Human Olfactory Neurosphere-derived Cells: A Novel Cellular Model For Parkinson's Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,126.00
Summary
ParkinsonÍs disease (PD) is an incurable, brain disease that affects 75,000 Australians with great societal cost. We are working on adult stem cells called (hONS) grown from peopleÍs olfactory mucosa (in the nose) as a research tool to study PD. Our project examines differences seen in hONS from people with PD and determines how certain cellular processes impact on the function of these cells. This work will enhance our understanding of the biology of PD and identify new targets for therapies.
Computational Modelling To Understand Early-stage Neurodegeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Rather than attempting to reverse neurodegeneration, therapeutic strategies must target the earliest possible stages of disease, when treatments have the potential to prevent or slow down pathological progression. The proposed project will employ computational modelling using functional MRI to deliver highly efficient and sensitive markers of Familial Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease progression to inform when in the progression of disease clinical trials should take place.
From Maps To Efficient Multi-parasite Control In The Philippines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,121.00
Summary
Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths are major parasitic infections in Asia, causing anaemia, poor growth and poor school performance and death in some chronic schistosomiasis cases. We will use maps to demonstrate the geographic distribution of these parasites in the Philippines. We will estimate the impact and costs and benefits of parasite control programmes. This research will help plan more efficient parasite control and reduce the impact of these infections in the Philippines.
A Model Quality Assurance Program For Red Spot Whiting Based On The Clarence River Fisheremen's Co-operative Facilities
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Produce a market study in conjunction with pivate sector companies to isolate the markets and segments of these markets interested in red spot whiting 2. Develop a strategy to achieve implementation of a QA program by the Co-operative 3. Use personnel involved in the implementation of this strategy as a facilitator for TAFE's curriculum design
Containment Potential And Risk Of Spread Of Artemisinin Resistant Plasmodium Falciparum
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$381,762.00
Summary
Significant gains have been made in the past decade in reducing falciparum malaria morbidity and mortality using artemisinin-base combination therapy (ACT) and insecticidal nets. However the recent emergence of artemisinin resistance threatens these achievements. This project will develop and use a mathematical model of malaria transmission incorporating resistance to the drugs in ACTs to investigate the probability and rate of spread of resistance into new areas endemic for malaria.
Assessment Of The Sensitivity Of Australia’s Aquatic Animal Disease Surveillance System Using Scenario Tree Modelling
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$224,000.00
Summary
The sensitivity of an overall passive surveillance system is difficult to determine due to variability in factors such as disease characteristics, passive surveillance stakeholders and the likelihood that disease events will be reported and investigated. The WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Code also stipulates the primary evidence for historical freedom is passive surveillant information generated by a country’s early detection system that needs to be sufficiently sensitive.
Scenario tree m ....The sensitivity of an overall passive surveillance system is difficult to determine due to variability in factors such as disease characteristics, passive surveillance stakeholders and the likelihood that disease events will be reported and investigated. The WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Code also stipulates the primary evidence for historical freedom is passive surveillant information generated by a country’s early detection system that needs to be sufficiently sensitive.
Scenario tree modelling (STM) can be used to overcome those challenges. STM uses quantitative statistical methods to estimate the sensitivity of various components of the surveillance system (e.g. presentation of disease signs, disease recognition and reporting). These estimates can then be used to identify critical points in the system to which interventions can be targeted to improve the system. STM can be applied to any aquatic disease/industry of interest and there are some successful examples for terrestrial diseases/industries, both in Australia and overseas.
Two aquatic animal disease agents of trade and biosecurity significance, WSSV and megalocytiviruses, will be evaluated as case studies. These diseases are subject to import biosecurity measures and have significant production impacts, as they severely affect farmed and wild aquatic animal species that are valued by many stakeholders (e.g. aquaculture, capture fisheries, recreational fisheries and conservation groups). A sound STM assessment of each case study will support our early detection system through a quantitative evaluation of the speed of the detection, and improve our emergency disease response strategy by determining areas in our passive surveillance that, once strengthened, will provide a greater return on future investment.
As mentioned above, increasing the sensitivity of Australia’s passive surveillance is a national priority. This project is identified in AQUAPLAN 2022-2017 as Activity 3.3. The outcomes of this project are also used for other AQUAPLAN activities, National surveillance strategy (Activity 3.1) and Sector-specific surveillance plans (Activity 3.2). The data produced from this project will provide recommendations for various interventions to improve the overall performance of the passive surveillance system for the participating industries.
More broadly, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation R&D Plan 2020-2025 identified building capability and capacity for biosecurity as a priority. In alignment with the R&D plan, successful outcomes of this project will improve understanding of disease transmission pathways which will enhance biosecurity practices. It will improve allocation of biosecurity resources (by identifying the most effective and cost-efficient way of investing resources in surveillance to get the best return), minimise biosecurity threats (by enhancing passive surveillance to accelerate an early detection) and improve market access for associated industry producers (by providing quantitative information on their passive surveillance sensitivity as a market access negotiation tool).
Objectives: 1. Quantitatively evaluate the sensitivity of Australia’s passive surveillance system for white spot disease 2. Quantitatively evaluate the sensitivity of Australia’s passive surveillance system for megalocytiviruses Read moreRead less
Using An Established Simulation Model To Determine Effective And Cost-effective Interventions To Mitigate Influenza Pandemics And Inform Public Health Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,353.00
Summary
A novel disease spread and economic model is used to determine the cost-effectiveness of a range of mitigation strategies aimed at a future influenza pandemic. A simulation model generates data on which individuals become ill, morbidity and mortality characteristics, an economic costing model determines optimal interventions.
Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Development Of A Laboratory Model For Infectious Challenge Of Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea Gigas) With Ostreid Herpesvirus Type-1
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$134,990.00
Summary
The need for further information to assist with the response to OsHV-1 is universally acknowledged by the aquaculture industry broadly, government agencies charged with biosecurity and aquatic animal health scientists in Australia and internationally. Access to a standardised, reproducible and transferable laboratory infection model is critical to ongoing research efforts. Such a model provides a precise method of testing the effect of factors which are suspected to influence the outcome of ....The need for further information to assist with the response to OsHV-1 is universally acknowledged by the aquaculture industry broadly, government agencies charged with biosecurity and aquatic animal health scientists in Australia and internationally. Access to a standardised, reproducible and transferable laboratory infection model is critical to ongoing research efforts. Such a model provides a precise method of testing the effect of factors which are suspected to influence the outcome of an infectious challenge with OsHV-1 on Pacific oysters. The most promising factor for enabling continuation of Pacific oyster production despite the threat of OsHV-1 infection is the identification of genetic variation in susceptibility to POMS. The demand for efficient progress in selective breeding programmes requires a laboratory infection model which is suitable for screening large numbers of candidate families and provides results which can be reliably interpreted.
Objectives: 1. Production and long-term storage of large quantities of a standard OsHV-1 inoculum 2. Evaluation of methods to provide a standard, measured OsHV-1 infection challenge 3. Definition of the outcomes of infectious challenge including mortality, development of histopathological lesions and quantities of OsHV-1 present in tissues 4. Determination of the dose-response under standardised challenge conditions, including variation due to the age of the oysters 5. Determination of the repeatability, reproducibility and transferability of the standard infection challenge 6. Assessment of the susceptibility of flat oysters (spat and adult) to OsHV-1 infection. Read moreRead less
NCCP: Essential Studies On Cyprinid Herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) Prior To Release Of The Virus In Australian Waters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$406,564.50
Summary
Studies underpinning the further development of an epidemiological model As the modelling work has progressed, the modelling team has determined that understanding transmission is a critical factor in the further development of the model. This will be addressed by two projects: (1) The relative amounts of virus in the skin and mucus of infected fish vs shed virus in the water (2) The relative importance of direct versus indirect transmission of CyHV-3 between fish
Studies underpinning the further development of an epidemiological model As the modelling work has progressed, the modelling team has determined that understanding transmission is a critical factor in the further development of the model. This will be addressed by two projects: (1) The relative amounts of virus in the skin and mucus of infected fish vs shed virus in the water (2) The relative importance of direct versus indirect transmission of CyHV-3 between fish
Objectives: 1. Determine the most important form of transmission of CyHV-3 between carp. Read moreRead less
Disease, particularly Perkinsus disease, is seen as the fourth major risk to the sustainability of the abalone fishery in SA (SA Fisheries & Aquaculture Five Year Research and Development Strategy). Perkinsus disease causes ongoing losses to the industry, losses that are expected to increase with global warming unless some action is taken to curb the disease. This project will explore one approach that may be feasible to control Perkinsus and thus reduce its impact on the industry.
A ....Disease, particularly Perkinsus disease, is seen as the fourth major risk to the sustainability of the abalone fishery in SA (SA Fisheries & Aquaculture Five Year Research and Development Strategy). Perkinsus disease causes ongoing losses to the industry, losses that are expected to increase with global warming unless some action is taken to curb the disease. This project will explore one approach that may be feasible to control Perkinsus and thus reduce its impact on the industry.
A recent project in California (Culver and Kuris, in press) successfully eradicated a species of mudworm from abalone by removal of the most susceptible shell (N. Bax, CSIRO, pers. com.) Objectives: 1. To determine the extent and nature of Perkinsus infection around Taylor Island, identification of possible reservoir hosts, the production of an epidemiological model, and recommendations on appropriate management methods. Read moreRead less