Can we exploit mRNA modifications to control protein expression? Genes are encoded by DNA but are transcribed into a message called RNA before they can be translated into protein. RNA can be chemically modified at a gene-specific level, and this modification has been central to the success of RNA vaccines against COVID-19. Despite the importance of these modifications in cellular life and in biotechnology, the role of the most abundant RNA modifications is unclear. This project will investigate ....Can we exploit mRNA modifications to control protein expression? Genes are encoded by DNA but are transcribed into a message called RNA before they can be translated into protein. RNA can be chemically modified at a gene-specific level, and this modification has been central to the success of RNA vaccines against COVID-19. Despite the importance of these modifications in cellular life and in biotechnology, the role of the most abundant RNA modifications is unclear. This project will investigate how we can exploit RNA modifications to modulate protein expression in a tractable single-celled organism with a small genome, Plasmodium. This information is important because understanding gene regulation is fundamental to all life, and the role of RNA modifications is emerging as integral to biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Chemo-sensation in Ascaris infection. This project aims to show the role of chemo-sensation as an equally important target for worm control, and explore pathways to prevent infection. Parasitic worms cost global food/textile industry more than $100 billion dollars per year, and cause disease in more than 1 billion people and domesticated animals world-wide. This project will use a combination of imaging, systems biology, chemical biology and microfluidic methods to provide significant benefits, ....Chemo-sensation in Ascaris infection. This project aims to show the role of chemo-sensation as an equally important target for worm control, and explore pathways to prevent infection. Parasitic worms cost global food/textile industry more than $100 billion dollars per year, and cause disease in more than 1 billion people and domesticated animals world-wide. This project will use a combination of imaging, systems biology, chemical biology and microfluidic methods to provide significant benefits, such as exploring Ascaris chemo-sensation during larval migration, identify the key host queues and parasite genes regulating this process, and probe helminth chemosensation as a novel target for anti-parasitic treatments.Read moreRead less
Sugar transporters in coral symbiosis and origin of parasitism. We aim to identify how symbiotic algae feed sugar to their coral hosts. Corals need this algal sugar to exist, but no one knows how it is transferred, so understanding this crucial mechanism is hugely significant. The first benefit of this research will be a fundamental understanding about how two organisms (algae and coral) cooperate to build habitats like the Great Barrier Reef. We also aim to explore whether coral/algal coopera ....Sugar transporters in coral symbiosis and origin of parasitism. We aim to identify how symbiotic algae feed sugar to their coral hosts. Corals need this algal sugar to exist, but no one knows how it is transferred, so understanding this crucial mechanism is hugely significant. The first benefit of this research will be a fundamental understanding about how two organisms (algae and coral) cooperate to build habitats like the Great Barrier Reef. We also aim to explore whether coral/algal cooperation paved the way for the origin of parasitism. The second key outcome will be to identify the precise molecular mechanism that allowed parasitism to arise. This will benefit us through understanding the origins of important diseases such as human malaria and related infections of livestock and wildlife.
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Engineering a chromatin looping factor for artificial gene regulation. This project aims to define mechanisms of chromatin looping and gene activation by a widely expressed mammalian protein. The project will establish if the functions of this protein are modulated by the binding of small molecules, whether it can act in conjunction with closely related proteins, and if post-translational modifications regulate looping and gene activation. Using protein engineering the project will develop synth ....Engineering a chromatin looping factor for artificial gene regulation. This project aims to define mechanisms of chromatin looping and gene activation by a widely expressed mammalian protein. The project will establish if the functions of this protein are modulated by the binding of small molecules, whether it can act in conjunction with closely related proteins, and if post-translational modifications regulate looping and gene activation. Using protein engineering the project will develop synthetic looping factors that can switch on a wide array of target genes. The project aims to answer fundamental questions about how proteins can establish and maintain physical loops in DNA to modulate gene expression. The project will also develop research tools that might ultimately correct diseases caused by the faulty expression of genes.Read moreRead less
Increasing confidence in Australian carbon disclosures. This project aims to investigate whether carbon disclosures made by Australian resource firms are less than actual emissions (i.e., carbonwashing) using satellite imagery technology. New knowledge will be generated by triangulating carbonwashing information against firm data, such as valuation, other disclosures, and hiring practices, to understand if and how carbonwashing impacts firm values and organisational controls. Expected outcomes i ....Increasing confidence in Australian carbon disclosures. This project aims to investigate whether carbon disclosures made by Australian resource firms are less than actual emissions (i.e., carbonwashing) using satellite imagery technology. New knowledge will be generated by triangulating carbonwashing information against firm data, such as valuation, other disclosures, and hiring practices, to understand if and how carbonwashing impacts firm values and organisational controls. Expected outcomes include improved ways to detect carbonwashing and its relationship to management control weaknesses, benefiting all stakeholders (including investors and regulators) in supporting government-proposed reforms to the Australian Safeguard Mechanism in instilling confidence in Australian carbon disclosures.Read moreRead less
Inclusive memories: tracing democratic practices in contemporary memorials. This project aims to investigate the significant role of recent public memorials in reflecting and shaping democratic identity, memory, values and engagement in Australia and internationally. The project expects to advance knowledge through an innovative international comparison of the evolving diversity of democratic themes, designs and procurement approaches used for public memorials and public spaces. Expected outcome ....Inclusive memories: tracing democratic practices in contemporary memorials. This project aims to investigate the significant role of recent public memorials in reflecting and shaping democratic identity, memory, values and engagement in Australia and internationally. The project expects to advance knowledge through an innovative international comparison of the evolving diversity of democratic themes, designs and procurement approaches used for public memorials and public spaces. Expected outcomes include practical and scholarly insights into how these processes can improve social engagement and inclusion. The project’s benefits include improving decision-making processes for public art, public space and heritage, and expanding scholarly and public awareness about Australian history, identity and democratic values. Read moreRead less
An Intellectual History of Modern Australian Planning 1900-2000. Urban planning is forward-looking but is constantly leveraging knowledge from the past. This original project will investigate the key ideas which have shaped modern planning thought in Australia, concentrating on the 20th century. It will focus on leading practitioners, advocates, public intellectuals, and community critics in an ideas-centred intellectual history that fills a major knowledge gap. The critical transition away from ....An Intellectual History of Modern Australian Planning 1900-2000. Urban planning is forward-looking but is constantly leveraging knowledge from the past. This original project will investigate the key ideas which have shaped modern planning thought in Australia, concentrating on the 20th century. It will focus on leading practitioners, advocates, public intellectuals, and community critics in an ideas-centred intellectual history that fills a major knowledge gap. The critical transition away from post-consensus planning in the last 3 decades of the 20th century will be an important focus and linked to a national oral history exercise before the opportunity is lost forever. Development of an open access biographical website sharing data will bedrock the project.Read moreRead less
Nanoparticle regulation of DNA replication and repair pathways. This project aims to understand how physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles influence how cells respond with respect to maintenance of their DNA integrity. It will use an innovative set of cross-disciplinary methodologies to link what nanoparticle parameters can lead to a benign fate in the environment. The project expects to generate new knowledge of how our ecosystem can be fundamentally impacted by nanoscale materials. ....Nanoparticle regulation of DNA replication and repair pathways. This project aims to understand how physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles influence how cells respond with respect to maintenance of their DNA integrity. It will use an innovative set of cross-disciplinary methodologies to link what nanoparticle parameters can lead to a benign fate in the environment. The project expects to generate new knowledge of how our ecosystem can be fundamentally impacted by nanoscale materials. The intended outcome of the project is to position Australia as a world leader in the manufacture of environmentally benign, advanced nano-scale materials. This is expected to provide economic benefits for Australian manufacturing while ensuring preservation of environmental health.Read moreRead less
Locating Giurgola: From Philadelphia School to Global Practice. This project aims to conduct the first major systematic assessment of the architectural career of Romaldo Giurgola (1920-2016), the principal architect of Australian Parliament House. It will review all known archives relating to his life and works, including significant collections in North America and Australia, and it will survey the full range of his architectural projects. The project expects to result in a new and complete ass ....Locating Giurgola: From Philadelphia School to Global Practice. This project aims to conduct the first major systematic assessment of the architectural career of Romaldo Giurgola (1920-2016), the principal architect of Australian Parliament House. It will review all known archives relating to his life and works, including significant collections in North America and Australia, and it will survey the full range of his architectural projects. The project expects to result in a new and complete assessment of Giurgola's architecture, figuring important Australian buildings into an international landscape of professional practice. The primary outcome of this project will be a large critical catalogue, presenting the full extent of his career for the first time and locating APH in that career in new terms.Read moreRead less
Food and beverage price promotions: An untapped policy target . We aim to generate evidence on the influence of price promotions on foods and beverages considered to be of concern for human and planetary health. We further aim to identify if, and how, policies can be designed to reduce these types of price promotions and understand the feasibility and acceptability of doing so, from a range of perspectives.The significance of this project is substantial - unhealthy diets are the leading cause of ....Food and beverage price promotions: An untapped policy target . We aim to generate evidence on the influence of price promotions on foods and beverages considered to be of concern for human and planetary health. We further aim to identify if, and how, policies can be designed to reduce these types of price promotions and understand the feasibility and acceptability of doing so, from a range of perspectives.The significance of this project is substantial - unhealthy diets are the leading cause of disease and death and unhealthy foods account for >30% of the food-related environmental footprint. By understanding if, and how, this novel policy target can be designed to improve population food choices, this project will ultimately deliver benefits for human and planetary through improved dietary choices.Read moreRead less