I am a molecular virologist researching the host response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with the aim of understanding how the liver clears HCV infection. An understanding of this process will hopefully lead to novel antiviral strategies to combat not only HCV but a broad range of other viral infections.
A Pragmatic Randomised Clinical Trial Of Nicotine Vaporisers Added To Smoking Cessation Treatment For Priority Populations Living With Comorbidities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,499,145.00
Summary
Smoking is a leading cause of early death for people with certain health conditions because they are more likely to smoke and are also at greater risk of tobacco-related disease. This clinical trial will test whether encouraging people living with Hepatitis C Virus, people on opiate substitution therapy and people living with HIV who smoke to use nicotine vaporisers long-term, in addition to current smoking cessation treatments, will help them to stay abstinent from smoking.
Imaging The Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle In Real-time
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$477,504.00
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious viral pathogen that causes significant liver disease. This proposal plans to examine how two proteins from the HCV, core and NS5A, interact with host proteins and pathways to facilitate viral replication and release of HCV; two processes that are poorly understood. Specifically we will tag viral proteins to allow us to investigate the HCV life cycle in living cells and determine the role of core and NS5A in facilitating HCV replication. This proposal may unco ....Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious viral pathogen that causes significant liver disease. This proposal plans to examine how two proteins from the HCV, core and NS5A, interact with host proteins and pathways to facilitate viral replication and release of HCV; two processes that are poorly understood. Specifically we will tag viral proteins to allow us to investigate the HCV life cycle in living cells and determine the role of core and NS5A in facilitating HCV replication. This proposal may uncover novel therapeutic strategies to combat HCV.Read moreRead less
Organically-Capped Copper Nanowires for Soft Electronic Skin Sensors. Soft skin-like electronics can enable applications that are impossible to achieve with today's rigid circuit board technologies. However, it is difficult to realise such future soft electronics with traditional materials and conventional manufacturing methodologies. This project aims to synthesise novel organically-capped copper nanowires as electronic inks (e-inks) for developing cost-effective, soft, stretchable conductor (e ....Organically-Capped Copper Nanowires for Soft Electronic Skin Sensors. Soft skin-like electronics can enable applications that are impossible to achieve with today's rigid circuit board technologies. However, it is difficult to realise such future soft electronics with traditional materials and conventional manufacturing methodologies. This project aims to synthesise novel organically-capped copper nanowires as electronic inks (e-inks) for developing cost-effective, soft, stretchable conductor (e-skin) sensors, which are wearable for monitoring blood pulses, body motions and hand gestures in real-time and in situ. This is expected to advance our knowledge in nanotechnology and generate patentable technologies in soft e-skin sensors, and to bring significant scientific and economic gains to Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100564
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Vascularized tumour models to elucidate the delivery of nanomedicine agents. This inter-disciplinary project aims to develop advances in in vitro models aimed at elucidating the delivery and transport of diagnostic and therapeutic nanomedicine agents in tumour tissues. The project aims to build on advanced tissue engineering principles and state-of-the-art micro-fabrication technologies to remove the limitation associated with animal studies and provide unprecedented mechanistic insights into th ....Vascularized tumour models to elucidate the delivery of nanomedicine agents. This inter-disciplinary project aims to develop advances in in vitro models aimed at elucidating the delivery and transport of diagnostic and therapeutic nanomedicine agents in tumour tissues. The project aims to build on advanced tissue engineering principles and state-of-the-art micro-fabrication technologies to remove the limitation associated with animal studies and provide unprecedented mechanistic insights into the delivery, transport and binding of nanomedicines into tumour tissues.Read moreRead less
Development of functional dendrimer-like inorganic nanomaterials with hierarchical pores for biological applications. This project aims to engineer a series of brand new dendrimer-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles with hierarchical pore structure and favourable surface functionality as nanocarriers to construct a smart delivery system. Unique materials structure and surface functionalisation design can endow the system with advanced characteristics of the co-loading of different therapeutic a ....Development of functional dendrimer-like inorganic nanomaterials with hierarchical pores for biological applications. This project aims to engineer a series of brand new dendrimer-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles with hierarchical pore structure and favourable surface functionality as nanocarriers to construct a smart delivery system. Unique materials structure and surface functionalisation design can endow the system with advanced characteristics of the co-loading of different therapeutic agents and the highly efficient target delivery that are not readily obtainable using other organic or inorganic materials. The proposed delivery systems are of great importance for improving the therapeutic efficiency of complex diseases, and in general, for expanding human’s life span.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100021
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
Orchestrating cellular processes by engineering silicon nanowire architectures. This project aims to improve gene transport by creating low-cost, easily implemented, programmable and controllable silicon nanowire-mediated transfection technology, and to demonstrate high-throughput, parallel trafficking of bioactive payloads. Success would enable the design and fabrication of nano–bio interfaces with closely controlled geometry and architecture, to orchestrate specific cellular processes such as ....Orchestrating cellular processes by engineering silicon nanowire architectures. This project aims to improve gene transport by creating low-cost, easily implemented, programmable and controllable silicon nanowire-mediated transfection technology, and to demonstrate high-throughput, parallel trafficking of bioactive payloads. Success would enable the design and fabrication of nano–bio interfaces with closely controlled geometry and architecture, to orchestrate specific cellular processes such as cellular reprogramming, adhesion, morphology, and differentiation with unprecedented efficiency and predictability. The advance could lead to breakthroughs in fundamental cellular studies, and better understanding of cell behaviour, function and fate.Read moreRead less
Self-assembling nanoporous graphene with dialable pore sizes for green energy production. The biggest barrier to the Sun being our main energy source is it is not always available. This can be overcome by having an economical means of storing solar energy as it is produced. This project will demonstrate such a technology by using nanoporous graphene to support artificial photosynthesis to produce fuel from water and carbon dioxide using sunlight.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101234
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Nanostructured metal organic frameworks for aqueous sodium ion batteries. Aqueous sodium ion batteries are promising to meet demands for large-scale energy storage applications in the deployment of solar, wind and other volatile renewable energy sources. This project aims to design and synthesise a series of nanostructured metal organic frameworks, especially Prussian blue analogues, with controllable mesoporosity and hollow architectures as electrode materials for aqueous sodium ion batteries. ....Nanostructured metal organic frameworks for aqueous sodium ion batteries. Aqueous sodium ion batteries are promising to meet demands for large-scale energy storage applications in the deployment of solar, wind and other volatile renewable energy sources. This project aims to design and synthesise a series of nanostructured metal organic frameworks, especially Prussian blue analogues, with controllable mesoporosity and hollow architectures as electrode materials for aqueous sodium ion batteries. Unique nanostructure design can endow the battery systems with advanced features of long cycle life, high rate capacity retention and very low hysteresis. The project is vitally important to the long-term viability of Australia's resources and supports Australia's access to new markets and supply chains.Read moreRead less