Statistical Methods For Identifying Structural Variation In Tumour Genomes Using Next Generation Sequencing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$243,458.00
Summary
New DNA sequencing technology can sequence a tumour genome affordably in 2 weeks. This re-sequencing data can be used to find small mutations and large-scale chromosomal rearrangements that together are the drivers of cancer. These may one day be used to guide cancer therapy. This project will develop new algorithms for finding mutations and apply these to discover the genetic basis of drug resistance in a model lymphoma system.
Investigation Of Dysfunction Of OPRS1, A Novel Gene Implicated In Neurodegeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$535,471.00
Summary
A new gene has recently been discovered to play an important role in various brain and nerve degeneration disorders, including frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron disease. The aim of this project is to discover what biological processes are involved when this gene malfunctions, as this will provide knowledge important for development of new treatments for the many people worldwide affected with these disorders.
NATIONAL TRENDS IN SUICIDE BY AGE, GENDER, GEOGRAPHY, SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND MIGRANT STATUS AND MENTAL HEALTH
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$148,690.00
Summary
Suicide in Australia has become an increasingly important public health problem, chiefly because of increasing rates in some population sub-groups, and to a lesser extent because declines in other external causes of death have increased the prominence of suicide. Since the 1970s suicide rates have increased in young males and have eclipsed motor vehicle accidents as the dominant cause of death in this group. Suicide in the young produces a significant impact on years of life lost from premature ....Suicide in Australia has become an increasingly important public health problem, chiefly because of increasing rates in some population sub-groups, and to a lesser extent because declines in other external causes of death have increased the prominence of suicide. Since the 1970s suicide rates have increased in young males and have eclipsed motor vehicle accidents as the dominant cause of death in this group. Suicide in the young produces a significant impact on years of life lost from premature mortality. Suicide rates have been shown to vary by socio-economic status, ethnicity, area of residence, age and sex. In NSW for example, suicide rates in young males have been found to have increased by 50% in urban areas, and by 5-6 times in isolated rural areas. Another study has shown suicide rates to vary by country-of-birth which in turn has an effect on its relationship with socio-economic status. However, not all studies have replicated findings in NSW. In Queensland, for example, it has been shown that male youth suicide rates in rural areas have not substantially exceeded those in urban areas. There have been very few studies at the national level of variations in suicide in Australia. Most studies of Australian suicide to date have been confined to state-level analyses or to very limited nation-level analyses. An additional spur to a whole-nation approach to suicide has been the nation-wide Australian Bureau of Statistics Mental Health and Wellbeing Profile of Adults and a similar mental health survey of youth. Thus for the first time it will be possible to relate population prevalence of self-reported mental illness to suicide rates. In short, the current proposal addresses the two major gaps in Australia in population suicide research: examining suicide at the national level with regard to geographic location, immigrant and socio-economic status; and correlating surveyed prevalence of mental illness with suicide rates.Read moreRead less
Heritability And Biological Consequences Of Human Variation In Mitotic Recombination
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$130,906.00
Summary
Cells in our bodies constantly sustain damage to their genetic material (genes) most of which is efficiently repaired. Some is not and accumulated damage to genes in a cell can start a cancer. There are several repair mechanisms that cells possess which have evolved since the earliest life-forms. One repair mechanism homologous recombination repair will, as a minor by-product of its activity, produce an event called mitotic recombination (MR). MR causes a loss of diversity of genes and this can ....Cells in our bodies constantly sustain damage to their genetic material (genes) most of which is efficiently repaired. Some is not and accumulated damage to genes in a cell can start a cancer. There are several repair mechanisms that cells possess which have evolved since the earliest life-forms. One repair mechanism homologous recombination repair will, as a minor by-product of its activity, produce an event called mitotic recombination (MR). MR causes a loss of diversity of genes and this can contribute to cancer rather than prevent it. We have shown that the rate at which MR occurs varies very widely in humans. In this project we will devise a simple method for measuring MR, use identical and non identical twins to find if the rate of MR is inherited and finally see whether the rate of MR is associated with risk of cancer, as we expect.Read moreRead less