Ageing and the muscle stem cell niche. Adult stem cells are critical for repair and maintenance of tissues and ageing tissues show reduced stem cell function. This project will focus on how ageing leads to disruption of communication between muscle stem cells and their niche. The project aims to identify new therapeutic targets for age-related muscle wasting and reduced mobility in the elderly.
Epigenetic reprogramming of development by nutritional factors in honeybee. The project aims to study the mechanism by which a specialised nutrition can change or even reverse the process of adult cell fate. The project will use a previously unexplored method of nutritional reprogramming of imaginal discs in honeybees by royal jelly and identify novel components of both the genetic and epigenetic systems that are most potent as reprogramming factors. The project seeks to improve our understandin ....Epigenetic reprogramming of development by nutritional factors in honeybee. The project aims to study the mechanism by which a specialised nutrition can change or even reverse the process of adult cell fate. The project will use a previously unexplored method of nutritional reprogramming of imaginal discs in honeybees by royal jelly and identify novel components of both the genetic and epigenetic systems that are most potent as reprogramming factors. The project seeks to improve our understanding of how epigenetic remodelling of the information content of the genome contributes to conversion of cell fate in vivo and in vitro. More broadly, the project could potentially establish the honeybee imaginal discs as a model for understanding pluripotency and environmentally controlled developmental plasticity.Read moreRead less
Links between DNA replication and chromosome end maintenance. This project aims to increase knowledge of the way in which cells maintain their genomes, including the ends of their chromosomes, to enable their own survival. The ends of chromosomes (telomeres) are essential for survival and proliferation of the cells of most organisms. This project aims to determine the molecular details of a recently discovered link between telomere maintenance and the way cells maintain the integrity of their ge ....Links between DNA replication and chromosome end maintenance. This project aims to increase knowledge of the way in which cells maintain their genomes, including the ends of their chromosomes, to enable their own survival. The ends of chromosomes (telomeres) are essential for survival and proliferation of the cells of most organisms. This project aims to determine the molecular details of a recently discovered link between telomere maintenance and the way cells maintain the integrity of their genome. This is likely to lead to increased understanding of the fundamental biological process of genome maintenance, representing a significant scientific advance. The project expects to have far-reaching implications for biotechnology applications that require the survival of cells.Read moreRead less
Identification of Biological pathways regulated by circular RNAs. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a, recently discovered molecule. circRNAs are highly abundant and expressed in a tissue and disease specific manner. Yet, currently the understanding of how circRNAs regulate biological processes is very poor. This project aims to use pooled shRNA libraries to screen a large panel of cell lines and systematically identify cellular activities that are regulated by circRNAs. The expected outcome of this ....Identification of Biological pathways regulated by circular RNAs. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a, recently discovered molecule. circRNAs are highly abundant and expressed in a tissue and disease specific manner. Yet, currently the understanding of how circRNAs regulate biological processes is very poor. This project aims to use pooled shRNA libraries to screen a large panel of cell lines and systematically identify cellular activities that are regulated by circRNAs. The expected outcome of this study will be a catalogue of functionally active circRNAs. Over the past decades, the wealth of knowledge on the function of linear mRNAs has had a significant impact on medicine and agriculture. Similarly understanding how circRNAs regulate cellular activities may have an analogous impact on humans.Read moreRead less
Genetic variation of single cell transcriptional heterogeneity in HiPSCs. This project aims to investigate whether induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can be used to study the functions of genetic variants associated with human phenotypes and cell fate decisions. The project will utilise technology to produce single cell RNA sequence data for 100,000s of cells. By sequencing individual cells, the genetic control of cellular heterogeneity both within and between cells can be identified, and in ....Genetic variation of single cell transcriptional heterogeneity in HiPSCs. This project aims to investigate whether induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can be used to study the functions of genetic variants associated with human phenotypes and cell fate decisions. The project will utilise technology to produce single cell RNA sequence data for 100,000s of cells. By sequencing individual cells, the genetic control of cellular heterogeneity both within and between cells can be identified, and in doing so, will provide significant benefit by revealing the potential for iPSC to be used for functional translation of human genomics.Read moreRead less
Investigating Hippo-regulated transcription at single molecule resolution. Signalling pathways operate throughout life to relay signals from the extracellular world to the cellular nucleus, to control transcription and elicit a response. This project aims to understand how the Hippo growth control pathway regulates transcription. Using a combination of biology, biophysics and computational biology, this project aims to quantify behaviour of the Hippo pathway transcription factors at sub-micron r ....Investigating Hippo-regulated transcription at single molecule resolution. Signalling pathways operate throughout life to relay signals from the extracellular world to the cellular nucleus, to control transcription and elicit a response. This project aims to understand how the Hippo growth control pathway regulates transcription. Using a combination of biology, biophysics and computational biology, this project aims to quantify behaviour of the Hippo pathway transcription factors at sub-micron resolution, and how Hippo signalling modulates their behaviour, interaction with the genome and function. We anticipate our discoveries will stimulate new research, e.g. testing of how other signaling pathways regulate transcription. Intended benefits are creation of jobs and new knowledge on fundamental principles of life.Read moreRead less
How neurons maintain their fate. This project aims to investigate how neurons maintain their identity, without reverting back to less specialised cells. Stable fate maintenance is essential because when it fails, cells lose their ability to perform their ascribed function, which impedes organism fitness. This project aims to define how two proteins work in partnership to maintain the identity of brain neurons. We intend our discoveries to stimulate new research, for example to test whether the h ....How neurons maintain their fate. This project aims to investigate how neurons maintain their identity, without reverting back to less specialised cells. Stable fate maintenance is essential because when it fails, cells lose their ability to perform their ascribed function, which impedes organism fitness. This project aims to define how two proteins work in partnership to maintain the identity of brain neurons. We intend our discoveries to stimulate new research, for example to test whether the human counterparts of the Drosophila proteins studied here, function similarly. Benefits will be provided in the form of job creation, and new knowledge in fundamental aspects of life, including brain development and cell fate maintenance.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100782
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Identifying molecular regulators of haematopoietic stem cell development. Blood stem cells are capable of making all types of mature blood cell whilst making new copies of themselves. These properties are essential for the life-long supply of blood and make stem cells ideal for therapeutic use. By studying embryos, this project will identify genes that control the production and expansion of blood-forming stem cells.
Regulatory roles of the RNA helicase DDX5 in male germline stem cells. This project aims to investigate the role of the RNA helicase DDX5 in regulating gene expression programs of male germline stem cells by utilising novel mouse models, stem cell culture and genome-wide analysis approaches. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of germline maintenance and adult stem cells using innovative in vivo and in vitro experimental systems. Expected outcomes of this project will incl ....Regulatory roles of the RNA helicase DDX5 in male germline stem cells. This project aims to investigate the role of the RNA helicase DDX5 in regulating gene expression programs of male germline stem cells by utilising novel mouse models, stem cell culture and genome-wide analysis approaches. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of germline maintenance and adult stem cells using innovative in vivo and in vitro experimental systems. Expected outcomes of this project will include gain of substantial insight into molecular mechanisms underlying germline stem cell function and gene regulation within the male germline. This should provide significant benefits, including advancement of reproductive science and development of systems applicable for animal germline preservation and manipulation.Read moreRead less
The Hippo signalling pathway in dividing and non-dividing cells. This project aims to understand how the Drosophila Hippo pathway performs two very different jobs in the same organ, that is control cell proliferation and differentiation. The redeployment of cellular machinery to do different jobs is very common and efficient, but the mechanism by which this occurs is poorly understood. Using new techniques, this project aims to provide new knowledge to several fields including organ growth contr ....The Hippo signalling pathway in dividing and non-dividing cells. This project aims to understand how the Drosophila Hippo pathway performs two very different jobs in the same organ, that is control cell proliferation and differentiation. The redeployment of cellular machinery to do different jobs is very common and efficient, but the mechanism by which this occurs is poorly understood. Using new techniques, this project aims to provide new knowledge to several fields including organ growth control, cell fate specification, cellular signalling and eye vision. These discoveries are likely to enhance international collaborations and stimulate new research.Read moreRead less