Detecting lung cancer early with sugar-sensing nanotech
Published on: 1 July 2024
Trau Group
Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, Molecular diagnostics
The Trau Group, led by ARC Australian Laureate Fellow Professor Matt Trau, brings together physical chemistry, biology, mathematics, bioengineering and nanoscience in a highly multi-disciplinary way to create new technologies that provide entirely new scientific insights and breakthroughs.
One key focus area of the lab is to develop innovative nano-diagnostics and nano-manufactured medicines to help transform the healthcare system towards early detection and personalized treatment of disease. This approach aims to dramatically extend high quality human life through a combination of innovative diagnostic technology, on-demand molecular-guided therapies and preventative measures (The ultimate goal of Precision Medicine).
Professor Trau has a joint appointment with SCMB.
Research Areas
- Nanoscience
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular diagnostics
- Personalised medicine
Research Approach
Our research focus is on developing diagnostic devices for early detection of diseases such as cancer, when it is most responsive to treatment which also provides the greatest social and economic benefits to society. Nanotechnology offers the promise of miniaturised, inexpensive, flexible and robust “plug-and-play” molecular reading systems which can be effectively deployed to detect diseases in a clinical setting.
Research Highlights
Videos
An End to Cancer Mortality with Nano-Diagnostics | Matt Trau | TEDxUQ
Research with the Trau Group
The New Science of Ageing & Wellness - Dr Leroy Hood, Ravinder Sajwan & Matt Trau
Personalised Treatment for Breast Cancer, presented by Professor Matt Trau
It's a Small World - documentary on Nanotechnology & it's benefits to cancer research
Professor Matt Trau, NBCF funded researcher talks about his diagnostic research
On Liberty Ep.10 Matt Trau: Lessons to prevent the next pandemic
Research Projects
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Microfluidic sensors for immunophenotyping
January 2023–December 2024 -
A new interfacial bio-sensing approach for detecting aberrant protein phosphorylation in cancer
January 2016–December 2024 -
Cell Envelope Compositions for Protein Studies and Biosensor Applications
January 2016–December 2024 -
DNA microdevices for Cancer Detection
January 2017–December 2024
PhD opportunities
Funding
Since 2019
- Motor Nuerone Disease (MND) (2024) A blood-based nanotechnology to decipher the extracellular vesicle code in ALS
- ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships (2024) Digital chemistry and catalysis: redefining reactions in confined systems
- University of Sydney (2023) Rhythm and blues: Personalising care for body clock dysfunction in mood disorders (NHMRC Synergy)
- University of Sydney (2023) Utilizing neurobiological markers of circadian-linked depression to improve responses to clinical care. (Wellcome Trust)
- University of Newcastle (2022) The Development and Clinical Translation of Blood-Based Diagnostics for Brain Cancer (Mark Hughes Foundation administered by the University of Newcastle)
- ARC Discovery Projects (2022) An integrated nano-bioengineered chip for enhanced molecular evolution
- University of New South Wales (2022) Novel epigenetic blood test for breast cancer detection and monitoring (National Breast Cancer Foundation Grant administered by UNSW)
- Cancer Australia (2022) nanoIMPAC: Monitoring immune toxicities and tumour immune evasion in lung cancer
- University of Newcastle (2022) Can the brain's immune cell be used to track treatment response in high-grade glioma? (University of Newcastle led Mark Huges Foundation Brain Cancer Innovation Project Grant)
- CannaPacific Pty Ltd (2021) Cannabis genetic marker development for the breeding of medicinal cannabis varieties
- CSIRO (2021) The amplification of DNA from environmental metazoan cells (enCells)
- Evolution Mining Limited (2021) Immunostorm Chip Research
- ARC Discovery Projects (2021) Single molecule sensing on nanopillars: Reading complex molecular circuits
- NHMRC Investigator Grants (2020) A protein phosphorylation mapping tool for monitoring tyrosine kinase inhibition therapy in cancer patients
- ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (2020) Harnessing nanotechnology to unravel extracellular vesicle heterogeneity
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Fellowship (2019) Engineering therapeutic cells for pan-cancer diagnosis and eradication
- UQ-CSIRO collaboration agreement (2019) Precision Nanomedicine
Publications
Click here to view Trau group publications
