Statistical Methods for Discovering Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) contributing to human diseases and phenotypes. Identifying the causative genetic factors involved in quantitative phenotypes and diseases is a major goal of biology in the 21st century and beyond. A crucial step towards this goal is identifying and classifying the functional non-protein-coding Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) encoded in the human genome. This project will make major contributions to international efforts in this area by identi ....Statistical Methods for Discovering Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) contributing to human diseases and phenotypes. Identifying the causative genetic factors involved in quantitative phenotypes and diseases is a major goal of biology in the 21st century and beyond. A crucial step towards this goal is identifying and classifying the functional non-protein-coding Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) encoded in the human genome. This project will make major contributions to international efforts in this area by identifying RNA molecules that contribute to quantitative phenotypes including susceptibility to disease. As such, it will directly benefit fundamental science via the discovery and classification of new molecules. Indirectly, it will lead to breakthroughs in biology, and consequently to major medical and pharmaceutical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disease.Read moreRead less
New computational methods study on protein function prediction. The proposed research aims to develop new computational methods to solve one of the most important bioinformatics problems in the post-genome era. This project will expand the knowledge on protein sequence-structure-function relationship, provide new analysis methods and predict the functions of novel proteins. This project will strengthen Australia's reputation for research excellence.
Statistical methods for detection of non-coding RNAs in eukaryote genomes. Understanding how eukaryotic cells work is a major goal of 21st century biology. A crucial step will be to catalogue the functional components of eukaryotic genomes. Australian researchers must be involved in this process at an early stage, in order to maximise commercial opportunities, attract quality researchers and position ourselves for further advances. This project will make major contributions to international effo ....Statistical methods for detection of non-coding RNAs in eukaryote genomes. Understanding how eukaryotic cells work is a major goal of 21st century biology. A crucial step will be to catalogue the functional components of eukaryotic genomes. Australian researchers must be involved in this process at an early stage, in order to maximise commercial opportunities, attract quality researchers and position ourselves for further advances. This project will make major contributions to international efforts in this area, via the development of statistical methods for segmenting genomes, classification of those segments, and study of the resulting classes. In the long term, enhanced understanding of eukaryotic cells will lead to breakthroughs in biology, and to medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural and scientific advances.Read moreRead less
Multi-scale modelling of cell migration in developmental biology. Interpretative and predictive tools are needed for the comprehensive understanding of directed cell migration in the medical sciences. Mathematical models and modelling methodologies developed in this project will make a significant contribution to the investigation of cell migration and the testing and generation of hypotheses. Such models are needed to understand observed cellular patterns. This project will contribute to knowle ....Multi-scale modelling of cell migration in developmental biology. Interpretative and predictive tools are needed for the comprehensive understanding of directed cell migration in the medical sciences. Mathematical models and modelling methodologies developed in this project will make a significant contribution to the investigation of cell migration and the testing and generation of hypotheses. Such models are needed to understand observed cellular patterns. This project will contribute to knowledge of normal and abnormal developmental processes, especially in embryonic growth. Understanding these processes should lead to prediction and treatment of congenital disorders and contribute to a healthy start to life.Read moreRead less
Classification of Microarray Gene-Expression Data. The broad aim is to provide statistical methodology for the classification of microarray gene-expression data. Microarrays are part of a new biotechnology that allows the monitoring of expression levels for thousands of genes simultaneously. The explosion in microarrays has produced massive quantities of data that require new statistical techniques for analysis in order to exploit their enormous scientific potential. One of the main uses of ....Classification of Microarray Gene-Expression Data. The broad aim is to provide statistical methodology for the classification of microarray gene-expression data. Microarrays are part of a new biotechnology that allows the monitoring of expression levels for thousands of genes simultaneously. The explosion in microarrays has produced massive quantities of data that require new statistical techniques for analysis in order to exploit their enormous scientific potential. One of the main uses of the methodology to be developed is to expedite the discovery of new subclasses of diseases. Another is to provide prediction rules for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.Read moreRead less
Motor Unit Numbers Estimation (MUNE) using Bayesian statistical methodology for monitoring of progression of neuromuscular diseases. A means of objectively measuring the pathology of a neuromuscular disease involving motor unit loss, such as motor neuron disease, is much needed. This will be achieved by using newly developed electrophysiological techniques and developing new Bayesian statistical methodology to determine the number of motor units that supply a muscle. Our innovations will reliabl ....Motor Unit Numbers Estimation (MUNE) using Bayesian statistical methodology for monitoring of progression of neuromuscular diseases. A means of objectively measuring the pathology of a neuromuscular disease involving motor unit loss, such as motor neuron disease, is much needed. This will be achieved by using newly developed electrophysiological techniques and developing new Bayesian statistical methodology to determine the number of motor units that supply a muscle. Our innovations will reliably determine the number of motor units that supply a muscle in both normal subjects and in diseased patients with loss of motor nerves. This will enable the monitoring of disease progression. An outcome will be a software package that can be used with standard electrophysiology machines.Read moreRead less
Variational methods in partial differential equations. Research in partial differential equations is a very active area of modern mathematics linking nonlinear functional analysis, calculus of variations and differential geometry to applied sciences. This project will enable Australia-based researchers to participate in the forefront of mathematical research with leading international mathematicians by establishing new collaborations, strengthening on-going collaborations and providing internat ....Variational methods in partial differential equations. Research in partial differential equations is a very active area of modern mathematics linking nonlinear functional analysis, calculus of variations and differential geometry to applied sciences. This project will enable Australia-based researchers to participate in the forefront of mathematical research with leading international mathematicians by establishing new collaborations, strengthening on-going collaborations and providing international research experience for early career researchers. As a result, this proposal will enhance Australia's distinguished reputation in analysis and further link the UQ group with a number of mathematical institutes in USA and China.Read moreRead less
Applications of Bayesian methods in Genomics and Comparative Genomics. Bayesian statistics provides a unified and versatile approach to problems of data analysis, inference and hypothesis testing. This project will involve the application of Bayesian methods to four topics of commercial and scientific importance in the fields of Genomics and Comparative Genomics. The four topics are: data analysis for a novel DNA sequencing technology, investigating genomic structure using multiple change-point ....Applications of Bayesian methods in Genomics and Comparative Genomics. Bayesian statistics provides a unified and versatile approach to problems of data analysis, inference and hypothesis testing. This project will involve the application of Bayesian methods to four topics of commercial and scientific importance in the fields of Genomics and Comparative Genomics. The four topics are: data analysis for a novel DNA sequencing technology, investigating genomic structure using multiple change-point analysis, phlogenetic inference with multiple genes and detection of incongruent phylogenies. The overall goal of the project is to advance understanding of the structure, function and evolution of genomes.Read moreRead less
Making the most of remotely sensed data: Bayesian spatio-temporal models for enhanced natural resource management and design. This research will provide methods for cost-efficient spatio-temporal data collection and analysis, with increased capacity for better decision-making about managing Australia’s natural resources. Through the Linkage partners’ networks, these benefits will be disseminated throughout regional bodies, government agencies and research groups across and outside Australia. The ....Making the most of remotely sensed data: Bayesian spatio-temporal models for enhanced natural resource management and design. This research will provide methods for cost-efficient spatio-temporal data collection and analysis, with increased capacity for better decision-making about managing Australia’s natural resources. Through the Linkage partners’ networks, these benefits will be disseminated throughout regional bodies, government agencies and research groups across and outside Australia. The statistical techniques derived in this project will enhance Australia’s capability in the national priority area of mathematical sciences, and will contribute to knowledge in a wide range of disciplines including natural resources, medicine and genetics. Read moreRead less
Emerging applications of advanced computational methods and discrete mathematics. Ongoing improvements in computer performance are revolutionising research in combinatorial discrete mathematics, and leading to exciting new applications in information technology and the biological and chemical sciences. As a result, substantial international research effort, both at universities and in commercial and industrial organisations, is being channelled into high-performance computation and theoretical p ....Emerging applications of advanced computational methods and discrete mathematics. Ongoing improvements in computer performance are revolutionising research in combinatorial discrete mathematics, and leading to exciting new applications in information technology and the biological and chemical sciences. As a result, substantial international research effort, both at universities and in commercial and industrial organisations, is being channelled into high-performance computation and theoretical problems in combinatorial mathematics. Our aim is to develop and apply advanced computational methods through the study of several unsolved theoretical problems in design theory and practical problems in exact matrix computation and drug design.Read moreRead less