A new platform technology for gene therapy . The project aims to make a landmark contribution to biological science by enabling programmed delivery of therapeutic payloads from biocompatible materials. It will employ a novel synthetic biology approach to form two distinct peptide-enabled molecular architectures in a single system. This is expected to deliver a platform technology that will allow successful programmed delivery of viral vectors. The project is likely to deliver significant societa ....A new platform technology for gene therapy . The project aims to make a landmark contribution to biological science by enabling programmed delivery of therapeutic payloads from biocompatible materials. It will employ a novel synthetic biology approach to form two distinct peptide-enabled molecular architectures in a single system. This is expected to deliver a platform technology that will allow successful programmed delivery of viral vectors. The project is likely to deliver significant societal benefit as a fundamental scientific platform, improving Australia's capacity and impact in the agriculture and the healthcare sectors. The platform technology has the potential to increase the quality of life for patients and their carers, while also produce fitter, healthier livestock.Read moreRead less
Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Stab and Ballistic Resistant Fabrics. The aims of the project are to model and design stab resistant fabrics, and evaluate their stab and ballistic performance under simulated end-use conditions. Bi-component ballistic and stab resistant wearable and concealable garments will be produced and comprehensively characterised. This program is a significant first step towards developing Australian owned intellectual property for specialised protective garments f ....Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Stab and Ballistic Resistant Fabrics. The aims of the project are to model and design stab resistant fabrics, and evaluate their stab and ballistic performance under simulated end-use conditions. Bi-component ballistic and stab resistant wearable and concealable garments will be produced and comprehensively characterised. This program is a significant first step towards developing Australian owned intellectual property for specialised protective garments for local and export markets. Results from this study will produce fundamental knowledge on stab and ballistic resistant fabrics and armours, and provide practical information on the preparation of commercially acceptable protective products.Read moreRead less
Unraveling Fibrosis By Pharmacological Targeting Of The G Protein-coupled Receptor, RXFP1
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$798,618.00
Summary
Peptides, with their high specificity and low toxicity profiles, are highly attractive alternatives to small molecule drugs. H2 relaxin, a peptide hormone, has a strong potential for treating fibrosis. However, the large size of H2 relaxin makes it difficult and expensive to manufacture. Once administered to patients, it is also quickly degraded. We have developed a small anti-fibrotic relaxin peptide, and propose to understand its mechanism of action and improve its therapeutic indices.
Modulation Of Feeding Through Pharmacological Targeting Of The Relaxin-3 Receptor RXFP3
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$584,955.00
Summary
Relaxin-3 is a neuropeptide that regulates a number of physiological processes, including food intake, suggesting that the relaxin-3 receptor RXFP3 may be a new target for treatment of eating disorders such as obesity. This project will develop new selective and high-affinity ligands for RXFP3, which will be critical pharmacological tools for the preclinical studies and evaluation of this system.
Multilayered Safety Clothing for Personal Protective Equipment. This project aims to improve multilayered firefighting protective garments and their thermal comfort by utilizing aerogel microparticles containing thermal regulation materials and flame-retardant agents. This research will create new multifunctional fabric designs and engineering techniques to integrate improved heat and flame protection, comfort and smart features into optimized multilayered garments. It will create novel clothing ....Multilayered Safety Clothing for Personal Protective Equipment. This project aims to improve multilayered firefighting protective garments and their thermal comfort by utilizing aerogel microparticles containing thermal regulation materials and flame-retardant agents. This research will create new multifunctional fabric designs and engineering techniques to integrate improved heat and flame protection, comfort and smart features into optimized multilayered garments. It will create novel clothing systems that will better protect wearers and allow them to effectively combat bushfires and save lives and assets. The successful completion will enable industrial capability in next generation advanced protective garments and functional uniforms for broad occupational health safety and well-being applications.Read moreRead less
Gastrokine 2 Promotes Gastric Homeostasis And Inhibits Bacterial Pathology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,335.00
Summary
Gastrokine 2 is a small regulatory protein secreted by the stomach lining. Its function is unknown but data from our lab suggests that it may be important in maintaining stomach integrity. This project will investigate how gastrokine 2 maintains stomach function, how this can be compromised when bacterial infection is ongoing, and how we might be able to turn up gastrokine 2 expression to prevent inflammation and precancerous changes in the stomach lining.
Development of Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) peptide analogues as novel therapeutics. Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) is a naturally-occurring hormone in the body that likely plays a role in the control of appetite. This project aims to develop new molecules based on INSL5 that could be suitable for use as drugs to treat various appetite-related disorders, such as obesity (where patients eat too much) or anorexia (where patients eat too little).
Advanced three-dimensional fibrous structures for vascular graft applications. This project will combine advanced three-dimensional fabric structures, surface functionalisation and haemodynamic modelling to tackle critical issues in the design and manufacture of vascular graft materials. It will lead to the next generation of vascular grafts with much enhanced structural and biomedical performance.
Microstructure effect on energy harvesting ability of electrospun fibres. This project aims to provide new knowledge about how to manipulate the energy harvesting ability of electrospun fibrous mats by changing the fibre structure, components and mat configuration. Expected outcomes of the project are new fibrous materials capable of efficiently converting small mechanical forces and sounds into electricity. These high performance energy harvesting fibres will be useful for developing new power ....Microstructure effect on energy harvesting ability of electrospun fibres. This project aims to provide new knowledge about how to manipulate the energy harvesting ability of electrospun fibrous mats by changing the fibre structure, components and mat configuration. Expected outcomes of the project are new fibrous materials capable of efficiently converting small mechanical forces and sounds into electricity. These high performance energy harvesting fibres will be useful for developing new power supplies, self-powered electronics, self-sustainable sensor networks and electronic textiles.Read moreRead less
Fibre-sized energy generators and storage in multi-functional fabrics. This project proposes to do away with conventional batteries for powering portable or wearable devices by developing wearable fabrics capable of energy generation. The outcome will be a robust fabric with the capability of powering wearable or portable devices in the communications, health-care, sports and defence industries.