Research Supervisor Connect
The success of the COVID-19 vaccine has unlocked a new category of medicine, where we can identify and then deliver human genes that control disease as RNA-based medicines. We have established these systems and are now in the preclinical development phase to make new RNA based medicines. This project will involve designing and testing human or synthetic genes to help treat major human diseases, with a focus on neuroscience, immunity, or lung function. This project is designed to quickly lead to new medicine.
A complimentary scholarship for this project may be available through a competitive process. To find out more, refer to the Faculty of Science Postgraduate Research Excellence Award and contact Professor Greg Neely directly.
Research location: Charles Perkins Center
Most successfully drugs act by inhibiting protein function. The ability to efficiently and safely deliver RNA therapeutically changes this, and now we can also specifically activate pathways therapeutically. In this project, we combine genomic and functional genomics techniques with new RNA technologies to quickly design and test new RNA medicines. We are looking at targeting a number of major human diseases, and there is some flexibility here depending on the specific interest of the student. The techniques employed for this project include advanced bioinformatic analysis of large human data sets, cellular and molecular biology, fluorescent activated cell sorting, lipid nanoparticle delivery of RNA, and human stem cell derived organoids and / or animal studies.
This project is for PhD candidates
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3332