Long noncoding RNAs and their regulatory roles in epigenetic control of gene expression in plants. Epigenetic control of gene expression plays a critical role in development, environmental adaptation, stress response and disease resistance in plants, but its molecular basis remains largely unknown. The proposed study should contribute to the emerging field of epigenetics by discovering new regulatory noncoding RNAs involved in epigenetic mechanisms in plants. These new discoveries could potentia ....Long noncoding RNAs and their regulatory roles in epigenetic control of gene expression in plants. Epigenetic control of gene expression plays a critical role in development, environmental adaptation, stress response and disease resistance in plants, but its molecular basis remains largely unknown. The proposed study should contribute to the emerging field of epigenetics by discovering new regulatory noncoding RNAs involved in epigenetic mechanisms in plants. These new discoveries could potentially provide new opportunities and platforms for improving the performance, yield and quality of crop plants. The proposed study is therefore consistent with the national research priority goals such as breakthrough science, frontier technologies and promoting an innovation culture.Read moreRead less
Engineering synthetic genetic codes. Large, high quality libraries of new drugs are absolutely essential resources to find new medicines. However, their use is restricted to a few pharmaceutical giants. We will engineer cells to make a wide variety of drug-like polymers, providing a drug discovery resource accessible to almost any scientific laboratory. As each cell could make a different polymer, billions of different potential drugs could be produced in a single tube. This technology provides ....Engineering synthetic genetic codes. Large, high quality libraries of new drugs are absolutely essential resources to find new medicines. However, their use is restricted to a few pharmaceutical giants. We will engineer cells to make a wide variety of drug-like polymers, providing a drug discovery resource accessible to almost any scientific laboratory. As each cell could make a different polymer, billions of different potential drugs could be produced in a single tube. This technology provides an opportunity to put the future of drug discovery in the hands of the wider scientific community and new tools for Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Genetical Genomics of Mutational Variance. Mutation is the ultimate source of all genetic variation. Understanding the nature of mutation, its frequency, the distribution of effects, and the forces of selection that remove mutational load from populations is therefore a central concern of genetics. The accumulation of mutational load both in endangered species and human populations, where the natural forces of selection tend not to operate, has the potential to create serious problems in these p ....Genetical Genomics of Mutational Variance. Mutation is the ultimate source of all genetic variation. Understanding the nature of mutation, its frequency, the distribution of effects, and the forces of selection that remove mutational load from populations is therefore a central concern of genetics. The accumulation of mutational load both in endangered species and human populations, where the natural forces of selection tend not to operate, has the potential to create serious problems in these populations. The goal is to understand what types of mutations are targeted by selection at the gene expression level and why.Read moreRead less
From causative genes to establishing therapies for patients with neuromuscular diseases. A major focus of this project will be pursuing multiple therapeutic approaches for a class of skeletal muscle diseases, which are most often severe and lethal within the first year of life. It will also hunt down the defective genes in human patients with other neuromuscular diseases and explore how these cause disease.
Inherited determinants of cancer aetiology. Family history of cancer is a strong risk factor for many cancers. This project will aim to identify inherited factors influencing risk of developing cancer and those factors influencing the course of the disease and outcomes.
Dissecting the shared genetic architecture of psychiatric and psychological traits with application to prediction of genetic risk. Identification of the early phase of psychiatric disorders is considered critical for early intervention which is the essence of prevention. At present, the main obstacle to targeted early intervention strategies in psychiatric disorders is the non-specific nature of early stage symptoms. Many psychiatric disorders present with symptoms of depressed mood and anxiety ....Dissecting the shared genetic architecture of psychiatric and psychological traits with application to prediction of genetic risk. Identification of the early phase of psychiatric disorders is considered critical for early intervention which is the essence of prevention. At present, the main obstacle to targeted early intervention strategies in psychiatric disorders is the non-specific nature of early stage symptoms. Many psychiatric disorders present with symptoms of depressed mood and anxiety in the early stages, yet best intervention treatments are dependent on the final (unknown) diagnosed disorder. Prediction of genetic risk is likely to make an important contribution for identification of individuals at risk of specific psychiatric disorders so that the best early intervention treatment can be administered. Read moreRead less
Imaging genetics in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: shared neurocognitive endophenotypes. Combined, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder afflict approximately 506,000 Australians at any one time, and are leading causes of disability and national economic burden. This study will delineate genetic underpinnings for these conditions in association with specific neurocognitive dysfunctions that are common to both disorders. These findings have important implications for the implementation of perso ....Imaging genetics in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: shared neurocognitive endophenotypes. Combined, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder afflict approximately 506,000 Australians at any one time, and are leading causes of disability and national economic burden. This study will delineate genetic underpinnings for these conditions in association with specific neurocognitive dysfunctions that are common to both disorders. These findings have important implications for the implementation of personalised pharmaceutical treatments on the basis of genotype, and the development of therapeutic agents to target cognitive function. These results will also aid detection of premorbid psychotic illness in young individuals who may benefit from early intervention that may thwart the illness trajectory. Read moreRead less
Hidden complexity in microRNA function. This project aims to determine the extent to which microRNAs function through “non-canonical” mechanisms within cell nuclei, how their roles are expanded by naturally occurring sequence variation and how their activity is controlled by little known families of genes that sequester and inhibit their availability. The knowledge generated is significant as microRNAs regulate the expression of virtually all genes and biological processes, yet these mechanisms ....Hidden complexity in microRNA function. This project aims to determine the extent to which microRNAs function through “non-canonical” mechanisms within cell nuclei, how their roles are expanded by naturally occurring sequence variation and how their activity is controlled by little known families of genes that sequester and inhibit their availability. The knowledge generated is significant as microRNAs regulate the expression of virtually all genes and biological processes, yet these mechanisms of function remain poorly characterised and seldom considered. The expected outcome of better understanding mechanisms through which microRNAs work should provide significant benefit to safe and effective development of microRNAs for future agricultural or therapeutic application.Read moreRead less
Metabolic control of gene expression networks and microbiome interactions. The proposal aims to advance our understanding of how metabolism (and resulting metabolites) regulate the expression of genes, and investigate how these processes dictate the interaction of microbiota with the immune system. The project is expected to generate transformative knowledge of gene regulation, a fundamental process for cellular function, and decipher how the microbiome yeast Candida albicans interacts with immu ....Metabolic control of gene expression networks and microbiome interactions. The proposal aims to advance our understanding of how metabolism (and resulting metabolites) regulate the expression of genes, and investigate how these processes dictate the interaction of microbiota with the immune system. The project is expected to generate transformative knowledge of gene regulation, a fundamental process for cellular function, and decipher how the microbiome yeast Candida albicans interacts with immune cells and bacteria. By utilising a powerful combination of molecular and systems biology with molecular genetics and imaging, the project outcomes should foster interdisciplinary collaborations and build capacity for fundamental and applied research to benefit academia and industry, locally and globally.Read moreRead less
The development of tools to study carbohydrate-processing enzymes implicated in human disease. Diseases caused by improper function of carbohydrate-processing enzymes are a major health burden. This research aims to find ways to restore the function of these enzymes bringing a better quality of life to people suffering from these diseases.