Environmental Toxicology of Marine Turtles in the South Pacific Region. We propose to study pollutants such as pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals in sea turtles. Drs Whittier (UQ) and Henry Olszowy (Queensland Health Scientific Services) will supervise a Ph.D. student in the research. We will identify significant pollutants in Queensland, the Solomon Islands and Malaysia at sea turtle nesting and feeding grounds. We will follow the fate of chemicals in female turtles and t ....Environmental Toxicology of Marine Turtles in the South Pacific Region. We propose to study pollutants such as pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals in sea turtles. Drs Whittier (UQ) and Henry Olszowy (Queensland Health Scientific Services) will supervise a Ph.D. student in the research. We will identify significant pollutants in Queensland, the Solomon Islands and Malaysia at sea turtle nesting and feeding grounds. We will follow the fate of chemicals in female turtles and the effects of contamination on the development of eggs and hatchlings. This information will be used to help manage sea turtle populations and to contribute to sustainable use of the animals for a growing ecotourism industry.Read moreRead less
The role of neurohormones in the regulation of appetite and successful sea water transfer in farmed Atlantic salmon. Cultured Atlantic salmon spend the first part of their life in freshwater and then following a physiological adaption phase called smoltification, the fish (now termed smolts) are transferred to sea cages for growout. A proportion of smolts fail to thrive after transfer, show slow or no growth and usually die some months later. This project will investigate the role that the neuro ....The role of neurohormones in the regulation of appetite and successful sea water transfer in farmed Atlantic salmon. Cultured Atlantic salmon spend the first part of their life in freshwater and then following a physiological adaption phase called smoltification, the fish (now termed smolts) are transferred to sea cages for growout. A proportion of smolts fail to thrive after transfer, show slow or no growth and usually die some months later. This project will investigate the role that the neurohomones that control both appetite and physiological stress in fish have in stimulating the resumption of feeding after sea water transfer.The basic knowledge generated will be used directly in development of strategies for minimising smolt failure in Atlantic salmon aquaculture.Read moreRead less
Relaxin: molecular mechanisms of action in the reversal of fibrosis. Defects in relaxin and relaxin receptors are increasingly implicated as a cause of fibrosis which is associated with many disease processes. This study will examine the molecular mechanisms linking relaxin and fibrosis and will determine whether relaxin can be used to reverse the condition.
Investigation of the function of Sel S a novel selenoprotein. The long term aim of this project is to find a way to prevent or delay the onset of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. ChemGenex pharmaceuticals, our commercial partners have discovered and patented a selenoprotein with antioxidant properties and have shown in vitro that it protects insulin-producing beta cells from oxidative damage. This project aims to prove, in an in vivo setting, that this protein can prevent or delay the onset of d ....Investigation of the function of Sel S a novel selenoprotein. The long term aim of this project is to find a way to prevent or delay the onset of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. ChemGenex pharmaceuticals, our commercial partners have discovered and patented a selenoprotein with antioxidant properties and have shown in vitro that it protects insulin-producing beta cells from oxidative damage. This project aims to prove, in an in vivo setting, that this protein can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes in mouse models of type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less
Reproductive technologies for the conservation of a critically endangered marsupial, the Gilberts potoroo. The Gilberts potoroo is currently Australia's most endangered mammal (population total is less than 40). Natural breeding in captivity has not been successful so reproductive technology, especially artificial insemination, will be developed contribute to the survival of the species. This will involve detailed testing of techniques for semen collection and preservation, oestrus detection an ....Reproductive technologies for the conservation of a critically endangered marsupial, the Gilberts potoroo. The Gilberts potoroo is currently Australia's most endangered mammal (population total is less than 40). Natural breeding in captivity has not been successful so reproductive technology, especially artificial insemination, will be developed contribute to the survival of the species. This will involve detailed testing of techniques for semen collection and preservation, oestrus detection and artificial insemination, initially with the closely related Long-nosed potoroo. Once reliable protocols are developed, they will be applied to the Gilberts potoroo. If successful, this will be the first application of artificial insemination to increasing the numbers of a threatened species of marsupial in Australia.Read moreRead less
Animals on the move - an integrated approach to selecting conservation reserves under climate change. Conserving biodiversity when faced with rapid changes in climate and land use is a major challenge facing conservation managers. Translocation - the process of moving species from one location to another - may be the best means of preventing species extinction, but the long-term climatic suitability of translocation sites is rarely considered. This project will develop and apply new methods for ....Animals on the move - an integrated approach to selecting conservation reserves under climate change. Conserving biodiversity when faced with rapid changes in climate and land use is a major challenge facing conservation managers. Translocation - the process of moving species from one location to another - may be the best means of preventing species extinction, but the long-term climatic suitability of translocation sites is rarely considered. This project will develop and apply new methods for identifying climatically suitable habitats for a critically endangered tortoise, with the aim of selecting sites where the species can persist long-term with minimum management. The approach will have utility not only for management of endangered species, but also in selecting future climatic regions for raising commercially valuable species. Read moreRead less
Early Nutrition and the Programming of Body Composition in Cattle. Australia is the worlds largest beef exporter with the net value of beef export valued at $4.6 billion. The economy of rural and regional Australia relies upon cattle production with the industry bringing a total value to these communities of $7.4 billion. Cattle production in remote Australia is becoming less viable as input costs of production increase relative to income earned and the beef industry is keen to transform produc ....Early Nutrition and the Programming of Body Composition in Cattle. Australia is the worlds largest beef exporter with the net value of beef export valued at $4.6 billion. The economy of rural and regional Australia relies upon cattle production with the industry bringing a total value to these communities of $7.4 billion. Cattle production in remote Australia is becoming less viable as input costs of production increase relative to income earned and the beef industry is keen to transform production methods. Protein is the major limiting nutrient in the Australian rangelands and this proposal will provide new information on how providing protein to cattle during critical periods in their pregnancy can 'program' the body composition of the growing calf to be optimal for the market.Read moreRead less
Use of a cell based assay to identify novel insulin-sensitising agents. Diabetes and obesity are currently escalating to epidemic proportions in Australia and there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutics. A major feature of these disorders is impaired insulin action. We have recently developed and validated an exciting new assay for insulin action in fat cells. In this project we propose an exciting research program encompassing major research and biotechnology groups in Australia to u ....Use of a cell based assay to identify novel insulin-sensitising agents. Diabetes and obesity are currently escalating to epidemic proportions in Australia and there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutics. A major feature of these disorders is impaired insulin action. We have recently developed and validated an exciting new assay for insulin action in fat cells. In this project we propose an exciting research program encompassing major research and biotechnology groups in Australia to utilise this technology to identify novel insulin-sensitising agents. These agents will be used for drug discovery purposes by our industry partner ChemGenex and as novel tools to dissect the mechanism of insulin action.Read moreRead less
Relaxin action in the heart, kidney, lung and uterus: understanding fibrosis. Relaxin is a peptide hormone associated with pregnancy. We have recently generated a relaxin gene knockout mouse and exciting preliminary data show that without relaxin, non-pregnant mice develop signs of fibrosis in the heart, lung and uterus. Combining our expertise in molecular biology, pharmacology and physiology, the overall objective of this project is to investigate the functions and mechanisms of relaxin action ....Relaxin action in the heart, kidney, lung and uterus: understanding fibrosis. Relaxin is a peptide hormone associated with pregnancy. We have recently generated a relaxin gene knockout mouse and exciting preliminary data show that without relaxin, non-pregnant mice develop signs of fibrosis in the heart, lung and uterus. Combining our expertise in molecular biology, pharmacology and physiology, the overall objective of this project is to investigate the functions and mechanisms of relaxin action in these organs. Our findings will provide important basic information on relaxin physiology and enable us to implement a long-term partnership with Connetics to understand how relaxin regulates collagen production and/or the development of fibrosis.Read moreRead less
The cellular basis of temperature impairment of reproductive function in Atlantic salmon. Elevated summer and autumn temperatures, either as a result of normal climate variation or global warming, inhibit reproduction in salmonid fishes by disrupting endocrine (hormonal processes). The mechanisms involved are unclear but are known to involve inhibition of ovarian estrogen and the assembly of egg-yolk proteins. This project will investigate the cellular basis of the inhibitory effect of high temp ....The cellular basis of temperature impairment of reproductive function in Atlantic salmon. Elevated summer and autumn temperatures, either as a result of normal climate variation or global warming, inhibit reproduction in salmonid fishes by disrupting endocrine (hormonal processes). The mechanisms involved are unclear but are known to involve inhibition of ovarian estrogen and the assembly of egg-yolk proteins. This project will investigate the cellular basis of the inhibitory effect of high temperature on reproduction, at the ovarian and hepatic levels. The understanding developed will be an essential component of amelioration strategies for managing the continued successful rearing of salmon and trout under warming environmental conditions.Read moreRead less