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Membrane transporters and channels

RSB research focuses on membrane transporters and ion channels, targeting them to treat diseases like type 2 diabetes and cancer. Computational methods explore ion channel functions and transport processes in malaria parasites.

About

Membrane transporters and ion channels play a crucial role in the provision of nutrients to organisms and cells, they remove toxic compounds and waste, and are crucial in regulating excitability in the nervous system. In the Research School of Biology we target ion channels to treat human diseases and target transporters to treat type 2 diabetes and cancer. We use computational approaches to study the function of ion channels and investigate transport processes in parasites as novel targets to combat Malaria.

Groups

We use powerful biological resources provided by C. elegans to study aspects of nematode biochemistry, molecular biology and behaviour, and control methods.

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The Brock lab loves membrane proteins; looking at them in atomic detail, discovering new drug molecules, and engineering them to create new biosensors. Join us!

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A group photo

Broer group studies the role of amino acid transport in the onset of insulin resistance and the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism.

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We work on engineering strategies to increase crop tolerance to salinity and drought, and to advance water filtration technology.

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Corry group's research examines the structure and function of membrane proteins.

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Danila group

Our group studies plasmodesmata to answer important plant science questions related to development, cellular transport, root biology, signalling and evolution.

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We aim to identify new potential targets for antibacterial agents, using structural biology, biochemistry and bacteriology methods.

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We study membrane transport processes in the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria.

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Denisse Leyton

We study how autotransporters are assembled into bacterial outer membranes, and how they function to mediate infection and disease once they get there.

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Maier group

The Maier Group focusses on the identification of molecules involved in malaria pathogenesis and transmission.

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The Price lab is presently focusing on the molecular biology and physiology of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria (blue-green photosynthetic bacteria) and plants

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The Saliba Group is investigating vitamin utilisation pathways in the red blood cell stage of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

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Group photo

We study the basic biology of parasites, with the hope that such knowledge can be used in developing new treatment options against these formidable foes.

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A group photo

We are investigating aspects of carbon acquisition by plants including the biochemistry of CO2 fixation and regulation of CO2 diffusion into and within leaves.

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Projects

Reducing the cost of seawater desalination by copying the action of cell membranes.

Student intake

Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students

People

The environment encountered by the malaria parasite in the mosquito is very different from the surrounding in the human host (temperature, available nutrients, immune system,....). We are looking at the necessary differentiation a malaria parasite undergoes before it can be taken up from human blood by the mosquito vector. These changes are irreversible and essential for transmission. A better understanding of these processes could provide clues how to prevent the transmission of malaria and therefore deliver additional instruments in the fight against this disease.

Student intake

Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students

People

Projects dealing with CO2 acquisition by cyanobacteria and plants, and impact of climate change, and the engineering plants that use less water and produce greater yield.

Photosynthetic CO2 fixation rate is constrained by CO2 diffusion inside leaves from intercellular airspace to the cytoplasm and chloroplasts in species with either C3 or C4 photosynthetic pathway.

Student intake

Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students

People

The project will involve coding efficient parallelised programs that can calculate the electrical properties of cells over time, and will appeal to anyone that wants to use computer science to understand the physical basis of neuroscience.

Student intake

Open for Honours, PhD students

Design and evaluation of novel antimalarial drugs

News

Dr. Florence Danila of the Australian National University wins Thomas Davies 2024 grant from the Australian Academy of Science to support her work on plasmodesmata.

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Dr. Florence Danila awarded as one of the 2023 ACT's Young Tall Poppies on 19 September 2023 at the Shine Dome.

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My group focuses on understanding the function of integral membrane transporters and receptors from a structural perspective.

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Professor Stefan Bröer

Stefan Bröer is looking for the right molecule for a biological target, that could be developed into a drug to treat diabetes. Now ANU has its own library of compounds, available to biological and medical researchers, managed by the Research School of Chemistry.

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New research from The Australian National University (ANU) has drilled down to the molecular level to find similarities across six pharmaceutical drugs used in pain relief, dentist anaesthetic, and treatment of epilepsy, in a bid to find a way to reduce unwanted side-effects.

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Tze How Goh

Honours student Tze How Goh, enriches his studies by researching diabetes treatments.

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