Doubly disadvantaged: harnessing elements of resilience and establishing information for systems change. Aboriginal children with a disability who receive insufficient support when young are likely to experience a lifetime of disadvantage. This project will provide these children, their families and their carers with a culturally appropriate, holistic pathway enabling easier access to health, social, and educational services.
Validating protozoa-specific drug targets using peptides from biodiverse gene fragment libraries. Cryptosporidium and the trypanosomes are protozoan parasites, which have a global impact on the health, survival and economic development of millions of people and animals world wide. New therapies for the diseases they cause are urgently required. We describe a novel means of identifying protozoa-specific peptides that will inhibit the formation of essential protein complexes, which have no effect ....Validating protozoa-specific drug targets using peptides from biodiverse gene fragment libraries. Cryptosporidium and the trypanosomes are protozoan parasites, which have a global impact on the health, survival and economic development of millions of people and animals world wide. New therapies for the diseases they cause are urgently required. We describe a novel means of identifying protozoa-specific peptides that will inhibit the formation of essential protein complexes, which have no effect on the mammalian host. Candidate peptides will then be used to validate these protein complexes as new targets for the development of peptide-based therapeutic compounds. This project will validate novel targets for the development of new treatments for these diseases.Read moreRead less
Social auditing for positive change and indigenous life-world experiences in the resource rich Pilbara. Roebourne is an impoverished Indigenous community in the heart of the booming resource industries of the Pilbara. The town symbolises the challenges and opportunities for contemporary Australia. This project has been initiated by the Ngarluma and Yjindibarndi Peoples and will be co-funded and directed by these Peoples. The Project will adapt and extend approaches developed by Indigenous commun ....Social auditing for positive change and indigenous life-world experiences in the resource rich Pilbara. Roebourne is an impoverished Indigenous community in the heart of the booming resource industries of the Pilbara. The town symbolises the challenges and opportunities for contemporary Australia. This project has been initiated by the Ngarluma and Yjindibarndi Peoples and will be co-funded and directed by these Peoples. The Project will adapt and extend approaches developed by Indigenous communities in Canada to record the needs, hopes and ambitions of the people of the Roebourne region and in doing so document their solutions to real and significant problems. The project does not just enable consultation with an Indigenous community rather it helps create a platform for that community, if it chooses, to make decisions for the future.Read moreRead less
In vitro expression and crystallization of proteins from the thermohalophile, Halothermothrix orenii. The project proposal is to develop enabling state-of-the-art protein technologies for biotechnology. We will for the first time develop a rapid and high throughput technique for the expression, purification and crystallisation of proteins from the extreme thermohalophile, Halothermothrix orenii. This important break through in protein technology will assist in determining structure and function ....In vitro expression and crystallization of proteins from the thermohalophile, Halothermothrix orenii. The project proposal is to develop enabling state-of-the-art protein technologies for biotechnology. We will for the first time develop a rapid and high throughput technique for the expression, purification and crystallisation of proteins from the extreme thermohalophile, Halothermothrix orenii. This important break through in protein technology will assist in determining structure and function relationships of thermohalophilic proteins. It is expected that such an understanding together with comparative bioinformatics will assist researchers to develop "designer proteins" with improved functions for different uses in biotechnology. It is also expected that this technology will be amenable for use with other thermohalophilic microbes.Read moreRead less
Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion- A new route to therapeutics of chronic inflammatory disease. Chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, affect millions of people leading to considerable suffering, economic loss and premature death. Anti-TNF treatments have recently shown success in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions, however, a substantial number of patients (~50%) do not re ....Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion- A new route to therapeutics of chronic inflammatory disease. Chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, affect millions of people leading to considerable suffering, economic loss and premature death. Anti-TNF treatments have recently shown success in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions, however, a substantial number of patients (~50%) do not respond to the current TNF treatments. Improved anti-TNF strategies would provide enhanced health outcomes and welcome relief to many Australians. In addition, the economic benefit of the TNF market is very substantial. Therefore the potential impact of this research is very high both for health care and economical potential.Read moreRead less
Specific gene inhibition through functional genomics and high through-put small molecule screening. This project will utilise functional genomic technologies in an attempt to identify genes in childhood neuroblastoma as potential candidates for the future development of molecular-targeted gene therapy. By screening large 'libraries' of chemical compounds, we aim to identify compounds with the ability to specifically inhibit these gene targets. This project will therefore define novel molecular t ....Specific gene inhibition through functional genomics and high through-put small molecule screening. This project will utilise functional genomic technologies in an attempt to identify genes in childhood neuroblastoma as potential candidates for the future development of molecular-targeted gene therapy. By screening large 'libraries' of chemical compounds, we aim to identify compounds with the ability to specifically inhibit these gene targets. This project will therefore define novel molecular targets and possibly facilitate the future development of new therapeutic approaches to treating neuroblastoma. In addition, the project will develop know-how that can be utilised by both the industry partner and the broader research community and will introduce to Australian science novel techniques and skills. Read moreRead less
Impacts of Banned Drinkers Register Re-introduction in Northern Territory. This project aims to investigate the impact of the re-introduction of the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory, where rates of alcohol-related harm are more than twenty times that seen in other Australian states.
This interdisciplinary team will use qualitative and quantitative methods across urban and remote locations to answer complex questions about policy impact.
This Project expects to provide evidence ....Impacts of Banned Drinkers Register Re-introduction in Northern Territory. This project aims to investigate the impact of the re-introduction of the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory, where rates of alcohol-related harm are more than twenty times that seen in other Australian states.
This interdisciplinary team will use qualitative and quantitative methods across urban and remote locations to answer complex questions about policy impact.
This Project expects to provide evidence to inform future policy introduction and refinement. It aims to enhance Aboriginal research capacity for investigating alcohol policy.
Benefits should include world’s best evidence on the impact of supply restriction policies on treatment needs and the massive levels of harm seen in the Northern Territory.Read moreRead less
Elucidation of genetic and physiological factors controlling biosynthesis of sesquiterpenoids in sandalwood, Santalum spp. Plantation sandalwood removes pressure from natural populations and is a profitable long term investment. Australia is in a highly competitive position with regards to market supply but this cannot be taken for granted. This research seeks to understand the complex biology of sandalwood using the latest genomic and molecular technologies. This knowledge will be applied thro ....Elucidation of genetic and physiological factors controlling biosynthesis of sesquiterpenoids in sandalwood, Santalum spp. Plantation sandalwood removes pressure from natural populations and is a profitable long term investment. Australia is in a highly competitive position with regards to market supply but this cannot be taken for granted. This research seeks to understand the complex biology of sandalwood using the latest genomic and molecular technologies. This knowledge will be applied through directed, marker-assisted tree selection and improved plantation management. Ultimately we are developing a highly advanced production system with which Australia can lead Sandalwood production. Sandalwood plantations use a variety of native perennial hosts, increase biodiversity, help manage underground water resources and address carbon sequestration demands.Read moreRead less
Developing technologies that support the genetic modification of rats. Rats and the mouse play critical roles in medical research. Until recently, the targeted genetic modification of a mammal was limited to the mouse. This was due to a technology that was unique to the mouse: embryonic stem (ES) cells. These cells have not been isolated from any other species. The recent development of animal cloning allows for an alternate strategy for targeting genes. We propose to develop cloning strate ....Developing technologies that support the genetic modification of rats. Rats and the mouse play critical roles in medical research. Until recently, the targeted genetic modification of a mammal was limited to the mouse. This was due to a technology that was unique to the mouse: embryonic stem (ES) cells. These cells have not been isolated from any other species. The recent development of animal cloning allows for an alternate strategy for targeting genes. We propose to develop cloning strategies in the rat that supports the genetic modification of this animal. The development of this technology will bring considerable benefits to the areas of physiological research and drug design.Read moreRead less
Cell type-specific transgene expression to increase Fe content in cereal grains. The grains industry forms a vital part of the Australian economy and farm sector. Increased iron concentrations of wheat and other cereal grains would greatly increase their nutritional value for people worldwide, thereby increasing their market value and profitability for farmers. High iron wheat would also lower the production costs of many Australian wheat products by reducing or eliminating the need for iron for ....Cell type-specific transgene expression to increase Fe content in cereal grains. The grains industry forms a vital part of the Australian economy and farm sector. Increased iron concentrations of wheat and other cereal grains would greatly increase their nutritional value for people worldwide, thereby increasing their market value and profitability for farmers. High iron wheat would also lower the production costs of many Australian wheat products by reducing or eliminating the need for iron fortification of wheat flour. High iron cereals promote healthy development of young Australians and can improve preventative healthcare by reducing the incidence of iron deficiency anaemia and biochemical deficiency.Read moreRead less