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.
New computational methods study on protein function prediction. The proposed research aims to develop new computational methods to solve one of the most important bioinformatics problems in the post-genome era. This project will expand the knowledge on protein sequence-structure-function relationship, provide new analysis methods and predict the functions of novel proteins. This project will strengthen Australia's reputation for research excellence.
Mathematical modelling of the dynamics of multi-layered biological tissues. The project intends to develop a mathematical model of the basic mechanisms that determine the self-organisation of cells into complex tissues during the development of the embryo. Tissue function requires a non-trivial tissue architecture often composed of multiple cell layers which exhibit a remarkable capacity for renewal and defect correction. A cardinal part of embryonic development involves robust shaping of multi- ....Mathematical modelling of the dynamics of multi-layered biological tissues. The project intends to develop a mathematical model of the basic mechanisms that determine the self-organisation of cells into complex tissues during the development of the embryo. Tissue function requires a non-trivial tissue architecture often composed of multiple cell layers which exhibit a remarkable capacity for renewal and defect correction. A cardinal part of embryonic development involves robust shaping of multi-layered tissue morphologies. The project plans to use mathematical models to determine how complex, three-dimensional structures arise from adaptive multicellular biomechanical interactions. It plans to develop a novel computational modelling framework to represent and analyse such systems, which may be applicable to a wide range of problems where tissue mechanics is a key factor such as bone remodelling and wound healing.Read moreRead less
How motor proteins contract the cell cortex and form a cell division ring. This project aims to develop a detailed physical model for motor proteins and filaments and, based on it, derive a fluid-type mean-field mathematical model, which will facilitate numerical simulations and lead to testable predictions. This study will also provide detailed quantitative information on how these processes can be controlled by modifying concentration and properties of structural and motor proteins. This has p ....How motor proteins contract the cell cortex and form a cell division ring. This project aims to develop a detailed physical model for motor proteins and filaments and, based on it, derive a fluid-type mean-field mathematical model, which will facilitate numerical simulations and lead to testable predictions. This study will also provide detailed quantitative information on how these processes can be controlled by modifying concentration and properties of structural and motor proteins. This has potential applications in tumour therapy, developmental biology and in the bioengineering of nanomaterials.Read moreRead less
Statistical Methods for Discovering Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) contributing to human diseases and phenotypes. Identifying the causative genetic factors involved in quantitative phenotypes and diseases is a major goal of biology in the 21st century and beyond. A crucial step towards this goal is identifying and classifying the functional non-protein-coding Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) encoded in the human genome. This project will make major contributions to international efforts in this area by identi ....Statistical Methods for Discovering Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) contributing to human diseases and phenotypes. Identifying the causative genetic factors involved in quantitative phenotypes and diseases is a major goal of biology in the 21st century and beyond. A crucial step towards this goal is identifying and classifying the functional non-protein-coding Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) encoded in the human genome. This project will make major contributions to international efforts in this area by identifying RNA molecules that contribute to quantitative phenotypes including susceptibility to disease. As such, it will directly benefit fundamental science via the discovery and classification of new molecules. Indirectly, it will lead to breakthroughs in biology, and consequently to major medical and pharmaceutical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disease.Read moreRead less
Multi-scale modelling of cell migration in developmental biology. Interpretative and predictive tools are needed for the comprehensive understanding of directed cell migration in the medical sciences. Mathematical models and modelling methodologies developed in this project will make a significant contribution to the investigation of cell migration and the testing and generation of hypotheses. Such models are needed to understand observed cellular patterns. This project will contribute to knowle ....Multi-scale modelling of cell migration in developmental biology. Interpretative and predictive tools are needed for the comprehensive understanding of directed cell migration in the medical sciences. Mathematical models and modelling methodologies developed in this project will make a significant contribution to the investigation of cell migration and the testing and generation of hypotheses. Such models are needed to understand observed cellular patterns. This project will contribute to knowledge of normal and abnormal developmental processes, especially in embryonic growth. Understanding these processes should lead to prediction and treatment of congenital disorders and contribute to a healthy start to life.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101268
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,820.00
Summary
Stochastic mathematical modelling of the Wnt signalling pathway. The Wnt signalling pathway is pivotal in multicellular organisms, regulating cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Faulty Wnt signalling is associated with degenerative diseases, developmental disorders and cancers and is therefore a potential target for therapeutic drugs. This project will perform a stochastic spatial simulation of the Wnt signalling pathway which will be matched to experimental data. ....Stochastic mathematical modelling of the Wnt signalling pathway. The Wnt signalling pathway is pivotal in multicellular organisms, regulating cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Faulty Wnt signalling is associated with degenerative diseases, developmental disorders and cancers and is therefore a potential target for therapeutic drugs. This project will perform a stochastic spatial simulation of the Wnt signalling pathway which will be matched to experimental data. The model will be extended to integrate with the cell cycle. Increased proliferation in tumours has been linked to mutations in Wnt components. Using the extended model, the effect of Wnt-targeting therapeutic cancer drugs on cancer cell proliferation rates will be predicted and compared to experiments.Read moreRead less
The Systems Biochemistry of Adaptation in Cellular Protein Networks. A living cell must process and interpret a host of diverse signals using a complex network of interacting proteins inside the cell. The detailed molecular mechanisms by which cells exhibit adaptation to these signals remains a fundamental question in biology. This project aims to develop a novel mathematical framework for analysing the capacity of intracellular protein interactions to contribute to cellular adaptation, along ....The Systems Biochemistry of Adaptation in Cellular Protein Networks. A living cell must process and interpret a host of diverse signals using a complex network of interacting proteins inside the cell. The detailed molecular mechanisms by which cells exhibit adaptation to these signals remains a fundamental question in biology. This project aims to develop a novel mathematical framework for analysing the capacity of intracellular protein interactions to contribute to cellular adaptation, along with a novel methodology for validating mathematical models against experimental data. These innovations offer a completely fresh approach to identifying and modulating the adaptive capacities of living cells, which may contribute to overcoming the problem of drug resistance in future therapeutic development.
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Fractional dynamic models for MRI to probe tissue microstructure. This project aims to develop new mathematical tools for mapping tissue microstructural properties via the use of space-time fractional calculus methods. In magnetic resonance imaging, mathematical models and their parameters play a key role in associating information between images and biology, with the overall aim of producing spatially resolved maps of tissue property variations. However, models which can inform on changes in mi ....Fractional dynamic models for MRI to probe tissue microstructure. This project aims to develop new mathematical tools for mapping tissue microstructural properties via the use of space-time fractional calculus methods. In magnetic resonance imaging, mathematical models and their parameters play a key role in associating information between images and biology, with the overall aim of producing spatially resolved maps of tissue property variations. However, models which can inform on changes in microscale tissue properties are lacking. The tools developed by this project will be used to generate new magnetic resonance image based maps to convey information on tissue microstructure changes in the human brain. Additionally, the mathematical tools developed will be transferable to other applications where diffusion and transport in heterogeneous porous media play a role.Read moreRead less
A Novel Geometric Approach to Shocks in Reaction-Nonlinear Diffusion Models. Reaction-nonlinear diffusion models play a vital role in the study of cell migration and population dynamics. However, the presence of aggregation, or backward diffusion, leads to the formation of shock waves - distinct, sharp interfaces between different populations of densities of cells - and the breakdown of the model. This project will develop new geometric methods to explain the formation and temporal evolution of ....A Novel Geometric Approach to Shocks in Reaction-Nonlinear Diffusion Models. Reaction-nonlinear diffusion models play a vital role in the study of cell migration and population dynamics. However, the presence of aggregation, or backward diffusion, leads to the formation of shock waves - distinct, sharp interfaces between different populations of densities of cells - and the breakdown of the model. This project will develop new geometric methods to explain the formation and temporal evolution of these shock waves, while simultaneously unifying existing regularisation techniques under a single, geometric banner. It will devise innovative tools in singular perturbation theory and stability analysis that will identify key parameters in the creation of shock waves, as well as their dynamic behaviour.Read moreRead less