Human Leukocyte Antigen-A and -B regulation of Natural Killer cell function. The aim of this project is to determine how genetic variation in the genes encoding cell surface receptors expressed by innate lymphocytes and the molecules they recognise diversifies their capacity to sense and respond to infection. This knowledge is critical for understanding why there are intrinsic differences between individuals with respect to their capacity to respond to different types of infection and will ultim ....Human Leukocyte Antigen-A and -B regulation of Natural Killer cell function. The aim of this project is to determine how genetic variation in the genes encoding cell surface receptors expressed by innate lymphocytes and the molecules they recognise diversifies their capacity to sense and respond to infection. This knowledge is critical for understanding why there are intrinsic differences between individuals with respect to their capacity to respond to different types of infection and will ultimately inform our capacity to better deploy personalised medicines.Read moreRead less
Immunisation to protect against transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils. This project aims to identify the immune escape mechanisms that the transmissible cancers, Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) use to avoid being killed by the immune system. Since the discovery of the second transmissible cancer (DFT2) mystery surrounds whether the devils immune system can respond to this cancer, hence this project will investigate the immune response to DFT2. The final aims are to develop a vaccine with ....Immunisation to protect against transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils. This project aims to identify the immune escape mechanisms that the transmissible cancers, Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) use to avoid being killed by the immune system. Since the discovery of the second transmissible cancer (DFT2) mystery surrounds whether the devils immune system can respond to this cancer, hence this project will investigate the immune response to DFT2. The final aims are to develop a vaccine with the potential to protect healthy devils and cure devils with DFTD.Read moreRead less
Investigating the evolution of innate and adaptive cellular immunity. This proposal aims to assess the impact of geographical and genetic isolation of the Australian Indigenous population on adaptive and innate immune systems. The project will use novel DNA sequencing approaches to generate the high resolution sequences of two genetic loci that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses, the major histocompatibility complex locus and the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor locus. In an i ....Investigating the evolution of innate and adaptive cellular immunity. This proposal aims to assess the impact of geographical and genetic isolation of the Australian Indigenous population on adaptive and innate immune systems. The project will use novel DNA sequencing approaches to generate the high resolution sequences of two genetic loci that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses, the major histocompatibility complex locus and the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor locus. In an initial screen, distinct variants and combinations of these genes were identified. This project aims to interrogate how variation in these critical genes impacts on the function of cytotoxic lymphocytes, providing insights into the evolutionary drivers of immune recognition mechanisms.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989226
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Multi-photon imaging for infection, immunity, and self recognition. This proposal will address a gap in our imaging capabilities, allowing us to visualise the movement of immune cells and infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses within living tissues. This will immensely improve our capacity to understand interactions between the immune system, invading organisms and the rest of our body. The intravital imaging system will provide novel insights into how the immune system works, which will ....Multi-photon imaging for infection, immunity, and self recognition. This proposal will address a gap in our imaging capabilities, allowing us to visualise the movement of immune cells and infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses within living tissues. This will immensely improve our capacity to understand interactions between the immune system, invading organisms and the rest of our body. The intravital imaging system will provide novel insights into how the immune system works, which will benefit the design of vaccines, the treatment of cancer, and our understanding of allergy. This state-of-the-art facility will also provide vital training in an emerging technology that will have application in many areas of biology.
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Exploring the immunomodulatory potential of Natural Killer T cells. Natural Killer T cells (NKT cells) are an innate-like population of T cells that recognise a range of lipid based antigens when bound to the antigen-presenting molecule, CD1d. Once activated, NKT cells rapidly secrete a variety of cytokines. This project, in partnership with Vaxine Pty Ltd, aims to gain a basic understanding of NKT recognition of lipids and NKT cell activation by lipids. The project aims to use a combination of ....Exploring the immunomodulatory potential of Natural Killer T cells. Natural Killer T cells (NKT cells) are an innate-like population of T cells that recognise a range of lipid based antigens when bound to the antigen-presenting molecule, CD1d. Once activated, NKT cells rapidly secrete a variety of cytokines. This project, in partnership with Vaxine Pty Ltd, aims to gain a basic understanding of NKT recognition of lipids and NKT cell activation by lipids. The project aims to use a combination of cellular immunology and structural biology to gain insight into NKT cell agonism.Read moreRead less
Development of efficient, robust and architecturally-flexible structural systems using innovative blind-bolted connections. The aim of the proposed project is to develop structural systems that have sufficient stiffness, strength, and ductility to withstand code-specified loads and that will be competitive in the marketplace. The development of demonstrable cost-effective structural systems is essential if these types of systems are to be widely adopted in practice, thus allowing Australian manu ....Development of efficient, robust and architecturally-flexible structural systems using innovative blind-bolted connections. The aim of the proposed project is to develop structural systems that have sufficient stiffness, strength, and ductility to withstand code-specified loads and that will be competitive in the marketplace. The development of demonstrable cost-effective structural systems is essential if these types of systems are to be widely adopted in practice, thus allowing Australian manufacturers of blind bolts and steel tubes to achieve a greater market share.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346515
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,000.00
Summary
Fluorescence Detector for the Australian National Beamline Facility. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an extremely important synchrotron radiation tool for determining the local structure around an X-ray absorbing atom. This has many applications in the study of materials, minerals, metal complexes, and metalloproteins and can often be used to obtain information that is not available by other techniques, because structural information can be obtained in the solid or solution state and in ....Fluorescence Detector for the Australian National Beamline Facility. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an extremely important synchrotron radiation tool for determining the local structure around an X-ray absorbing atom. This has many applications in the study of materials, minerals, metal complexes, and metalloproteins and can often be used to obtain information that is not available by other techniques, because structural information can be obtained in the solid or solution state and in mixtures. The current proposal is aimed at introducing new technology into the Australian National Beamline Facility that will greatly improve the quality and quantity of experiments that can be performed and extend studies into dilute solutions and protein samples.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882725
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
Access for Australian Researchers to Advanced Neutron Beam Techniques. The major national benefit will be access, by peer review, to the 35 specialised instruments at the world's leading pulsed Neutron and Muon source, ISIS. This complements the access to the eight neutron instruments that will operate at the Australian Reactor OPAL. This will support (or enable) high quality research into areas as diverse as materials development, mineral processing and aspects of biological and medical scien ....Access for Australian Researchers to Advanced Neutron Beam Techniques. The major national benefit will be access, by peer review, to the 35 specialised instruments at the world's leading pulsed Neutron and Muon source, ISIS. This complements the access to the eight neutron instruments that will operate at the Australian Reactor OPAL. This will support (or enable) high quality research into areas as diverse as materials development, mineral processing and aspects of biological and medical science. It will facilitate international collaborations that are important for both research and post-graduate student training.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100060
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,390.00
Summary
Shared picosecond-laser facility. This project aims to extend the Shared Picosecond Laser Facility to include picosecond-pulse technology and to incorporate new consortium members. The Facility, shared among members at four universities and building on over 23 years of collaboration, continues to provide access to state-of-the-art lasers. The Facility will take advantage of its bulk purchasing power to negotiate significant discounts, extended warranties and maintenance contracts. The new lasers ....Shared picosecond-laser facility. This project aims to extend the Shared Picosecond Laser Facility to include picosecond-pulse technology and to incorporate new consortium members. The Facility, shared among members at four universities and building on over 23 years of collaboration, continues to provide access to state-of-the-art lasers. The Facility will take advantage of its bulk purchasing power to negotiate significant discounts, extended warranties and maintenance contracts. The new lasers will enable access to picosecond timescales and facilitate complex multi-laser experiments in a wide variety of projects including reaction dynamics, materials chemistry and photovoltaics.Read moreRead less