Tuning mesenchymal stem cell lifespan, performance, and differentiation. This project aims to fully characterise a unique molecular process that strongly modulates mesenchymal stem cell lifespan and behaviour. This work is significant, as it is expected to reveal new concepts underpinning the mechanistic actions of classical structural proteins. It will also shape a more nuanced understanding of the context-dependent mechanical and biochemical signals that regulate stem cell fate and function. E ....Tuning mesenchymal stem cell lifespan, performance, and differentiation. This project aims to fully characterise a unique molecular process that strongly modulates mesenchymal stem cell lifespan and behaviour. This work is significant, as it is expected to reveal new concepts underpinning the mechanistic actions of classical structural proteins. It will also shape a more nuanced understanding of the context-dependent mechanical and biochemical signals that regulate stem cell fate and function. Expected outcomes include new knowledge surrounding native extracellular matrix and stem cell biology, and the development of strategies to define and tailor stem cell properties. This work is anticipated to drive new technologies that can efficiently and robustly manipulate stem cells for diverse functional applications.Read moreRead less
Programmed cell death signalling in innate immunity. This proposal aims to address the under-explored potential for programmed cell death to promote innate immune cell signalling, which is a critical and fundamental biological process. It aims to generate new knowledge in the areas of cell death and innate signalling using innovative interdisciplinary approaches and discover new molecules that impact innate inflammatory responses. The expected outcomes of this project are to enhance our basic un ....Programmed cell death signalling in innate immunity. This proposal aims to address the under-explored potential for programmed cell death to promote innate immune cell signalling, which is a critical and fundamental biological process. It aims to generate new knowledge in the areas of cell death and innate signalling using innovative interdisciplinary approaches and discover new molecules that impact innate inflammatory responses. The expected outcomes of this project are to enhance our basic understanding of cell death, and build interdisciplinary collaborations. This work should provide significant benefit to the economy and health of Australians, as it is expected to identify molecules that will be of interest to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Gene regulation by retroelement encoded natural antisense transcripts. Genetic information underpins all life on earth and is processed to make proteins, which determine the characteristics of an organism. However, only about 2% of our whole genome is made up of genes that encode proteins; the other 98% is non-coding and its function remains poorly understood. Aims and Significance: This proposal aims to utilise cutting edge genomic technologies to generate new knowledge about how the non-coding ....Gene regulation by retroelement encoded natural antisense transcripts. Genetic information underpins all life on earth and is processed to make proteins, which determine the characteristics of an organism. However, only about 2% of our whole genome is made up of genes that encode proteins; the other 98% is non-coding and its function remains poorly understood. Aims and Significance: This proposal aims to utilise cutting edge genomic technologies to generate new knowledge about how the non-coding genome regulates the expression of protein coding genes. Expected Outcomes and Benefits: This proposal will provide novel targets and methodology for gene modulation with broad applications from biology to environmental sciences.Read moreRead less
The role of protein glycosylation in erythropoiesis . This project aims to understand how the sugar code of key-signalling proteins influences the development of red blood cells. This project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of stem cell signalling by innovative integration of biological and computational molecular characterisation techniques. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of novel workflows to study key regulators of cell development and ....The role of protein glycosylation in erythropoiesis . This project aims to understand how the sugar code of key-signalling proteins influences the development of red blood cells. This project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of stem cell signalling by innovative integration of biological and computational molecular characterisation techniques. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of novel workflows to study key regulators of cell development and the generation of new knowledge in stem cell signalling that will find applications in transforming stem cell therapies and associated research for future applications such as the laboratory manufacturing of red blood cells to close the availability gap for transfusion purposes.Read moreRead less
Targeting Iron Piracy From Host Proteins By Neisseria And Haemophilus Spp. For The Development Of Novel Antimicrobials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
The bacteria that cause the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea and meningococcal disease are a serious health concern. In order to cause disease, these bacteria must obtain the nutrient iron from our bodies. This proposed research will use cutting edge technologies to understand on a molecular level how these bacteria obtain iron during infection. It will then apply this knowledge to develop molecules that prevent these bacteria from obtaining iron, as a means of treating these diseases.
Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance In Neonatal Sepsis: Australia And Beyond
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,164.00
Summary
This project aims to establish clear data regarding the burden of antibiotic resistance in neonates in Australia & in our local South East Asian region. This will be achieved by establishing systematic data collection for infections with multi-resistant bacteria in Australian neonatal intensive care units, reviewing published literature regarding the cause of infections in South East Asian neonates, and continuing collaborative work to establish a new treatment regimen for neonatal sepsis.
Redefining tissue-specific endothelial cells through bioengineered matrices. This project aims to improve our understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive blood vessel formation and function. The endothelial cells that make up each blood vessel are inherently unique across different sites within the human body and this project expects to generate new knowledge regarding their organ specificity. Using advanced bioengineering approaches, this project will map human endothelial cell specif ....Redefining tissue-specific endothelial cells through bioengineered matrices. This project aims to improve our understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive blood vessel formation and function. The endothelial cells that make up each blood vessel are inherently unique across different sites within the human body and this project expects to generate new knowledge regarding their organ specificity. Using advanced bioengineering approaches, this project will map human endothelial cell specificity and develop state-of-the-art modelling technologies to improve knowledge of environmental influence on endothelial cell fate and function. This should provide a new framework to modulate the adaptive capacities of endothelial cells and can potentially enable more predictive and targeted drug efficacy and safety testing.Read moreRead less
Dynamic Microcages for Cells: Advanced Tools to Interrogate Cell Mechanics. This project aims to develop a suite of movable micro/nanostructures with integrated mechanical and biological sensors, which will be interfaced with cells to investigate how those cells respond to their surrounding physical environment. Expected outcomes are new technologies in micro/nanofabrication, sensing, and advanced imaging, and deep understanding of the biological processes that control tissue formation and repai ....Dynamic Microcages for Cells: Advanced Tools to Interrogate Cell Mechanics. This project aims to develop a suite of movable micro/nanostructures with integrated mechanical and biological sensors, which will be interfaced with cells to investigate how those cells respond to their surrounding physical environment. Expected outcomes are new technologies in micro/nanofabrication, sensing, and advanced imaging, and deep understanding of the biological processes that control tissue formation and repair. These outcomes would impact how 3D microsystems are developed and applied, informing the design of advanced in-vitro cell culture systems. Significant benefits are expected in 3D nano-microengineering, and in generating new knowledge underpinning future advances in stem cell and tissue engineering technologies.Read moreRead less
Augmenting the activity of glyoxalase-1 to increase dicarbonyl clearance . Reactive intermediates generated during our metabolism contribute to ageing. Glyoxalase-1 is a key defence enzyme against these toxic intermediates and therefore ageing itself. This project aims to investigate novel pathways how the expression and activity of glyoxalase-1 are regulated. This interdisciplinary project expects to generate new understanding by combining relevant cell and animal models, protein chemistry, epi ....Augmenting the activity of glyoxalase-1 to increase dicarbonyl clearance . Reactive intermediates generated during our metabolism contribute to ageing. Glyoxalase-1 is a key defence enzyme against these toxic intermediates and therefore ageing itself. This project aims to investigate novel pathways how the expression and activity of glyoxalase-1 are regulated. This interdisciplinary project expects to generate new understanding by combining relevant cell and animal models, protein chemistry, epigenetics and structural biology. It is expected that this work will improve understanding of this fundamental biological defence. This will allow us to identify the potential means to enhance the capacity of glyoxalase-1 to the future benefit of biological ageing.Read moreRead less