{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260100867"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260100867","attributes":{"code":"DE260100867","administering-organisation":"The University of Queensland","announcement-administering-organisation":"The University of Queensland","scheme-name":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2026,"years-funded":3,"project-start-date":"2026-07-01","anticipated-end-date":"2029-06-30","grant-summary":"Uncovering viral entry mechanisms of henipaviruses. Henipaviruses are bat-borne pathogens that cause annual outbreaks in humans and livestock. These viruses are spread globally and are an epidemic concern in Australia and Asia. Despite research into clinical interventions, the mechanisms that underpin how these viruses enter host cells remains under-explored. This project aims to make use of cutting-edge techniques such as cryogenic electron tomography to image henipavirus virions and uncover how they engage and fuse with host cells. The expected outcomes from this work include new fundamental knowledge into virus infection mechanisms, enabling the future development of improved research tools and resulting in improved public health policies for pandemic preparedness and global biosecurity.","funding-current":533409.00,"funding-at-announcement":529169,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Ariel","familyName":"Isaacs","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-8499-3083 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Ariel","familyName":"Isaacs","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-8499-3083 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"The University of Queensland","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"QLD"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"The University of Queensland","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"QLD"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":false,"code":"310112","name":"Structural Biology (Incl. MacRomolecular Modelling)","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":true,"code":"3107","name":"Microbiology","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"310706","name":"Virology","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"280101","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Agricultural, Food and Veterinary Sciences","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280102","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Biological Sciences","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280103","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Biomedical and Clinical Sciences","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["England"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"Henipaviruses are endemic in Australia and cause spill-over infections into horses, livestock and humans. Despite this, there is a significant knowledge gap in our understanding of how these viruses enter cells and initiate infection in a wide range of mammalian hosts. This project will provide a structure-based mechanism for the viral entry process into host cells using near-atomic resolution microscopes. This will generate new knowledge to better understand the biological process that drives viral entry at the atomic level. This research will expand our understanding of the entry and transmission mechanisms of this virus family and therefore benefit government decision making regarding public and animal health policies. Furthermore, such fundamental knowledge of viral entry mechanisms may be harnessed in future applications including vaccines, therapeutics, gene delivery and diagnostics to generate new commercial products. The project will make use of Cedar virus, a non-pathogenic virus unique to Australia, providing insight into novel viruses within the Australian ecosystem. Overall, this project will help Australian public health outcomes by providing better pandemic preparedness and also protect the equine and agricultural industries from outbreaks. Lastly, the use of cutting-edge microscopy techniques will ensure Australia remains a leader in emerging virus and biosecurity research.   "}}}