Decoding regulatory RNA function in bacteria. All complex biological processes in bacterial cells appear to utilise regulatory small RNAs to control gene expression, but we lack a systems-level understanding of their functions and mechanisms of control. This proposal aims to address this fundamental knowledge gap using machine learning and cutting-edge, systems-level techniques to determine how small RNA sequence and structure determines function. Small RNAs have been found to control a broad ra ....Decoding regulatory RNA function in bacteria. All complex biological processes in bacterial cells appear to utilise regulatory small RNAs to control gene expression, but we lack a systems-level understanding of their functions and mechanisms of control. This proposal aims to address this fundamental knowledge gap using machine learning and cutting-edge, systems-level techniques to determine how small RNA sequence and structure determines function. Small RNAs have been found to control a broad range of traits including metabolism, biofilm formation, antibiotic tolerance, and virulence. The work proposed here will enhance our ability to predict and control bacterial gene expression with potential future impacts on bioproduction, synthetic biology, and veterinary and medical microbiology.Read moreRead less
Investigating the biogenesis and function of circular RNAs in the brain. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are e a novel class of RNA molecules produced in a wide spectrum of eukaryotic organisms, from yeast to humans. Their expression is particularly high in the nervous system in the fruit fly, mouse and humans. What mechanisms are responsible for the tissue-specific enrichment of circular RNA expression? What are the consequences of circular RNA production on gene expression? The overall goal of the pr ....Investigating the biogenesis and function of circular RNAs in the brain. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are e a novel class of RNA molecules produced in a wide spectrum of eukaryotic organisms, from yeast to humans. Their expression is particularly high in the nervous system in the fruit fly, mouse and humans. What mechanisms are responsible for the tissue-specific enrichment of circular RNA expression? What are the consequences of circular RNA production on gene expression? The overall goal of the proposed project is to elucidate these important aspects of circRNA biogenesis. Specifically, the project aims to (a) discover proteins that regulate circRNA expression, (b) elucidate how circRNA expression interacts with alternative splicing, and (c) identify circular RNAs that play regulatory roles in gene expression. Read moreRead less
How does the noncoding genome regulate gene expression in the human brain? The non-coding genome is recognized as a major player in orchestrating gene expression in higher eukaryotes. This project aims to identify regions of the human genome that are important for gene expression during neuronal differentiation and depolarisation (i.e. neural enhancers), and to investigate their evolutionary properties. The roles of non-coding DNA in regulating the dynamic gene expression patterns underlying com ....How does the noncoding genome regulate gene expression in the human brain? The non-coding genome is recognized as a major player in orchestrating gene expression in higher eukaryotes. This project aims to identify regions of the human genome that are important for gene expression during neuronal differentiation and depolarisation (i.e. neural enhancers), and to investigate their evolutionary properties. The roles of non-coding DNA in regulating the dynamic gene expression patterns underlying complex human brain functions remains to be elucidated. By combining transcriptome quantification and bioinformatics methods, this project will close an important knowledge gap in our understanding of transcriptional regulation underlying human brain function. This will provide benefits such as the potential to influence public health policy including in cognitive functions and aging.Read moreRead less
Measuring uncertainty in global housing markets and its risk to Australia. This project aims to develop and construct a measure of systemic risk for the national real-estate markets in Australia, and its main trading partners, namely China, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America. Recently developed methodology will be used to investigate how real estate risks migrate across these countries over time, and during periods of financial turbulence. This methodology is intende ....Measuring uncertainty in global housing markets and its risk to Australia. This project aims to develop and construct a measure of systemic risk for the national real-estate markets in Australia, and its main trading partners, namely China, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America. Recently developed methodology will be used to investigate how real estate risks migrate across these countries over time, and during periods of financial turbulence. This methodology is intended to be employed as part of a market stability surveillance program and for assessing the impact of real-estate risk on the overall economy. Early detection of the onset of future housing bubble collapses would be of significant benefit to policy makers, Australia’s trading partners, the real estate industry and ultimately home buyers.Read moreRead less
Dissecting cell cycle regulation using programmable gene editing technology. This program aims to harness the unprecedented power of CRISPR-Cas13 gene-editing technology to develop high-throughput tools to explore the role of RNA regulation in cell cycle control. This project expects to generate new knowledge about cell division and RNA biology by utilizing this new technology and applying interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this proposal include new research tools capable of broa ....Dissecting cell cycle regulation using programmable gene editing technology. This program aims to harness the unprecedented power of CRISPR-Cas13 gene-editing technology to develop high-throughput tools to explore the role of RNA regulation in cell cycle control. This project expects to generate new knowledge about cell division and RNA biology by utilizing this new technology and applying interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this proposal include new research tools capable of broadly addressing biological questions across multiple disciplines (e.g. from health to food production). This project intends to provide significant benefits, such as enhanced biological knowledge, multidisciplinary training opportunities and will build Australia’s capability in this rapidly expanding field.Read moreRead less
Advanced Bayesian Inversion Algorithms for Wave Propagation. This project aims to improve algorithms for detecting hidden items by developing new computational mathematical techniques capable of reconstructing the shape and location of objects using electromagnetic waves. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of Bayesian Inversion and computational wave propagation. Expected outcomes of this project are algorithms that can be developed for use in nonintrusive radio wave sec ....Advanced Bayesian Inversion Algorithms for Wave Propagation. This project aims to improve algorithms for detecting hidden items by developing new computational mathematical techniques capable of reconstructing the shape and location of objects using electromagnetic waves. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of Bayesian Inversion and computational wave propagation. Expected outcomes of this project are algorithms that can be developed for use in nonintrusive radio wave security scanners. This should provide benefits such as the capability to scan a crowd without a checkpoint, which will have the potential to improve security in public places.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL170100052
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,107,500.00
Summary
Breakthrough methods for noncommutative calculus. This project aims to solve hard, outstanding problems which have impeded our ability to progress in the area of quantum or noncommutative calculus. Calculus has provided an invaluable tool to science, enabling scientific and technological revolutions throughout the past two centuries. The project will initiate a program of collaboration among top mathematical researchers from around the world and bring together two separate mathematical areas int ....Breakthrough methods for noncommutative calculus. This project aims to solve hard, outstanding problems which have impeded our ability to progress in the area of quantum or noncommutative calculus. Calculus has provided an invaluable tool to science, enabling scientific and technological revolutions throughout the past two centuries. The project will initiate a program of collaboration among top mathematical researchers from around the world and bring together two separate mathematical areas into a powerful new set of tools. The outcomes from the project will impact research at the forefront of mathematical physics and other sciences and enhance Australia’s reputation and standing.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100271
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,618.00
Summary
Coordinating gene expression and cell size: the role of feedback regulation. This project aims to reveal how human cells coordinate the kinetics of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript production, processing and degradation at the single-cell level. It expects to generate significant new biological knowledge of gene regulation by combining innovative interdisciplinary research methodologies in genetics, single-molecule imaging, mathematical modelling and quantitative cell biology. Expected outcomes i ....Coordinating gene expression and cell size: the role of feedback regulation. This project aims to reveal how human cells coordinate the kinetics of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript production, processing and degradation at the single-cell level. It expects to generate significant new biological knowledge of gene regulation by combining innovative interdisciplinary research methodologies in genetics, single-molecule imaging, mathematical modelling and quantitative cell biology. Expected outcomes include enhanced training of researchers and to build Australia’s capability in the rapidly expanding fields of RNA biology and high-throughput microscopy. This should provide significant benefits for a myriad of applications including health, agriculture and veterinary sciences.Read moreRead less
Transcription factors find their targets by reading the epigenetic code. This project aims to elucidate how transcription factors, proteins that regulate gene expression, find their target genes. The hypothesis is that non-DNA binding domains play an essential role in this process. This project expects to transform our understanding of transcription factor families, and how factors in families with the same DNA-binding domain manage to regulate different genes. Expected outcomes of this project ....Transcription factors find their targets by reading the epigenetic code. This project aims to elucidate how transcription factors, proteins that regulate gene expression, find their target genes. The hypothesis is that non-DNA binding domains play an essential role in this process. This project expects to transform our understanding of transcription factor families, and how factors in families with the same DNA-binding domain manage to regulate different genes. Expected outcomes of this project include revealing how accessory proteins help transcription factors identify their targets in the genome by reading epigenetic marks. This should provide significant benefits including improved design of artificial transcription factors to up- or down-regulate specific genes in research and agriculture.Read moreRead less