Dissecting the mitochondrial pathway of apoptotic cell death. This research aims to identify each step in cell death regulation by the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Each step is a potential target for drugs that may help cancer cells die, or that may help normal cells such as heart and brain cells recover from damage.
Total Synthesis of Myxobacteria Metabolites and Analogues. This project will investigate the total chemical synthesis of complex myxobacteria metabolites. In addition, the synthesis of new analogues of some of these natural products will also be investigated. The project endeavours to develop new methods for chemical synthesis and also to produce new therapeutic products which may possess greater efficacy and superior biological activities than the natural compounds. Most significantly, this pro ....Total Synthesis of Myxobacteria Metabolites and Analogues. This project will investigate the total chemical synthesis of complex myxobacteria metabolites. In addition, the synthesis of new analogues of some of these natural products will also be investigated. The project endeavours to develop new methods for chemical synthesis and also to produce new therapeutic products which may possess greater efficacy and superior biological activities than the natural compounds. Most significantly, this project will deliver natural and new compounds for analysis of anti-cancer activity. The rewards of the development of new synthetic methods are enormous for the community and in the education of our scientists.Read moreRead less
Inhibition of membrane-bound carbonic anhydrases with small molecules as a novel approach to target a safe and effective treatment for solid tumours. Over 85 per cent of human cancers are solid tumours and the prognosis for patients with advanced solid tumours is extremely poor owing to resistance to conventional chemo- and radio- therapies. Our research will underpin the development of new, safe and effective drug treatment options for cancer patients with solid tumours.
Peptide-based Star Polymers for Improved Biointeraction and Targeted Anticancer Therapies. The aim of this project is to develop peptide-based star polymer nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery to cancer stem cells which integrate aptamer targeting technology and biointeraction studies with blood plasma fluid. The significance of this research is it pioneers the development of a drug delivery system that minimises plasma opsonization through understanding polymer-plasma interactions, which in ....Peptide-based Star Polymers for Improved Biointeraction and Targeted Anticancer Therapies. The aim of this project is to develop peptide-based star polymer nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery to cancer stem cells which integrate aptamer targeting technology and biointeraction studies with blood plasma fluid. The significance of this research is it pioneers the development of a drug delivery system that minimises plasma opsonization through understanding polymer-plasma interactions, which in turn increases tumour specificity and cell internalisation through incorporation of targeting aptamers and triggered drug release. This project will use rational design, advanced macromolecular engineering and an interdisciplinary collaboration to generate next-generation polymer therapeutics for drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Chiral Catalysts by Rational Design. This project aims to integrate theory and experiment to design new catalysts for the synthesis of multi-stereocentre-containing molecules. Such molecules offer clear advantages in the area of drug design, owing to their potent and selective binding to biological targets, but a lack of available methods for their preparation currently limits their widespread use. This project will use theory to guide the discovery of new ways to make these molecules. It is exp ....Chiral Catalysts by Rational Design. This project aims to integrate theory and experiment to design new catalysts for the synthesis of multi-stereocentre-containing molecules. Such molecules offer clear advantages in the area of drug design, owing to their potent and selective binding to biological targets, but a lack of available methods for their preparation currently limits their widespread use. This project will use theory to guide the discovery of new ways to make these molecules. It is expected that detailed understanding of the factors that control stereocentre formation will be obtained from accurate theoretical modelling and will be applied to invent new catalysts that deliver improved performance and control over product structure.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL140100052
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
Macromolecular design for bio-imaging and targeted delivery. Macromolecular design for bio-imaging and targeted delivery. A thorough understanding of how nanoparticles interact with biological systems is imperative if advances are to be made in using nanotechnology for therapeutic applications. Fundamental aspects of nanoparticle transport, targeting and cell uptake will be investigated. This project aims to design novel nanoparticulate systems for the delivery of both an endogenous signalling ....Macromolecular design for bio-imaging and targeted delivery. Macromolecular design for bio-imaging and targeted delivery. A thorough understanding of how nanoparticles interact with biological systems is imperative if advances are to be made in using nanotechnology for therapeutic applications. Fundamental aspects of nanoparticle transport, targeting and cell uptake will be investigated. This project aims to design novel nanoparticulate systems for the delivery of both an endogenous signalling molecule and genes to cells. The project aims to inform future optimal design criteria for bespoke nanoparticle delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Dissecting catalysis and inhibition of a unique endo-acting mannose-processing glycosidase. Defects in the attachment of carbohydrates to proteins are a hallmark of diseases such as cancer and viral infection. This project will dissect the molecular details of the bond-making and breaking steps that occur during the synthesis of glycoproteins assisting in the development of innovative new drugs.
Electrophile induced domino reaction sequences with ion-pair chiral induction. In this project, new catalysts and procedures will be developed to improve our capacity to access and modify the structure and properties of complex molecules. These methods will be used to gain access to a number of bioactive natural products in order to better evaluate and develop their therapeutic potential.
Detection of infrared-biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of canine neoplasia. This research hopes to discover infrared-biomarkers for canine cancers using synchrotron infrared and laser light. Many dog cancers are similar to human cancers so cancerous tissues and cells from dogs make excellent models for human cancer research. This project will provide new insights and technological approaches to cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Breaking it down: Dissecting the mechanism and exploring new inhibition strategies for polysaccharide cleaving enzymes. Mannose, a common carbohydrate building block, is present in a wide variety of complex polysaccharides including energy storage polymers and glycans attached to proteins. The enzymes that degrade these mannose-rich polymers, termed mannosidases, are important in biofuel production and human health and disease. This project will study a range of mannosidases to chemically and st ....Breaking it down: Dissecting the mechanism and exploring new inhibition strategies for polysaccharide cleaving enzymes. Mannose, a common carbohydrate building block, is present in a wide variety of complex polysaccharides including energy storage polymers and glycans attached to proteins. The enzymes that degrade these mannose-rich polymers, termed mannosidases, are important in biofuel production and human health and disease. This project will study a range of mannosidases to chemically and structurally define their mechanisms and establish strategies to allow intervention in mannosidase-specific disease processes. This work will inform strategies to engineer new enzymes for future biotechnology and industrial applications including sustainable chemical manufacturing, and underpin the development of innovative drugs for treating fungal infections and cancer.Read moreRead less