Health

The wide field of health and medical science covers everything from improved diagnosis of illness to the development of new drugs and treatments. At NCI, researchers are applying computational and big data techniques to the big world of human health.

The hormone erythropoietin (red) bound to its receptor (grey). Binding of the hormone causes a rotation of the two receptors transmitting a signal through the membrane. The aim is to understand how the molecules at the receptor/membrane boundary (spheres) are coupled.

24 Apr 2017

Studying biomolecules with atomic precision

Researchers from the University of Queensland are using the National Computational Infrastructure to study the behaviour of biomolecules such as proteins and cell membranes with atomic precision. Of

A three part image with a DNA helix on the left merging into computer code which merges into a picture of the Raijin supercomputer, all with a green tinge.

Research Highlights

10 Mar 2017

Medicine looks to the future with genomics and big data

Health

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer and rare diseases in Australia is set to benefit from a partnership between the Australian Genomics Health Alliance (AGHA) and the National Computational

Scientific graphic showing multicoloured coils representing interacting proteins and drugs.

Research Highlights

14 Apr 2016

Computer-aided drug design

Chemistry

Health

Dr David Wilson from La Trobe University is using Raijin to design new drugs for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. "We're looking at kinases – a group of proteins that are involved in the

A man, Qinghua Qin, stands in front of an abstract sculpture showing two curved shapes reminiscent of biological creatures.

Research Highlights

13 May 2015

Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease. As the bones become thinner and less dense, they become exceedingly fragile. Painful fractures and breaks are a constant risk. Luckily, bones are pretty amazing

A tangle of different interacting molecules rendered in blue and red sticks, orange lines and green ribbons.

Research Highlights

16 Mar 2015

Modelling the insulin receptor

Chemistry

Health

One of the biggest goals in treating diabetes is to develop an orally active drug to eliminate the need to inject insulin. But in order to design a drug to mimic insulin, we first need to know exactly

Artist's impression of plaque inside a blood vessel inside the heart.

Research Highlights

30 Jan 2015

Towards early detection of heart disease

Biology

Health

Professor Kerry Hourigan's team at Monash University are using the NCI supercomputer to develop tools for early detection of heart attacks and strokes. "Cardiovascular disease is a major health

A man, Mick Sherburn, stands in front of a three-story building with vertical windows with angled edges.

Research Highlights

19 Nov 2014

New way to make rare drugs

Chemistry

Health

ANU chemists have used Raijin to develop a revolutionary new way to manufacture a rare anti-inflammatory drug with potential to treat cancer and malaria. The breakthrough could lead to new and cheaper

A bundle of thin pink, green, blue and red ribbons curls and winds its way around a central ball made up of the same colours.

Research Highlights

20 Oct 2014

Molecular movies

Biology

Health

Every nine minutes approximately one Australian is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. ARC Future Fellow Associate Professor Aaron Oakley from the University of Wollongong and his team are using

A stylised DNA helix with binary code superimposed on top of it.

Research Highlights

28 Jul 2014

Opening the cellular black box of melanoma

Biology

Health

Malignant melanoma represents only 15% of skin cancers but it accounts for almost all skin-cancer deaths, and Australia has the highest mortality rate from malignant melanoma worldwide. That's one of

A syringe sucking liquid out from a blue glass vial.

Research Highlights

04 Jul 2014

Pain relief breakthrough

Biology

Health

ANU scientists have used Raijin to work out exactly how pain relief drugs, such as anaesthetics, interact with nerve cells. Dr Ben Corry and Lewis Martin developed a detailed computer model that

The wide field of health and medical science covers everything from improved diagnosis of illness to the development of new drugs and treatments. At NCI, researchers are applying computational and big data techniques to the big world of human health.

Studying biomolecules with atomic precision

Medicine looks to the future with genomics and big data

Computer-aided drug design

Modelling bone remodelling

Modelling the insulin receptor

Towards early detection of heart disease

New way to make rare drugs

Molecular movies

Opening the cellular black box of melanoma

Pain relief breakthrough

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