Stochastic Modelling of Genetic Regulatory Networks: Subtitle - Genetic Regulation is a Noisy Business. The completion of the human genome marked the culmination of one hundred years of reductionist science in cell biology. Although further bioinformatics analysis will continue, the focus is shifting towards synthesis and understanding how the regulatory genetic components dynamically interact to form functional phenotypes. The key to this is the understanding of the roles of stochasticity in ....Stochastic Modelling of Genetic Regulatory Networks: Subtitle - Genetic Regulation is a Noisy Business. The completion of the human genome marked the culmination of one hundred years of reductionist science in cell biology. Although further bioinformatics analysis will continue, the focus is shifting towards synthesis and understanding how the regulatory genetic components dynamically interact to form functional phenotypes. The key to this is the understanding of the roles of stochasticity in cellular processes. This project will explore these roles and will develop an integrated complex systems modelling, simulation and visualisation framework. This will be used on an exemplar application for lineage commitment in haematopoiesis and for exploring and validating genetic regulatory models in general.Read moreRead less
Nonparametric Statistical Methods -- New Directions, Theory and Applications. The research program will take Australia to the forefront of contemporary work in nonparametric statistics, and assist greatly in the training of a new generation of Australian statistical scientists. It will contribute significantly to restoring the health of this strategically important field, in Australian universities and in the nation more generally. The projects outlined in the proposal address problems arising ....Nonparametric Statistical Methods -- New Directions, Theory and Applications. The research program will take Australia to the forefront of contemporary work in nonparametric statistics, and assist greatly in the training of a new generation of Australian statistical scientists. It will contribute significantly to restoring the health of this strategically important field, in Australian universities and in the nation more generally. The projects outlined in the proposal address problems arising in astronomy, economics, engineering, defence, health and image analysis, but the potential areas of impact are broader even than this. This diversity illustrates the extraordinary potential, and strategic significance, of statistics to Australia. Read moreRead less
Principles of Quantum Information Science. The use of quantum mechanical systems to carry and process information is enabling a revolution in information technology through innovations such as quantum computation and quantum teleportation. This project investigates the fundamental theory of quantum information science. The project aims to formulate general principles governing the power and behaviour of quantum information. These principles will, in turn, enable the development of powerful new ....Principles of Quantum Information Science. The use of quantum mechanical systems to carry and process information is enabling a revolution in information technology through innovations such as quantum computation and quantum teleportation. This project investigates the fundamental theory of quantum information science. The project aims to formulate general principles governing the power and behaviour of quantum information. These principles will, in turn, enable the development of powerful new applications of quantum information. Principal areas to be addressed include: general conditions for a physical system to be usable for quantum computation, the development of new algorithms for quantum computers, the development of new quantum communication protocols, and the theory of quantum entanglement.Read moreRead less
Small RNAs: what makes a plant, a plant. Understanding the roles of small RNAs and their pathways is a young field of research that is giving, and will continue to give, profound insights into how multicellular organisms regulate gene expression at a genomic level. Research in this area has already led to RNA interference technology, by which almost any gene can be switched off, and there is considerable potential for other gene silencing and trait modification technologies to emerge. The projec ....Small RNAs: what makes a plant, a plant. Understanding the roles of small RNAs and their pathways is a young field of research that is giving, and will continue to give, profound insights into how multicellular organisms regulate gene expression at a genomic level. Research in this area has already led to RNA interference technology, by which almost any gene can be switched off, and there is considerable potential for other gene silencing and trait modification technologies to emerge. The project will yield insights into fundamental biological processes which are expected to engender applications in agriculture and biotechnology. It will maintain and enhance Australia's position in this area.Read moreRead less
Using Law To Improve Population Health and the Quality of Health Care Services. There are huge gaps in our understanding of how legal rules and processes impact population health and the quality of health care services in Australia. This research program will begin to fill those gaps by addressing topical issues such as medical negligence litigation, the coroner's role in injury prevention, and the use of medical science in the courtroom. The findings will be useful to government policymakers, ....Using Law To Improve Population Health and the Quality of Health Care Services. There are huge gaps in our understanding of how legal rules and processes impact population health and the quality of health care services in Australia. This research program will begin to fill those gaps by addressing topical issues such as medical negligence litigation, the coroner's role in injury prevention, and the use of medical science in the courtroom. The findings will be useful to government policymakers, regulators, and judges, as well as professionals working in both the legal and health care fields. But most importantly, the findings will serve patients by helping to shape strategies and reforms that enable Australia's health care system to deliver services that are safer, of higher quality, fairer, and more efficient.Read moreRead less
COMPLEX NETWORKS: DYNAMICS, OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL. Complex networks such large power grids, the Internet, transportation networks and co-operation networks of all kinds provide challenges for frontier technologies particularly computing, communication and control. In particular, advanced societies have become dependent on large infrastructure networks to an extent beyond our capability to plan and control them. The recent spate of collapses in power grids and virus attacks on the Internet i ....COMPLEX NETWORKS: DYNAMICS, OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL. Complex networks such large power grids, the Internet, transportation networks and co-operation networks of all kinds provide challenges for frontier technologies particularly computing, communication and control. In particular, advanced societies have become dependent on large infrastructure networks to an extent beyond our capability to plan and control them. The recent spate of collapses in power grids and virus attacks on the Internet illustrate the need for research on modelling, analysis of behaviour, planning and control in such networks. This project aims to establish research in this area for Australia's benefit.Read moreRead less
Exploring the Frontiers of Feasible Computation. The project aims to delineate the boundary between feasible and infeasible computational problems. A problem is considered feasible if there is an algorithm to solve it in worst-case time bounded by a polynomial in the input size. This is probably impossible for the important class of NP-complete problems. However, typical examples of NP-complete problems can often be solved in polynomial time, because worst-case problems are rare. The project is ....Exploring the Frontiers of Feasible Computation. The project aims to delineate the boundary between feasible and infeasible computational problems. A problem is considered feasible if there is an algorithm to solve it in worst-case time bounded by a polynomial in the input size. This is probably impossible for the important class of NP-complete problems. However, typical examples of NP-complete problems can often be solved in polynomial time, because worst-case problems are rare. The project is relevant to public-key cryptography, where breaking an encryption scheme should be infeasible, and to many real-life situations where NP-complete problems need to be solved, either exactly or approximately.Read moreRead less
lll-conditioned and constrained inverse problems in Signal Processing, Telecommunications and Control. Aims: To carry out fundamental research on methods for understanding and solving inverse problems in signal processin, telecommunications and control. To translate these fundamental results into practical outcomes of importance to Australian Industry.
Significance: Signal Processing, Telecommunications and Control are core technologies for all modern societies. The research proposed here ....lll-conditioned and constrained inverse problems in Signal Processing, Telecommunications and Control. Aims: To carry out fundamental research on methods for understanding and solving inverse problems in signal processin, telecommunications and control. To translate these fundamental results into practical outcomes of importance to Australian Industry.
Significance: Signal Processing, Telecommunications and Control are core technologies for all modern societies. The research proposed here will generate new methods for designing and understanding key algorithms in these areas. Particular emphasis will be placed on difficult problems involving ill-conditioned inverses or those having hard constraints that must be satisfied.
Expected Outcomes: A prime outcome will be fundamental research results at the highest international level. This will be accompanied by top level refereed publications and books. There will also be direct and tangible benefits to Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Group actions: combinatorics, geometry and computation. Science today relies on digital technologies using quantised and digital information. Because of the discrete nature of digital information, much of the mathematics underpinning these advances comes from the core disciplines of algebra and combinatorics within which this proposal falls. All aspects of the proposal focus on strengthening theoretical understanding of algebraic and combinatorial structures, and increasing computational power f ....Group actions: combinatorics, geometry and computation. Science today relies on digital technologies using quantised and digital information. Because of the discrete nature of digital information, much of the mathematics underpinning these advances comes from the core disciplines of algebra and combinatorics within which this proposal falls. All aspects of the proposal focus on strengthening theoretical understanding of algebraic and combinatorial structures, and increasing computational power for working with them. The fundamental research outcomes, in terms of theorems, algorithms, and the training of young research mathematicians, will thus both enhance the high international standing of Australian mathematics, and strengthen Australia's capabilities in these important areas.Read moreRead less
Reducing health inequities and social exclusion: improved theory, understanding and policies. This research will provide knowledge to help understanding of why some groups are less healthy and less included in the mainstream of society than others. Research evidence indicates that reducing differences in health status & making more citizens included in the activities of society has overall health benefits & is good for economic development. The program will provide Australian and other governmen ....Reducing health inequities and social exclusion: improved theory, understanding and policies. This research will provide knowledge to help understanding of why some groups are less healthy and less included in the mainstream of society than others. Research evidence indicates that reducing differences in health status & making more citizens included in the activities of society has overall health benefits & is good for economic development. The program will provide Australian and other governments with much improved evidence about what works, what does not work in terms of improving population health and so enable better decisions about which public programs to invest in. Thus the research conducted under this program will inform ways in which Australian and overseas populations can achieve long and more productive livesRead moreRead less