New functions for bioactive flavonoids in plants and mammals. We have discovered natural products with biological activity in plants and mammals. These molecules affect plant shape and development and the process of mammalian blood vessel formation. We seek to understand how these molecules work. More understanding is required before one can begin to utilise these molecules for possible beneficial agriculture or human health outcomes. Plant shape influences such things as yield or more drought-r ....New functions for bioactive flavonoids in plants and mammals. We have discovered natural products with biological activity in plants and mammals. These molecules affect plant shape and development and the process of mammalian blood vessel formation. We seek to understand how these molecules work. More understanding is required before one can begin to utilise these molecules for possible beneficial agriculture or human health outcomes. Plant shape influences such things as yield or more drought-resilient root systems. Importantly, we have discovered specific molecules that either promote or inhibit blood vessel formation. A better understanding of how these molecules work could lead to novel treatments for cancer or cardiovascular disease.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668413
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$723,000.00
Summary
The Nanoscale Characterisation Centre WA Analytical Biological Transmission Electron Microscope Facility. A new regional analytical biological TEM (BioTEM) will provide critical support to acclaimed medical and biological groups researching nationally significant age-related health, agricultural and environmental questions. The BioTEM, for example, will allow a unique opportunity to detect metal uptake and accumulation in bone-forming cells. This research will provide insight into metal induce ....The Nanoscale Characterisation Centre WA Analytical Biological Transmission Electron Microscope Facility. A new regional analytical biological TEM (BioTEM) will provide critical support to acclaimed medical and biological groups researching nationally significant age-related health, agricultural and environmental questions. The BioTEM, for example, will allow a unique opportunity to detect metal uptake and accumulation in bone-forming cells. This research will provide insight into metal induced afflictions, such as nasal ulcer, lung cancer, contact dermatitis and hypersensitivity reactions like asthma. The BioTEM will also be used to study how plants take up nutrients and how they use these compounds for growth, development and reproduction. Successes in this research will transfer to the important development of salt-tolerant plant species.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989084
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,000.00
Summary
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging. The University of Newcastle has invested heavily in its biological and life sciences to create a research nexus focusing on national research priorities in biotechnology and environmental protection. The Live Cell Imaging platform will be utilized by scientists researching such strategically important areas including developmental biology, intracellular signalling cascades, cell cycle dynamics, plant development and microbiology. Moreover ....Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging. The University of Newcastle has invested heavily in its biological and life sciences to create a research nexus focusing on national research priorities in biotechnology and environmental protection. The Live Cell Imaging platform will be utilized by scientists researching such strategically important areas including developmental biology, intracellular signalling cascades, cell cycle dynamics, plant development and microbiology. Moreover, this component of the University's research portfolio plays a major role in the postgraduate training of young Australian scientists who will, in turn, fuel future developments in both the life sciences and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100177
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
Non invasive rapid plant phenotyping for root architecture in soil and acquisition of micro-nutrients. By combining advanced X-ray computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in this facility, plant scientists will be able to quantify precisely the effects of root pathogens, drought and other stresses on root development in relation to plant nutrient status. This facility will be unique in Australia and provide a significant competitive advantage internationally for Australian resear ....Non invasive rapid plant phenotyping for root architecture in soil and acquisition of micro-nutrients. By combining advanced X-ray computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in this facility, plant scientists will be able to quantify precisely the effects of root pathogens, drought and other stresses on root development in relation to plant nutrient status. This facility will be unique in Australia and provide a significant competitive advantage internationally for Australian research.Read moreRead less
Ecohydrological feedbacks between vegetation and soil in natural and engineered landforms in arid Australia. We address 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia'. 1. Water is the binding factor in our project, defining vegetation, geomorphology and hydrology. 2. Rehabilitation is an integral part of the mining business. Our project is instrumental in developing ecological engineering approaches to rehabilitation. 3. Ultimate goal of the project is to develop stable landforms, protecting underly ....Ecohydrological feedbacks between vegetation and soil in natural and engineered landforms in arid Australia. We address 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia'. 1. Water is the binding factor in our project, defining vegetation, geomorphology and hydrology. 2. Rehabilitation is an integral part of the mining business. Our project is instrumental in developing ecological engineering approaches to rehabilitation. 3. Ultimate goal of the project is to develop stable landforms, protecting underlying rock. 4. We investigate locally adapted native plant species for use in arid-zone land rehabilitation, to preserve biodiversity. 5. The area of study is exposed to long droughts and cyclonic rainfall. Understanding the resilience of the landscape will provide pivotal insight into the impact and potential adaptive response to climate variability.Read moreRead less
AirLIFT – an airborne active chlorophyll fluorescence sensing system for assessment of photosynthetic activity in plant canopies. Assessment of plant health and productivity is vital to ensure future food security of the global population under a changing climate. Chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), a signal emitted by green plants, can reveal this information. Although CF has revolutionised photosynthetic research, current measurements are limited to individual plants. Remote sensing of canopy CF is ....AirLIFT – an airborne active chlorophyll fluorescence sensing system for assessment of photosynthetic activity in plant canopies. Assessment of plant health and productivity is vital to ensure future food security of the global population under a changing climate. Chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), a signal emitted by green plants, can reveal this information. Although CF has revolutionised photosynthetic research, current measurements are limited to individual plants. Remote sensing of canopy CF is required for efficient management of agricultural crops, forests, and natural ecosystems and is crucial for accurate estimation of plant carbon assimilation and production. This project will deliver remote sensing technology to bridge the gap between leaf and canopy productivity and pave the way for understanding both artificial and solar induced canopy CF measured from space.Read moreRead less
Enabling Molecular Plant Breeding for Drought Adaptation Using Genome-to-Phenome Modelling Technologies. Effective molecular plant breeding for improved water productivity of sorghum would generate significant economic and social benefits for rural communities in NE Australia. There is a significant opportunity to expand the sorghum industry in the region. Despite the global financial crisis, global demand for meat continues to increase, generating strong demand from intensive livestock industri ....Enabling Molecular Plant Breeding for Drought Adaptation Using Genome-to-Phenome Modelling Technologies. Effective molecular plant breeding for improved water productivity of sorghum would generate significant economic and social benefits for rural communities in NE Australia. There is a significant opportunity to expand the sorghum industry in the region. Despite the global financial crisis, global demand for meat continues to increase, generating strong demand from intensive livestock industries for feed grain. Price is projected to return to high levels given continuing use of major feed grains for biofuel. A 10% increase in sorghum production would add net value of $48M annually, much via employment. The scientific content of this project positions Australia at the leading edge globally in this emerging research field. Read moreRead less
Ecophysiology of stem succulent halophytes subject to changes in salinity and water availability: distinguishing natural dynamics from potential mine-related impacts. This project contributes to the National Research Priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia. The project will underpin management strategies of vegetation in saline lakes/marshes; wetlands of national importance to biodiversity. Understanding the vegetation at the Fortescue Marshes will provide vital base-information for ....Ecophysiology of stem succulent halophytes subject to changes in salinity and water availability: distinguishing natural dynamics from potential mine-related impacts. This project contributes to the National Research Priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia. The project will underpin management strategies of vegetation in saline lakes/marshes; wetlands of national importance to biodiversity. Understanding the vegetation at the Fortescue Marshes will provide vital base-information for the future, and have flow-on benefits for improved strategies for revegetation of saline lands. Improvement of the publicly available Herbarium database on samphire species will also enable improved species identifications for conservation and/or rehabilitation efforts. The project will train a PhD student in an industry-relevant research area that is currently in high demand.Read moreRead less
Stomata functioning in halophytes for improved plant stress tolerance. This project aims to determine how halophytes balance photosynthesis and water loss under extreme soil conditions. Salinity and drought affect crop production. Plants’ ability to balance carbon dioxide uptake and water loss through stomata determines how they cope with stressors. Halophytes can achieve this balance at conditions that normally kill 99% of crops, but how they do so is unknown. This project will characterise the ....Stomata functioning in halophytes for improved plant stress tolerance. This project aims to determine how halophytes balance photosynthesis and water loss under extreme soil conditions. Salinity and drought affect crop production. Plants’ ability to balance carbon dioxide uptake and water loss through stomata determines how they cope with stressors. Halophytes can achieve this balance at conditions that normally kill 99% of crops, but how they do so is unknown. This project will characterise the transport systems mediating stomata function in halophytes and contribute to understanding the molecular and physiological basis of their operation. This should allow breeders to use this trait to improve crop performance under conditions of extreme salinity and drought.Read moreRead less
Peridinin-chlorophyll-protein complex: unravelling the unique photosynthetic apparatus of dinoflagellates in response to climatic variation. Dinoflagellates sustain the food chain. They live in coral and in ice, and also create toxic algal blooms. This project will dissect the unique photosynthetic machinery of these organisms to learn how they adapt and thrive in extreme environments. This new knowledge will predict how dinoflagellate-based ecosystems will respond to future climate change.