ARC linkage grants.

ARC Linkage program delivers more than $1M to Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences researchers for projects in Drug Design, Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and Stem Cell Science

A grant totalling $522,000 via the ARC Linkage scheme (over three years) has been awarded to Drs Martin Scanlon and David Chalmers from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drs David Rhodes and John Deadman from Avexa Ltd and Prof Michael Parker from St. Vincent’s Institute. This collaborative research project will use advanced drug-design methods including NMR-based fragment screening and X-ray crystallography to develop new inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase enzyme. The project will make extensive use of the Australian Synchrotron when it is commissioned in 2007.

The project aims to address the pressing need for new drugs to combat HIV, as current drugs are being steadily rendered ineffective by mutation of the virus. New drugs would benefit the 15000 Australians and over 40 million people, worldwide who are currently infected with this terrible disease.

A project for research in pharmaceutical nanotechnology has attracted funding of $485,000 via the ARC Linkage scheme. Scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences A/Prof Christopher JH Porter and Dr. Ben J Boyd, in collaboration with Dr. Guy Krippner from Starpharma (an Australian biotechnology company and world leader in the biomedical application of dendritic polymers) are exploring the Rational Design of Pegylated Dendrimer Nanostructures for Site Specific Drug Delivery. The project aims to develop a series of novel nanoparticulate dendrimer-based drug delivery systems with improved site specific delivery properties. These delivery systems will provide delivery solutions that aim to improve the treatment of diseases, (including cancer), where issues of non-specific toxicity are commonly the limiting factor in the use of aggressive and potentially life-saving therapeutic regimens.

A further three year grants attracting $120,354 via the ARC Linkage scheme have been awarded to Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences scientists Prof. Colin Pouton and Dr. John Haynes for research in stem cell science, in collaboration with Dr. Paul Bello of Stem Cells Sciences Ltd.

Embryonic stem cells can be used as a source of neural stem cells (NS cells) which can be stabilised in a chemically defined growth medium, expanded and cryopreserved. NS cells represent a new and renewable source of brain cells (neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes) which will have many important applications in research and therapy. As yet the properties of cells derived from NS cells have not been investigated.

This project will examine NS cells as a source of defined subtypes of neurons, establish appropriate new culture methods, and will investigate the biological function of these neurons using cell physiological and pharmacological techniques. The ability to obtain specific neurons from NS cells will revolutionise the study of nerve function, will allow the establishment of much-improved models for discovery of new drugs, and will define how enriched populations of neural cells can be obtained for applications in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The project will also provide vital data for the emerging biotechnology industry associated with applications of stem cell biology, and will stimulate clinical researchers to investigate the therapeutic potential of cells derived from NS cells.