Communication and information storage mechanisms in complex dynamical brain networks. Recordings of electrical activity in the brain often cycle repetitively. The aim of this research is to explain how these brain rhythms assist the brain to coordinate simultaneous activity in several regions. Australian socioeconomic benefits include: (i) contributions to the knowledge base of theoretical neuroscience, enhancing Australia's reputation for cutting-edge research; (ii) strengthening of internation ....Communication and information storage mechanisms in complex dynamical brain networks. Recordings of electrical activity in the brain often cycle repetitively. The aim of this research is to explain how these brain rhythms assist the brain to coordinate simultaneous activity in several regions. Australian socioeconomic benefits include: (i) contributions to the knowledge base of theoretical neuroscience, enhancing Australia's reputation for cutting-edge research; (ii) strengthening of international collaborations with Europe and Japan; (iii) outcomes will ultimately impact on improved medical bionics and future interfaces between brain activity and machines or computers; and (iv) commercialization and technology transfer opportunities, via the transfer of results to biologically inspired engineering.Read moreRead less
Membrane Proteins within the Mouse Transcriptome- Annotation of their Organisation and Subcellular Localisation. A major issue in cell biology today is how distinct regions of the cell maintain their unique composition of proteins. The aim of this grant is to identify membrane proteins within the mouse genome and annotate their localisation within the cell. Our multi-discipline effort will combine extensive computational prediction strategies with focused cellular biology experimental determinat ....Membrane Proteins within the Mouse Transcriptome- Annotation of their Organisation and Subcellular Localisation. A major issue in cell biology today is how distinct regions of the cell maintain their unique composition of proteins. The aim of this grant is to identify membrane proteins within the mouse genome and annotate their localisation within the cell. Our multi-discipline effort will combine extensive computational prediction strategies with focused cellular biology experimental determination. The underpinning experimental technology, termed reverse transfection arrays, allows for high-throughput assessment of cellular phenotype properties for individual proteins.Read moreRead less
Neural Activity Shaping for Retinal and Cochlear Implants. This project aims to develop methods to control and optimise the spatial patterns of neural activity evoked by neural prostheses in order to improve the resolution of neuroprostheses. A major problem for neural prostheses is that the electrical current used to stimulate neurons causes a diffuse spread of activity in the neural tissue, which limits the resolution of the device. For patients this translates into limitations in sound qualit ....Neural Activity Shaping for Retinal and Cochlear Implants. This project aims to develop methods to control and optimise the spatial patterns of neural activity evoked by neural prostheses in order to improve the resolution of neuroprostheses. A major problem for neural prostheses is that the electrical current used to stimulate neurons causes a diffuse spread of activity in the neural tissue, which limits the resolution of the device. For patients this translates into limitations in sound quality, in the case of cochlea implants, or visual acuity, for retinal implants. The outcome of the project will be algorithms that optimally choose the currents on each electrode so as to shape neural activity at the finer resolution of electrode spacing rather than the coarser resolution of current spread.Read moreRead less
A lossy compression paradigm for sensory neural coding. By applying new interdisciplinary theoretical results, this research aims to enhance our understanding of how the ear turns sounds into electrical signals in the presence of high levels of random noise. Socio-economic benefits to Australia include: (i) contributions to the knowledge base of theoretical neuroscience, and communications systems, enhancing Australia's reputation for cutting-edge research; (ii) strengthening of European interna ....A lossy compression paradigm for sensory neural coding. By applying new interdisciplinary theoretical results, this research aims to enhance our understanding of how the ear turns sounds into electrical signals in the presence of high levels of random noise. Socio-economic benefits to Australia include: (i) contributions to the knowledge base of theoretical neuroscience, and communications systems, enhancing Australia's reputation for cutting-edge research; (ii) strengthening of European international collaborations; (iii) outcomes that will ultimately impact on improved designs for bionic ears and future biomedical prosthetics; and (iv) commercialisation and technology transfer opportunities, via the transfer of results to wireless artificial sensor networks.Read moreRead less
Systems modelling of the cardiac fibroblast. The cardiac fibroblast is a specialised cell in the heart. New evidence shows that this cell type is central to heart function, but relatively little is known about how and why. This project will develop mathematical modelling to characterise how the cardiac fibroblast regulates the functioning of the adult heart.
Spatio-temporal modelling of Ras dependent MAP kinase activation. This project is at the heart of the national research priority 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries'. Using cutting edge methods and techniques of systems biology, coupled with innovative experimental molecular cell biology we will construct and simulate mathematical models of the EGF-regulated MAP kinase pathway. The project will yield new insights into the fundamental mechanisms of cell sign ....Spatio-temporal modelling of Ras dependent MAP kinase activation. This project is at the heart of the national research priority 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries'. Using cutting edge methods and techniques of systems biology, coupled with innovative experimental molecular cell biology we will construct and simulate mathematical models of the EGF-regulated MAP kinase pathway. The project will yield new insights into the fundamental mechanisms of cell signal transduction that drive cell division, differentiation and transformation and may enable the design of new anticancer therapies. Importantly, the modelling and simulation methods developed in the project will have a general applicability to other complex systems such as sustainable ecological systems.Read moreRead less
Systems-level characterization of scaffold protein signalling networks. The PEAK family of cell signalling scaffolds regulate cellular responses critical for normal development and physiology. This project will adopt a ‘holistic’ approach to characterizing their mechanism and function, integrating experimental and mathematical approaches and developing predictive computational models. It aims to generate fundamental new knowledge in cell, computational and synthetic biology with broad relevance ....Systems-level characterization of scaffold protein signalling networks. The PEAK family of cell signalling scaffolds regulate cellular responses critical for normal development and physiology. This project will adopt a ‘holistic’ approach to characterizing their mechanism and function, integrating experimental and mathematical approaches and developing predictive computational models. It aims to generate fundamental new knowledge in cell, computational and synthetic biology with broad relevance that will foster establishment of new international linkages. This research will also identify strategies for engineering novel scaffolds that re-program cellular behaviour towards specific, applied outcomes, with potential benefit for the fields of synthetic biology, bioengineering and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Defining the molecular switches that govern discrete cellular fates. This project aims to elucidate how mammalian cells exploit the same molecular machinery to perform completely distinct jobs. While the repurposing of proteins by cells seems widespread, the mechanisms by which this occurs remains largely undefined. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of cell signalling and systems biology, with important implications for many multi-functional proteins. It will utilise a h ....Defining the molecular switches that govern discrete cellular fates. This project aims to elucidate how mammalian cells exploit the same molecular machinery to perform completely distinct jobs. While the repurposing of proteins by cells seems widespread, the mechanisms by which this occurs remains largely undefined. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of cell signalling and systems biology, with important implications for many multi-functional proteins. It will utilise a highly innovative and interdisciplinary approach that tightly integrates mathematical modelling and biological experiments. The expected outcomes will aid strategies for reprogramming cells towards a desired phenotype, which will bring significant benefits to the fields of synthetic biology and bioengineering.Read moreRead less