Gastrointestinal hormones: linking insulin dysregulation and laminitis. This project aims to identify the earliest pathogenic factors of disease by investigating two key hormones, ghrelin and GLP-2, and whether a specific genetic mutation underlies insulin dysregulation. Using innovative approaches the project will enable the identification of at-risk animals and pinpoint novel treatment strategies. In the long term improved disease treatment and prevention will reduce the suffering associated w ....Gastrointestinal hormones: linking insulin dysregulation and laminitis. This project aims to identify the earliest pathogenic factors of disease by investigating two key hormones, ghrelin and GLP-2, and whether a specific genetic mutation underlies insulin dysregulation. Using innovative approaches the project will enable the identification of at-risk animals and pinpoint novel treatment strategies. In the long term improved disease treatment and prevention will reduce the suffering associated with painful and often lethal co-morbidities.Read moreRead less
Saving your skin: physiology of immune regulation in mammalian lymph nodes. The overall aim of this proposal is to understand the mechanisms through which a rare population of regulatory cells maintains skin integrity. Despite their importance, little is known about the regulatory pathways these cells utilise. Previous work from the team has described an innovative technique to enrich these cells for in-depth study and demonstrated their potent regulatory capacity in vivo. This project will enha ....Saving your skin: physiology of immune regulation in mammalian lymph nodes. The overall aim of this proposal is to understand the mechanisms through which a rare population of regulatory cells maintains skin integrity. Despite their importance, little is known about the regulatory pathways these cells utilise. Previous work from the team has described an innovative technique to enrich these cells for in-depth study and demonstrated their potent regulatory capacity in vivo. This project will enhance our understanding of these cells and uncover their mechanisms of action. The outcomes of this work will therefore provide fundamental new knowledge of skin physiology, and lead to novel insights regarding how healthy skin, which is essential for the very survival and function of a living organism, may be maintained.Read moreRead less
Regulation of salt gland activity in the estuarine crocodile: phenotypic plasticity and control mechanisms. The estuarine crocodile excretes excess sodium and chloride ions through salt glands located on the tongue, enabling the crocodile to live in seawater. This study will investigate the regulation of salt gland secretory capacity and activity, by examining both the phenotypic plasticity of the gland to changes in environmental salinity and diet, and by determining the neural/humoral mech ....Regulation of salt gland activity in the estuarine crocodile: phenotypic plasticity and control mechanisms. The estuarine crocodile excretes excess sodium and chloride ions through salt glands located on the tongue, enabling the crocodile to live in seawater. This study will investigate the regulation of salt gland secretory capacity and activity, by examining both the phenotypic plasticity of the gland to changes in environmental salinity and diet, and by determining the neural/humoral mechanisms controlling secretory rate. In vivo measurements of blood flow and salt gland secretory rate, together with perfused gland preparations will reveal extrinsic and intrinsic factors controlling salt gland activity and the degree of coupling between blood flow and secretory rate.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101503
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Design of a biologically inspired running and climbing robotic lizard. Watch any movie and it will tell you that robots are the future. The trouble is that recent attempts to build running and climbing robots have had limited success. This project explores locomotion of lizards to improve upon shortfalls in current robotic design, to build biologically inspired robots capable of running and climbing up and down walls.
ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Genes and Environment in Development. Interactions between the early environment and the genetic regulatory program of the developing organism have major consequences for the lifetime health of individuals. The primary objective of the Network in Genes and Environment in Development is to harness the resources of leading researchers from the currently distinct disciplines of developmental biology and developmental physiology to define key developmental regulatory ne ....ARC/NHMRC Research Network in Genes and Environment in Development. Interactions between the early environment and the genetic regulatory program of the developing organism have major consequences for the lifetime health of individuals. The primary objective of the Network in Genes and Environment in Development is to harness the resources of leading researchers from the currently distinct disciplines of developmental biology and developmental physiology to define key developmental regulatory networks and to address how environmental factors impinge on these regulatory networks. The formation of this National Research Network is unique, timely and strategic. It will generate new insights into the mechanisms by which events in early life determine the risk of adverse outcomes in perinatal and adult life.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100206
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,000.00
Summary
Lattice light sheet microscopy for imaging biology in real space and time. This project aims to establish a Lattice Light-Sheet Microscope (LLSM) Facility, to provide the dedicated computing infrastructure needed for terabyte-scale image acquisition and handling. Lattice light sheet microscopy allows four-dimensional imaging of live biological specimens from individual molecules to small organisms. The microscope images live specimens without phototoxicity or photobleaching, enabling prolonged i ....Lattice light sheet microscopy for imaging biology in real space and time. This project aims to establish a Lattice Light-Sheet Microscope (LLSM) Facility, to provide the dedicated computing infrastructure needed for terabyte-scale image acquisition and handling. Lattice light sheet microscopy allows four-dimensional imaging of live biological specimens from individual molecules to small organisms. The microscope images live specimens without phototoxicity or photobleaching, enabling prolonged imaging of significant physiological or biophysical events. Expected outcomes include high impact discoveries and publications in fundamental research, rapid solutions for industry-focussed projects and opportunities for collaboration, research and development. The imaging is expected to reveal key scientific insights and showcase biology to the public.Read moreRead less
The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic c ....The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic cell recirculation, and what consequences the recirculation has for immune cell function. This understanding will significantly advance our basic understanding of the immune system.Read moreRead less
Regulated muscle-based thermogenesis for body temperature regulation. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the skeletal muscles that are closer to the body core contribute the majority of heat, how the muscles of the limbs have their heat generation curtailed as necessary, and how this is coordinated by the body in response to ambient temperature. Project out ....Regulated muscle-based thermogenesis for body temperature regulation. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the skeletal muscles that are closer to the body core contribute the majority of heat, how the muscles of the limbs have their heat generation curtailed as necessary, and how this is coordinated by the body in response to ambient temperature. Project outcomes include defining, for the first time, how heat generation in the muscles of the body is regulated. This should provide critical knowledge of mammalian evolution and ways to manipulate metabolism, which may provide ways to assist the production of meat by managing hypothermia and hyperthermia risk in agriculture.Read moreRead less
The evolution of energy metabolism in ectotherms. Metabolic rate is the rate at which organisms take up, transform, and expend energy and materials. The primary outcome of this initiative is a comprehensive understanding of the effect of climate on the metabolic rate of ectothermic vertebrates, including goannas, fish and toads. Our research will encompass aquatic and terrestrial environments; temperate and tropical habitats; and include both iconic native species and alien invasive ones. We se ....The evolution of energy metabolism in ectotherms. Metabolic rate is the rate at which organisms take up, transform, and expend energy and materials. The primary outcome of this initiative is a comprehensive understanding of the effect of climate on the metabolic rate of ectothermic vertebrates, including goannas, fish and toads. Our research will encompass aquatic and terrestrial environments; temperate and tropical habitats; and include both iconic native species and alien invasive ones. We seek to understand not only how and why species in these environments vary in their metabolic rate, but also the consequences of this variation. Such knowledge will be important in understanding how climate change does and will affect animals and in predicting its consequences.Read moreRead less
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