The mechanochemical basis of cell polarity. This project aims to study how epithelial cells initiate polarisation, a major question in biology that conventional biochemical, cell biological and genetic approaches have not answered. This project will investigate the mechanochemical basis of symmetry breaking in the cellular cortex, a thin layer of actomyosin filaments underneath the plasma membrane, and how this forms signalling zones. Understanding polarity is expected to improve epithelia manip ....The mechanochemical basis of cell polarity. This project aims to study how epithelial cells initiate polarisation, a major question in biology that conventional biochemical, cell biological and genetic approaches have not answered. This project will investigate the mechanochemical basis of symmetry breaking in the cellular cortex, a thin layer of actomyosin filaments underneath the plasma membrane, and how this forms signalling zones. Understanding polarity is expected to improve epithelia manipulation in disciplines from tissue engineering to regenerative biology and reveal how epithelial architecture and physiology are generated.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100075
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$315,000.00
Summary
Acoustic liquid handling robotics for bioactive compound discovery. This project aims to use a Labcyte Echo 550 acoustic dispenser with Combination Software to deliver sophisticated assay-ready screening. The Echo is the only liquid handling dispenser for 1536-well microplates and will allow Australian researchers to develop assay miniaturisation. The robotics will provide our nation’s researchers with a distinct competitive edge by enhancing assay sophistication, accuracy and reproducibility wh ....Acoustic liquid handling robotics for bioactive compound discovery. This project aims to use a Labcyte Echo 550 acoustic dispenser with Combination Software to deliver sophisticated assay-ready screening. The Echo is the only liquid handling dispenser for 1536-well microplates and will allow Australian researchers to develop assay miniaturisation. The robotics will provide our nation’s researchers with a distinct competitive edge by enhancing assay sophistication, accuracy and reproducibility while reducing cost. The expected benefits will advance the elucidation of molecular mechanisms involved in complex biological phenomena. The benefits of this are substantial, including reduction in test compound and reagents, which in turn reduces laboratory costs, conserves cells and increases data quality.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,997,903.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB). The Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will transform the rapidly growing bioactive ingredients sector. It will apply advanced analytical methods to molecular characterisation of bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste, and cell-based biotechnologies. FAAB will determine modes of action for bioactives with potential lifestyle and nutritional benefits allowing for evidence- ....ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB). The Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will transform the rapidly growing bioactive ingredients sector. It will apply advanced analytical methods to molecular characterisation of bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste, and cell-based biotechnologies. FAAB will determine modes of action for bioactives with potential lifestyle and nutritional benefits allowing for evidence-informed decision-making, and regulatory framework development. FAAB graduates will lead and deliver future national self-reliance to the Australian bioactives sector, increasing diversification and international competitiveness and development of regulation in a growing market. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100190
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,000.00
Summary
Electrophysiology Platform for Ion-channel Characterisation. Ion channels are ubiquitous pore-forming membrane proteins, with the human genome encoding >300 ion channels. The diverse roles of ion channels include action potential generation, control of ion flow across secretory and epithelial cells, and regulation of cell volume, motility and proliferation. Pharmacological modulators are powerful tools for probing ion channel function, but for most channels these tools are lacking. Thus, this p .... Electrophysiology Platform for Ion-channel Characterisation. Ion channels are ubiquitous pore-forming membrane proteins, with the human genome encoding >300 ion channels. The diverse roles of ion channels include action potential generation, control of ion flow across secretory and epithelial cells, and regulation of cell volume, motility and proliferation. Pharmacological modulators are powerful tools for probing ion channel function, but for most channels these tools are lacking. Thus, this project aims to develop the first comprehensive toolbox of ion channel modulators using an integrated in vitro/in vivo electrophysiology platform. These pharmacological tools will be made freely available to the Australian research community for probing the mechanism and physiological function of ion channels.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347607
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$306,000.00
Summary
FishWorks - collaborative infrastructure for zebrafish research. Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful and cost-effective animal model for studying development, biology, and disease. FishWorks represents a large-scale co-operative initiative to develop state-of-the-art zebrafish housing, manipulation, genomics and screening infrastructure in Australia. This will both support and further enhance a core group of high quality researchers to engage in cutting-edge research in areas of acknowledged ex ....FishWorks - collaborative infrastructure for zebrafish research. Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful and cost-effective animal model for studying development, biology, and disease. FishWorks represents a large-scale co-operative initiative to develop state-of-the-art zebrafish housing, manipulation, genomics and screening infrastructure in Australia. This will both support and further enhance a core group of high quality researchers to engage in cutting-edge research in areas of acknowledged expertise as well as priority within their respective institutions. In addition, it will facilitate wide-ranging collaborative arrangements to further develop and exploit this research area.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. The CNBP brings together physicists, chemists and biologists focused on a grand challenge controlling nanoscale interactions between light and matter to probe the complex and dynamic nanoenvironments within living organisms. The emerging convergence of nanoscience and photonics offers the opportunity of using light to interrogate nanoscale domains, providing unprecedentedly localised measurements. This will allow biological scientists to unde ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. The CNBP brings together physicists, chemists and biologists focused on a grand challenge controlling nanoscale interactions between light and matter to probe the complex and dynamic nanoenvironments within living organisms. The emerging convergence of nanoscience and photonics offers the opportunity of using light to interrogate nanoscale domains, providing unprecedentedly localised measurements. This will allow biological scientists to understand how single cells react to and communicate with their surroundings. This science will underpin a new generation of devices capable of probing the response of cells within individuals to environmental conditions or treatment, creating innovative and powerful new sensing platforms.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668241
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$824,610.00
Summary
A Facility for High-Throughput, Functional Gene Discovery Using Arrayed Retroviral Expression Cloning. The proposed facility will represent world-leading technology in functional genomics and provide Australian scientists with unique opportunities to identify genes involved in a broad range of biological processes. This will contribute to fundamental knowledge in mammalian biology, and equally importantly, is likely to identify genes involved in important health problems such as cancer, inflamma ....A Facility for High-Throughput, Functional Gene Discovery Using Arrayed Retroviral Expression Cloning. The proposed facility will represent world-leading technology in functional genomics and provide Australian scientists with unique opportunities to identify genes involved in a broad range of biological processes. This will contribute to fundamental knowledge in mammalian biology, and equally importantly, is likely to identify genes involved in important health problems such as cancer, inflammatory disease, brain damage and diabetes. Such genes may in turn constitute targets against which new therapies may be developed. This endeavour will contribute to national research priorities in both the health and scientific/technological development arenas.Read moreRead less
ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Genes and Environment in Development. Interactions between the early environment and the genetic regulatory program of the developing organism have major consequences for the lifetime health of individuals. The primary objective of the Network in Genes and Environment in Development is to harness the resources of leading researchers from the currently distinct disciplines of developmental biology and developmental physiology to define key developmental regulatory ne ....ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Genes and Environment in Development. Interactions between the early environment and the genetic regulatory program of the developing organism have major consequences for the lifetime health of individuals. The primary objective of the Network in Genes and Environment in Development is to harness the resources of leading researchers from the currently distinct disciplines of developmental biology and developmental physiology to define key developmental regulatory networks and to address how environmental factors impinge on these regulatory networks. The formation of this National Research Network is unique, timely and strategic. It will generate new insights into the mechanisms by which events in early life determine the risk of adverse outcomes in perinatal and adult life.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the principles of bilateral brain wiring. This project seeks to investigate the molecular principles of brain wiring in mammals and how small changes can generate complex outcomes. Neurons in the mammalian brain must be precisely wired together for the brain to function correctly. The project aims to identify the molecular and cellular rules governing commissural wiring in the mammalian cortex to determine how the largest fibre tract in the human brain, the corpus callosum, evolved. ....Unravelling the principles of bilateral brain wiring. This project seeks to investigate the molecular principles of brain wiring in mammals and how small changes can generate complex outcomes. Neurons in the mammalian brain must be precisely wired together for the brain to function correctly. The project aims to identify the molecular and cellular rules governing commissural wiring in the mammalian cortex to determine how the largest fibre tract in the human brain, the corpus callosum, evolved. This may have involved modifications in mechanisms affecting axon guidance that differ between placentals and marsupials. The project investigates the regulatory gene networks determining commissural neuron fate, the regulation of axon guidance components, and the influence of surrounding brain tissue on the development of commissural connections.Read moreRead less
Protecting cereal grain development at high temperatures. This project aims to investigate new temperature-responsive factors that regulate cereal grain development to protect grain production under heat stress. The new research will leverage international collaborations with access to cutting-edge genetic and technological resources, and refine novel X-ray imaging techniques in Australia, to observe how temperature affects flower structure and function in barley and rice. Favourable mutations t ....Protecting cereal grain development at high temperatures. This project aims to investigate new temperature-responsive factors that regulate cereal grain development to protect grain production under heat stress. The new research will leverage international collaborations with access to cutting-edge genetic and technological resources, and refine novel X-ray imaging techniques in Australia, to observe how temperature affects flower structure and function in barley and rice. Favourable mutations that optimise plant yield and fitness will be defined and explored in other, more complex, cereals such as wheat. Expected outcomes will be fundamental breakthroughs in understanding how plants respond to, and buffer, the effects of heat to lead to translational breeding strategies that bolster grain yield.Read moreRead less