors, optical computer chips, superlenses and so on.Read moreRead less