We have discovered a single tumour factor which causes cancer cachexia, a wasting condition that is one of the worst complications of malignancy, for which there is no current effective treatment. We have developed antibodies which effectively block this condition in preclinical models and have produced human/humanised version of this. This application is to characterise these human antibodies to allow us proceed to clinical trials.
Central Neural Circuits Subserving Nutrient–activated Thermogenesis - The Basis Of Post Prandial Energy Expenditure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$766,207.00
Summary
Studies of “energy burning” brown fat, including its importance in the determination of obesity in humans and the potential to increase its capacity by turning white fat into brown-like fat are currently foremost in obesity research. Here we study the detail of brain pathways that dictate brown fat activity after a meal resulting in the burning of ingested calories and reduction of body weight. The results will give us a better idea of how we can harness brown fat to combat obesity.
Central Neural Regulation Of Brown Fat Function – Glucose Sensing And CNS Pathways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$761,942.00
Summary
Our research aims to identify how specific brain cells detect changes in glucose levels and how ageing and diet affect their function. We identified a subset of nerve cells that detect changes in glucose and the “hunger” hormone ghrelin, their ability to do so adapting with age and nutritional status. This project will investigate the potential of these nerve cells as targets for therapeutic and diet- intervention strategies to target obesity, diabetes and promote healthy ageing.
Modelling The Effects Of Immunity On Influenza Transmission - Implications For Prevention And Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,767.00
Summary
There is uncertainty about how many people can be infected by a single person with influenza at the start of an outbreak. Some data suggest that a single generation of transmission can infect 10-20 other people. With such a rate of growth (ie 10-20 fold every 3 days) the spread of an influenza outbreak is virtually unstoppable. Other data suggest that each person with influenza infects less than 2 other people on average. With such a lower rate of growth, control would be more feasible. Our proj ....There is uncertainty about how many people can be infected by a single person with influenza at the start of an outbreak. Some data suggest that a single generation of transmission can infect 10-20 other people. With such a rate of growth (ie 10-20 fold every 3 days) the spread of an influenza outbreak is virtually unstoppable. Other data suggest that each person with influenza infects less than 2 other people on average. With such a lower rate of growth, control would be more feasible. Our project will use data from historic and contemporary outbreaks of influenza and build mathematical models to explain the rate of growth of an influenza outbreak in terms of: 1. The proportion of people exposed to influenza who do not become ill (although there can be evidence of infection if careful studies are made). This proportion is about 33%. 2. The proportion of people who are protected from influenza by immunity, whether induced by vaccination or by past exposure to natural influenza infection (this can vary from 0% in isolated populations which have not seen influenza for many years up to 80 or 90% in urbanised populations that are exposed to influenza almost every season). 3. Different rates of contact between different people and groups of people - some may be exposed so often that their immunity is boosted regularly without them becoming severely ill; others, living in more isolated circumstances, may be rarely exposed, but when they are, they are more likely to become severely ill. 4. The effects of influenza vaccine in inducing protective immunity - it is well known that there is good protection if the vaccine is well matched to the circulating virus. 5. The effects of live virus infection in inducing (short-lived) protection against a wider range of influenza viruses. Our model results will be used to guide vaccine design and pandemic planning.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101222
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,070.00
Summary
Elliptic representation theory: the study of symmetries across geometry, algebra and physics. This project aims to study symmetries which control geometry and physics of four-dimensional manifolds. Representation theory is the area in pure mathematics which studies symmetries coming from geometry, algebra, and physics. The expected outcome is new families of quantum algebra, their character formulas, and a solution to an infinite-dimensional moduli problem. This project will further deepen the m ....Elliptic representation theory: the study of symmetries across geometry, algebra and physics. This project aims to study symmetries which control geometry and physics of four-dimensional manifolds. Representation theory is the area in pure mathematics which studies symmetries coming from geometry, algebra, and physics. The expected outcome is new families of quantum algebra, their character formulas, and a solution to an infinite-dimensional moduli problem. This project will further deepen the mathematical knowledge of symmetries, and show unexpected new connections between different areas of pure mathematics and mathematical physics.Read moreRead less
Categorical symmetries in representation theory. This project aims to develop categorical symmetries of central objects in mathematics such as braid groups, the Hilbert scheme of points, and the Virasoro algebra. The concept of symmetry is an important organising principle in science. Representation theory is the field of mathematics concerned with studying symmetries. The problems proposed have connections to many different areas including algebra, geometry, topology, and mathematical physics. ....Categorical symmetries in representation theory. This project aims to develop categorical symmetries of central objects in mathematics such as braid groups, the Hilbert scheme of points, and the Virasoro algebra. The concept of symmetry is an important organising principle in science. Representation theory is the field of mathematics concerned with studying symmetries. The problems proposed have connections to many different areas including algebra, geometry, topology, and mathematical physics. This project expects to advance pure mathematics and provide potential benefit in many related fields.Read moreRead less
Homotopy theory: interactions with representation theory and moduli spaces. This proposal will involve young researchers and train them for problem solving in many fields, including management, the sciences, the financial industries, and the development of technologies. Furthermore, many of the projects in this proposal are collaborative and interdisciplinary. It is the CI's sincere hope that this proposal can help bolster communication amongst the wealth of topology, number theory, and mathe ....Homotopy theory: interactions with representation theory and moduli spaces. This proposal will involve young researchers and train them for problem solving in many fields, including management, the sciences, the financial industries, and the development of technologies. Furthermore, many of the projects in this proposal are collaborative and interdisciplinary. It is the CI's sincere hope that this proposal can help bolster communication amongst the wealth of topology, number theory, and mathematical physics experts in Australia. The research in these exciting areas of mathematics will contribute to maintaining Australia's position as a research leader in pure mathematics.
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Integral transforms and moduli theory. This project is in algebraic geometry, a branch of pure
mathematics. An overarching goal is a better understanding of the
algebra underlying the sophisticated geometries that arise in the
classification problems that are pervasive in mathematics and its
applications to physics. This new knowledge will then be applied to
further elucidate the geometry of these spaces.
Expected outcomes of this project include major progress in our
understanding of derived ....Integral transforms and moduli theory. This project is in algebraic geometry, a branch of pure
mathematics. An overarching goal is a better understanding of the
algebra underlying the sophisticated geometries that arise in the
classification problems that are pervasive in mathematics and its
applications to physics. This new knowledge will then be applied to
further elucidate the geometry of these spaces.
Expected outcomes of this project include major progress in our
understanding of derived categories of algebraic stacks via the
Fourier-Mukai transform.
The benefit will be to enhance the international stature of Australian
science.Read moreRead less
Moduli, invariants, and algebraisation. This project is in pure mathematics. It aims to address gaps in our
knowledge in the modern geometries and their associated algebraic structures that arise in classification problems that pervade mathematics and its applications.
This project expects to generate new knowledge in modern algebra and geometry.
Expected outcomes of this project include major progress in our
understanding of invariants of derived categories of algebraic stacks and the
relat ....Moduli, invariants, and algebraisation. This project is in pure mathematics. It aims to address gaps in our
knowledge in the modern geometries and their associated algebraic structures that arise in classification problems that pervade mathematics and its applications.
This project expects to generate new knowledge in modern algebra and geometry.
Expected outcomes of this project include major progress in our
understanding of invariants of derived categories of algebraic stacks and the
relationship between algebraic and other geometries.
The benefit will be to enhance the international stature of Australian science.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100975
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,536.00
Summary
Algebraic groups and Springer theory. This project aims to explore representation theory, which is a study of the basic symmetries that occur in nature. By its nature, representation theory has applications to number theory, physics, national security and internet security, and other sciences. Generalised Springer theory plays an important role in representations of finite groups of Lie type. The project aims to develop an analogous theory in a more general setting that includes symmetric spaces ....Algebraic groups and Springer theory. This project aims to explore representation theory, which is a study of the basic symmetries that occur in nature. By its nature, representation theory has applications to number theory, physics, national security and internet security, and other sciences. Generalised Springer theory plays an important role in representations of finite groups of Lie type. The project aims to develop an analogous theory in a more general setting that includes symmetric spaces. Moreover, the project aims to address various outstanding problems in algebraic groups. The project also plans to explore the connection between the geometry of certain null-cones and deformations of Galois representations.Read moreRead less