Structural and Functional Implications of Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 Variants: Advancing Therapeutic Strategies for Neuropsychiatric Disorders (2 x Positions)

Description

This NHMRC-funded project will uncover how Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 (TAAR1) mutation affects receptor structure, function, and drug binding, laying the foundation for pharmacogenetics-based approaches to TAAR1-targeted therapies. TAAR1 is a G-protein-coupled receptor that recognises trace amines and is highly expressed in the brain. It plays an important role in modulating the monoaminergic neurotransmission of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. TAAR1 is emerging as a powerful therapeutic target in the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. Several TAAR1 agonists are currently being developed and are in various stages of clinical (e.g. ulotaront) and preclinical development. As TAAR1 is polymorphic and has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, single-nucleotide variants may be responsible for the variation in drug responses and clinical outcomes. This project aims to provide a detailed understanding of the molecular and structural determinants of various mutations in TAAR1.

Benefits

The scholarship includes:

A 4 year stipend valued at:

• Year 1: $35,000
• Year 2: $36,000
• Year 3: $37,000
• Year 4: $38,000 

A Research Training Program Fee Offset Scholarship to cover tuition fees for Australian Citizens, NZ Citizens and Permanent Residents.

International students will be considered, and eligible candidates will be supported by the supervisor to apply for a Research Training Program Fee waiver.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award of this scholarship a student must:

• Meet PhD admission requirements including having an Australian Honours degree Class 1 or 2A or equivalent qualification (at least AQF Level 8), including a research component of at least 6 months’ full-time study achieving Distinction (75%) OR including evidence of equivalent research experience, such as a substantial first-author refereed publication or track record as an investigator on a competitive grant; and
• Be available to commence as a full-time PhD student at Flinders University (on campus) in semester 2, 2025;
• Demonstrate strong research and analytical skills aligned with pharmacology, computational chemistry, or computational biology, or a similar field.
• Prior experience with GPCR pharmacology, molecular modeling, MD simulations, AI in biology, and/or molecular biology is desirable but not essential.