Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100425
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,364.00
Summary
Genetic and Molecular Consequences of Non-Random Mating in Humans. This project aims to develop and apply novel statistical methods to quantify the effects on a large number of complex traits of two forms of non-random mating in humans, that is inbreeding and assortative mating. The innovation in this proposal lies in integrating multi-level phenotypes with next-generation sequencing data collected in more than half a million study participants. Expected outcomes of this research include advance ....Genetic and Molecular Consequences of Non-Random Mating in Humans. This project aims to develop and apply novel statistical methods to quantify the effects on a large number of complex traits of two forms of non-random mating in humans, that is inbreeding and assortative mating. The innovation in this proposal lies in integrating multi-level phenotypes with next-generation sequencing data collected in more than half a million study participants. Expected outcomes of this research include advanced analytical methods to perform this integration and dissection of the biological consequences of non-random mating in humans at an unprecedented phenotypically detailed scale. The benefit of this project will be to identify new drivers of mate choice that can contribute to economic, health and social inequalities. Read moreRead less
Genomic Control of Human Complex Trait Variation. This project aims to address knowledge gaps in our understanding of the genetic and environmental control of complex human trait variation. This project will use innovative approaches that combine molecular genomic information with data from large biobank sized cohorts to generate new knowledge of the mechanisms underlying ancestral and sex differences in humans. Expected outcomes include the development of novel methods for the integrative analy ....Genomic Control of Human Complex Trait Variation. This project aims to address knowledge gaps in our understanding of the genetic and environmental control of complex human trait variation. This project will use innovative approaches that combine molecular genomic information with data from large biobank sized cohorts to generate new knowledge of the mechanisms underlying ancestral and sex differences in humans. Expected outcomes include the development of novel methods for the integrative analysis of genomic data and building Australia’s capacity in a highly demanded field, ensuring the capability to realise the translation of this knowledge to positively impact society and human well-being.Read moreRead less
The transgenerational effect of thermosensing in plants. This project aims to understand how thermosensing mechanisms in plants result in transgenerational change, and potentially adaptation to climate. Exploiting the recent discovery of the thermosensor phytochrome B, this project will decipher the molecular cascade which, either through long-distance communication or through persistence of an epigenetic state in the cell lineage, could lead to a trans generational memory in plants helping with ....The transgenerational effect of thermosensing in plants. This project aims to understand how thermosensing mechanisms in plants result in transgenerational change, and potentially adaptation to climate. Exploiting the recent discovery of the thermosensor phytochrome B, this project will decipher the molecular cascade which, either through long-distance communication or through persistence of an epigenetic state in the cell lineage, could lead to a trans generational memory in plants helping with climate adaptation. This project will unravel novel molecular mechanisms, which have the potential to pave the way for designing new climate-proofing solutions to cope with temperature uncertainty.Read moreRead less
Whole-genome multivariate reaction norm model for complex traits. This project aims to develop a multivariate whole-genome genotype-covariate correlation and interaction model that can be applied to a wide range of existing genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets. Genotype-covariate correlation and interaction (GCCI) are fundamental in biology but there is no standard approach to disentangle interaction from correlation in the whole-genome analyses. This project will address the key featur ....Whole-genome multivariate reaction norm model for complex traits. This project aims to develop a multivariate whole-genome genotype-covariate correlation and interaction model that can be applied to a wide range of existing genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets. Genotype-covariate correlation and interaction (GCCI) are fundamental in biology but there is no standard approach to disentangle interaction from correlation in the whole-genome analyses. This project will address the key feature in biology, which relates to dissecting the complex mechanism of association and interaction. The proposed statistical model implemented in a context of a novel design based on multiple GWAS data sets is a paradigm shifting-tool with applications to multiple industries.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100072
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,460,832.00
Summary
Causes and consequence of human trait variation. This project aims to exploit the availability of Big Data from the genomics revolution to understand the relationship between the genome, the environment and complex human traits. New statistical methods and user-friendly software tools will be developed and applied to datasets on millions of individuals to generate new knowledge on human life history variation and healthy ageing. This project will position Australia to benefit from rapid advances ....Causes and consequence of human trait variation. This project aims to exploit the availability of Big Data from the genomics revolution to understand the relationship between the genome, the environment and complex human traits. New statistical methods and user-friendly software tools will be developed and applied to datasets on millions of individuals to generate new knowledge on human life history variation and healthy ageing. This project will position Australia to benefit from rapid advances in genomic technologies, to build and sustain critical capacity in statistical genetics, and better understand the causes and consequence of individual differences in human traits from genetic and environmental factors across the entire human lifespan.Read moreRead less
How and why cells decorate their genetic messages. This project aims to investigate a new layer of genomic control mediated not by DNA but instead by chemical modifications found on the cell's working copies of genetic information called messenger RNA. The investigations will use cutting-edge RNA sequencing technology and the fruit fly model organism to uncover the scope and mechanisms by which such modifications enact their roles at the molecular level and within the body plan of an animal. Exp ....How and why cells decorate their genetic messages. This project aims to investigate a new layer of genomic control mediated not by DNA but instead by chemical modifications found on the cell's working copies of genetic information called messenger RNA. The investigations will use cutting-edge RNA sequencing technology and the fruit fly model organism to uncover the scope and mechanisms by which such modifications enact their roles at the molecular level and within the body plan of an animal. Expected outcomes include novel molecular tools and models that will assist in understanding and manipulating the function of genomes. Such knowledge should provide benefits in developing innovative biotechnology applications of use in human health, agriculture and managing the environment.
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Decoding miRNA regulated genetic circuits. This project will aim to develop a much better understanding of how the process of making proteins from genes is regulated, and will develop scientific software capable of predicting how a cell will respond to changes in this regulation. The results will have widespread use, including assistance in deciding the best treatments for genetic diseases.
Engineering improved and multifunctional gene editing systems. Advances in genome editing have enabled the targeted modulation of gene expression in cells and provided new tools for biotechnology. This project will combine computational design and genetic selection to deliver the next generation of precision gene editing tools. These new technologies can be used for modification of genes in any cellular compartment and will be useful for understanding and improving energy metabolism. Increased c ....Engineering improved and multifunctional gene editing systems. Advances in genome editing have enabled the targeted modulation of gene expression in cells and provided new tools for biotechnology. This project will combine computational design and genetic selection to deliver the next generation of precision gene editing tools. These new technologies can be used for modification of genes in any cellular compartment and will be useful for understanding and improving energy metabolism. Increased cellular energy production can be harnessed to make valuable biological products, with unprecedented efficiency.Read moreRead less
eGenomics - Next generation biomonitoring of threatened species. DNA is the molecule of life and exists everywhere in the environment as a largely untapped source of information on evolution, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. Our overriding aim is to start mining that information to benefit threatened species. Based on optimized ancient DNA methods, powerful sequencing technology, whole genome analyses, and RNA profiling, we present a novel and holistic framework for genetic biomonitoring. In ....eGenomics - Next generation biomonitoring of threatened species. DNA is the molecule of life and exists everywhere in the environment as a largely untapped source of information on evolution, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. Our overriding aim is to start mining that information to benefit threatened species. Based on optimized ancient DNA methods, powerful sequencing technology, whole genome analyses, and RNA profiling, we present a novel and holistic framework for genetic biomonitoring. In two parallel model systems we will study corals and reptiles to improve environmental detection while simultaneously obtaining information on their population health. This will foster more efficient conservation of endangered species that are of tremendous importance to our marine and terrestrial ecosystems.Read moreRead less
How novel ribosomal RNA gene repeat variants drive cellular function. The hundreds of ribosomal RNA gene repeat copies are a remarkable part of our genomes, as they encode the machinery responsible for all cellular protein synthesis and shape the structure of the nucleus. However, due to their high degree of sequence similarity, they still have not been assembled into the human genome reference. This project will resolve this impasse and furthermore uncover the functional impacts of a newly iden ....How novel ribosomal RNA gene repeat variants drive cellular function. The hundreds of ribosomal RNA gene repeat copies are a remarkable part of our genomes, as they encode the machinery responsible for all cellular protein synthesis and shape the structure of the nucleus. However, due to their high degree of sequence similarity, they still have not been assembled into the human genome reference. This project will resolve this impasse and furthermore uncover the functional impacts of a newly identified molecular diversity in the ribosomal RNA gene repeats. Outcomes include new paradigms for how the ribosomal RNA gene repeats drive protein synthesis and genome structure, and a blueprint to develop novel genomics applications for human health, biotechnology, and agriculture.Read moreRead less