The Identification Of Genes Involved In Mammalian Craniofacial Development And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,055.00
Summary
Birth defects arising from abnormal development of the embryo are a major cause of infant mortality and childhood disabilities. On average 3-4% of liveborn babies have a major congenital abnormality, and of the 15-20% of pregnancies which spontaneously abort, many are due to chromosomal or other developmental anomalies. A common feature of many developmental disorders is dysmorphology of the face, suggesting that genes important in patterning the face are also important in the development of oth ....Birth defects arising from abnormal development of the embryo are a major cause of infant mortality and childhood disabilities. On average 3-4% of liveborn babies have a major congenital abnormality, and of the 15-20% of pregnancies which spontaneously abort, many are due to chromosomal or other developmental anomalies. A common feature of many developmental disorders is dysmorphology of the face, suggesting that genes important in patterning the face are also important in the development of other organ systems. During development of the embryo many of the features of the face derive from a series of swellings termed the pharyngeal arches. The complex processes which determine how the face develops are in a large part controlled by the co-ordinated expression of a large number of genes in the first two of the five pharyngeal arch pairs. While we know some of the genes involved in these processes, the precise mechanisms of craniofacial development are relatively poorly understood. In this project we propose a large scale approach to identifying genes involved in development of the mammalian face and to further delineating their role in development and human disease. This approach takes advantage of state of the art genomic technologies available at the IMB and through existing collaborations overseas. In collaboration with Dr Bento Soares (University of Iowa) we have constructed a library containing all of the genes which are expressed in the first two pairs of pharyngeal arches in the developing mouse embryo. Using an approach designed to eliminate all those genes which are expressed in all or most tissues of the body and play a general role in the body's metabolism, we will select for those genes which play a specific and important role in embryonic development. We will then isolate the human counterparts of these genes and more thoroughly investigate their role in embryonic development and disease.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101037
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
After the deluge: revisiting displacement and resettlement at the Three Gorges Dam, China. The three Gorges Dam project in China displaced 1.13 million people. This project will investigate what happened to those evicted and draw lessons for the nations and institutions that operationalise the displacement of some 10 million people each year.
Towards better multidimensional well-being measurement. The research will develop enhanced multidimensional measures of well-being and provide guidance that will significantly improve their use and interpretation. It will provide insights that will better inform policies aimed at higher well-being levels.
Group A Streptococcal Human Challenge Study: Accelerating Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,018,741.00
Summary
Infection with group A streptococcus (GAS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in the Aboriginal population of Australia. Concerted efforts for vaccine development have been hampered by the absence of a suitable animal model. To address this critical knowledge gap we propose to develop a controlled human infection model of GAS infection. This model will provide a direct pathway for the future appraisal of novel GAS vaccines.
Life, living and livelihoods in satellite cities: new urban forms in India . This project aims to assess the success of satellite cities, conceived as possible solutions to the urgent challenge of rapid urban growth in today’s megacities. Through an ethnography of an Indian satellite city, Mahindra World City, this project aims to generate knowledge on new urban formations and the consequences of experiments in urban development for different socio-economic groups. Understanding the lived experi ....Life, living and livelihoods in satellite cities: new urban forms in India . This project aims to assess the success of satellite cities, conceived as possible solutions to the urgent challenge of rapid urban growth in today’s megacities. Through an ethnography of an Indian satellite city, Mahindra World City, this project aims to generate knowledge on new urban formations and the consequences of experiments in urban development for different socio-economic groups. Understanding the lived experiences of residents/workers in satellite cities aims to form a robust evidence base for research driven dialogue with policy makers, planners and developers. Lessons derived are expected to inform policy and practice as to how to achieve wellbeing for urban residents, while providing indications of Asia’s urban futures.Read moreRead less
The changing geographies of power, knowledge and access in Australia's financial services sector: a regional development perspective. This project investigates one of the most pressing issues in the development of regional Australia: whether the modern financial services sector acts to reinforce or remediate existing patterns of uneven development. The research focuses on two key issues: 1) how the restructuring of the banking sector has affected the availability of financial services and ventur ....The changing geographies of power, knowledge and access in Australia's financial services sector: a regional development perspective. This project investigates one of the most pressing issues in the development of regional Australia: whether the modern financial services sector acts to reinforce or remediate existing patterns of uneven development. The research focuses on two key issues: 1) how the restructuring of the banking sector has affected the availability of financial services and venture capital in rural and urban Australia; and 2) the relationship between the changing geography of financial services and financial institutions' increasing reliance upon instrumental knowledge about their customers. The research will produce a model of the role of modern financial services provision and market knowledge in regional development.Read moreRead less
Phenotypic And Functional Characterization Of Human Dendritic Cell Subsets Generated In Vitro And Isolated From Tissues
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$586,428.00
Summary
The immune system defends us against infections and cancer. Dendritic cells (DC) are white blood cells that have a central role to both activate the immune system and to regulate immune responses. In this study, we will determine the functional differences of human DC populations, because a clear understanding of the functional differences between different human DC types is essential for utilizing DC in designing more effective vaccines and immune therapies for clinical applications.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100901
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,273.00
Summary
Agricultural skill development in India: Assessing acquisition and impact. This project aims to investigate the impact of new agricultural vocational training programs in rural India on processes of skill acquisition and youth livelihood trajectories. As India rapidly expands its capacity for formal skill development in agriculture, this study will be among the first to employ an innovative qualitative longitudinal research design to assess these programs’ ground-level impacts. Expected outcomes ....Agricultural skill development in India: Assessing acquisition and impact. This project aims to investigate the impact of new agricultural vocational training programs in rural India on processes of skill acquisition and youth livelihood trajectories. As India rapidly expands its capacity for formal skill development in agriculture, this study will be among the first to employ an innovative qualitative longitudinal research design to assess these programs’ ground-level impacts. Expected outcomes include deeper understandings of how agricultural skill development occurs in social contexts over an extended period. Research will inform policy in India and other developing countries on how to maximise the social impact of these initiatives. It will also provide insights on how Australia can deepen engagement with India in areas of vocational training.Read moreRead less