Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute - funding https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/tags/funding en Bio21 researchers funded for discovery in 2020 https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/bio21-researchers-funded-discovery-2020 <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/sites/www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/files/styles/page/public/field/image/2019-12-04_Bio21_ARC-Discovery-Project-%26-Early-Career-Researcher_WEB.jpg?itok=iU7qBwAY" width="960" height="440" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Dear members of the Bio21 community,</p> <p>ARC Discovery Projects and Early Career Researcher grant outcomes have been announced by the Minister for Education Dan Tehan today:</p> <p align="center"><em>Minister for Education Dan Tehan today announced almost $285 million in funding for 660 new research collaborations to start next year.</em></p> <p align="center"><em>"Our Government is investing in high-quality research and the future of Australian research being carried out in our universities," Mr Tehan said. "The research done by our universities can lead to the development of new products and innovations that drive job growth, business opportunities and productivity gains.</em></p> <p align="center"><em>"This investment will help develop solutions to problems in areas such as health, infrastructure, economics and the environment. "Our Government is strategically investing in partnerships between universities, industry and government to drive the commercialisation of research."</em></p> <p>Read the official announcement <a href="https://www.arc.gov.au/news-publications/media/media-releases/research-benefit-australians">here</a></p> <p>It is with great pleasure to see the names of Bio21 researchers amongst the grant recipients.</p> <p>Congratulations to Guy Jameson, Paul Donnelly, Mark Rizzacasa, Uta Wille and Eric Reynolds. I am also one of the fortunate recipients of the ARC Discovery Project grants.</p> <p>Congratulations also to David Ascher on being offered an Early Career Researcher grant.</p> <p>This year, all projects have had to include a ‘National Interest Statement,’ which is interesting to read and a science communication challenge to formulate!</p> <p align="center"><em>"The public accountability of these projects have been improved by the application of the national interest test which uses plain English to explain the value of research to the country," Mr Tehan said.</em></p> <p>Projects that received funding included research on: the role of ferritin in iron metabolism; design of metal-containing molecules as tracers for molecular imaging; chemical synthesis of bioactive natural products; a novel bacterial secretion system; improving nitrogen fertiliser efficiency and unravelling the molecular puzzle of how bacterial toxins drill holes into cells.</p> <p>It is a credit to the individuals and teams who have been successful under very competitive conditions. We are also very conscious that many great applications have missed out this year and hope with a bit of fine tuning that these applications will find success in 2020.</p> <p>Please scroll down for the more detailed description of the projects funded.</p> <p>Regards</p> <p>Michael</p> <p><a href="https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/a3f6be6e-33f7-4fb5-98a6-7526aaa184cf/208"><strong>Discovery Projects 2020 Round 1</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Jameson, A/Prof Guy N</strong></p> <p>This project aims to understand the mechanism and function of the protein nanocage, ferritin, which stores iron in the body ready for use on demand. Iron is an essential element, vital for wellbeing. To understand iron we need to understand ferritin. Despite being widely studied, how ferritin actually works remains unclear. This project aims to use an interdisciplinary approach combining protein biochemistry, spectroscopy, genetics and whole organism studies. It will develop new techniques to enable the physiological role of iron to be explored. Outcomes of this innovative platform are anticipated to include in-depth understanding of how ferritin functions to unravel its fundamental role in iron storage and release ready for re-use.</p> <p><u>National Interest Test Statement</u></p> <p>Correct iron homeostasis is vital for health and well-being. This project will generate a complete and accurate model of iron flux into and out of the iron storage protein ferritin in a whole organism. This information is the basis for developing a complete understanding of iron physiology. The knowledge gained may, in the longer term, identify new strategies to alleviate iron deficiency or toxicity in a targeted way. To achieve this aim, new tools and technologies will be developed to allow us to examine iron function within ferritin and a new generation of multidisciplinary talent will be trained ensuring that Australian researchers remain leaders in the field of iron metabolism.</p> <p><strong>Donnelly, Prof Paul S</strong></p> <p>This project aims to make fundamental advances in inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry by preparing new metal-containing molecules based on specifically designed tetrapyrrole ligands. Innovative synthetic methods will be developed to enable systematic chemical modifications to explore the chemical and biological properties of the metal complexes. The potential of the new molecules to be of use as tracers for molecular imaging will be investigated. An expected outcome of this research will be an increased understanding of how chemical properties dictate the biological activity of metal complexes informing the potential long-term translation of this chemistry to new molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.</p> <p><u>National Interest Test Statement</u></p> <p>This research aims to make fundamental advances in the chemical sciences by making new designer molecules. High quality research will underpin internationally competitive discoveries at the forefront of bioinorganic chemistry. The new molecules and knowledge developed will have the long-term potential to improve modern society through technological breakthroughs in molecular agents capable of providing improved diagnosis and therapy. An excellent multi-disciplinary research environment will provide high quality training to the next generation of Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) specialist scientists that are necessary to drive Australia's emerging biotechnology and biomedical sectors.</p> <p><strong>Rizzacasa, Prof Mark A</strong></p> <p>This proposal aims to investigate the chemical synthesis of a number of structurally different natural product target molecules by strategies involving the use of either three or four membered ring-strained compounds to afford key synthetic intermediates in an efficient manner. The key aim of this research is to provide more efficient routes to complex natural products and analogues. The research strives to be at the forefront of modern synthetic organic chemistry and aims to contribute to the Science of complex molecule synthesis.</p> <p><u>National Interest Test Statement</u></p> <p>This project aims to achieve the total chemical synthesis of a number of bioactive natural products with diverse structures. Most significantly, this challenging research should deliver methods for the production of molecules that have applications in both basic and applied research. This research will expand Australia's knowledge base and support the high-quality education and training of students to increase Australia's research capability.</p> <p><strong>Reynolds, Prof Eric C</strong></p> <p>The Type IX Secretion System present in diverse bacteria of veterinary, agricultural, environmental and industrial importance enables effector proteins to be secreted and attached to the cell surface where they contribute to disease pathogenesis or degrade biopolymers of commercial interest. This project aims to determine the structure and assembly mechanism of this complex secretion nanomachine comprising 15 different proteins using state of the art microscopy. Knowledge of the structure will greatly enhance our understanding of secretion mechanisms and our ability to both inhibit the system to treat disease in animals or manipulate the system for industrial applications providing future economic and environmental benefits to our nation.</p> <p><u>National Interest Test Statement</u></p> <p>Our research will result in the structural characterisation of a novel bacterial secretion system that is present in a variety of important bacteria. This will lead to the development of new therapies (antibiotics/vaccine) for animal pathogens and provide important knowledge to allow manipulation of this secretion system in environmentally important bacteria for critical industrial applications. Overall the work will provide future economic, enviromental and productivity benefits for Australia.</p> <p><strong>Wille, Prof Uta</strong></p> <p>This project will use synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, root and rhizosphere biology and rhizosphere modelling to establish detailed mechanistic knowledge of the nitrogen (N) transport and uptake processes at the soil-root interface to develop new, efficient urease and nitrification inhibitors for reliable provision of N to the plant/root system. The reduction of excessive N fertilisation has significant environmental benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. This project will lead to a breakthrough for the triple challenge of food security, environmental degradation and climate change, while improving plant productivity and increasing the profitability of agriculture through lower fertiliser costs.</p> <p><u>National Interest Test Statement</u></p> <p>Agriculture plays a vital role in Australia, contributing to its environmental, economic and social sustainability, but is challenged by an increasing demand for food for a rapidly growing population. A key to ensure food security is to increase crop production through the use of fertilisers. The total cost of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser for Australia’s grains industry is over AUD 1 billion per year. Unfortunately, the efficiency of nitrogen use in the agricultural industry is low, with about 50% of the applied nitrogen escaping from the production system, amounting to a direct financial loss of ca. AUD 500 million each year. Much of the excess nitrogen fertiliser flows into waterways and is released to the atmosphere, resulting in groundwater pollution, eutrophication and increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions. This proposal will provide new strategies to enhance nitrogen fertiliser efficiency in agriculture by improving nitrogen uptake efficiency by plants and reducing nitrogen loss from soils, which will have significant economic and environmental benefits for the Australian agricultural industry.</p> <p><strong>Parker, Prof Michael W</strong></p> <p>Animals, plants, fungi and bacteria all use pore-forming proteins as cell-killing weapons of mass destruction. Despite their lethal nature and their roles in infection and immunity, how these proteins work remains enigmatic. This project aims to unravel missing molecular details of how a major superfamily of such proteins is able to drill holes in cell membranes. The outcomes could reveal novel mechanisms general to these proteins and provide fundamental insights in understanding vital physiological processes across all kingdoms of life. Ultimately, this knowledge may guide the design of artificial protein pores that are selective for specific molecules with applications such as measuring metal ions, sugars, pesticides or pollutants.</p> <p><u>National Interest Test Statement</u></p> <p>This project will provide insights into fundamental biology of bacteria including many with known importance in agriculture, biotechnology and human and animal disease. This could lead to the development of novel approaches in the biotechnology industry for the control of both bacterial and insect pests, as insects such as mosquitoes host some of these bacteria.The project also has the potential to lead to development of engineered proteins with great importance in the biotechnology industry, placing Australian science at the forefront of an emerging technology. This may have significant impact on the Australian economy through spin-off companies and licensing agreements. For example, Oxford Nanopore, a UK company that specialises in applications of engineered pores, has been valued at 1.5 billion pounds.</p> <p><a href="https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/a3f6be6e-33f7-4fb5-98a6-7526aaa184cf/206"><strong>Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2020 Round 1</strong></a></p> <p><strong>David Ascher</strong><br /> Structure guided mapping of protein interactions and their perturbation. Protein interactions are central to most biological processes, and significant effort has been devoted to trying to unravel these complicated networks. This project aims to develop new approaches to better understand these interactions, and the consequences of their perturbation. The main expected contributions will be: (i) methods to identify likely protein interaction sites using population conservation; (ii) computational approaches to assess the effects of any type of mutation on the interaction; and (iii) an understanding of how disruption of a specific interaction can affect the complicated biological network within a cell.</p> </div></div></div> Wed, 04 Dec 2019 03:21:49 +0000 floder 430 at https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au Bio21 ARC LIEF Grant Success https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/bio21-arc-lief-grant-success <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/sites/www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/files/styles/page/public/field/image/2020-12-23%20Bio21_ARC%20LIEF%20Grants_2020.jpg?itok=K_xi461U" width="960" height="440" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Bio21 teams have been successful with four University of Melbourne-led grants and one with the University of Wollongong.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Bio21 received a total of $2, 791, 874 directly to the Institute. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The following Bio21 recipients and their teams have received LIEF grants: </span></span></span></p> <ol><li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Liz Hinde and Paul Gleeson</span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> among others received a grant to establish a fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope that can track the intracellular journey of a proteins throughout the entire structural framework of a living cell.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Paul Gooley, Megan Maher and Mike Griffin</span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> among others are on a grant new instrumentation, which does not currently exist in Australia, into the Melbourne Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facility. This will introduce new capabilities to the Australian NMR community to characterise important biological molecular interactions at low concentrations.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Spencer Williams, together with Frances Separovic, Craig Hutton and Paul Donnelly</span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">, among others received a grant to establish a multi-institutional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) platform across two of Victoria’s leading research universities.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">My own LIEF grant came through together <i>with <b>Isabelle Rouiller, Megan Maher and Nick Williamson</b></i>, among others, to acquire a fully automated and integrated hydrogen-deuterium exchange system, a powerful tool for analysing the motion of proteins and their interactions with other molecules. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Bio21’s <b><i>Eric Hanssen and Isabelle Rouiller</i></b> among others were on a grant with the University of Wollongong for a Gatan K3 high throughput camera system, that will allow them to visualise proteins and other subcellular components.</span></span></span></span></li> </ol><p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">You can look up the results on the </span><a href="https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/1b0c8b2e-7bb0-4f2d-8f52-ad207cfbb41d/220" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">ARC website and below</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt">. Please let us know if we have missed your grant.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <table class="Table" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 1110px;"><tbody><tr><td style="width:175px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Professor Spencer Williams</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">; Associate Professor Jason Dutton; <b>Professor Frances Separovic</b>; Dr Yuning Hong; Dr Peter Barnard; Associate Professor Colette Boskovic; <b>Professor Craig Hutton</b>; Professor Oliver Jones; Dr Belinda Abbott; <b>Professor Paul Donnelly;</b> Associate Professor Sylvia Urban</span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 767px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The proposal aims to establish a multi-institutional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) platform across two of Victoria’s leading research universities. The platform will consist of two state-of-the-art NMR spectrometers equipped with parallel acquisition and variable temperature capabilities. It will renew obsolete equipment and support cutting-edge research in fundamental and applied chemical and materials science across the Victorian region. Expected outcomes include enhanced research capacity and productivity, supporting new interdisciplinary collaborations. Benefits will accrue across the spectrum of the chemical sciences and include environmental monitoring, drug development, process chemistry, and advanced materials manufacturing.</span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 122px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The University of Melbourne; <b>$777,493</b></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="width:175px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dr Elizabeth Hinde;</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> Professor Jose Polo; Professor Kieran Harvey; Professor Marnie Blewitt; Associate Professor Tamas Fischer; Professor Ruth Arkell; Dr Toby Bell; <b>Professor Paul Gleeson</b>; Professor Matthew Watt; Professor Steven Prawer; Dr Paul McMillan</span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 767px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">This project aims to establish a fast fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope that can track the intracellular journey of a protein throughout the entire structural framework of a living cell. By coupling single particle tracking technology with a cutting-edge fluorescence lifetime camera, this one-of-a-kind microscope will enable protein mobility and interaction to be spatially mapped with unprecedented temporal resolution. The benefit of this technology is that it will enable scientists in Australia to image, for the first time, the biophysical mechanism by which a protein navigates intracellular architecture to regulate a complex biological function at the single molecule level.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="width: 122px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The University of Melbourne; <b>$289,381</b></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="width:175px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Professor Paul Gooley</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">; Professor Martin Scanlon; Professor Joel Mackay; Professor Oliver Jones; Professor David Komander; Associate Professor Christopher McDevitt; Associate Professor Sylvia Urban; Associate <b>Professor Megan Maher</b>; <b>Associate Professor Michael Griffin;</b> Associate Professor Matthew Call; Dr Natalie Borg; Dr Katie Leach; Dr Karen Gregory; Dr Jeffrey Babon</span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 767px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The project aims to integrate new instrumentation, which does not currently exist in Australia, into the Melbourne Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facility. This will introduce new capabilities to the Australian NMR community to characterise important biological molecular interactions at low concentrations. This project expects to support existing areas of research strength with new approaches across interdisciplinary research programs in biochemistry, structural biology, medicinal and natural product chemistry. Expected outcomes from a range of research with a variety of partners will underpin new, potentially commercially valuable, applications across the chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural or manufacturing industries.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="width: 122px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The University of Melbourne; <b>$1,000,000</b> </span></span></span></p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="width:175px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Professor Michael Parker</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">; <b>Associate Professor Isabelle Rouiller; Associate Professor Megan Maher;</b> Professor Patrick Sexton; <b>Professor Paul Gooley</b>; Associate <b>Professor Nicholas Williamson</b>; Dr Thomas Peat; Dr Thomas Nebl; Professor Ross Bathgate; Dr Daniel Garama; Professor Marc Kvansakul; Dr Christopher Langendorf; Associate Professor Peter Czabotar</span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 767px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Proteins are highly dynamic molecules that are essential to life. This project aims to acquire a fully automated and integrated hydrogen-deuterium exchange system, a powerful tool for analysing the motion of proteins and their interactions with other molecules. Expected outcomes include a new capability for biology labs around Australia by (1) increasing success rates of difficult projects that aim to visualise 3D protein structures and (2) providing rapid information about protein interaction sites. Anticipated benefits include the generation of dynamic data that will be highly complementary to static pictures of protein structures. This will enable clever design of new proteins with beneficial uses in the biotechnology industry.</span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 122px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The University of Melbourne; <b>$725,000</b>         </span></span></span></p> </td> </tr></tbody></table><p> </p> <table class="Table" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 1118px;"><tbody><tr><td style="width:179px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Professor Antoine van Oijen; Dr James Bouwer; Dr Gokhan Tolun; Professor Ricardo Cavicchioli; Dr Nicholas Ariotti; Professor Renae Ryan; Associate Professor Margaret Sunde; Associate <b>Professor Eric Hanssen; Associate Professor Isabelle Rouiller</b>; Dr Matthias Floetenmeyer</span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 767px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Visualising the structure of biological macromolecules such as proteins and other subcellular components is critical to understand the fundamentals of life. The integration of the Gatan K3 high-throughput camera system with one of the most advanced cryo-electron microscopy facilities in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere will transform the capacity of Australian researchers to study the world around us at the molecular detail needed to advance innovative research. The addition of this equipment to the University of Wollongong's research facility Molecular Horizons will result in a step change in the areas of bionanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, diagnostics, and many other areas at the interface of biology, chemistry and physics.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="width: 126px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">University of Wollongong; $626,800         </span></span></span></p> </td> </tr></tbody></table></div></div></div> Wed, 23 Dec 2020 04:03:38 +0000 floder 495 at https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au What a great idea! Bio21 Researchers receive NHMRC Ideas funding https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/what-great-idea-bio21-researchers-receive-nhmrc-ideas-funding <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/sites/www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/files/styles/page/public/field/image/2020-12-16%20Bio21_NHMRC_Ideas%20grant.jpg?itok=2YCN_kLh" width="960" height="440" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Congratulations to Bio21 researchers Isabelle Rouiller, Justine Mintern, Hamish McWilliam, Kristin Brown and Spencer Williams who have been successful in receiving NHMRC Ideas grants, that have been announced today.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From seeking greater understanding of the inner workings of dendritic cells; to how the molecular alarm system MR1 is triggered in response to pathogens; how TECAN ion channels sense mechanical pain and how to harness knowledge of metabolism in the fight against cancer, it is wonderful to see projects funded that will deepen our understanding of mechanisms that govern our body’s immune system responses, our pain sensations, cancer metabolism and even repurposing drugs to treat Covid-19.  </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"> </p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; width: 1357px;"><tbody><tr><td style="width:293px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Associate Professor Justine Mintern</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>$687,500</b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="width: 1033px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Identifying molecular machinery in dendritic cells.</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Vaccines invoke immune responses that will protect a vaccinated host if they encounter infection. Vaccines can also be deployed to fight cancer. 'Dendritic cells' are the key immune cell responsible for vaccine immunity. While dendritic cells are pivotal to initiating vaccination, little is known about their internal machinery. This research proposal will identify new machinery for dendritic cell vaccine immunity that will serve as therapeutic targets to boost vaccination.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="width:293px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Associate Professor Isabelle Rouiller</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>$997,536.7</b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="width: 1033px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Structure and mechanism of activation of the mechanosensitive ion channel TACAN</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">We propose to determine the structure and mechanism of activation of TACAN, a recently identified ion channel that defines a novel and uncharacterised class of channels. TACAN is specifically involved in sensing mechanical pain and contributes to mechanosensitive currents in the pain-receptor type of neurons. Our studies will increase knowledge of this novel class of proteins that will allow for the future development of treatments for several chronic pain conditions including arthritis.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="width:293px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Dr Hamish McWilliam</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>$883,832</b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="width: 1033px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Presentation of Metabolite Antigens by MR1 Molecules: a Fundamental System of Immune Priming</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Our immune system constantly monitors our body for disease-causing microbes, such as bacteria that cause illnesses like pneumonia or tuberculosis. Our cells have a molecular alarm-system called 'MR1' which alerts white blood cells that an infection by microbes is occurring, however this process is not well understood. This grant will allow me to discover the cells and molecular pathways that govern the MR1 alarm system, which may lead to new treatments against common diseases in our community.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="width:293px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p> </p> </td> <td style="width: 1033px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="width:293px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Kristin Brown</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>$600,646.9</b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="width: 1033px; padding: 0cm 7px;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Investigating the consequences of dysregulated lipogenesis in cancer</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Reprogramming of cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer. As such, there has been growing interest in developing strategies to exploit metabolism for therapeutic gain.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="width:293px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px; height:63px" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Spencer Williams, CIB (CIA, A/Pr Ethan Goddard-Borger)</b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>$1,199,873.5</b></span></span></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 1033px; padding: 0cm 7px; height: 63px;" valign="top"> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Repurposing and re-optimising drugs that disrupt glycoprotein folding to treat COVID-19</b><br /> As of June 2020, COVID-19 has infected over 7.3 million people and killed over 413,000 in the six months since it emerged. It has pushed many healthcare systems and economies to breaking point. We recently discovered that a known drug is effective at stopping the virus under laboratory conditions. This research will determine exactly how the drug works, evaluate it's potential in pre-clinical models, and re-optimise the drug's antiviral properties to ensure that we can prevent future pandemics.</span></span></span></p> </td> </tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-bottom:11px"> </p> </div></div></div> Wed, 16 Dec 2020 01:31:04 +0000 floder 494 at https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au Bio21 Members Funded for Discovery https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/bio21-members-funded-discovery <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/sites/www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/files/styles/page/public/field/image/2020-11-17%20Bio21_ARC%20Discovery_Linkage.jpg?itok=VtXbwocC" width="960" height="440" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%">Congratulations to our Bio21 members who have been recipients of the ARC Discovery and Linkage Project grants for 2020. Bio21 researchers who have been funded to pursue their research are:</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><strong>Spencer Williams</strong>, </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%">“Dissecting a major sulfur cycling pathway: sulfoglycolysis."</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%">“Control of immune recognition and response by microbial metabolites."</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><strong>Elizabeth Hinde</strong>, “The role of HP1 alpha dimerisation in maintaining chromatin structure."</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><strong>Paul Gooley</strong>, “Uncovering mechanisms of protein multifunctionality."</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><strong>Marc Sani</strong>, together with Dr Francesca Cavalieri; Dr Christina Cortez-Jugo and Associate Professor Nitin Mantri from RMIT, “Bioprogramming the behaviour of nanoparticles in live cells by nanoscopy."</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%">Also, <strong>Ary</strong><strong> Hoffman</strong> is a recipient of a ARC Linkage Grant with Melbourne Water together with Christopher Walsh; Dr Yung En Chee and Dr Rhys Coleman, “Improving stream management using ecological modelling and DNA barcodes."</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">You can read the description of their projects below. It is wonderful to see this support for fundamental research in our Bio21 community. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%">Projects Funded:</span></span></u></b></span></span></span></p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; width: 1050px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; width:301px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px; border-top:1px solid black; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Scheme Name: Discovery Projects</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Lead Investigator: Prof Spencer Williams</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; width: 718px; padding: 0cm 7px; border-top: 1px solid black; border-right: 1px solid black; border-left: none;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">DP210100233 — The University of Melbourne</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dissecting a major sulfur cycling pathway: sulfoglycolysis. This project will elucidate the molecular details of sulfoglycolysis, a group of metabolic pathways through which the sulfur-containing sugar sulfoquinovose is catabolized. The project will employ an integrated metabolomic, chemical, biochemical and structural approach to dissect how various sulfoglycolytic organisms degrade sulfoquinovose. This project will deliver a deeper understanding of this major biochemical pathway and develop new chemical and metabolic approaches to manipulate sulfur cycling in the environment. Benefits will include biotechnology applications of newly discovered proteins, and sustainable approaches to reduce our dependence on agricultural fertilisers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; width:301px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px; border-top:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Scheme Name: Discovery Projects</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Lead Investigator: Prof Spencer Williams</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; width: 718px; padding: 0cm 7px; border-top: none; border-right: 1px solid black; border-left: none;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">DP210100235 — The University of Melbourne</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Control of immune recognition and response by microbial metabolites. This project aims to study immune recognition of microbial metabolites and develop reagents to control immune responses. Chemical synthesis will be used to develop new antigens for unconventional T cells and the first soluble agonists and antagonists of a glycolipid-sensing immune receptor. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new immune effectors, broadening our knowledge of the repertoire of small molecules that can be sensed by the immune system, and developing chemical approaches to promote or dampen immune responses. Major benefits include research training in chemical biology, strengthened international linkages and fundamental insights into the chemical basis of immune recognition and response.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; width:301px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px; border-top:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Scheme Name: Discovery Projects</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Lead Investigator: Dr Elizabeth Hinde</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; width: 718px; padding: 0cm 7px; border-top: none; border-right: 1px solid black; border-left: none;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">DP210102984 — The University of Melbourne</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The role of HP1 alpha dimerisation in maintaining chromatin structure. Heterochromatin protein 1 alpha (HP1a) is an architectural protein that decorates three-dimensional genome organisation and through self-association into HP1a dimers regulates global gene expression. While there is extensive biochemical evidence on how HP1a molecules bind DNA, dimerise and bridge nucleosomes close together, we still do not know how HP1a regulates higher order chromatin structure in the context of a living cell. Thus, by use of cutting-edge fluorescence microscopy methods, the overall aim of this research project is to determine the biophysical mechanism by which the HP1a monomer to dimer transition spatially and temporally modulates live cell chromatin network organisation to ensure faithful transmission of the genome.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; width:301px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px; border-top:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Scheme Name: Discovery Projects</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Lead Investigator: Prof Paul Gooley</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; width: 718px; padding: 0cm 7px; border-top: none; border-right: 1px solid black; border-left: none;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">DP210100998 — The University of Melbourne</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Uncovering mechanisms of protein multifunctionality. This project aims to use viral proteins to uncover fundamental mechanisms underlying protein multifunctionality, a central but poorly understood aspect of biology. This project expects to use multidisciplinary approaches to define novel and unexpected mechanisms by which single protein sequences can generate proteins with profoundly different structures and functions. Expected outcomes include a major shift in the understanding of protein function in life, with most immediate impact in virology. This should provide significant benefits in identifying new strategies for treating viral infections, but also enhance developing multidisciplinary approaches to solve complex biological problems.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; width:301px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px; border-top:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dr Francesca Cavalieri; Dr Marc-Antoine Sani; Dr Christina Cortez-Jugo; Associate Professor Nitin Mantri</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; width: 718px; padding: 0cm 7px; border-top: none; border-right: 1px solid black; border-left: none;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Bioprogramming the behaviour of nanoparticles in live cells by nanoscopy. The project aims to develop safer materials that are sustainably sourced from sweet corn, and investigate using advanced imaging technologies, how these materials are processed in biological systems, including human and plant cells. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the optimal design of materials that can be used safely and effectively in biological applications in medicine and in agriculture. Expected outcomes of this multidisciplinary project include a library of highly biocompatible nanomaterials and expanded knowledge on imaging technologies and structure-function relationship of nanomaterials in biological cells. This should provide significant benefits, such as improved crop yields and safer transfection agents.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px solid black; width:301px; padding:0cm 7px 0cm 7px; border-top:none; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Associate Professor Christopher Walsh; Dr Yung En Chee; Dr Rhys Coleman; Professor Ary Hoffmann</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Linkage Projects</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Lead Investigator:</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A/Prof Christopher Walsh</span></b></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> <td style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; width: 718px; padding: 0cm 7px; border-top: none; border-right: 1px solid black; border-left: none;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">LP200100381</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Improving stream management using ecological modelling and DNA barcodes. Rivers and streams provide invaluable ecosystem services, yet are commonly degraded by human activities: a problem likely to be exacerbated by thermal and flow regimes being altered by climate change. Stream biodiversity is both a value and an indicator of ecological health: effective stream management requires prediction of biodiversity responses to natural environmental and human-impact gradients. By compiling a dataset of macroinvertebrate species using new DNA metabarcoding, modelling their distributions, and ranking biodiversity by reach, we will develop molecular and quantitative spatial tools to provide data-driven, landscape-scale decision support for protecting and restoring streams: an urgent need for stream managers globally.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr></tbody></table></div></div></div> Tue, 17 Nov 2020 07:05:32 +0000 floder 489 at https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au NHMRC funds Bio21 research https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/nhmrc-funds-bio21-research <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/sites/www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/files/styles/page/public/field/image/2020-10-07%20Bio21_NHMRC_Eric%20Reynolds_Paul%20Gooley.jpg?itok=kYkVxQoH" width="960" height="440" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Last night I was delighted to see a recognition of the critical role of university research in improving the well-being of the Australian community as part of the 2020-21 Budget.  </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:28px"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">With regards to health and medical research, the government made a commitment to provide $6 billion over the next four years for health and medical research with $3.5 billion allocated to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for research funding. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:28px"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">In particular it recognised the: </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p align="center" style="margin-bottom:28px; text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">“Australian research sector’s rapid collaborative response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the disruption of professional and personal lives, researchers have stepped up to assist the national response – contributing to the development and testing of diagnostics, drugs and vaccines, supporting the public health response and investigating the mental health and other impacts of the pandemic on the community.”</span></span></i> <span style="color:black"><a href="about:blank" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">Read the media release on the NHMRC website</span></a></span><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:28px"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">The NHMRC also announced new grant recipients as part of the 2020-21 Budget.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p>Please join me in congratulating Bio21 researchers </p> <ul><li style="margin-bottom:28px; margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Eric Reynolds and his team</span></span></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">, who have received a Development Grant to “<span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0cm">Repair of tooth enamel/dentine by biomimetic mineralisation,” and </span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-bottom:28px; margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><b><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">Paul Gooley</span></span></b><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black"> <b>and his team</b>, who has received funding under the Targeted Calls for Research: “Exploring the role of nitrogen metabolism, energy metabolism and mitochondrial function in the pathophysiological mechanisms of paediatric ME/CFS.”</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul><p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">Eric’s project will involve the proof-of-concept testing of a prototype dental professional product MI Enamel/Dentine Repair<sup>TM</sup> to repair early stages of mineral loss non-invasively. This will result in the development of a system which should revolutionize dental practice globally for the non-invasive repair of early tooth decay and erosion lesions with a surface seal of tooth-like mineral. The project has received <b>$1,107,069</b>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">The Australian Government is investing $3.3 million in medical research to improve understanding of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a complex condition with an unknown cause.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">Paul Gooley’s extensive research into the condition has led to a hypothesis that ME/CFS results from toxic by-products of energy production in their cells. This problem can be caused by many unique ways, which could explain the diversity of the ME/CFS patient population. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">Paul has received <b>$784,064</b> to test this hypothesis with a novel personalised experimental design to simultaneously produce a plethora of new knowledge for the field of ME/CFS.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:28px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="color:black">The Australian Government is investing $3.3 million in medical research to improve understanding of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a complex condition with an unknown cause.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:28px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="color:black">Consumer representatives with lived experience of this difficult condition were key participants in the competitive peer review process.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">It is wonderful to see our researchers supported in this very competitive environment. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">NHMRC funding of Bio21 researchers announced in earlier rounds in 2020 include: </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul><li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><b><i><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">Debnath Ghosal,</span></span></i></b><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black"> Investigator Grant: Structural role of the host cytoskeleton during invasion of intracellular pathogens - $645, 205</span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><b><i><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">Eric Reynolds</span></span></i></b><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">, Investigator Grant (Leadership 3): The bacterial type IX secretion system in polymicrobial dysbiosis and chronic inflammation - $1, 900, 000</span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-left:8px"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif; padding:0cm"><span style="color:black">As well as my own team: </span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul><p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><b><i><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Michael Parker</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif"><span style="color:black">, Investigator Grant (Leadership 3): Understanding cell signalling as a basis for new therapeutics - $2, 231, 372</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">As we have all struggled to continue our research and, in some cases ‘pivot’ to COVID-19 research, it is good to see national recognition of the importance of scientific research through NHMRC and the university research block grant system .</span></span></span></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Michael Parker</span></font></p> <p><font face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Director, Bio21 Institute </span></font></p> </div></div></div> Wed, 07 Oct 2020 01:48:42 +0000 floder 482 at https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au Media Release: Solar panel efficiency could mean consumer savings of 20 percent https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/media-release-solar-panel-efficiency-could-mean-consumer-savings-20-percent <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/sites/www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/files/styles/page/public/field/image/2020-10-06%20Bio21%20Media%20Release_David%20Jones_ARENA%20Funding.jpg?itok=cVn-0lOV" width="960" height="440" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Tuesday, 6 October 2020<br />   <br /> Researchers at the University of Melbourne will use new materials to try to tap more efficiency from solar panels.</p> <p> <br /> Enhancing silicon solar cell efficiencies could lead to a drop in the cost per Watt of delivered electricity of up to 20 percent.</p> <p> Excess energy in high energy photons is normally lost as heat in solar cells but a team led by Research Group Leader, Dr David Jones, will identify better ways to use surplus energy, by getting more from each photon.</p> <p> “From ultra-violet to infra-red solar panels use light to generate electricity, however only the red light is used efficiently with 60 to 80 percent of the energy in yellow, green or blue light lost as heat in solar cells,” Dr Jones said. “We need simple, cost effective ways to recover the lost energy and turn it into electricity. New materials using quantum coupled states provide a route to use the energy in green or blue light to generate twice the power. By increasing the efficiency of solar cells by just five percent we can reduce the cost of delivered energy by 20 percent.” </p> <p> The work is a collaboration with the University of Queensland and the Australian National University and has been supported by a $1.29 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), announced today.</p> <p> The grant will allow the development of new materials to maximise the efficiency gain. </p> <p> Dr Jones said new materials will be synthesised at the University of Melbourne, while detailed spectroscopic characterisation of the materials at the University of Queensland, and incorporation into silicon solar cells at the will be in collaboration with the silicon solar cell group at the Australian National University.</p> <p> <br /> “The ARENA funding will allow us to bring together three key groups to demonstrate for the first time that we can use these quantum coupled states to show real impact and not just a laboratory curiosity,” said Dr Jones.</p> <p> Current solutions to harvest the excess energy involve costly highly engineered solutions, such as stacking three to four solar cells to harvest parts of the solar spectrum. This new research offers the potential of a simple solution using new materials that can be printed onto a low-cost silicon solar cell. <br /> The new organic semiconductor materials developed in Dr Jones’ laboratory use the generation of quantum coupled states to share this energy between two molecules, or parts of the same molecule. Electrons are normally paired in these materials and the electron spins can be aligned either in the opposite direction, called a singlet, or in the same direction, called a triplet.  </p> <p> Where the energy of the triplet is half that of the singlet, a process of singlet fission allows the energy to be shared between two triplets, effectively enabling generation of two electron/hole pairs from a single photon. Although the process of singlet fission has been known as a curiosity for some time, recent work within Dr Jones’ research group has shown a new class of materials that should enable this to be translated to real systems.</p> <p> Professor Paul Burn, an ARC Australian Laureate Fellow from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland said consumers stand to benefit from the work of the three universities.</p> <p> “Simple methods for enhancing silicon solar cell efficiencies could have real cost benefits over the complex engineering solutions being currently pursued.”<br /> ARENA has made a $15 million commitment to 16 research projects to help address solar panel efficiency, cost reductions and end-of-life issues.</p> <p>Media enquiries: Lito Vilisoni Wilson | +61 466 867 909 | <span class="spamspan"><span class="u">litovilisoni.wilson</span> [at] <span class="d">unimelb.edu.au</span></span><br />  </p> </div></div></div> Tue, 06 Oct 2020 23:28:51 +0000 floder 480 at https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au Bio21 researchers funded to investigate molecular mechanisms in health and disease https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/bio21-researchers-funded-investigate-molecular-mechanisms-health-and-disease <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/sites/www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/files/styles/page/public/field/image/2020-05-20_Bio21-NHMRC-Parker_Reynolds_Ghosal.jpg?itok=fkfx7YRP" width="960" height="440" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>20 May 2020</p> <p>The Hon Greg Hunt, Minister for Health announced the outcomes of the NHMRC’s Investigator Grants today.</p> <p>The NHMRC Investigator Grants consolidate separate fellowship and research support into one grant scheme that provides for outstanding researchers at all career stages</p> <p>Three members of our Bio21 community have received funding in this second round.</p> <p>Congratulations to Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds and Dr Debnath Ghosal and Bio21’s Director, Michael Parker on receiving Investigator Grants:</p> <p><b>Professor Eric Reynolds</b>, received a ‘Leadership 3’ Investigator Grant to fund his project:</p> <p>‘The bacterial type IX secretion system in polymicrobial dysbiosis and chronic inflammation’ - $1 900 000 over 5 years.</p> <p>Periodontitis (severe gum disease) affects 1 in 3 adults and has been linked with heart attacks, cancer and dementia. Eric will lead a multidisciplinary team investigating the interaction between disease causing bacteria in the mouth and the immune response which results in destruction of the tooth’s supporting tissues and allows bacteria to enter the blood stream. The expected outcome is the development of a novel therapy which will stop progression of disease associated with these pathogens.</p> <p><b>Dr Debnath Ghosal</b> received an ‘Emerging Leadership 1’ Investigator Grant, to fund his project: ‘Structural role of the host cytoskeleton during invasion of intracellular pathogens’ for $645 205 over 5 years.</p> <p>During infection by bacteria, the 'skeleton' of cells plays critical roles in sensing the invading germs and destroying them. To counteract this, bacteria have evolved strategies to hijack the cell skeleton to promote their own survival and spread. This intriguing molecular arms race is continuously co-evolving. Understanding this process in great details will have the potential to design novel therapeutics to counteract bacterial and viral infections.</p> <p>Also, our<b> Director, Professor Michael Parker </b>received a ‘Leadership 3’ Investigator Grant to fund his project: ‘Understanding cell signalling as a basis for new therapeutics’ for $2 231 372 over 5 years.</p> <p>This Investigator grant will capitalise on Michael’s extensive expertise in determining the three-dimensional atomic structures of proteins to uncover fundamental biological mechanisms in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease as a basis for discovering new drugs to combat these devastating diseases.</p> <p>These second round grants, follow from the NHMRC Investigator grant announcements made 28 August 2019, where we saw Dr David Ascher’s research funded. You can download details <a href="https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/funding/data-research/outcomes-funding-rounds#download">here(link is external)</a>.</p> <p><strong>Dr David Ascher,</strong> Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, received an Investigator grant of <strong>$1,554,485.00</strong> in round one to pursue his work:<br /><b><strong>“Using protein structure to combat antimicrobial resistance”:</strong></b></p> <p>The development and spread of antimicrobial resistance poses significant risks to human health. Sequencing offers enormous potential to manage this but understanding how and which mutations lead to resistance is challenging. This program will use the effects of mutations on the structure and function of proteins to pre-emptively identify resistance mutations. This information will be used to improve diagnosis of what drugs a pathogen is resistant to and in the development of resistance-resistant drugs.</p> <p>The awarding of grant funding towards these project areas, aligns with the Institute’s strategic commitment to the building of strengths in protein chemistry, structural biology, drug discovery and translational capacities. Nevertheless, we must remember that support of fundamental research in the biological, chemical and physical sciences is absolutely essential to drive the search for new medicines. Indeed, basic discovery underpins the work of all four Bio21 NHMRC Investigators.</p> <p>This year’s Investigator Grant funding allocation is $367.5 million. The second round cohort of 237 Emerging Leadership and Leadership Fellows have five years of funding, including a research support package.</p> <p><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/funding/data-research/outcomes-funding-rounds#download" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The funding outcomes can be downloaded from the NHMRC website here</a>.</p> <p><b> </b></p> </div></div></div> Wed, 20 May 2020 07:58:05 +0000 floder 455 at https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au Bio21 Teams Funded for Discovery https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/bio21-teams-funded-discovery <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/sites/www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au/files/styles/page/public/field/image/2017-11-10-Bio21_News_ARC-Success.jpg?itok=JcBynJle" width="960" height="440" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>10 November 2017</p> <p>In his media statement released today, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training announced the $333.5 million of funding as part of the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) National Competitive Grants Programme.</p> <p>It states that protecting the environment, medical advances, initiatives to support small business and creating employment opportunities for Australians are central to 859 new research projects the Turnbull Government is backing.</p> <p>“The Turnbull Government continues to invest in a wide variety of fundamental and applied research projects that are focused on making a difference to Australia and real social and economic benefits,” Minister Birmingham said. “This round of grants will increase Australia’s research capacity by expanding our research infrastructure and facilities and support Australia’s most outstanding researchers, including our early-career and Indigenous researchers, so they can continue to undertake ground-breaking research into the future.”</p> <p>Congratulations to members of the Bio21 community whose research has received funding and who have been part of LIEF infrastructure and equipment grants that have received funding.</p> <p>Congratulations to Elizabeth Hinde, Craig Hutton, Uta Wille, Malcolm McConville, Stuart Ralph, Diana Stojanovski, Richard O’Hair, Paul Donnelly, Justine Mintern, Spencer Williams, Kat Holt on their successful ARC Discovery grants.</p> <p>The funds will support diverse projects, from simplifying methods of synthesizing small molecules;  seeking to understand the nuclear architecture of cells; to improving nanoparticle design for vaccine delivery (see below).</p> <p>Congratulations to Lloyd Hollenberg, Paul Donnelly, Leann Tilley and Paul McMillan on cooperating on successful ARC LIEF grants, that will go towards establishing a cryogenic, quantum microscope facility and an adaptive optics, super-resolution optical microscopy facility, respectively.</p> <p>The University of Melbourne received a total of <strong>$29, 610, 922</strong> in funding. Discovery and LIEF grants that include Bio21 members (including collaborations with Monash University) totalled <strong>$4,620,876.</strong></p> <p>Below is the list of <a href="http://www.arc.gov.au/november-2017-arc-grants-announcement">Discovery and LIEF grants announced today</a> for members of the Bio21 Community. </p> <p><strong><u>Discovery Projects 2018: </u></strong></p> <p><strong><u>University of Melbourne: </u></strong></p> <p><strong>Dr Elizabeth Hinde</strong>; Professor Enrico Gratton</p> <p>This project aims to investigate the role of nuclear architecture in regulating genome function by development of a new microscopy method to quantify the diffusive route of fluorescent proteins in live cells. The anticipated outcomes of this project include an insight into how chromatin dynamics facilitate DNA target search and an analytical tool for cell biologists to probe how genomes work in their natural environment (the cell nucleus). This project received <strong>$412,608</strong> <strong>over 3 years.</strong></p> <p><strong>Associate Professor Craig Hutton; Associate Professor Uta Wille</strong></p> <p>This project aims to invent new synthetic strategies that enable chemical manipulation of small cyclic peptides, a promising class of biologically active molecules with high metabolic stability. Combining theory and practice, this project will develop novel acyl transfer reactions that will allow traceless, site-selective, ring expansion and contraction of small cyclic peptides. This project will result in new synthetic methodology that will simplify the synthesis of an important class of small drug-like molecules. This will provide significant benefits, such as a breakthrough in the synthetic approach to small cyclic peptides, which will strengthen Australia’s international standing in peptide research and provide new strategies for translation to the growing biotechnology industry. This project received <strong>$396,610 over three years.</strong></p> <p><strong>Professor Malcolm McConville; Dr Stuart Ralph</strong>; Dr Zoran Nikoloski; Dr Audrey John</p> <p>This project aims to investigate the origin and function of the large number of chemically undefined metabolites that occur in all cells. The project will utilise advanced analytical techniques, as well as computational and genetic approaches, to characterise the chemical structures of these metabolites and identity the enzymes involved in their synthesis and degradation. It will provide new information on the metabolic capacity of eukaryotic cells and allow the generation of more accurate models of metabolism. These outcomes have important biotechnology applications and will identify metabolic processes that underpin normal and disease states in animals and human cells. The University of Melbourne. This project received <strong>$530,496 over 3 years.</strong></p> <p>Dr Hayley Newton; <strong>Dr Diana Stojanovski;</strong> Dr Nichollas Scott</p> <p>This project aims to understand how intracellular bacterial pathogens target mitochondria. <em>Coxiella burnetii</em> is a unique and significant pathogen of humans and commercially important animals that uses effector proteins to control host cell functions. A cohort of these effectors target mitochondria. Since mitochondria are key players in cell health, the intended outcome of this research is to understand the role of the mitochondrially-targeted effector proteins. The project will determine the importance of mitochondrial protein trafficking for <em>Coxiella </em>pathogenesis and how mitochondrial function is altered during infection. This will provide understanding of how bacterial pathogens manipulate organelles like mitochondria for their survival. This project received <strong>$269,734 over 3 years.</strong></p> <p><strong>Professor Richard O'Hair; Associate Professor Paul Donnelly</strong>; Professor Allan Canty</p> <p>This project aims to discover new metal-promoted methods to synthesise amides and thioamides, important structural motifs in chemistry and biology. The project will use a mechanism-based approach that integrates theory with gas- and solution-phase experiments to discover new chemical reactions. A benefit of this research will be new eco-friendly alternatives to existing processes, thereby reducing waste and eliminating toxic and expensive reagents. This project received <strong>$401,706 over 3 years.</strong></p> <p>Dr Georgina Such; Dr Angus Johnston; <strong>Dr Justine Mintern</strong>; Professor Elizabeth Gillies<br /> This project aims to engineer responsive nanoparticles capable of trafficking efficiently within cells. The site of release of therapeutic cargo has importance for improving the efficacy of many treatments, for example vaccine delivery. Therefore fundamental understanding of how nanoparticle structure can be engineered to control cellular behaviour is necessary. The project will engineer new polymeric nanomaterials and investigate the impact of their structure on biological properties. The benefits of this project will include new fundamental insights into improving nanoparticle design for vaccine delivery, as well as the expansion of Australia’s knowledge base in the area of biodegradable polymers. This project received <strong>$438,161 over 3 years.</strong></p> <p><strong>Professor Spencer Williams</strong>; Professor Gideon Davies<br /> This project aims to develop a detailed molecular description of the sulfoglycolysis pathway, a major pathway involved in cycling an abundant sulfolipid. The project will use an integrated chemical, biochemical and structural approach to illuminate how sulfoglycolysis degrades sulfolipid to access its elemental and energy constituents. Expected outcomes include an advanced understanding of the biosulfur cycle, the development of new chemical approaches to manipulate sulfur cycling for agricultural and biotechnology applications, and deepened ties to leading international researchers. Potential benefits include new strategies to reduce dependence on agricultural fertilisers, promote gut wellbeing, and control insect pests<strong>. </strong>This project received<strong> $496,925</strong> <strong>over 3 years.</strong></p> <p><strong><u>Monash University: </u></strong></p> <p>Professor Ross Coppel; <strong>Professor Malcolm McConville</strong>; Dr Isabelle Lucet<br /> This project aims to investigate how the complex cell walls of <em>Mycobacteria and Corynebacteria</em> are assembled. The project will utilise a combination of genetic, biochemical and advanced analytical approaches to investigate individual steps in the synthesis of key cell wall components and understand how the assembly of these components is coordinated with bacterial growth. Important outcomes of this research will be detailed information on processes that regulate the growth of bacteria with important biotechnology, veterinary and medical significance, as well as information on mechanisms of cell wall synthesis that may be conserved in all bacteria. This project received <strong>$707,328 over 3 years.</strong></p> <p>Dr Michael McDonald; <strong>Associate Professor Kathryn Holt</strong><br /> This project aims to measure the rates and genetic mechanisms of adaptation for individual species within a microbial community. Expected outcomes of this interdisciplinary project include the first genomic and phenotypic dataset of a model microbial community, and novel tools for the analysis of meta-genomic datasets. This project has the potential to transform understanding of microbial adaptation. This project received <strong>$398,794</strong> <strong>over 3 years</strong>.</p> <p><strong><u>ARC LIEF – University of Melbourne</u></strong></p> <p><strong>Professor Lloyd Hollenberg</strong>; Professor Efstratios Skafidas; Professor Alastair Stewart; <strong>Associate Professor Paul Donnelly</strong>; Dr Jean-Philippe Tetienne; Professor Sven Rogge; Professor Michelle Simmons; Associate Professor Jared Cole; Dr Marcus Doherty<br /> This project aims to establish a cryogenic, quantum microscope facility in Australia. Quantum sensing is a new field that harnesses the properties of individual quantum systems to realise new types of detection and imaging with unprecedented combination of sensitivity and spatial resolution. The potential innovations, applications and benefits to society are far reaching across the full spectrum of scientific and engineering activity, from the development of atomic-scale imaging of protein structures for drug discovery, to the study of chemical, physical, and biological processes and materials for advanced technology and manufacturing.<strong> This application received $223,039.</strong></p> <p><strong>Professor Leann Tilley</strong>; Professor Staffan Persson; Professor Melissa Little; <strong>Dr Paul McMillan</strong>; Dr Alexander Combes; Professor Trevor Lithgow; Dr Thomas Naderer; Professor Michael Ryan; Associate Professor Helena Richardson; Dr Peter Lock; Professor Antoine van Oijen; Professor Sarah Russell; Associate Professor Marcus Heisler; Associate Professor Till Boecking; Dr Kirstin Elgass<br /> This project aims to establish an adaptive optics, super-resolution optical microscopy facility to image cellular events with the highest possible spatial resolution, in a whole cell or tissue context. Sophisticated computer-controlled deformable mirrors will be used to correct the way light is distorted as it passes through specimens, thereby overcoming aberrations found in thick and complex samples. This adaptive optics system will enable researchers to study complex behaviour of biological specimens, at the optical resolution limit in plant and animal tissues, leading to basic biology and biotechnology outcomes in biofuels, biomaterials and biomedicines. <strong>This application received</strong> <strong>$345,475.</strong><br />  </p> </div></div></div> Fri, 10 Nov 2017 05:26:49 +0000 floder 289 at https://www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au