RadioGenes2: Modelling complex biomolecular interactions in radiated tumours: Towards understanding the genesis of therapeutic radioresistance. About 45% of bladder cancer patients require radiotherapy or surgery. Radiotherapy has a failure rate of ~50%. Surgery (bladder removal) diminishes quality of life considerably. Modelling complex gene interactions in radiated cancer cells will provide crucial knowledge on the molecular genesis of radiotherapy-resistance of tumours. Our findings will prov ....RadioGenes2: Modelling complex biomolecular interactions in radiated tumours: Towards understanding the genesis of therapeutic radioresistance. About 45% of bladder cancer patients require radiotherapy or surgery. Radiotherapy has a failure rate of ~50%. Surgery (bladder removal) diminishes quality of life considerably. Modelling complex gene interactions in radiated cancer cells will provide crucial knowledge on the molecular genesis of radiotherapy-resistance of tumours. Our findings will provide: (i) an accurate mathematical/computational model for diagnosing radiosensitivity; (ii) further insights to be applied in the pharmaceutical sector such as the discovery of novel molecular targets that have the potential to increase radiotherapy success ratios; (iii) a holistic modelling technique applicable to a larger diversity of tumours.Read moreRead less
The development of a rapid diagnostic test for heparanase activity. Heparanase is an enzyme that has been implicated in a number of disease states such as cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory diseases. Characterisation of this enzyme has been slow, due in part to the lack of a reliable direct activity assay. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, this project seeks to establish a rapid assay that will provide easy determination of heparanase activity. Furthermore, this a ....The development of a rapid diagnostic test for heparanase activity. Heparanase is an enzyme that has been implicated in a number of disease states such as cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory diseases. Characterisation of this enzyme has been slow, due in part to the lack of a reliable direct activity assay. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, this project seeks to establish a rapid assay that will provide easy determination of heparanase activity. Furthermore, this assay could provide a useful diagnostic tool in a clinical environment that would allow for the rapid assessment of these diseases, their progression and indeed response to therapy.Read moreRead less
Understanding mechanistic and systemic regulation of protein prenyltransferases. The proposed research will expand our understanding of lipid-conjugating enzymes that are critical for a multitude of normal cellular functions. We seek to reveal the basic workings of cells and help to explain the development and complexity of signalling networks in eukaryotic evolution. The findings will enable us to explore and exploit the catalytic properties of these lipid-related enzymes for applications in bi ....Understanding mechanistic and systemic regulation of protein prenyltransferases. The proposed research will expand our understanding of lipid-conjugating enzymes that are critical for a multitude of normal cellular functions. We seek to reveal the basic workings of cells and help to explain the development and complexity of signalling networks in eukaryotic evolution. The findings will enable us to explore and exploit the catalytic properties of these lipid-related enzymes for applications in biotechnology. The ultimate aim is to create novel technologies for protein production, modification and analysis that will accelerate the pace of discovery in protein research, basic cell and organism biology, diagnostics, biotechnology and drug discovery. Read moreRead less
Bayesian statistical models for understanding outcomes and improving decision-making for women screened for breast cancer. This project has two key benefits: (i) the development of frontier statistical methods for spatio-temporal analysis and data synthesis, which are imperative in a wide range of disciplines; and (ii) the application of these methods for improved understanding of breast cancer outcomes for women screened in Queensland. The project results will lead to direct health and financi ....Bayesian statistical models for understanding outcomes and improving decision-making for women screened for breast cancer. This project has two key benefits: (i) the development of frontier statistical methods for spatio-temporal analysis and data synthesis, which are imperative in a wide range of disciplines; and (ii) the application of these methods for improved understanding of breast cancer outcomes for women screened in Queensland. The project results will lead to direct health and financial benefits through targeted policies for increasing screening uptake and reducing cancer morbidity and mortality and therefore health spending in this area. Importantly, the project represents an excellent training opportunity to develop a PhD candidate into an experienced interdisciplinary researcher.Read moreRead less
Examining the relationship between error processing, cognitive control and emotion: a cognitive neuroscience approach. The proposed research aims to contribute to current scientific thinking on how the processing of errors influences self-monitoring and cognitive performance. The ability to monitor one's cognitive performance deteriorates with normal ageing, and is particularly affected in a range of clinical conditions, where it is a reliable predictor of a poor prognostic outcome. This project ....Examining the relationship between error processing, cognitive control and emotion: a cognitive neuroscience approach. The proposed research aims to contribute to current scientific thinking on how the processing of errors influences self-monitoring and cognitive performance. The ability to monitor one's cognitive performance deteriorates with normal ageing, and is particularly affected in a range of clinical conditions, where it is a reliable predictor of a poor prognostic outcome. This project aims to clarify understanding of the cognitive and neural processes underlying self-monitoring, as an important first step to improving rehabilitation and management methods for age-related impairments such as Alzheimer's disease, and prominent mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.Read moreRead less
Molecular probes for pancreatic cancer. Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the main cause of premature death in Australia. Currently one in two men and one in three women are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Australia, and the current lack of effective therapies results in a 1 year survival of just over 10%, and a 5 year survival of less than 5%. This project aims to identify and produce new compounds with novel mech ....Molecular probes for pancreatic cancer. Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the main cause of premature death in Australia. Currently one in two men and one in three women are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Australia, and the current lack of effective therapies results in a 1 year survival of just over 10%, and a 5 year survival of less than 5%. This project aims to identify and produce new compounds with novel mechanisms of action that will facilitate our understanding of pancreatic carcinogenesis and provide the basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Australians diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the future may directly benefit from the results of this work.Read moreRead less
The role of human single-stranded binding protein (hSSB1) in DNA damage repair and tumorogenesis. Cancer is a leading cause of disease related death world wide, accounting for over 13% of all deaths in 2007. Approximately 38,000 people died in Australia from cancer in 2005. Cancer results from a single cell losing a vital part of its genetic information, this results in the cell losing its normal programming and initiates a process of rapid growth and multiplication. This research project aims t ....The role of human single-stranded binding protein (hSSB1) in DNA damage repair and tumorogenesis. Cancer is a leading cause of disease related death world wide, accounting for over 13% of all deaths in 2007. Approximately 38,000 people died in Australia from cancer in 2005. Cancer results from a single cell losing a vital part of its genetic information, this results in the cell losing its normal programming and initiates a process of rapid growth and multiplication. This research project aims to look at the mechanisms that exist to prevent this initial loss of genetic material within an individual cell. It further aims to translate theses discoveries into the clinic, providing new tools for diagnosis and prognosis of specific cancers and to establish links with major pharmaceutical companies to develop novel anticancer therapies.Read moreRead less
Multivariate Methods for the Analysis of Microarray Gene-Expression Data with Applications to Cancer Diagnostics. The project will benefit the Australian Society as a whole by developing statistical methodology for the analysis of high-throughput data. In particular, it will develop a novel and easily implemented model for the analysis of correlated and structured data that may be of high dimension. It thus has wide applicability to improving the quality and validity of applied research in most ....Multivariate Methods for the Analysis of Microarray Gene-Expression Data with Applications to Cancer Diagnostics. The project will benefit the Australian Society as a whole by developing statistical methodology for the analysis of high-throughput data. In particular, it will develop a novel and easily implemented model for the analysis of correlated and structured data that may be of high dimension. It thus has wide applicability to improving the quality and validity of applied research in most industries in Australia. More specifically, it is to be applied here to the diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer. This cross-disciplinary project will strengthen Australian researchers' capacity and capability of participating in cutting-edge DNA microarray research.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989436
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
Multiphoton microscopy of living animals as a tool for immunology and cell biology studies. The multiphoton microscope will enable us to watch the growth, migration and interactions of cells in a living animal in response to changes in the cells' environment will give us better understanding of how we work as living machines, and what can go wrong with that process to make us unwell.
The Other Side: Long-distance Feedback and Cross-talk in the Arabidopsis Branching Gene Network. Shoot structure in nearly all plants impacts on water relations, yield and sustainability. Isolation of novel genes and plant hormone pathways that affect shoot structure should allow us to capture IP for Australia and enhance plant improvement and sustainability. One of the pathways we will investigate produces glucosinolates, small plant-specific molecules that have considerable value as anti-cance ....The Other Side: Long-distance Feedback and Cross-talk in the Arabidopsis Branching Gene Network. Shoot structure in nearly all plants impacts on water relations, yield and sustainability. Isolation of novel genes and plant hormone pathways that affect shoot structure should allow us to capture IP for Australia and enhance plant improvement and sustainability. One of the pathways we will investigate produces glucosinolates, small plant-specific molecules that have considerable value as anti-cancer agents in humans. Flavonoids, another pathway regulated in our shoot branching lines, also benefit human health. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers will gain skills in research management, design, ethics and experimental methods pertinent to the growing biotechnology industry in Australia.Read moreRead less