Optimising Intervention Strategies To Reduce The Burden Of Group A Streptococcus In Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$856,896.00
Summary
Skin sores are highly prevalent in remote Australian Indigenous communities and can lead to invasive infections and rheumatic heart disease. We will develop mathematical models to understand the transmission of skin sores, allowing us to define the optimal extent (household, community, region), timing and triggers for interventions to interrupt transmission. This will guide public health policy in reducing the prevalence of skin sores and scabies, and their accompanying disease burden.
Group A Streptococcal Human Challenge Study: Accelerating Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,018,741.00
Summary
Infection with group A streptococcus (GAS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in the Aboriginal population of Australia. Concerted efforts for vaccine development have been hampered by the absence of a suitable animal model. To address this critical knowledge gap we propose to develop a controlled human infection model of GAS infection. This model will provide a direct pathway for the future appraisal of novel GAS vaccines.
The END RHD CRE: Developing An Endgame For Rheumatic Heart Disease In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,601,147.00
Summary
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is caused by an abnormal immune reaction to some bacterial infections. Although RHD is rare in developed countries, Indigenous Australians still live with the burden of RHD. The END RHD CRE will explore risk factors for RHD, prevention with antibiotics, management of RHD and the potential for vaccine development. Individuals and communities experiencing RHD are integral partners to this work. The CRE will establish a strategy for ending RHD in Australia.
Managing knowledge in telehealth projects: creating better solutions and improving patient care. Telehealth is the use of information and communication technologies for the delivery of healthcare and medical education across a distance. This project will propose more effective ways to support telehealth initiatives by managing the knowledge and expertise that is an integral part of such projects, resulting in improved outcomes.
Group algorithms: Complexity, Theory and Practice. The symmetry of a mathematical or physical system is often best described by an abstract structure called a group, and groups are commonly represented as groups of permutations or matrices. In this project we shall design and analyse a general algorithmic framework for computing with finite groups. In the context of permutation groups and matrix groups we will produce prototype implementations. The proposed framework has the potential to revolut ....Group algorithms: Complexity, Theory and Practice. The symmetry of a mathematical or physical system is often best described by an abstract structure called a group, and groups are commonly represented as groups of permutations or matrices. In this project we shall design and analyse a general algorithmic framework for computing with finite groups. In the context of permutation groups and matrix groups we will produce prototype implementations. The proposed framework has the potential to revolutionise algorithmic group theory as it draws together theoretical and computational models of groups.Read moreRead less
Computing with large groups: probability distributions and fast randomised algorithms. Fast algorithms produced by the project will impact on the practical management of symmetry in large scale searches, which have important industrial applications. Hence the project addresses the Priority Goals Breakthrough Science and Smart Information Use. The project will enhance Australia's leading position in Computational Algebra. Implementations of our algorithms will be incorporated in the Computer Alge ....Computing with large groups: probability distributions and fast randomised algorithms. Fast algorithms produced by the project will impact on the practical management of symmetry in large scale searches, which have important industrial applications. Hence the project addresses the Priority Goals Breakthrough Science and Smart Information Use. The project will enhance Australia's leading position in Computational Algebra. Implementations of our algorithms will be incorporated in the Computer Algebra system Magma, based at the University of Sydney, distributed world-wide, and used intensively in research and teaching. The project will attract international and Australian graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and strengthen research activities in Australia by enhancing already strong international collaborations. Read moreRead less
Applications of Group Theory to Finite Geometry. Group theory and geometry have influenced one another for over a century. The most important structures in geometry are the symmetric ones and the most important groups act on geometries. Recent developments in finite geometry, although informed by symmetry, have used a minimum of group theory. The project aims to redress this, by applying results from a broad range of finite group theory to the presently hot topics in finite geometry. Our aim is ....Applications of Group Theory to Finite Geometry. Group theory and geometry have influenced one another for over a century. The most important structures in geometry are the symmetric ones and the most important groups act on geometries. Recent developments in finite geometry, although informed by symmetry, have used a minimum of group theory. The project aims to redress this, by applying results from a broad range of finite group theory to the presently hot topics in finite geometry. Our aim is to achieve a paradigm shift, by finding substantively different structures than those presently known. Should it succeed, much activity in geometry would follow, seeking geometric interpretation of these group theoretic results. Our focus is necessitated by the lack of a result characterising the underlying groups of symmetric generalised quadrangles.Read moreRead less
Permutation groups and their interplay with symmetry in finite geometry and graph theory. A strong mathematical community in Australia provides the foundations for future discoveries in technology, science and business. The use of group theory to characterise symmetric generalised quadrangles, partial quadrangles, and strongly regular graphs, and the construction of new examples of such objects, will enhance Australia's leading position in Group Theory, Algebraic Graph Theory and Finite Geometry ....Permutation groups and their interplay with symmetry in finite geometry and graph theory. A strong mathematical community in Australia provides the foundations for future discoveries in technology, science and business. The use of group theory to characterise symmetric generalised quadrangles, partial quadrangles, and strongly regular graphs, and the construction of new examples of such objects, will enhance Australia's leading position in Group Theory, Algebraic Graph Theory and Finite Geometry. This project will also strengthen the collaboration between Australian, Belgian and Italian Universities and support young researchers, developing expertise in a world-leading research group, to drive Australia's future in mathematics.Read moreRead less
Symmetrical graphs, generalized polygons and expanders. This project proposes to study a class of highly symmetrical graphs -- locally s-arc-transitive graphs. Studying the class of graphs has been one of the central topics in algebraic graph theory for over 50 years. This class of graphs has been effectively used in computer science, communication network, group theory, geometry, and other areas. This project will develop new methods to solve several fundamental problems regarding locally s-arc ....Symmetrical graphs, generalized polygons and expanders. This project proposes to study a class of highly symmetrical graphs -- locally s-arc-transitive graphs. Studying the class of graphs has been one of the central topics in algebraic graph theory for over 50 years. This class of graphs has been effectively used in computer science, communication network, group theory, geometry, and other areas. This project will develop new methods to solve several fundamental problems regarding locally s-arc-transitive graphs, and apply the outcomes to solve important problems in communication networks, graph theory, group theory, and geometry.Read moreRead less
Automated texture selection and classification methods for detection of osteoarthritis in knee radiographs. In Australia there are 1-2 million OA sufferers, a condition that costs approximately $9 billion annually. This project will address an important problem of early detection and monitoring of OA and this remains in line with the National Research Priority 2. Potential outcomes of the project will result in better diagnosis and treatment of OA, reduced discomfort to the individual and saving ....Automated texture selection and classification methods for detection of osteoarthritis in knee radiographs. In Australia there are 1-2 million OA sufferers, a condition that costs approximately $9 billion annually. This project will address an important problem of early detection and monitoring of OA and this remains in line with the National Research Priority 2. Potential outcomes of the project will result in better diagnosis and treatment of OA, reduced discomfort to the individual and saving to the national economy. This project will improve existing activity and rehabilitation programs such as exercise of lower limbs and it will help in developing diets for healthy people and OA sufferers.Read moreRead less