An Interdisciplinary Approach Towards Antiviral Therapy Discovery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,000,000.00
Summary
Viruses cause significant life-threatening diseases and our armament against viral infections is extremely limited. When coupled with resistance development, humanity is at the mercy of existing and emerging life-threatening viruses. This project will provide new insight into how clinically- significant viruses that cause flu, croup and hand foot and mouth disease attack human cells, as well as discover new drug candidates that combat these viruses.
Structural Biology Of Malaria Parasite Invasion And Antibodies-mediated Inhibition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
Malaria results in significant mortality but an effective vaccine does not yet exist. The Rh5-CyRPA-Ripr complex is essential for malaria parasite to invade erythrocytes and is the leading vaccine candidate. We aim to visualise the atomic details of the Rh5-CyRPA-Ripr complex during parasite invasion of erythrocytes and how antibodies neutralise this key protein complex. This information will advance knowledge on malaria parasite invasion, which will help to design an effective malaria vaccine.
Understanding Cell Signalling As A Basis For New Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,231,372.00
Summary
This Investigator grant will capitalise on my extensive expertise in determining the three-dimensional atomic structures of proteins to uncover fundamental biological mechanisms in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease as a basis for discovering new drugs to combat these devastating diseases.
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.
Crosstalk Between The Repressive Histone Methyltransferases PRC2 And G9A: Structure-function Investigation To Open New Therapeutic Opportunities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$595,205.00
Summary
The gene expression programs need to be precisely regulated and the misregulation of these programs can cause a broad range of human diseases. My research will focus on two protein complexes, which heavily contribute to the regulation of gene expression. My study will open a new path for developing new therapeutic strategies.
Structural Role Of The Host Cytoskeleton During Invasion Of Intracellular Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
During infection by bacteria, the 'skeleton' of cells plays critical roles in sensing the invading germs and destroying them. To counteract this, bacteria have evolved strategies to hijack the cell skeleton to promote their own survival, and spread. This intriguing molecular arms race is continuously co-evolving. Understanding this process in great details will have the potential to design novel therapeutics to counteract bacterial and viral infections.
Repairing Soft Tissues With Engineered Elastic Biomaterials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,914,215.00
Summary
There is an urgent medical demand for implantable soft materials that harmonise with surrounding elastic tissue and promote repair. This integrated research program leverages our leading knowledge of human elastic protein. The program’s goals are to develop powerful platform technologies that use this elastic protein, and deliver a new generation of elastic surgical products that can help treat pelvic organ prolapse and repair damaged heart tissue.
Addressing Healthcare Disparities In Remote And Low Resource Settings With Solid-State Biodiagnostic Devices
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,194,658.00
Summary
The vision and aspiration of this Fellowship research program is to transform the way we diagnose and monitor medical conditions affecting millions of people, namely preeclampsia, epilepsy, fetal arrhythmias and heart attacks. To this end, cutting-edge solid-state technologies will be integrated within point-of-care and wearable biodiagnostic technologies.