Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101728
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
The regulation and evolution of posttranscriptional gene networks. The ability of cells to regulate gene expression is key for organism development, adaptation to new environments and evolutionary changes that shape the diversity of life on Earth. This project studies the RNA binding proteins called PUFs which are central for gene expression in diverse organisms. Using cutting-edge new generation systems biology approaches, this project will study how PUF proteins regulate genes to enable metabo ....The regulation and evolution of posttranscriptional gene networks. The ability of cells to regulate gene expression is key for organism development, adaptation to new environments and evolutionary changes that shape the diversity of life on Earth. This project studies the RNA binding proteins called PUFs which are central for gene expression in diverse organisms. Using cutting-edge new generation systems biology approaches, this project will study how PUF proteins regulate genes to enable metabolic adaptation, differentiation of cell types and the evolution of new gene expression outputs in distinct biological species. The outcomes will include new insights into the regulation and evolution of posttranscriptional gene networks. Read moreRead less
Metaphotonics and metasurfaces for disruptive sensing technologies. This project aims to address a big challenge in nanophotonics by developing revolutionary methods for efficient chiral sensing of molecules without the need for spectrometry, frequency scanning, or moving mechanical parts, and to enhance chiroptical signals a hundredfold with the help of metasurface structures. Resonant metasurfaces are arrays of engineered dielectric nanoparticles with extraordinary characteristics, and they wo ....Metaphotonics and metasurfaces for disruptive sensing technologies. This project aims to address a big challenge in nanophotonics by developing revolutionary methods for efficient chiral sensing of molecules without the need for spectrometry, frequency scanning, or moving mechanical parts, and to enhance chiroptical signals a hundredfold with the help of metasurface structures. Resonant metasurfaces are arrays of engineered dielectric nanoparticles with extraordinary characteristics, and they would allow to overcome current limitations of chiral sensing analytical tools. Detecting chiral molecules in low concentrations is crucially important to many fields of biology, chemistry, and pharmacy, as well as to the food and cosmetics industries, constituting a market of tens of billions of dollars.Read moreRead less
Engineering better sprays for leaf coating: from drop impact to retention. This proposal aims to understand the performance of a unique rheological modifier that can enable an order of magnitude increase in coating efficiency for aerosol sprays while not affecting the quality of droplet formation during spraying. The effect occurs via a dispersed network of fibrous particles in water, providing a weak but useful ability to coat surfaces by responsively adjusting its structure. The material is ex ....Engineering better sprays for leaf coating: from drop impact to retention. This proposal aims to understand the performance of a unique rheological modifier that can enable an order of magnitude increase in coating efficiency for aerosol sprays while not affecting the quality of droplet formation during spraying. The effect occurs via a dispersed network of fibrous particles in water, providing a weak but useful ability to coat surfaces by responsively adjusting its structure. The material is expected to enable a broad array of applications, from agricultural treatments to nasal sprays, by exhibiting responsive behaviour at concentrations much lower than conventional modifiers require. The project will study the responsiveness of the system in single droplet, spray, and coating form as well as an active delivery system.Read moreRead less
Smartdrops - Shaping the future of particle technology. The aim of this project is to develop a particle engineering technology, based on microfluidics, that results in micro-droplets with controlled geometry and morphology. These Smartdrops will be used to target respiratory macrophages for the delivery of inflammatory suppressants, since their dimensions can be controlled to optimise lung deposition and macrophage recognition. The project aims to develop an aerosol inhaler and a series of phys ....Smartdrops - Shaping the future of particle technology. The aim of this project is to develop a particle engineering technology, based on microfluidics, that results in micro-droplets with controlled geometry and morphology. These Smartdrops will be used to target respiratory macrophages for the delivery of inflammatory suppressants, since their dimensions can be controlled to optimise lung deposition and macrophage recognition. The project aims to develop an aerosol inhaler and a series of physico-chemical and in vitro characterisation tools that will be used to study Smartdrop formation, aerosol properties and their interactions with cells. The outcome of this project is intended to be the development of a technology for treating chronic lung inflammation which could also be utilised for a number of other commercial applications.Read moreRead less
Spatiotemporal dynamics and analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) produces signals generated by brain activity in fine detail, but links between activity and images are poorly understood, posing a barrier to full use of the technology. Predictions from our new theory of such links will be made, tested experimentally and used to improve fMRI and discover new phenomena.
Drugging the undruggable: Development of novel technologies to selectively regulate the expression of targets driving cancer and other diseases. Transcription factors are “undruggable” targets playing a principal role driving cancer. This project will create novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit transcription factors and other elusive targets differentially expressed in diseased cells, without affecting normal tissue. It proposes to construct engineered proteins able to bind and modify specifi ....Drugging the undruggable: Development of novel technologies to selectively regulate the expression of targets driving cancer and other diseases. Transcription factors are “undruggable” targets playing a principal role driving cancer. This project will create novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit transcription factors and other elusive targets differentially expressed in diseased cells, without affecting normal tissue. It proposes to construct engineered proteins able to bind and modify specific key genes deregulated in cancer, to correct their expression and stably reprogram the phenotype of the tumour cell in a normal-like state. It outlines the engineering of novel synthetic agents to block specific protein-protein interactions in cancer cells and to induce potent tumour cell death. This work will generate novel and selective therapeutics to treat un-curable forms of tumours.Read moreRead less
Comprehensive characterisation of DNA demethylation pathways in vivo. This project aims to provide a better understanding of the roles that DNA methylation plays during embryonic development. DNA methylation is a major regulatory mark present in vertebrate genomes. It is well established that the genomic patterns of DNA methylation are being actively remodelled during vertebrate embryogenesis. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how these events impact gene regulation and embryonic development itse ....Comprehensive characterisation of DNA demethylation pathways in vivo. This project aims to provide a better understanding of the roles that DNA methylation plays during embryonic development. DNA methylation is a major regulatory mark present in vertebrate genomes. It is well established that the genomic patterns of DNA methylation are being actively remodelled during vertebrate embryogenesis. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how these events impact gene regulation and embryonic development itself. This project expects to unravel the functional contributions of DNA methylation to vertebrate embryogenesis by using latest cutting-edge genomics techniques. The project will be carried out on the highly tractable zebrafish model system which allows for easy genetic manipulation of the desired sequences. This project aims to provide a better understanding of embryonic development of vertebrates, including humans.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100525
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Mucus control: Applying concepts from bacteriophage-mucus interactions. This project aims to examine how mucus-adherent bacteriophage interact with bacteria in mucus as a mechanism to manipulate microbiomes. Bacterial infections at mucosal surfaces in animals are a serious global health threat. Traditionally antibiotics have been used to curb mucosal infections, but antibiotic resistance means new therapies are urgently needed. Bacteriophage – viruses that infect bacteria – can kill bacteria and ....Mucus control: Applying concepts from bacteriophage-mucus interactions. This project aims to examine how mucus-adherent bacteriophage interact with bacteria in mucus as a mechanism to manipulate microbiomes. Bacterial infections at mucosal surfaces in animals are a serious global health threat. Traditionally antibiotics have been used to curb mucosal infections, but antibiotic resistance means new therapies are urgently needed. Bacteriophage – viruses that infect bacteria – can kill bacteria and might provide a layer of antimicrobial immunity in animal mucus. The anticipated outcomes are resolving how bacteriophage control bacteria within mucus, and applying concepts to bioengineer mucosal microbiomes.Read moreRead less
Towards a new understanding of the reproductive system. The proposed analysis of the reproductive system will provide important new knowledge of gene regulation driving organ development. The insights and technologies developed in this program will be widely applicable in biotechnological and pharmacogenomic research in Australia and worldwide, and assert Australia's leadership in this area of research.
Enabling aerosol delivery of phages to defeat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This project aims to explore the use of bacteriophages towards producing a safe, natural, and highly effective alternative to traditional antibiotics. Respiratory infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are a major health problem worldwide, and cost Australia over $150 million annually. Some 5,000 Australians die each year from antibiotic resistant infections. The project aims to produce efficac ....Enabling aerosol delivery of phages to defeat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This project aims to explore the use of bacteriophages towards producing a safe, natural, and highly effective alternative to traditional antibiotics. Respiratory infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are a major health problem worldwide, and cost Australia over $150 million annually. Some 5,000 Australians die each year from antibiotic resistant infections. The project aims to produce efficacious and stable formulations of bacteriophages for easy delivery by inhalation as aerosols with a long shelf-life, making them a commercially viable product. The expected research outcome can lead to an economic and efficient technology to produce phage powders for novel treatment strategies of infections by inhalation.Read moreRead less