Genomic Approaches To Understanding Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$210,855.00
Summary
Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is an emerging infectious disease affecting Tasmanian devils. DFTD is a transmissible cancer, and results in the growth of large tumors usually on the face and mouth of affected animals. DFTD has led to the collapse of the Tasmanian devil population, and there is concern that the disease will drive devils to extinction in the wild within the next 20 years. I propose to use new genome sequencing technologies to discover genes responsible for DFTD.
Genome-wide Association Studies Of Biomedical Traits And Endophenotypes For Complex Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$295,804.00
Summary
The burden of common complex diseases, such as cardiovascular disease is substantial to the health care system. These diseases are caused by genes and environments as well as their interactions. The proposed project will identify genes affecting the susceptibility of individuals to complex diseases. Discovery of such genes will be important for their diagnosis, prevention and treatment and may serve as an important resource for future personalized medicine.
Genetic And Phenotype Studies Of Partial Epilepsy In Gypsies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$646,136.00
Summary
Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological disorders, which affects more than 50 million people worldwide. Genetic research, with a major contribution from Australian researchers, has led to the discovery of many rare forms of the disease caused by mutations in single genes of large effect. However, the vast majority of cases worldwide belong to the so-called genetically complex forms, involving multiple interacting genes and environmental factors. The genetically complex epilepsies ....Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological disorders, which affects more than 50 million people worldwide. Genetic research, with a major contribution from Australian researchers, has led to the discovery of many rare forms of the disease caused by mutations in single genes of large effect. However, the vast majority of cases worldwide belong to the so-called genetically complex forms, involving multiple interacting genes and environmental factors. The genetically complex epilepsies have proved particularly difficult to understand and the numerous genetic studies conducted so far have failed to produce important and replicable results. It is becoming increasingly clear that enormous genetic heterogeneity, with many rare mutations occurring in different affected subjects, will be a major obstacle to understanding the molecular basis of complex epilepsies. In this context, genetically isolated populations, which stem from a small number of ancestors, can be particularly helpful and revealing, since their limited genetic diversity means that the number of genes involved in causing complex epilepsies may be smaller and shared between individuals and families. In this study, we will analyze affected families, as well as non-familial cases of epilepsy, from a genetically isolated population - the European Roma-Gypsies. We will determine the number of potential susceptibility genes involved in familial forms, the overlap and differences between families, as well as the contribution of the genes identified in families to the development of sporadic epilepsy.Read moreRead less
Use Of Expression Profiling To Identify Genes Influencing Cardiovascular Risk In The Norfolk Island Population Isolate
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,409.00
Summary
This study will use a unique population isolate from Norfolk Island. We aim to identify genes that play a role in cardiovascular disease risk. Norfolk has a population of ~1200 permanent residents, most of whom are direct descendents of 18th century English Bounty mutineers and Polynesian women. We will undertake gene expression mapping to identify genomic loci that influence cardiovascular disease using samples from this population isolate.