Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
The overall aim of this research is to introduce novel and innovative biotechnology approaches to contribute new strategies to the prevention of cumulative musculoskeletal injury/disorder in occupations with high physical demands and high incidence of injury. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the most common condition for workers compensation claims and represents 43% of all disease and injury claims which cost the Australian economy in excess of $35 billion per year. Globally musculoskeletal conditions are one of the leading causes of morbidity and disability with significant health care and personal costs.
Therefore, the specific goal of this research is to isolate and identify a range of peptides that we have recently detected which are able to discriminate between specific parameters observed in mining workers such as exposure to high level physical activity. This previous work established the initial biomarker detection methodology in our laboratory along with a number of candidate biomarkers. The proposed project aims to isolate and identify these candidate biomarkers and thus establish these processes which are an essential step in discovery phase biomarker research. This is a collaborative project which involves researchers from the Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program (IHBI) and the Workforce Health Innovation Program (IHBI).
Methods and techniques that will be developed in the course of this project:
This project will adopt cutting edge protein isolation, identification and quantitation techniques such as surface enhanced laser desorption/ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI TOF MS), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS), 2D-gel electrophoresis incl 2DDIGE as well as more traditional protein biochemistry techniques such as SDS PAGE, immunological techniques and western blot analysis.
- Study level
- Honours
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor.
Dr Tony Parker
