SoMS Honours

Potential Projects » Molecular & Drug Discovery

Academic	Project Title
Dr Matthew Baker & Dr Lawrence Lee EMBL Australia Node for Single Molecule Science, SoMS	Adapting bacterial motility in the laboratory using experimental evolution
A/Prof Till Boecking Single Molecule Science, SoMS	Packing a punch: How do cytolytic proteins from natural killer cells form membrane pores?
A/Prof Till Boecking Single Molecule Science, SoMS	Watching protein folding in real time
Prof Peter Gunning Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit, SoMS	Molecular mechanisms of a novel class of cytoskeleton targeted anti-cancer compounds
Dr Charles Cox & Prof Boris Martinac Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute	Unravelling the 'Mechanome': mechanically-induced changes of cellular signalling pathways
A/Prof Rob Gilchrist Oocyte and Ovarian Biology Research Unit	Non-invasive markers for oocyte quality/reproductive potential
Dr Daniel Hesselson Garvan Institute of Medical Research	How does diabetes promote neurodegeneration?
Dr Lawrence Lee EMBL Australia Node for Single Molecule Science, SoMS	Building nature’s extraordinary machines: The development of new vaccines and diagnostics
A/Prof Megan Lord & Prof John Whitelock Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering	Development of antibodies to understand the tumour microenvironment and treat disease - This project aims to epitope map antibodies to tumour microenvironment molecules to further fundamental understanding of their role in cancer and to develop therapeutic approaches to modify the tumour microenvironment
A/Prof Megan Lord & Prof John Whitelock Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering	Harnessing glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis for next-generation anticoagulant drugs - This project aims to understand the regulators of glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis to bioengineer functional molecules with anticoagulant activity
A/Prof Megan Lord, Prof John Whitelock & Dr Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering	Cell-instructive bioengineered molecules for blood vessel tissue engineering - This project will bioengineer cell-instructive molecules called proteoglycans and incorporate them into biomaterials for blood vessel tissue engineering
A/Prof Lu Liu Gastrointestinal & Bladder Disease Group, SoMS	Extracellular ATP signalling in the gut and bladder: a role in inflammation?
A/Prof Lu Liu Gastrointestinal & Bladder Disease Group, SoMS	Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptors as a potential novel target for modulating inflammatory bowel disease
A/Prof Lu Liu Gastrointestinal & Bladder Disease Group, SoMS	Urinary microbiome and bladder disorders
Prof Boris Martinac & Dr Charles Cox Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute	Understanding the role of mechanosensitive channels in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology
A/Prof Andrew Moorhouse Membrane & Cellular Biophysics, SoMS	Novel flavonoid modulators of glycine receptors
Dr Kadla Rosholm, Dr Lawrence Lee & Prof Boris Martinac EMBL Australia Node for Single Molecule Science, SoMS	Structure and activity of membrane proteins with simultaneous single molecule fluorescence and electrophysiologal measurements
Prof Nicholas Shackel SWS Clinical School and Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research	Identification of novel genetic markers of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis: Development of new diagnostic and therapeutic agents (Honours & MSc)
Prof Nicholas Shackel SWS Clinical School and Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research	Novel antibody and siRNA mediated therapy in liver cancer (Honours & MSc)
Dr Nicola J Smith & Dr Angela Finch Orphan Receptor Laboratory, SoMS	Understanding the molecular pharmacology of orphan G protein-coupled receptors
Dr Nicola J Smith & Dr Angela Finch Orphan Receptor Laboratory, SoMS	Signalling bias at the sweet taste receptor
Dr Angela Finch & Dr Nicola J Smith G Protein-Coupled Receptor Laboratory, SoMS	Effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the sweet taste receptor on expression, trafficking and signalling
Dr Angela Finch & Dr Nicola J Smith G Protein-Coupled Receptor Laboratory, SoMS	Characterisation of novel allosteric modulators for GPCRs
Dr Angela Finch & Dr Nicola J Smith G Protein-Coupled Receptor Laboratory, SoMS	How is residence time modulated? The role of the orthosteric vestibule and orthosteric binding site in adrenoceptors.
Dr Alastair Stewart Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute	Antibiotic peptides that inhibit ATP synthase
Prof Jamie Vandenberg & Dr Carus Lau Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute	The structural basis for promiscuity of drug binding to hERG K+ channels
Dr Shafagh Waters & Prof Adam Jaffe Australasian Centre for Personalized Cystic Fibrosis Medicine (ACPCFM)	Cystic fibrosis derived mini-organs; a model system for precision medicine
Dr Shafagh Waters & Prof Adam Jaffe Australasian Centre for Personalized Cystic Fibrosis Medicine (ACPCFM)	Targeted activation of CFTR via manipulation of a non-coding RNA pathway
Dr Shafagh Waters & Prof Adam Jaffe Australasian Centre for Personalized Cystic Fibrosis Medicine (ACPCFM)	Harnessing protective and antiapoptotic function of stress granules (SGs) in CF
Dr Shafagh Waters & Prof Adam Jaffe Australasian Centre for Personalized Cystic Fibrosis Medicine (ACPCFM)	Serum biomarkers of Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes (CFRD)