The Australian Research Council (ARC) awards MACSYS Chief Investigator Lan Nguyen a 2025 Future Fellowship.

Project details:

• Title: Deciphering contextual multi-pathway crosstalk in cellular decision making.
• Funding amount:  $1,286,791
• Summary:  This project aims to unravel how cells make decisions by decoding their complex internal communication networks. Like assembling puzzle pieces to form a complete picture, this project will determine how different signalling routes in cells fit together and also how this assembled network functions in different cell types. The project will also develop new methods to map these intricate networks across various cellular contexts and simulate them using computers. The benefit will be new knowledge of how cells process multiple signals to make decisions and new tools enabling more accurate prediction of cell behaviour. These advances will drive innovation in biotechnology, from enhancing biofuel production to developing more resilient crops.

“Understanding how cells integrate multiple signals to make decisions is one of the great frontiers in biology,” says Lan. “This project aims to shed light on this complexity using cutting-edge computational modelling, with broad applications in health and biotechnology.”

Congratulations, Lan!