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
The role of gene isoforms in human brain development. This project aims to investigate how genes vary their products to control human brain development, by creating new methods to study gene activity in individual brain cells. Using these innovative methods, this project expects to generate fundamental new knowledge of how the human brain forms. Expected outcomes of this project include widely applicable techniques, strengthened international (UK) research collaborations and highly trained perso ....The role of gene isoforms in human brain development. This project aims to investigate how genes vary their products to control human brain development, by creating new methods to study gene activity in individual brain cells. Using these innovative methods, this project expects to generate fundamental new knowledge of how the human brain forms. Expected outcomes of this project include widely applicable techniques, strengthened international (UK) research collaborations and highly trained personnel in genomics and neuroscience. This should deliver many benefits, including a better understanding of how the brain forms, training of higher degree by research students, as well as tools and methods of benefit to the academic research and biotechnology sectors.Read moreRead less
Discovery of Novel Bacteriophage with the Capacity to Modulate Gut Bacteria. This project aims to experimentally validate the largest ever collection of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) within the gut microbiome. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of bacteriophage biology and genomics by using the innovative approaches of wet-lab and bioinformatic genome analyses. Expect outcomes of this project include the discovery of novel phages using bioinformatics, wet-lab validat ....Discovery of Novel Bacteriophage with the Capacity to Modulate Gut Bacteria. This project aims to experimentally validate the largest ever collection of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) within the gut microbiome. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of bacteriophage biology and genomics by using the innovative approaches of wet-lab and bioinformatic genome analyses. Expect outcomes of this project include the discovery of novel phages using bioinformatics, wet-lab validation of their activity and characterisation of their potential to contribute new bacterial host metabolism. This should provide benefits, such as advancement to our understanding of bacteriophages, improved bioinformatic software, and a characterised collection of commercially valuable bacterial strains and phages.Read moreRead less
Next generation high throughput lipidomics using adaptive modelling. This project aims to develop a unique high-throughput method to capture the lipidomic profile of human plasma suitable for large human population screening. Lipids are fundamental to every biological system, but our understanding of their regulation in humans have been largely superficial. By incorporating a new lipidomics approach, with genomic data, this project aims to expand our understanding of human biology by identifying ....Next generation high throughput lipidomics using adaptive modelling. This project aims to develop a unique high-throughput method to capture the lipidomic profile of human plasma suitable for large human population screening. Lipids are fundamental to every biological system, but our understanding of their regulation in humans have been largely superficial. By incorporating a new lipidomics approach, with genomic data, this project aims to expand our understanding of human biology by identifying regulators of lipid metabolism. The large diversity in humans necessitate sufficient sample sizes to identify true genetic regulators, but to date techniques capturing phenotypic data (lipids) have been largely limited. It is anticipated that this study will identify new regulators of lipid metabolism in humans.Read moreRead less
Understanding the determinants of age-related muscle wasting in females . This project aims to investigate the fundamental mechanisms underlying age-related muscle wasting in females. Females live longer than males and are more susceptible to the consequences of muscle ageing. Yet, our current knowledge is overwhelmingly inferred from findings from male cohorts. By comprehensively mapping the functional, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of ageing in female muscle, this project will generate n ....Understanding the determinants of age-related muscle wasting in females . This project aims to investigate the fundamental mechanisms underlying age-related muscle wasting in females. Females live longer than males and are more susceptible to the consequences of muscle ageing. Yet, our current knowledge is overwhelmingly inferred from findings from male cohorts. By comprehensively mapping the functional, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of ageing in female muscle, this project will generate new, fundamental knowledge that will allow a unique interpretation of previous research through a sex-specific lens. This knowledge will contribute to better inform sex-specific models of research and practice in the future, ultimately delivering economic and social benefits for Australia and international communities.Read moreRead less
Metabolic control of gene expression networks and microbiome interactions. The proposal aims to advance our understanding of how metabolism (and resulting metabolites) regulate the expression of genes, and investigate how these processes dictate the interaction of microbiota with the immune system. The project is expected to generate transformative knowledge of gene regulation, a fundamental process for cellular function, and decipher how the microbiome yeast Candida albicans interacts with immu ....Metabolic control of gene expression networks and microbiome interactions. The proposal aims to advance our understanding of how metabolism (and resulting metabolites) regulate the expression of genes, and investigate how these processes dictate the interaction of microbiota with the immune system. The project is expected to generate transformative knowledge of gene regulation, a fundamental process for cellular function, and decipher how the microbiome yeast Candida albicans interacts with immune cells and bacteria. By utilising a powerful combination of molecular and systems biology with molecular genetics and imaging, the project outcomes should foster interdisciplinary collaborations and build capacity for fundamental and applied research to benefit academia and industry, locally and globally.Read moreRead less
The transcriptome dynamics that refine eukaryotic gene expression. This project aims to understand the fundamental mechanisms of gene expression control, by exploring how cells respond to acute perturbation with changes to RNA expression and processing. Unlike the static information encoded within the genome, the information encoded in its intermediary RNA, is transient, plastic and responsive to environmental and developmental cues. This project will use new technologies encompassing RNA-bioche ....The transcriptome dynamics that refine eukaryotic gene expression. This project aims to understand the fundamental mechanisms of gene expression control, by exploring how cells respond to acute perturbation with changes to RNA expression and processing. Unlike the static information encoded within the genome, the information encoded in its intermediary RNA, is transient, plastic and responsive to environmental and developmental cues. This project will use new technologies encompassing RNA-biochemistry, Next Generation Sequencing, and bioinformatics to answer long-standing questions in RNA processing. The project expects to significantly enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning gene-expression control, benefitting Australia by positioning it as a world leader in the field of RNA Biology.Read moreRead less
Investigating non-canonical RNA processing in developing spermatids. RNA combines the information content of DNA and the physical properties of proteins. These features mean it's emerging as a major player for new knowledge; for answers to fundamental questions in biology, and for applications in biotechnology. This project aims to understand how non-canonical RNA processing events control gene expression. How mRNA is processed post-transcriptionally for selective storage, translation, stabilisa ....Investigating non-canonical RNA processing in developing spermatids. RNA combines the information content of DNA and the physical properties of proteins. These features mean it's emerging as a major player for new knowledge; for answers to fundamental questions in biology, and for applications in biotechnology. This project aims to understand how non-canonical RNA processing events control gene expression. How mRNA is processed post-transcriptionally for selective storage, translation, stabilisation or decay to control development. RNA-driven processes program morphogenesis and differentiation of spermatids, but via mechanisms only poorly understood. Uncovering the function of extensive cytoplasmic polyadenylation, which is essential for murine fertility, may fuel the next wave of RNA biotech applications. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101209
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Genes underlying enteric neuron subtype differentiation. This project aims to use new RNA-sequencing technology to identify genes important for differentiation of several major enteric neuron subtypes. Proper development and function of the digestive tract is crucial for good health. Gastrointestinal function relies on the co-ordinated activity of neural circuits in the enteric nervous system. This project will advance Australia's knowledge base and research capabilities in the field basic devel ....Genes underlying enteric neuron subtype differentiation. This project aims to use new RNA-sequencing technology to identify genes important for differentiation of several major enteric neuron subtypes. Proper development and function of the digestive tract is crucial for good health. Gastrointestinal function relies on the co-ordinated activity of neural circuits in the enteric nervous system. This project will advance Australia's knowledge base and research capabilities in the field basic developmental neuroscience, by innovative use of Next Generation RNA-sequencing technology to investigate enteric neuron subtype differentiation. The project outcomes include the generation of neuron subtype specific progenitors from naïve stem cells, which will in the longer term have significant health benefits, as gastrointestinal dysfunction is a large health and economic burden in Australia.Read moreRead less
Spatio-temporal activation of genes in cells and mice. This project aims to develop novel genetic methods and instrumentation for the local, rapid and reversible activation of genes in cells and mice. This project expects to generate highly innovative light- and sound-based technologies that will permit to study living systems on the gene-level with unprecedented precision. Expected outcomes include new research and technology capacity to broadly address fundamental biological questions and to c ....Spatio-temporal activation of genes in cells and mice. This project aims to develop novel genetic methods and instrumentation for the local, rapid and reversible activation of genes in cells and mice. This project expects to generate highly innovative light- and sound-based technologies that will permit to study living systems on the gene-level with unprecedented precision. Expected outcomes include new research and technology capacity to broadly address fundamental biological questions and to create new applied processes. This project intends to provide significant benefits, such as enhanced knowledge generation, multidisciplinary training opportunities and patentable technologies.Read moreRead less