Measurement and imaging of pathogenic and diagnostic iron oxide nanoparticles using proton magnetic resonance. This project is likely to result in new and improved technologies to aid in the management and diagnosis of a range of diseases including iron metabolism disorders such as thalassaemia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Other aspects of the research may lead to technologies for the early detection of some cancers. The technologies will enhance Australia's intern ....Measurement and imaging of pathogenic and diagnostic iron oxide nanoparticles using proton magnetic resonance. This project is likely to result in new and improved technologies to aid in the management and diagnosis of a range of diseases including iron metabolism disorders such as thalassaemia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Other aspects of the research may lead to technologies for the early detection of some cancers. The technologies will enhance Australia's international standing in the field of advanced medical imaging and have the potential to be commercialised within the Australian biotechnology sector. During the project, research students will receive high quality multidisciplinary training ensuring the supply of personnel with high-level technical expertise into the future.Read moreRead less
Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to dete ....Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to detect parasite products in stool. Such testing technology is amenable to configuration in a robust format, suitable for large-scale manufacture. Given the worldwide prevalence of these parasites, the tests will have a market potential of international significance.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of cell culture and molecular typing for the characterisation of Cryptosporidium in water. Cryptosporidium is an important waterborne agent of diarrhoeal disease in people and animals. Improved methods for accurately detecting viable parasite stages recovered from water are a priority research need for the water industry. They are dependent upon improved in vitro cultivation procedures that can be combined with DNA-based assays for identifying species and strains of Cryptosporidi ....Optimisation of cell culture and molecular typing for the characterisation of Cryptosporidium in water. Cryptosporidium is an important waterborne agent of diarrhoeal disease in people and animals. Improved methods for accurately detecting viable parasite stages recovered from water are a priority research need for the water industry. They are dependent upon improved in vitro cultivation procedures that can be combined with DNA-based assays for identifying species and strains of Cryptosporidium and closely related protozoa recovered from freshwater. This project addresses these needs in a collaborative study between scientists at Murdoch University with expertise in both in vitro cultivation and genetic characterisation of Cryptosporidium, and scientists from two of the major water utilities in Australia.Read moreRead less
Molecular tools for controlling pathogenic viruses in the seed potato industry. In this project, molecular diagnostic tools will be generated that will improve the ability of testing laboratories to deliver cost-effective virus diagnostic services to seed potato certification authorities in Australia. There will be economic benefits from increased yields of fresh and processing potatoes, higher prices in domestic and export markets, expansion of current and development of new markets, and licen ....Molecular tools for controlling pathogenic viruses in the seed potato industry. In this project, molecular diagnostic tools will be generated that will improve the ability of testing laboratories to deliver cost-effective virus diagnostic services to seed potato certification authorities in Australia. There will be economic benefits from increased yields of fresh and processing potatoes, higher prices in domestic and export markets, expansion of current and development of new markets, and licensing of tests. There will also be economic and social returns to the broader rural community by better management and control of virus pathogens, and less reliance on environmentally undesirable chemical control measures. The project will provide expert training of two PhD students in practical and molecular plant virology. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Magnetic biosensing: developing high frequency spintronic sensors for magnetic label detection. This project builds upon recent advances in nano-magnetism to develop novel, miniaturised, electronic biosensors. Such biosensors will one day enable the production of portable devices for rapid, on-site detection of cancer and other diseases, thereby reducing reliance on costly laboratory based analyses and improving remote and rural healthcare.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882889
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
History, the archives and new technologies: developing the Australian women's archives project. This project will create and define generic tools and services to increase the productivity of those involved with the creation, maintenance and use of source material for humanities research. It will provide a pathway to move this infrastructure onto a more sustainable footing and address issues of information overload, authority and quality facing researchers in the networked digital age. This imper ....History, the archives and new technologies: developing the Australian women's archives project. This project will create and define generic tools and services to increase the productivity of those involved with the creation, maintenance and use of source material for humanities research. It will provide a pathway to move this infrastructure onto a more sustainable footing and address issues of information overload, authority and quality facing researchers in the networked digital age. This imperative is seen by scholars and representatives of the nation's major collecting institutions as a primary limiting factor in the contemporary research environment. The project will enhance Australia's reputation as a world leader in the development of web-based information infrastructure to support research and scholarship.Read moreRead less
Field based molecular diagnostics for identification of plant parasitic nematodes. Nematodes are economically important pests of many agricultural and commercially grown plants. We have shown 'proof-of-concept' that plant parasitic nematodes can be identified by protein profiling using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. In this project advanced techniques of proteomics and associated bioinformatics will be used to identify, isolate and characterise proteins that are specific to economically important ....Field based molecular diagnostics for identification of plant parasitic nematodes. Nematodes are economically important pests of many agricultural and commercially grown plants. We have shown 'proof-of-concept' that plant parasitic nematodes can be identified by protein profiling using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. In this project advanced techniques of proteomics and associated bioinformatics will be used to identify, isolate and characterise proteins that are specific to economically important nematode species and races, and to identify diagnostic proteins or epitopes. The diagnostic proteins will be used to generate specific monoclonal antibodies that will be incorporated into immunochemical 'Lateral Flow' devices. These will provide on-site tests to identify nematodes for growers and quarantine services. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100143
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,000.00
Summary
High sensitivity superconducting quantum interference device vibrating sample magnetometer. A highly sensitive magnetometer will be used in research projects covering nanotechnology, biomedicine, engineering, and mineral resources to elucidate the structure and composition of materials and fluids. The instrument is so sensitive it can measure the magnetic properties of materials that are normally considered non-magnetic such as blood.
Brassica genome organisation and evolution: unlocking the potential of using genome-specific repetitive elements for crop improvement. Introgression of chromosome segments from related Brassica species provides an opportunity to develop locally adapted varieties with improved agronomic and quality traits. There is a need to understand Brassica genome organisation and how this information can be used for enhancing the efficiency of cultivar development. Dispersed and tandem repetitive DNA sequen ....Brassica genome organisation and evolution: unlocking the potential of using genome-specific repetitive elements for crop improvement. Introgression of chromosome segments from related Brassica species provides an opportunity to develop locally adapted varieties with improved agronomic and quality traits. There is a need to understand Brassica genome organisation and how this information can be used for enhancing the efficiency of cultivar development. Dispersed and tandem repetitive DNA sequences provide valuable information on the organisation and evolution of plant chromosomes. Methods for monitoring chromosome segment transfer across Brassica species will be developed based on detecting and quantifying genome-specific repetitive DNA sequences. Australian Brassica improvement programs could benefit from this research by adopting methods to detect chromosome segment transfer during interspecific hybridisation.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354726
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
NETVISION: AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL VISION RESEARCH NETWORK. Vision is the most important human sense. Visual malfunctions pose major health challenges. Vision provides a window into the brain, for studying perception, cognition and consciousness. It is integral to human cultural and social development. It provides opportunities for technological advances in diagnostics, artificial vision, robotics, and surveillance. Vision is therefore crucial to three of the National Priority Areas. The National V ....NETVISION: AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL VISION RESEARCH NETWORK. Vision is the most important human sense. Visual malfunctions pose major health challenges. Vision provides a window into the brain, for studying perception, cognition and consciousness. It is integral to human cultural and social development. It provides opportunities for technological advances in diagnostics, artificial vision, robotics, and surveillance. Vision is therefore crucial to three of the National Priority Areas. The National Vision Network will create a coherent, interactive and innovative research base in the vision sciences, linked to end-users in areas ranging from the art, entertainment and fashion industries, through health and education, to border protection and counter-terrorism.Read moreRead less