EMBL Australia Group Leader Professor Chen Davidovich has been awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship to uncover how RNA helps control gene packaging and develop new methods to modify and introduce genes for advancements in biotechnology.
The fellowship will provide more than $1.1 million in funding over four years to support Prof Davidovich’s research at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute.
His project – titled ‘RNA at Facultative Heterochromatin: Why is it There and How Can We Use It?’ – aims to uncover the critical role of RNA in gene packaging.
It will investigate how RNA influences the way genes are turned off and how gene packaging can be modulated for various biotechnological applications.
By determining how RNA participates in gene packaging and affects the function and activity of proteins involved, the project aims to develop methods to loosen the tightly packed chromatin structure.
This will facilitate the modification of genes and the introduction of new genes into cells, paving the way for significant advancements in biotechnology.
These advancements will enable the development of improved cell lines and future crops, benefiting food technology, synthetic biology, and agriculture.
The ARC Future Fellowships scheme supports mid-career researchers in advancing their research endeavours in priority areas.
Yesterday, the ARC announced $106.7 million in funding for 100 new projects under the scheme. Read more here.
Congratulations, Chen!