Development of a topical treatment to replace surgical mulesing in sheep. 10,800 farms in Australia are sheep farms and a further 30,000 have sheep. Exports of wool earn over $2 billion annually. The animal rights campaign to ban mulesing has forced the industry to outlaw mulesing by 2010. Mulesing is largely confined to Australian Merino sheep and requires Australian research. If practical alternatives are not found costs will rise compromising the economic viability of many sheep farms. C ....Development of a topical treatment to replace surgical mulesing in sheep. 10,800 farms in Australia are sheep farms and a further 30,000 have sheep. Exports of wool earn over $2 billion annually. The animal rights campaign to ban mulesing has forced the industry to outlaw mulesing by 2010. Mulesing is largely confined to Australian Merino sheep and requires Australian research. If practical alternatives are not found costs will rise compromising the economic viability of many sheep farms. Chemical use on the breech will increase causing environmental contamination. A simple topical alternative to mulesing will allow farmers to economically manage flies and satisfy welfare imperatives. This will support rural communities and sustain Australia's export income from wool.Read moreRead less
Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential. Iron is essential for life, but iron-overload is a potentially fatal condition. There is no natural mechanism to excrete iron in humans, so patients suffering from iron-overload disorders are treated with the chelator Desferal to enable iron excretion typically from an early age. Desferal is orally ineffective and must be given by subcutaneous infusion (12-24h, 5-6 days/week) resulting in poor patient c ....Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential. Iron is essential for life, but iron-overload is a potentially fatal condition. There is no natural mechanism to excrete iron in humans, so patients suffering from iron-overload disorders are treated with the chelator Desferal to enable iron excretion typically from an early age. Desferal is orally ineffective and must be given by subcutaneous infusion (12-24h, 5-6 days/week) resulting in poor patient compliance. We will conduct critical chemical and biological experiments with a new series of potentially orally active iron chelators identified in our lab. The results from this project will be vital for the development of these compounds as pharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Development of chaperonin 10-based second generation biopharmaceuticals for treatment of inflammatory diseases. Diseases caused by malfunctioning of the body's immune system (inflammatory diseases) such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn's disease cause illness in all cultures and societies, and impose financial strain on health care providers. Current treatment relies on biopharmaceuticals that block inflammatory mediators in the body or with pharmaceuticals such as anti-inflammatory ....Development of chaperonin 10-based second generation biopharmaceuticals for treatment of inflammatory diseases. Diseases caused by malfunctioning of the body's immune system (inflammatory diseases) such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn's disease cause illness in all cultures and societies, and impose financial strain on health care providers. Current treatment relies on biopharmaceuticals that block inflammatory mediators in the body or with pharmaceuticals such as anti-inflammatory drugs; both these treatments may have serious side effects. Cpn10 suppresses the body's inflammatory response while maintaining immune function to combat infections. The project seeks to develop new, safe and effective biopharmaceuticals based on Cpn10 for the treatment of a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560657
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$740,000.00
Summary
Ultra-High Resolution NMR Imaging System for Nanotechnology including Nanobiotechnology. The ultra-high resolution imaging NMR spectrometer at the centre of this application is a generation ahead of comparable facilities in Australia and will extend the research capacity of numerous research groups comprising in excess of 50 academics and postgraduate students. The aims and significance of this infrastructure lie in it being one of the centrepieces of the partner institutions' aspirations to tak ....Ultra-High Resolution NMR Imaging System for Nanotechnology including Nanobiotechnology. The ultra-high resolution imaging NMR spectrometer at the centre of this application is a generation ahead of comparable facilities in Australia and will extend the research capacity of numerous research groups comprising in excess of 50 academics and postgraduate students. The aims and significance of this infrastructure lie in it being one of the centrepieces of the partner institutions' aspirations to take Australia to the cutting edge of nanotechnology and cognate disciplines many of which are areas of national priority. The expected manifold outcomes include research of the highest rank into fundamental problems of drug development through to applied outcomes such as new nanomaterials and improved horticulture/fruit preservation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561041
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$347,358.00
Summary
A New Generation Biosensor and Fluorescence Facility for Proteomics. The complete DNA sequence (the genome) is now known for many organisms and advances are being made to identify the complement of messenger RNA (the transcriptome) and the resultant collection of proteins (the proteome). The genome is largely fixed while the transcriptome and proteome differ between cell types in an organism and constantly vary to adapt the cell to changing conditions. The mediators of these variations are prote ....A New Generation Biosensor and Fluorescence Facility for Proteomics. The complete DNA sequence (the genome) is now known for many organisms and advances are being made to identify the complement of messenger RNA (the transcriptome) and the resultant collection of proteins (the proteome). The genome is largely fixed while the transcriptome and proteome differ between cell types in an organism and constantly vary to adapt the cell to changing conditions. The mediators of these variations are proteins, interacting with each other and with signal molecules. The next frontier in molecular biology is to identify and quantify these protein interactions. Our two institutions have a very large cohort of biologists whose research on proteins would be greatly facilitated by the Biacore 3000 and the ISS K2.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354474
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Metals in Medicine. Metal-based drugs account for several billion dollars of pharmaceutical sales worldwide, but proportionally much less research and development has focussed on this area than organic drugs. Australia has played a pivotal role in the early development of metal-based pharmaceuticals, which remains a research strength. The dual aims of the initiative are to provide a network for a vibrant industry based around metals in medicine and to improve the health of Australians. The ini ....Metals in Medicine. Metal-based drugs account for several billion dollars of pharmaceutical sales worldwide, but proportionally much less research and development has focussed on this area than organic drugs. Australia has played a pivotal role in the early development of metal-based pharmaceuticals, which remains a research strength. The dual aims of the initiative are to provide a network for a vibrant industry based around metals in medicine and to improve the health of Australians. The initiative will foster national and international cross-disciplinary collaborations to address the impediments holding back Australia's potential to take full advantage of our research strength in metals in medicine.Read moreRead less
Design and Development of HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors Based on a Natural Product Lead. HIV/AIDS is a significant health problem with over 40 million people infected with HIV worldwide. Resistance to current drugs is rising rapidly and new therapeutics are urgently needed. This project will bring together local expertise in organic synthesis and virology in order to develop new and better treatments for HIV/AIDS. Ultimately, Australians with HIV may benefit directly from anti-HIV compounds produce ....Design and Development of HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors Based on a Natural Product Lead. HIV/AIDS is a significant health problem with over 40 million people infected with HIV worldwide. Resistance to current drugs is rising rapidly and new therapeutics are urgently needed. This project will bring together local expertise in organic synthesis and virology in order to develop new and better treatments for HIV/AIDS. Ultimately, Australians with HIV may benefit directly from anti-HIV compounds produced and may also benefit from advances in our understanding of this elusive virus resulting from the project.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC170100035
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,743,710.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology. The ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology expects to train 20 industry-ready innovation scientists who will undertake industry-driven research in the development and application of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and theranostics. They will inform changes in regulatory policy that support industry growth. The Centre will build multidisciplinary links between researchers and within industry to devel ....ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology. The ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology expects to train 20 industry-ready innovation scientists who will undertake industry-driven research in the development and application of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and theranostics. They will inform changes in regulatory policy that support industry growth. The Centre will build multidisciplinary links between researchers and within industry to develop ‘smart’ probes and ‘smart’ scanning, harnessing the digital revolution for better, cost effective diagnostic imaging and improved health outcomes.Read moreRead less
Anti-Cancer Natural Products: Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Lasonolide A and Analogues. One in three men and one in four women in Australia will be diagnosed with cancer before they reach 75. Cancer is a leading cause of death within this country with 28% of deaths each year due to this disease. Although there have been advances in the treatment of various forms of cancer there remains a pressing need for new therapies with improved potency, selectivity and reduced side effects. T ....Anti-Cancer Natural Products: Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Lasonolide A and Analogues. One in three men and one in four women in Australia will be diagnosed with cancer before they reach 75. Cancer is a leading cause of death within this country with 28% of deaths each year due to this disease. Although there have been advances in the treatment of various forms of cancer there remains a pressing need for new therapies with improved potency, selectivity and reduced side effects. This project will provide new compounds of potential clinical use in the treatment of cancer, thereby aiding the large population of Australians who will be affected by this disease. Furthermore, the new advanced materials produced by this project will aid in the study of biochemical processes involved in cancer.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989946
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,000.00
Summary
High Resolution LC/MS and MALDI for Molecular and Macromolecular Characterisation. The provision of high-resolution and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometers configured for the molecular and macromolecular research of high quality research groups will lead to earlier and better fundamental discoveries that are directed at important practical developments in medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, light-energy harvesting, polymer materials and sensors. These include anti ....High Resolution LC/MS and MALDI for Molecular and Macromolecular Characterisation. The provision of high-resolution and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometers configured for the molecular and macromolecular research of high quality research groups will lead to earlier and better fundamental discoveries that are directed at important practical developments in medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, light-energy harvesting, polymer materials and sensors. These include anticancer agents, nanodevices for drug delivery, better polymers with more energy efficient industrial processes, bioactive molecules for industrially important nitrogen fixation and many more. Read moreRead less