How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understandi ....How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understanding the dynamics of developmental systems that shape complex brain traits includes establishing new developmental paradigms in evolutionary theory, generating new tools to investigate and manipulate brain gene expression in vivo, and the potential discovery of the causes of neurodevelopmental dysfunction.Read moreRead less
Functional characterization of SSB2: a novel single-stranded DNA binding protein. Defects in the DNA damage response pathway underpin many human genetic disorders and diseases. A detailed understanding of this pathway has enormous implications for future medicine. The proposed research will lead to functional characterization of a new protein, identify new concepts in DNA damage repair pathways, train young researchers and place Australia among the leaders in this internationally significant and ....Functional characterization of SSB2: a novel single-stranded DNA binding protein. Defects in the DNA damage response pathway underpin many human genetic disorders and diseases. A detailed understanding of this pathway has enormous implications for future medicine. The proposed research will lead to functional characterization of a new protein, identify new concepts in DNA damage repair pathways, train young researchers and place Australia among the leaders in this internationally significant and highly competitive area of research. It will underpin the national research priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and help Australia capitalise on a plethora of opportunities for future economic and health benefits.Read moreRead less
Neurobiology Of Childhood Speech Disorders: Improving Detection, Diagnosis And Clinical Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$994,575.00
Summary
One in 20 children have a speech disorder at school entry, with lifelong deficits in psychosocial, academic and employment outcomes. Little is known about the aetiology of speech disorders, preventing targeted care. We combine expertise in speech pathology, gene discovery and brain imaging, to advance knowledge on gene and brain contributions to speech disorder. We will have direct impacts on clinical care including detection, diagnosis and counselling, optimising outcomes for affected children.
Is SPINT1 a key regulator of placental development? . The placenta is an essential organ required for reproduction in placental species. This project aims to elucidate the fundamental biology of SPINT1 in placental development. It will generate new knowledge about whether the spatial and temporal expression of SPINT1 is conserved across several species; cow, sheep, lizard, mouse and human. It will also define the molecular mechanisms by which SPINT1 directs formation, maturation and expansion o ....Is SPINT1 a key regulator of placental development? . The placenta is an essential organ required for reproduction in placental species. This project aims to elucidate the fundamental biology of SPINT1 in placental development. It will generate new knowledge about whether the spatial and temporal expression of SPINT1 is conserved across several species; cow, sheep, lizard, mouse and human. It will also define the molecular mechanisms by which SPINT1 directs formation, maturation and expansion of the placental exchange interface which is critical for offspring survival.
The project will increase understanding of placental development, enhance collaboration and research knowhow, and promote future applied projects in all species that reproduce via placental support.Read moreRead less
Understanding self-organising tissues. This project will discover how an organ can form from a mixture of component cells by 'self-organisation'. Understanding of how this can occur, could potentially be applied to the bioengineering of organs from component cells.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347607
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$306,000.00
Summary
FishWorks - collaborative infrastructure for zebrafish research. Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful and cost-effective animal model for studying development, biology, and disease. FishWorks represents a large-scale co-operative initiative to develop state-of-the-art zebrafish housing, manipulation, genomics and screening infrastructure in Australia. This will both support and further enhance a core group of high quality researchers to engage in cutting-edge research in areas of acknowledged ex ....FishWorks - collaborative infrastructure for zebrafish research. Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful and cost-effective animal model for studying development, biology, and disease. FishWorks represents a large-scale co-operative initiative to develop state-of-the-art zebrafish housing, manipulation, genomics and screening infrastructure in Australia. This will both support and further enhance a core group of high quality researchers to engage in cutting-edge research in areas of acknowledged expertise as well as priority within their respective institutions. In addition, it will facilitate wide-ranging collaborative arrangements to further develop and exploit this research area.Read moreRead less
The structure and patterning of branching morphogenesis in the developing kidney. This project aims to understand a fundamental developmental process known as branching morphogenesis, which drives the formation of many organs including the kidney, lungs and glands. Understanding this process will be of key importance in understand how our organs form.
Morphological development of the kidney – a paradigm for organogenesis. This project aims to shed new light on how the kidney develops, how normal adult function is established and how congenital kidney malformations occur. It aims to investigate a mathematical pattern that has been discovered in the program of branching morphogenesis which dictates kidney development. By combining cutting-edge genetic approaches, morphological analysis and mathematical modelling, this project plans to explore h ....Morphological development of the kidney – a paradigm for organogenesis. This project aims to shed new light on how the kidney develops, how normal adult function is established and how congenital kidney malformations occur. It aims to investigate a mathematical pattern that has been discovered in the program of branching morphogenesis which dictates kidney development. By combining cutting-edge genetic approaches, morphological analysis and mathematical modelling, this project plans to explore how this pattern is established, how it dictates kidney development and whether it constitutes an ancient mechanism central to organ formation. Project outcomes may improve understanding of fundamental developmental processes and developmental disease and variation. Project findings may also be important for understanding the development of other organ systems.Read moreRead less
Effectiveness of social skills training for children with autism. Our industry partner, Aspect Australia, is one of the world's largest providers of educational and other services for people with autism. The demonstration of effectiveness of the program in Aspect classes will likely lead to widespread use and benefit of the program in the education sector nationally and internationally. This in turn would lead to potential lessening of disability in children with autism with improvements in thei ....Effectiveness of social skills training for children with autism. Our industry partner, Aspect Australia, is one of the world's largest providers of educational and other services for people with autism. The demonstration of effectiveness of the program in Aspect classes will likely lead to widespread use and benefit of the program in the education sector nationally and internationally. This in turn would lead to potential lessening of disability in children with autism with improvements in their mental health and significant cost savings to the community.Read moreRead less
Bilateral Cochlear Implants for Children: Does a Second Implant Improve Language, Psychosocial and Other Outcomes? Severe-profound congenital hearing loss engenders significant costs to society. In 2005, specialised education cost -- on average $25,000 per child, loss of productivity cost -- $6.7 billion, and social security benefits were paid to approximately 129,000 individuals who were unemployed due to hearing loss. If bilateral cochlear implantation results in improved language, social dev ....Bilateral Cochlear Implants for Children: Does a Second Implant Improve Language, Psychosocial and Other Outcomes? Severe-profound congenital hearing loss engenders significant costs to society. In 2005, specialised education cost -- on average $25,000 per child, loss of productivity cost -- $6.7 billion, and social security benefits were paid to approximately 129,000 individuals who were unemployed due to hearing loss. If bilateral cochlear implantation results in improved language, social development, and academic outcomes, the community benefits arising will be greatly improved quality of life for these individuals and significant savings to society. In partnership with Cochlear Ltd, this study will provide some of the first data worldwide comparing the effects of an additional implant on language, social and educational outcomes.Read moreRead less