Information support tools for the trauma patient pathway. Processes such as critical supply chain management, disaster management, and trauma patient pathways need people, resources, and information to be smoothly transferred between jurisdictions, but problems can occur at each handover. This project focuses on the prehospital to hospital patient pathway and aims to develop technologies, devices, and displays to support more effective handover of patients between jurisdictions. The project will ....Information support tools for the trauma patient pathway. Processes such as critical supply chain management, disaster management, and trauma patient pathways need people, resources, and information to be smoothly transferred between jurisdictions, but problems can occur at each handover. This project focuses on the prehospital to hospital patient pathway and aims to develop technologies, devices, and displays to support more effective handover of patients between jurisdictions. The project will conduct field research, design activities, and simulation-based evaluation of prototypes with healthcare professionals. Expected outcomes are designs, technologies, and guidelines that will generalise to other multi-jurisdictional processes. Benefits are safer and more efficient handover processes.Read moreRead less
The “New” Biochemistry of Polyamines: When Metabolic Pathways Collide. Basic biochemistry and the metabolic regulation of proliferation remain as the fundamental building blocks of knowledge in cell biology that have enabled breakthrough advances in biology and medicine. Polyamines are unique and ubiquitous low-Mr amines that play vital roles in many biological processes, including proliferation, DNA/RNA synthesis, etc. This proposal will mechanistically dissect the "new" biochemistry of polyami ....The “New” Biochemistry of Polyamines: When Metabolic Pathways Collide. Basic biochemistry and the metabolic regulation of proliferation remain as the fundamental building blocks of knowledge in cell biology that have enabled breakthrough advances in biology and medicine. Polyamines are unique and ubiquitous low-Mr amines that play vital roles in many biological processes, including proliferation, DNA/RNA synthesis, etc. This proposal will mechanistically dissect the "new" biochemistry of polyamines, as we have discovered that polyamines are regulated by iron at 2-major levels, involving >10-key polyamine pathway proteins. This proposal represents first-in-field studies specifically designed to dissect mechanisms involved in this relationship. Our Central Hypothesis is that iron regulates polyamine metabolism.Read moreRead less
Trails of migration out of Africa in harmful mutations of the First Peoples. This project aims to study harmful mutations specific to Indigenous populations. The process of migration out of Africa has left its footprints in the mutations present in world populations. By investigating these unique signatures, this project aims to characterise the harmful mutations specific to Aboriginal Australians using the whole genome sequences of the First Peoples. The expected outcomes will benefit future ....Trails of migration out of Africa in harmful mutations of the First Peoples. This project aims to study harmful mutations specific to Indigenous populations. The process of migration out of Africa has left its footprints in the mutations present in world populations. By investigating these unique signatures, this project aims to characterise the harmful mutations specific to Aboriginal Australians using the whole genome sequences of the First Peoples. The expected outcomes will benefit future Aboriginal health research to better understand the mutations associated with various genetic diseases.Read moreRead less
Positrons in biosystems. This project aims to improve our understanding of the damage processes in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET is a widely used medical imaging technique, but there are gaps in our understanding of the underlying interactions, in particular in the case of the radiation damage induced during the process. By using new models incorporating accurate descriptions of interactions processes, verified by experimental measurement, this project will develop a new model of posit ....Positrons in biosystems. This project aims to improve our understanding of the damage processes in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET is a widely used medical imaging technique, but there are gaps in our understanding of the underlying interactions, in particular in the case of the radiation damage induced during the process. By using new models incorporating accurate descriptions of interactions processes, verified by experimental measurement, this project will develop a new model of positron transport in PET. The project will allow validation of predictions from the model by undertaking experiments in liquid water.Read moreRead less
Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry. This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of cer ....Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry. This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of certain lipids to ionise with a polarity that affords sensitive detection but does not permit detailed structure elucidation. This project will develop advanced instrumentation capable of on-demand polarity switching of ionised lipids such that the detection and interrogation of molecular structure can take place in the optimal charge state.Read moreRead less
Molecular networks underlying mitochondrial biogenesis in humans. Mitochondria are essential for life, and we propose a highly-innovative approach (employing multiple, cutting-edge ‘omic’ technologies and bioinformatics) to advance the fundamental understanding of how mitochondria respond and adapt to exercise in humans. The project outcomes should include significant new knowledge and advanced expertise that can be used by others to facilitate additional research outcomes. The project anticipa ....Molecular networks underlying mitochondrial biogenesis in humans. Mitochondria are essential for life, and we propose a highly-innovative approach (employing multiple, cutting-edge ‘omic’ technologies and bioinformatics) to advance the fundamental understanding of how mitochondria respond and adapt to exercise in humans. The project outcomes should include significant new knowledge and advanced expertise that can be used by others to facilitate additional research outcomes. The project anticipates the contribution of innovative tools for molecular biology research, benefiting therapeutic and biotechnology applications. This project will support advanced training of young researchers in frontier technologies, which will expand Australian research capabilities and help produce a higher quality workforce.Read moreRead less
Understanding how an old heart gets stiff. Aging is accompanied by a stiffening of the heart and reduced function, which is accelerated by cardiovascular disease and leads to heart failure. How the heart stiffens is poorly understood. A new mechanism is proposed here, involving structural membrane proteins (termed caveolae and cavins) and a signalling molecule (nitric oxide). The current research aims to unravel the interplay between cardiac cells and these proteins/signals to cause stiffness an ....Understanding how an old heart gets stiff. Aging is accompanied by a stiffening of the heart and reduced function, which is accelerated by cardiovascular disease and leads to heart failure. How the heart stiffens is poorly understood. A new mechanism is proposed here, involving structural membrane proteins (termed caveolae and cavins) and a signalling molecule (nitric oxide). The current research aims to unravel the interplay between cardiac cells and these proteins/signals to cause stiffness and to determine whether this process governs normal aging of the heart. This work will advance understanding of how heart function is determined and reveal how the human heart changes with normal aging. Read moreRead less
Cellular Ageing: Is the Plasma Membrane the Control Hub? This project aims to determine whether the plasma membrane lipid composition is a major driver of cellular ageing. It expects to generate new knowledge in the molecular mechanism of cellular ageing, utilising our team’s deep expertise in lipid biology, bioinformatics, biophysics, extracellular vesicle biology and cellular ageing. Expected outcomes include the identification of novel cellular ageing markers and anti-ageing targets while als ....Cellular Ageing: Is the Plasma Membrane the Control Hub? This project aims to determine whether the plasma membrane lipid composition is a major driver of cellular ageing. It expects to generate new knowledge in the molecular mechanism of cellular ageing, utilising our team’s deep expertise in lipid biology, bioinformatics, biophysics, extracellular vesicle biology and cellular ageing. Expected outcomes include the identification of novel cellular ageing markers and anti-ageing targets while also cementing long-standing partnerships and fostering new interdisciplinary collaborations. This cellular ageing study will provide novel insights into the basic principles of cellular behaviour, e.g. growth, differentiation, communication and death, reinforcing Australia’s leadership in biological science.Read moreRead less
Glucocorticoid receptor-αD1 modulates stress and inflammation . Environmental stressors in mammalian pregnancy often cause inflammation in the mother which has an adverse effect on the fetus and its survival. The current grant aims to examine the mechanism by which stress and inflammation coexist in pregnancy because stress hormones normally exert anti-inflammatory actions. Contrary to convention, a new glucocorticoid receptor (GR), GRalpha D1, is linked to increasing inflammation. Using innova ....Glucocorticoid receptor-αD1 modulates stress and inflammation . Environmental stressors in mammalian pregnancy often cause inflammation in the mother which has an adverse effect on the fetus and its survival. The current grant aims to examine the mechanism by which stress and inflammation coexist in pregnancy because stress hormones normally exert anti-inflammatory actions. Contrary to convention, a new glucocorticoid receptor (GR), GRalpha D1, is linked to increasing inflammation. Using innovative molecular biology approaches, GRalphaD1's function will be examined to provide a deeper understanding of how stress regulates inflammation in animal reproduction. The project aims to enhance interdisciplinary collaborations with expected benefits including a paradigm shift in our knowledge in this field.Read moreRead less
Reducing the harms associated with conscientious objection to abortion. This project aims to critically evaluate the regulation of conscientious objection to abortion. A range of state-based laws regulate this practice in Australia, and there is evidence that all result in inequitable access, harms to women and lack clarity for providers. The project will critically evaluate the legal and regulatory options for managing conscientious objection and interview conscientious objectors to develop a c ....Reducing the harms associated with conscientious objection to abortion. This project aims to critically evaluate the regulation of conscientious objection to abortion. A range of state-based laws regulate this practice in Australia, and there is evidence that all result in inequitable access, harms to women and lack clarity for providers. The project will critically evaluate the legal and regulatory options for managing conscientious objection and interview conscientious objectors to develop a conceptual model to explain their practices. A participatory process with experts will identify the optimal model for regulation and how to translate the model to practice. Expected outcomes are world first evidence on practice, progress towards effective regulation, and benefits will be reduced conflict and harms.Read moreRead less