Novel antimicrobial surface coatings for Cochlear implants. The objective of this project is to develop new antimicrobial coatings for materials used to manufacture biomedical devices. Infection associated with the use of biomaterials such as biomedical implants, catheters and orthopaedic prostheses is a major barrier to the use of these devices. The coatings that the project plans to develop are based on novel antimicrobials which have been shown to prevent adhesion and colonisation of biomater ....Novel antimicrobial surface coatings for Cochlear implants. The objective of this project is to develop new antimicrobial coatings for materials used to manufacture biomedical devices. Infection associated with the use of biomaterials such as biomedical implants, catheters and orthopaedic prostheses is a major barrier to the use of these devices. The coatings that the project plans to develop are based on novel antimicrobials which have been shown to prevent adhesion and colonisation of biomaterials by bacteria in vivo. This strategy has the potential to prevent device-related infections and revolutionise the biomaterials industry.Read moreRead less
Engineered extrasynaptic GABAA receptors: Towards novel analgesics. Engineered extrasynaptic GABAA receptors: Towards novel analgesics. This project intends to alleviate neuropathic pain by developing drugs and good tool molecules targeting GABA-A receptors. About 20% of Australian adults suffer from neuropathic pain. Delta-containing GABA-A receptors represent attractive and novel targets for developing non-opioid analgesics. However, no drugs or good tool molecules target these receptors. This ....Engineered extrasynaptic GABAA receptors: Towards novel analgesics. Engineered extrasynaptic GABAA receptors: Towards novel analgesics. This project intends to alleviate neuropathic pain by developing drugs and good tool molecules targeting GABA-A receptors. About 20% of Australian adults suffer from neuropathic pain. Delta-containing GABA-A receptors represent attractive and novel targets for developing non-opioid analgesics. However, no drugs or good tool molecules target these receptors. This project intends to develop the needed enabling technologies, including screening assays, tool molecules and radioligands; and perform brain slice electrophysiology to confirm activity in neuronal cells. This project is expected to benefit the research community and future rational drug-discovery endeavours for drugs that modulate delta-containing receptors.Read moreRead less
Novel antimicrobial surface coatings for biomedical applications. There are currently no effective biomaterial coatings to reduce device related infections. Such materials are needed to address the high rates of infection that can occur. The melimine technology proposed here has the potential to significantly reduce rates of infection, reduce health care costs and advantage the Australian biomaterials industry.
Synthesis of novel biologically active isoflavones. Cancer and heart disease are two of the main diseases that affect our society indiscriminately and put enormous drains on our health-care resources. Therefore, discovery and development of drugs that can treat these diseases are of utmost importance. Given the established success of Novogen Ltd in the development of drugs through to human clinical trials, novel isoflavones proposed in this study may lead to the discovery of new drug leads or t ....Synthesis of novel biologically active isoflavones. Cancer and heart disease are two of the main diseases that affect our society indiscriminately and put enormous drains on our health-care resources. Therefore, discovery and development of drugs that can treat these diseases are of utmost importance. Given the established success of Novogen Ltd in the development of drugs through to human clinical trials, novel isoflavones proposed in this study may lead to the discovery of new drug leads or therapeutic agents. The project has the potential to deliver enormous commercial benefits to Australian industry and social benefits to our ageing population through provision of new, locally produced therapeutics.Read moreRead less
Oxytocin receptor PET ligands: imaging the love receptor’s engagement. This project aims to develop a positron emission tomography (PET) ligand for the oxytocin receptor. This novel platform is significant as it will allow the scientific community to answer questions about the role of the oxytocin receptor in the important process of social behaviour which underlies quality of life. This knowledge gap has remained unanswered for decades due to the lack of specific techniques to measure oxytocin ....Oxytocin receptor PET ligands: imaging the love receptor’s engagement. This project aims to develop a positron emission tomography (PET) ligand for the oxytocin receptor. This novel platform is significant as it will allow the scientific community to answer questions about the role of the oxytocin receptor in the important process of social behaviour which underlies quality of life. This knowledge gap has remained unanswered for decades due to the lack of specific techniques to measure oxytocin receptor engagement. It is also significant as it will equip Australian startup Kinoxis Therapeutics to progress their molecules to market, a process enabled by measuring oxytocin receptor engagement. Our dual expertise on the oxytocin receptor and PET ligand development uniquely situate us to generate this technology.Read moreRead less
Growing a sustainable new molecular resource. This project will provide access to a unique and unexplored Australian molecular resource pre-programmed by evolution for therapeutic potential. These discoveries will enable important biomedical research and advance the development of new improved drugs that treat a diverse array of human diseases and illness.
Pharmacological probes to facilitate preclinical development of modulators of a6 subunit containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Allosteric modulators of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have a promising future as drugs targeting attention deficits in Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia but the mechanisms underlying modulation are poorly understood. This project aims to determine its binding site and develop a radioactive labelled compound that competes with its binding. The radi ....Pharmacological probes to facilitate preclinical development of modulators of a6 subunit containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Allosteric modulators of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have a promising future as drugs targeting attention deficits in Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia but the mechanisms underlying modulation are poorly understood. This project aims to determine its binding site and develop a radioactive labelled compound that competes with its binding. The radiolabelled compound and a deeper insight into the mode of action will enable development of ligands for positron emission tomography (PET) which will aid in the development of BNC375 as well as other alpha7 modulators.Read moreRead less
Advancing hybrid imaging with magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography (MRI-PET). This project aims to increase the utility, accessibility, cost-effectiveness and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography (MRI-PET) hybrid imaging technology for brain tumour imaging. This project will develop new contrast agents, better ways of measuring their uptake including a new high sensitivity MRI-PET head coil and methods for predicting tumour progression us ....Advancing hybrid imaging with magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography (MRI-PET). This project aims to increase the utility, accessibility, cost-effectiveness and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography (MRI-PET) hybrid imaging technology for brain tumour imaging. This project will develop new contrast agents, better ways of measuring their uptake including a new high sensitivity MRI-PET head coil and methods for predicting tumour progression using imaging information.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the genetic and biochemical potential of kangaroo paws. Using cutting-edge gene technology and an interdisciplinary approach, this project aims to uncover the genes responsible for flower colour in the iconic kangaroo paws of Western Australia, and identify the compounds that produce the colours. The project expects to produce the first entire kangaroo paw genome and identify unique genetic variants and biochemicals underlying colour differences. This new knowledge should help horticul ....Unlocking the genetic and biochemical potential of kangaroo paws. Using cutting-edge gene technology and an interdisciplinary approach, this project aims to uncover the genes responsible for flower colour in the iconic kangaroo paws of Western Australia, and identify the compounds that produce the colours. The project expects to produce the first entire kangaroo paw genome and identify unique genetic variants and biochemicals underlying colour differences. This new knowledge should help horticultural programs to more easily breed varieties with desirable and highly marketable new colours, and could assist in conserving these amazing Australian plants.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and Structure-Function Studies of the Glycoprotein Adiponectin. This project aims to understand the role of carbohydrate modifications on the structure and function of the fat cell-derived hormone adiponectin, which has shown protective effects against obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Advancing knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate fat is crucial to unravelling the processes involved in the development of these diseases. The project plans to use novel ....Synthesis and Structure-Function Studies of the Glycoprotein Adiponectin. This project aims to understand the role of carbohydrate modifications on the structure and function of the fat cell-derived hormone adiponectin, which has shown protective effects against obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Advancing knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate fat is crucial to unravelling the processes involved in the development of these diseases. The project plans to use novel synthetic technologies to access a library of adiponectins with defined patterns of carbohydrates attached to the peptide backbone, thus potentially enabling detailed dissection of the role of these modifications on structure, cell signalling and insulin sensitising activities.Read moreRead less