Role Of IGF Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3) And IGFBP-5 As Modulators Of Nuclear Hormone Signalling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,750.00
Summary
The insulin-like growth factors are small proteins involved in the growth of most tissues. Their actions are regulated by binding to larger proteins (known as IGFBPs) in the bloodstream and outside the cell. However, some IGFBPs are also found inside cells, where they seem to carry out other functions. We believe that two of these binding proteins, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5, change the way cells respond to vitamin A and vitamin D. These two vitamins are important in cell growth and in the way certain ....The insulin-like growth factors are small proteins involved in the growth of most tissues. Their actions are regulated by binding to larger proteins (known as IGFBPs) in the bloodstream and outside the cell. However, some IGFBPs are also found inside cells, where they seem to carry out other functions. We believe that two of these binding proteins, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5, change the way cells respond to vitamin A and vitamin D. These two vitamins are important in cell growth and in the way certain cells perform specialised functions. In test-tube experiments, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 interact directly with the receptors that regulate the effects of these hormones. If the same thing happens inside the cell, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 could change the way these receptors respond to signals from outside the cell. We will investigate what effect these IGFBPs have in living cells and in whole animals and how this may relate to human disease. If we are able to understand how IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 affect the way cells respond to vitamin A and D, then we may be able to develop new ways to treat certain human diseases.Read moreRead less
Cytokine Signalling And Insulin Resistance In Obesity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,065.00
Summary
Western communities are experiencing an epidemic of obesity that is contributing to diabetes, heart disease, and premature death. This project is investigating why being overweight and obese causes diabetes. Improved understanding about how hormones regulates the body's storage and breakdown of fat and responsiveness to insulin will enable the development of new medicines for the treatment of obesity and the prevention of diabetes.
Resolving And Targeting The Complex Molecular Mechanisms Underlying GPCR Signalling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,071,370.00
Summary
Receptors are located on the surface of all human cells to allow our cells to respond to their environment. Over 30% of prescription drugs act through particular receptors called GPCRs, however effective drugs without side effects are difficult to develop because we do not have a deep understanding of how GPCRs transmit complex signals. In this proposal we seek to resolve the atomic-level details of GPCR signalling to assist in the development of better drugs for a diverse range of diseases.
The New Dimensions of the Quantum Universe. This Fellowship will help build and strengthen significant world-class research capacity at the frontier of fundamental science. More students will be motivated to pursue careers in science, increasing the number of talented, world-class science graduates in Australia. It will forge strong research links both locally and internationally so as to enhance existing networks and create new ones. It will greatly enhance Australia's standing in particle phys ....The New Dimensions of the Quantum Universe. This Fellowship will help build and strengthen significant world-class research capacity at the frontier of fundamental science. More students will be motivated to pursue careers in science, increasing the number of talented, world-class science graduates in Australia. It will forge strong research links both locally and internationally so as to enhance existing networks and create new ones. It will greatly enhance Australia's standing in particle physics, the epitome of Big Science, and garner new respect from one of the world's most influential scientific communities. Having this kind of world-class research in Australia, will also help foster public education and advance the public understanding of fundamental science.
Read moreRead less
Branes and unification. This project will explore theories which hypothesis that our universe is a 3-dimensional mem-(brane) residing in higher dimensional space. We will construct completely realistic theories and find ways to test them experimentally. This project is at the forefront of international developments in our understanding of the universe - an area that has grown in importance following the construction of the Large Hadron Collider at the European Giant accelerator laboraroty. The p ....Branes and unification. This project will explore theories which hypothesis that our universe is a 3-dimensional mem-(brane) residing in higher dimensional space. We will construct completely realistic theories and find ways to test them experimentally. This project is at the forefront of international developments in our understanding of the universe - an area that has grown in importance following the construction of the Large Hadron Collider at the European Giant accelerator laboraroty. The project will expose postgraduate students to exciting developments in this fascinating field pf physics.Read moreRead less
Particle physics and cosmology of neutrinos. Neutrinos are a particularly interesting class of elementary particle. The Standard Model of particle physics sees neutrinos as having exactly zero mass. However, recent experimental data have all but demonstrated that massless neutrinos are inconsistent with observations. If neutrinos have mass, then quantum mechanics allows them to oscillate between the different neutrino types as they propagate through space. Nonzero neutrino masses and the associa ....Particle physics and cosmology of neutrinos. Neutrinos are a particularly interesting class of elementary particle. The Standard Model of particle physics sees neutrinos as having exactly zero mass. However, recent experimental data have all but demonstrated that massless neutrinos are inconsistent with observations. If neutrinos have mass, then quantum mechanics allows them to oscillate between the different neutrino types as they propagate through space. Nonzero neutrino masses and the associated oscillations lead to important new physics in the elementary particle domain and in cosmology. This project will explore the implications of neutrino oscillations in diverse areas in particle physics and cosmology.Read moreRead less
The Origin of Mass at the Large Hadron Collider. The Large Hadron Collider is an enormous worldwide effort to understand the building blocks of the Universe. This project will help strengthen world-class research capacity in one of the most exciting frontiers of basic research. It will excite more high-achieving students to pursue careers in science increasing the number of talented graduates in Australia. In addition the big fundamental questions addressed in this research are of great fascin ....The Origin of Mass at the Large Hadron Collider. The Large Hadron Collider is an enormous worldwide effort to understand the building blocks of the Universe. This project will help strengthen world-class research capacity in one of the most exciting frontiers of basic research. It will excite more high-achieving students to pursue careers in science increasing the number of talented graduates in Australia. In addition the big fundamental questions addressed in this research are of great fascination to the general public and will help to further advance the public education of science.Read moreRead less
Origin of the Mass. A hundred metres below ground, under the French-Swiss border, scientists are preparing to travel back in time to study matter as it was in the first fractions of a second after the beginning of the Universe. They are building the world's largest scientific instrument to help reveal how this primordial matter developed into the building blocks that form the great diversity of today. Australian physicists are preparing to extract the few fundamental particles that will explain ....Origin of the Mass. A hundred metres below ground, under the French-Swiss border, scientists are preparing to travel back in time to study matter as it was in the first fractions of a second after the beginning of the Universe. They are building the world's largest scientific instrument to help reveal how this primordial matter developed into the building blocks that form the great diversity of today. Australian physicists are preparing to extract the few fundamental particles that will explain the origin of the mass from the debris of billions of proton collisions. While solving the major issue confronting particle physics today, we will train students who will subsequently apply their skills in fields as diverse as science, medicine, industry and finance.Read moreRead less
Predictions of nucleon-nucleus cross sections for all energies to 300 MeV based upon microscopic theories of N-A scattering. Cross sections from nucleon-nucleus scattering and reactions are central quantities of import in diverse fields of study. They are most important in evaluations for nucleon radiation therapy, in material science for radiation safety as well as damage to electronics, with use of accelerator technology for waste management as well as possible power generation. They are im ....Predictions of nucleon-nucleus cross sections for all energies to 300 MeV based upon microscopic theories of N-A scattering. Cross sections from nucleon-nucleus scattering and reactions are central quantities of import in diverse fields of study. They are most important in evaluations for nucleon radiation therapy, in material science for radiation safety as well as damage to electronics, with use of accelerator technology for waste management as well as possible power generation. They are important in fundamental physics problems as in nuclear astrophysics and in studies of radioactive nuclear ions. A theoretical framework is required to make reliable predictions of nucleon-nucleus scattering. This project seeks to establish predictive methods of analysis for all nucleon energies to 300 MeV. Read moreRead less