Methods to infer dense genomic information from sparsely genotyped populations. Prediction of phenotype based on DNA polymorphisms or sequence has important applications such as prediction of disease risk in human medicine and prediction of genetic value in plant or animal breeding. This project will enhance precision and lower the cost of association studies leading to substantial increase in accuracy of such predictions. This will allow more effective genetic improvement, particularly of diff ....Methods to infer dense genomic information from sparsely genotyped populations. Prediction of phenotype based on DNA polymorphisms or sequence has important applications such as prediction of disease risk in human medicine and prediction of genetic value in plant or animal breeding. This project will enhance precision and lower the cost of association studies leading to substantial increase in accuracy of such predictions. This will allow more effective genetic improvement, particularly of difficult but important traits such as disease resistance, reduced green-house gas emissions and product quality. The same methods can be extended to improve genetic improvement in plants and better prediction of human disease risk. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100425
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,364.00
Summary
Genetic and Molecular Consequences of Non-Random Mating in Humans. This project aims to develop and apply novel statistical methods to quantify the effects on a large number of complex traits of two forms of non-random mating in humans, that is inbreeding and assortative mating. The innovation in this proposal lies in integrating multi-level phenotypes with next-generation sequencing data collected in more than half a million study participants. Expected outcomes of this research include advance ....Genetic and Molecular Consequences of Non-Random Mating in Humans. This project aims to develop and apply novel statistical methods to quantify the effects on a large number of complex traits of two forms of non-random mating in humans, that is inbreeding and assortative mating. The innovation in this proposal lies in integrating multi-level phenotypes with next-generation sequencing data collected in more than half a million study participants. Expected outcomes of this research include advanced analytical methods to perform this integration and dissection of the biological consequences of non-random mating in humans at an unprecedented phenotypically detailed scale. The benefit of this project will be to identify new drivers of mate choice that can contribute to economic, health and social inequalities. Read moreRead less
Mechanistic And Functional Drivers Of Neochromosome Evolution
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,771.00
Summary
Neochromosomes are Frankenstein chromosomes--massive extra chromosomes that are stitched together from 100s of pieces of normal chromosomes. They are found in 3% of cancers, but are common in some types, such as liposarcoma. We have mapped their structure and found they form through punctuated chromosome shattering and gene amplification. We will investigate the precise molecular mechanisms that cause this and the recurrent transcriptional and epigenetic drivers lead to their formation.
Harnessing The Power Of Genomics To Understand Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
The last 10 years have seen a revolution in our ability to sequence DNA and related molecules. This technological advancement has the potential to transform our knowledge of the mechanisms of development and disease. In order to harness the power of this technology, advances in analysis strategies and methods are critical to extract the important insights into these massive data sets. My research will lead the way in several major areas of bioinformatics research.
Genetics To Function: Identifying Genes Mediating The Biological Effects Of Type 2 Diabetes GWAS SNPs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,075.00
Summary
Rates of type 2 diabetes are rising dramatically, and current efforts are failing to stem its progression. More information about why the disease develops is urgently needed. We apply an innovative approach to accelerate the latest genetic discoveries in diabetes to understand the mechanism behind the disease process. This knowledge will lead to new ways to control diabetes through development of novel therapies.
Determining Shared Genetic Control Of RNA Transcription Across 45 Human Tissue Types
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$264,684.00
Summary
There is strong evidence that much of the genetic susceptibility to disease acts through altering way genes are turned into proteins via RNA transcripts. One important problem in using transcriptomic data to study diseases is that the genetic control of RNA transcription is known to vary between tissues. This study will use new methods and RNA data from 45 human tissues to show the degree of common genetic control for each RNA transcript between each pair of tissues.
Genomic Control of Human Complex Trait Variation. This project aims to address knowledge gaps in our understanding of the genetic and environmental control of complex human trait variation. This project will use innovative approaches that combine molecular genomic information with data from large biobank sized cohorts to generate new knowledge of the mechanisms underlying ancestral and sex differences in humans. Expected outcomes include the development of novel methods for the integrative analy ....Genomic Control of Human Complex Trait Variation. This project aims to address knowledge gaps in our understanding of the genetic and environmental control of complex human trait variation. This project will use innovative approaches that combine molecular genomic information with data from large biobank sized cohorts to generate new knowledge of the mechanisms underlying ancestral and sex differences in humans. Expected outcomes include the development of novel methods for the integrative analysis of genomic data and building Australia’s capacity in a highly demanded field, ensuring the capability to realise the translation of this knowledge to positively impact society and human well-being.Read moreRead less
Identifying the diversity and evolution of loci associated with adaptation to aridity/heat and salinity in ancient cereal crops. This project will use ancient grains of wheat, barley and rye to find 'lost' genetic diversity at key genes associated with resistance to aridity, salt and disease. This project will make the proteins of key genes, and study their interaction with the environment over time by measuring ions in the grains to reveal the ancient environmental conditions.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100614
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Novel statistical algorithms and methods to quantify and partition pleiotropy between complex traits in populations. A fundamental question in biology is how common genetic effects are shared between traits or groups. For example, is cognition or human behaviour genetically identical across genders or across human population groups? This project will address these questions using multiple independent genome-wide association studies.
The transgenerational effect of thermosensing in plants. This project aims to understand how thermosensing mechanisms in plants result in transgenerational change, and potentially adaptation to climate. Exploiting the recent discovery of the thermosensor phytochrome B, this project will decipher the molecular cascade which, either through long-distance communication or through persistence of an epigenetic state in the cell lineage, could lead to a trans generational memory in plants helping with ....The transgenerational effect of thermosensing in plants. This project aims to understand how thermosensing mechanisms in plants result in transgenerational change, and potentially adaptation to climate. Exploiting the recent discovery of the thermosensor phytochrome B, this project will decipher the molecular cascade which, either through long-distance communication or through persistence of an epigenetic state in the cell lineage, could lead to a trans generational memory in plants helping with climate adaptation. This project will unravel novel molecular mechanisms, which have the potential to pave the way for designing new climate-proofing solutions to cope with temperature uncertainty.Read moreRead less