Measuring pain in livestock: mechanisms, objective biomarkers and treatments. This project aims to create an objective blood test to measure pain in livestock, and to create a new drug treatment for persistent pain by targeting the immunology of the brain and spinal cord. This project expects to generate new knowledge of the involvement of the neuro-immune system in the creation and maintenance of persistent pain and how this can be quantified through the innovative use of peripheral blood tests ....Measuring pain in livestock: mechanisms, objective biomarkers and treatments. This project aims to create an objective blood test to measure pain in livestock, and to create a new drug treatment for persistent pain by targeting the immunology of the brain and spinal cord. This project expects to generate new knowledge of the involvement of the neuro-immune system in the creation and maintenance of persistent pain and how this can be quantified through the innovative use of peripheral blood tests. Expected outcomes of this project include a blood test capable of quantifying the extent of current pain experience, and a cumulative life measure of pain an animal has experienced. This should provide significant benefits to the Australian livestock industry by improving best practice.Read moreRead less
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
Characterisation of bone and bone marrow resident tissue macrophages. This project aims to elucidate the identities of tissue macrophages involved in bone and blood system (bone marrow) homeostasis and function, and the molecular signatures underpinning their functional specialisation. It will then investigate whether decline in the function of these specialised macrophages occurs during skeletal and blood system ageing. Both skeletal and blood system decline contribute to age-associated loss of ....Characterisation of bone and bone marrow resident tissue macrophages. This project aims to elucidate the identities of tissue macrophages involved in bone and blood system (bone marrow) homeostasis and function, and the molecular signatures underpinning their functional specialisation. It will then investigate whether decline in the function of these specialised macrophages occurs during skeletal and blood system ageing. Both skeletal and blood system decline contribute to age-associated loss of productivity, and paralleled decline in the resident macrophages in these organs may be a common ageing mechanism. Demonstration that altered macrophage biology unpins decline in blood and bone may prolong peak health and increase productivity in the ageing population.Read moreRead less
The comparative physiology of oxygen delivery to the kidney. The kidney is in danger of hyperoxia because the kidney receives so much blood relative to its mass. It is proposed that shunting oxygen between arteries and veins substantially mitigates the risk of hyperoxia, but under certain circumstances shunting substantially increases the risk of kidney hypoxia. Using a combination of synchrotron and histological imaging, This project will carefully define the three-dimensional vasculature of th ....The comparative physiology of oxygen delivery to the kidney. The kidney is in danger of hyperoxia because the kidney receives so much blood relative to its mass. It is proposed that shunting oxygen between arteries and veins substantially mitigates the risk of hyperoxia, but under certain circumstances shunting substantially increases the risk of kidney hypoxia. Using a combination of synchrotron and histological imaging, This project will carefully define the three-dimensional vasculature of the renal cortex in several different species and interpret its functional significance using computational modeling. The outcome of this project will be a new understanding in the comparative physiology of oxygen transport and shunting in the kidney.Read moreRead less
Defining how serotonin regulates gut motility. This project aims to deepen knowledge of gastrointestinal physiology, and reveal the mechanisms by which the major gastrointestinal signalling molecule, serotonin, regulates gut peristalsis. Almost all of the serotonin in our body is made in the gastrointestinal tract where it controls many functions, including how our gut wall contracts during peristalsis. Proper control of gut peristalsis and the transit of material through our bowel is important ....Defining how serotonin regulates gut motility. This project aims to deepen knowledge of gastrointestinal physiology, and reveal the mechanisms by which the major gastrointestinal signalling molecule, serotonin, regulates gut peristalsis. Almost all of the serotonin in our body is made in the gastrointestinal tract where it controls many functions, including how our gut wall contracts during peristalsis. Proper control of gut peristalsis and the transit of material through our bowel is important for our health. This project expects to define how serotonin controls peristalsis, where in the bowel this serotonin comes from, how serotonin communicates with the nervous system in our gastrointestinal tract, and how the cells that synthesise gut serotonin respond to contraction to trigger the secretion of serotonin.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100538
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,000.00
Summary
Understanding the role of miRNAs in the biology of ageing muscle. Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the body and plays a vital role in maintaining independent living and social interaction. As it ages, skeletal muscle loses its ability to build up new muscle proteins. However, the principles underlying the biology of skeletal muscle ageing are not well understood. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are essential regulators of skeletal muscle biology. Whether they play a role in the ageing process and how ....Understanding the role of miRNAs in the biology of ageing muscle. Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the body and plays a vital role in maintaining independent living and social interaction. As it ages, skeletal muscle loses its ability to build up new muscle proteins. However, the principles underlying the biology of skeletal muscle ageing are not well understood. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are essential regulators of skeletal muscle biology. Whether they play a role in the ageing process and how they regulate muscle protein synthesis as we age has not been investigated. This project aims to identify the MiRNA species involved in muscle protein synthesis and will provide a better understanding of the biology of ageing skeletal muscle.Read moreRead less
The regulation of skeletal muscle mass. This project aims to delineate a pathway involved in regulating skeletal muscle mass, and examine whether disrupting mitochondrial phospholipid synthesis affects mitochondrial structure and function, causing muscle wasting. Defining a new atrophy pathway will advance understanding of the mechanisms that control muscle mass. This project could have important economic and quality of life benefits, especially for agriculture, where achieving optimal muscle ma ....The regulation of skeletal muscle mass. This project aims to delineate a pathway involved in regulating skeletal muscle mass, and examine whether disrupting mitochondrial phospholipid synthesis affects mitochondrial structure and function, causing muscle wasting. Defining a new atrophy pathway will advance understanding of the mechanisms that control muscle mass. This project could have important economic and quality of life benefits, especially for agriculture, where achieving optimal muscle mass ensures international competitiveness, productivity and economic growth, and successful ageing, where maintaining muscle mass is essential.Read moreRead less
Is FGF21 the master regulator of protein intake? The project plans to bring together two major, rapidly growing disciplines – nutritional geometry and metabolic signalling – to address a topic of fundamental biological significance: the regulation of protein intake. A specific capacity to regulate protein intake has been shown for organisms spanning slime moulds to humans, yet the controlling mechanisms remain elusive. The project aims to test the hypothesis that fibroblast growth factor 21, rel ....Is FGF21 the master regulator of protein intake? The project plans to bring together two major, rapidly growing disciplines – nutritional geometry and metabolic signalling – to address a topic of fundamental biological significance: the regulation of protein intake. A specific capacity to regulate protein intake has been shown for organisms spanning slime moulds to humans, yet the controlling mechanisms remain elusive. The project aims to test the hypothesis that fibroblast growth factor 21, released from the liver under low protein nutrition, is a master regulator of protein intake. Understanding the mechanisms of protein appetite may have implications for organismal biology, understanding social interactions, the structure of food webs and the health and welfare of food and companion animals and humans.Read moreRead less
Male to female sperm signalling – a new role for sperm in reproduction? Male seminal fluid is commonly thought simply to provide sperm for conception. This project aims to investigate a lesser known action of sperm: modifying the female immune response to increase the chances of reproductive success. The project aims to define the molecular pathway through which sperm interact with female cells, particularly how B-defensins on sperm bind to Toll-like receptors to stimulate female immune toleranc ....Male to female sperm signalling – a new role for sperm in reproduction? Male seminal fluid is commonly thought simply to provide sperm for conception. This project aims to investigate a lesser known action of sperm: modifying the female immune response to increase the chances of reproductive success. The project aims to define the molecular pathway through which sperm interact with female cells, particularly how B-defensins on sperm bind to Toll-like receptors to stimulate female immune tolerance. The project plans to use embryo transfer and genetic mouse models to determine the physiological benefit of sperm signalling. Evidence that seminal fluid signalling operates in mammals to ensure optimal female reproductive investment would advance knowledge of the male contribution to the reproductive process.Read moreRead less
Understanding How the Hungry Brain Regulates Metabolism. Energy homeostasis is essential for life as it ensures an adequate supply of fuel to cells of the body. This process is orchestrated by neurons in the hypothalamus of the brain. This project aims to determine the role of the extracellular matrix that surrounds hypothalamic neurons and how this regulates energy homeostasis, an area of science that is completely unexplored. This project expects to identify the composition the extracellular m ....Understanding How the Hungry Brain Regulates Metabolism. Energy homeostasis is essential for life as it ensures an adequate supply of fuel to cells of the body. This process is orchestrated by neurons in the hypothalamus of the brain. This project aims to determine the role of the extracellular matrix that surrounds hypothalamic neurons and how this regulates energy homeostasis, an area of science that is completely unexplored. This project expects to identify the composition the extracellular matrix within the hypothalamus and discover how it regulates energy homeostasis. The outcomes of this project are to provide new knowledge in understanding how the brain regulates metabolism, to promote population health & wellbeing, develop new technologies and training the next generation of researchers.Read moreRead less