New Vic grants support bioinformatics projects

Biotechnology, genomics and molecular modelling will be boosted with grants from the Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing (VPAC) with AUD$348,000 in funding for its round eight e-Research grants program.

VPAC is an independent, not-for-profit, advanced computing R&D service provider established in 2000 by a consortium of seven Victorian universities. The registered research agency's e-Research grants program has been running for five years, providing funding of more than $5 million to more than 140 projects. The grants provide seed funding for short to medium-term research projects which use advanced computing and generate significant research outcomes.

The 23 projects in the round eight grants include:

• Calculating 3D molecular structures of bio-molecules (drugs, protein and DNA) in solution and drug binding energies to enhance the drug design process (La Trobe University, $18,000).
• Separating mammalian cells using thin channel fractionation devices to allow cell separations without needing to develop cell-specific antibodies (Monash University, $9000).
• Using laser light interaction with blood to predict glucose levels (University of Melbourne, $15,000).
• Constructing algorithms to predict the success of cord blood cell therapy for genetic diseases with the long-term goal of improving cord blood transplantation protocols (University of Melbourne, $21,867).