What about the children? A study of the intergenerational consequences of paternal incarceration. Parental incarceration may have a profound and detrimental effect on children, heightening risk of offending and extreme disadvantage. The proportion of children affected is certain to increase as prison populations continue to grow. This research will identify policies and prevention strategies that will interrupt the cycle of disadvantage for children of prisoners and prevent social exclusion. Sig ....What about the children? A study of the intergenerational consequences of paternal incarceration. Parental incarceration may have a profound and detrimental effect on children, heightening risk of offending and extreme disadvantage. The proportion of children affected is certain to increase as prison populations continue to grow. This research will identify policies and prevention strategies that will interrupt the cycle of disadvantage for children of prisoners and prevent social exclusion. Significant cost-savings and prevention of victimisation could result from effectively targeting this high-risk population, reducing risk of offending and increasing the young person's ability to contribute meaningfully to society. Appropriately timed programs can deliver a range of long-term benefits for children, families and communities.Read moreRead less
Decoding miRNA regulated genetic circuits. This project will aim to develop a much better understanding of how the process of making proteins from genes is regulated, and will develop scientific software capable of predicting how a cell will respond to changes in this regulation. The results will have widespread use, including assistance in deciding the best treatments for genetic diseases.
RNA-based analysis for prediction of islet death in diabetes. Death of insulin-producing cells is a common feature in diabetes. Presently, a blood glucose test remains the only blunt instrument to diagnose diabetes. The RNA-based analysis for prediction of islet death in diabetes (RAPID) study links with eight clinical trials to test this newly developed non-invasive assay for predicting diabetes. Early diagnosis will help to reduce diabetic complications in later life.
Genomics of temperature response in plants. Climate change is predicted to have negative impacts on Australian agriculture. This project will use genomic tools to uncover biological mechanisms for plant response to temperature that will help design crop varieties that are more tolerant to higher temperatures.
Deciphering the genetic architecture of human complex traits. This project aims to develop statistical methods to integrate data from genetic studies of complex traits such as stature and cognition. Molecular phenotypes such as gene expression in large samples will be used to predict target genes and regulatory elements of those traits. Understanding the genetic basis of human complex traits is critical to longstanding questions in human and evolutionary biology. The project will also detect sig ....Deciphering the genetic architecture of human complex traits. This project aims to develop statistical methods to integrate data from genetic studies of complex traits such as stature and cognition. Molecular phenotypes such as gene expression in large samples will be used to predict target genes and regulatory elements of those traits. Understanding the genetic basis of human complex traits is critical to longstanding questions in human and evolutionary biology. The project will also detect signatures of natural selection in shaping the genetic variation in complex traits. The project will provide better understanding of complex traits in global populations and the history of human evolution, and will develop methods applicable in plant and animal contexts.Read moreRead less
Synthetic genes as reference standards for biology and biomanufacture. Reference standards are needed to improve the measurement of biology and the reliability of biomanufacturing processes. This project aims to engineer synthetic genes capable of acting as reference standards for DNA, RNA and protein. The synthetic genes can be transcribed into mRNA standards, and translated into protein standards, and be further integrated into living cells to measure internal cellular processes.
The outcomes ....Synthetic genes as reference standards for biology and biomanufacture. Reference standards are needed to improve the measurement of biology and the reliability of biomanufacturing processes. This project aims to engineer synthetic genes capable of acting as reference standards for DNA, RNA and protein. The synthetic genes can be transcribed into mRNA standards, and translated into protein standards, and be further integrated into living cells to measure internal cellular processes.
The outcomes include a unified understanding of gene expression and more accurate next-generation sequencing and mass-spectrophotometry technologies. The synthetic genes also allow standardisation and optimisation of biomanufacturing processes that will produce mRNA and biologics products at a higher purity and lower cost.Read moreRead less
Testing theoretical propositions concerning the onset and progression of child-sex offending, and field testing a new sexual abuse prevention model. Child sexual abuse poses serious threats to the health and well-being of Australian children. Data from a variety of sources indicate that, for a variety of reasons, Indigenous children are exposed to a heightened risk of sexual abuse. The present project is expected to lead to new discoveries about the causes of sexual abuse and to new evidence-bas ....Testing theoretical propositions concerning the onset and progression of child-sex offending, and field testing a new sexual abuse prevention model. Child sexual abuse poses serious threats to the health and well-being of Australian children. Data from a variety of sources indicate that, for a variety of reasons, Indigenous children are exposed to a heightened risk of sexual abuse. The present project is expected to lead to new discoveries about the causes of sexual abuse and to new evidence-based prevention methods both within Indigenous communities and in the wider community. The project will therefore contribute at a national level, as well as at a local community level, to broader efforts to improve the life chances of Australian children.Read moreRead less
Developing bioinformatics methods for single cell transcriptomics. This project aims to develop novel bioinformatics methods for single cell transcriptomic data that seek to model variability in cell populations. The project expects to generate new approaches using Bayesian statistics that will act as high-end enablers of discovery in transcriptional regulatory processes. Through an interdisciplinary combination of experimental and computational research, insights into fundamental biological pro ....Developing bioinformatics methods for single cell transcriptomics. This project aims to develop novel bioinformatics methods for single cell transcriptomic data that seek to model variability in cell populations. The project expects to generate new approaches using Bayesian statistics that will act as high-end enablers of discovery in transcriptional regulatory processes. Through an interdisciplinary combination of experimental and computational research, insights into fundamental biological processes will be elucidated, specifically the robustness of cellular systems. Expected outcomes include a suite of novel tools that will push the boundaries of current bioinformatics solutions with potential to deliver significant benefits to every domain of biological science, particularly tissue engineering and synthetic biology.Read moreRead less