ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development. The Centre will create a multidisciplinary research team focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive the specification and differentiation of male germ cells. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of how complex regulatory networks control the expression of a complex phenotype, the spermatozoon. It will also create a platform of knowledge from which we can stimulate the growth of the Australian Biotechnology indust ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development. The Centre will create a multidisciplinary research team focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive the specification and differentiation of male germ cells. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of how complex regulatory networks control the expression of a complex phenotype, the spermatozoon. It will also create a platform of knowledge from which we can stimulate the growth of the Australian Biotechnology industry, the protection of the Australian Environment and the well-being of the Australian people. Key issues for this Centre include testicular cancer, male infertility, contraception, pest animal control, environmental impacts on human health and gene pharming.Read moreRead less
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI100100130
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,834.00
Summary
Developing predictive tools for rapid assessment of multiple impacts, including climate change, on the marine ecosystem of Torres Strait (Australia). This project will underpin Australia's long-term commitment to maintain environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of synergistic effects from multiple threats. We will describe the consequences of threats and stressors on marine processes, harvested resources, and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. ....Developing predictive tools for rapid assessment of multiple impacts, including climate change, on the marine ecosystem of Torres Strait (Australia). This project will underpin Australia's long-term commitment to maintain environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of synergistic effects from multiple threats. We will describe the consequences of threats and stressors on marine processes, harvested resources, and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. We will provide management advice on balancing cultural and ecosystem integrity, economic efficiency, and ecosystem resilience under scenarios of climate and environmental change. This information is of immediate use by Australian government agencies. The project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research focused on the adaptation of marine ecosystems to synergistic effects.Read moreRead less
Development of new tools for surveillance of chlamydial infections in sheep. This project aims to improve health in sheep and reduce on-farm losses for Australian producers, by developing new serological tests for chlamydial infections in sheep. These infections can result in significant on-farm losses and loss of trade in the live export industry. Currently, surveillance of chlamydial infections is hindered by outdated serological tools that are unreliable and difficult to interpret. The ser ....Development of new tools for surveillance of chlamydial infections in sheep. This project aims to improve health in sheep and reduce on-farm losses for Australian producers, by developing new serological tests for chlamydial infections in sheep. These infections can result in significant on-farm losses and loss of trade in the live export industry. Currently, surveillance of chlamydial infections is hindered by outdated serological tools that are unreliable and difficult to interpret. The serological tests to be developed aim to be species-specific tests to detect the most important chlamydial sheep pathogens. This in turn endeavours to improve domestic surveillance, reducing on-farm losses and costs, and improve market opportunities for Australian sheep exporters as well as informing veterinary populations on best practice treatment.Read moreRead less
Impact of increased sediment and nutrient discharges on the long-term sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's greatest natural assets, is under increasing threat from extreme climatic events caused by global warming and from land-based pollution. This research will identify the main sources of sediment and nutrient pollution caused by river runoff and by how much this has increased above 'natural levels'. We will discover how the very sensitive offsho ....Impact of increased sediment and nutrient discharges on the long-term sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's greatest natural assets, is under increasing threat from extreme climatic events caused by global warming and from land-based pollution. This research will identify the main sources of sediment and nutrient pollution caused by river runoff and by how much this has increased above 'natural levels'. We will discover how the very sensitive offshore coral reefs have responded to increased pollution and whether this is the cause of the very devastating crown-of-thorn-starfish infestations. Understanding the long-term effects of land-based pollution on the ecology of coral reefs in the GBR will thus provide a scientific basis to help ensure that it has a sustainable future.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Australian Sponge Metabolites. The development of concise and flexible syntheses of Australian marine natural products and analogues of ecological/therapeutic significance will emerge. Such activities will lead to the identification and evaluation of molecular entities of value in managing marine environments and help to enhance chemical synthesis capacity in Australia.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100151
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Enhancing resistance to wheat stripe rust disease. This project aims to investigate why wheat succumbs to stripe rust fungus, a grave threat to global wheat production. Wheat is the primary agricultural and revenue crop of Australia, cultivated since early European settlement. Severe disease epidemics arise when the fast evolving rust pathogen breaks down host plant genetic resistance. This project will investigate the molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen recognition and the consequences of pat ....Enhancing resistance to wheat stripe rust disease. This project aims to investigate why wheat succumbs to stripe rust fungus, a grave threat to global wheat production. Wheat is the primary agricultural and revenue crop of Australia, cultivated since early European settlement. Severe disease epidemics arise when the fast evolving rust pathogen breaks down host plant genetic resistance. This project will investigate the molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen recognition and the consequences of pathogen variation to determine the causes of resistance breakdown. The expected outcome is robust rust-resistant wheat cultivars to maintain global food security.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101529
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Transmission dynamics modelling of zoonotic neglected tropical diseases. This project will develop mathematical models to simulate zoonotic disease transmission and control. Results will provide novel insight for policy makers into effective interventions for schistosomiasis, echinococcosis and clonorchiasis, as well as provide a methodological platform for adaptation to other zoonotic emerging and re-emerging diseases.
Intelligent Image Retrieval from Distorted and Partial Queries for Rapid Mobile Identification of Pests Threatening Food and the Environment. Pests and diseases are major threats to the Australian food industry and environmental biosecurity. A rapid and mobile pest information retrieval system is critical to prevent a pest becoming established and devastating the region. However, automated insect image retrieval remains an unsolved challenge in the research community. This project addresses the ....Intelligent Image Retrieval from Distorted and Partial Queries for Rapid Mobile Identification of Pests Threatening Food and the Environment. Pests and diseases are major threats to the Australian food industry and environmental biosecurity. A rapid and mobile pest information retrieval system is critical to prevent a pest becoming established and devastating the region. However, automated insect image retrieval remains an unsolved challenge in the research community. This project addresses the fundamental problem of distorted and partial image query in cluttered background in order to achieve pest identification at a much earlier on-site stage. The success of this research will not only make a technical breakthrough towards retrieving objects with movable body parts, but also revolutionise the current pest detection and monitoring process.Read moreRead less
Using biodiesel cleanup agents to reduce impacts on mangroves and tidal wetland ecosystems from oil spills. This Linkage project will demonstrate Australia's commitment towards minimisation of the ecological impacts of key pollutants like oil in the marine environment. It will also advance Australia's leadership position in the management of oil spill remediation and will, through the robust partnership developed with Australian Maritime Safety Authority build a skilled team better able to respo ....Using biodiesel cleanup agents to reduce impacts on mangroves and tidal wetland ecosystems from oil spills. This Linkage project will demonstrate Australia's commitment towards minimisation of the ecological impacts of key pollutants like oil in the marine environment. It will also advance Australia's leadership position in the management of oil spill remediation and will, through the robust partnership developed with Australian Maritime Safety Authority build a skilled team better able to respond effectively when such disasters occur. The challenge is to maintain this research focus and create some stability and continuity of the knowledge and experiences gained at the University of Queensland. Significantly the project will provide career-oriented research training opportunities in a field that clearly underpins National Research Priorities. Read moreRead less
Mediator: a new concept for controlled gene expression in plant biotechnology. The Mediator protein complex is a new control point for the activation of all genes in higher organisms and the purpose of this project is to understand how three Mediator subunits regulate disease resistance in plants. The outcomes provide a new concept to direct natural gene expression towards robust crop plants able to cope with climatic variations.