Optimising disease surveillance to support decision-making. COVID-19 has demonstrated the critical role of epidemic data and analytics in guiding government response to pandemic threats, reducing disease and saving lives. The demand for epidemic analytics for response to threats of national significance will only grow. The goals of this project are to 1) determine the combination(s) of surveillance methods that provide the most useful data for epidemic analysis and 2) translate these findings in ....Optimising disease surveillance to support decision-making. COVID-19 has demonstrated the critical role of epidemic data and analytics in guiding government response to pandemic threats, reducing disease and saving lives. The demand for epidemic analytics for response to threats of national significance will only grow. The goals of this project are to 1) determine the combination(s) of surveillance methods that provide the most useful data for epidemic analysis and 2) translate these findings into the blueprint for a next-generation infectious disease surveillance system for Australia. We will use a simulation-evaluation approach, coupling methods from infectious disease modelling with those from information theory optimal design. Outcomes will enable more tailored and effective pandemic response.Read moreRead less
Unravelling The Mechanism Of MHC Class-I Associated Drug Hypersensitivities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,308.00
Summary
Some drugs cause adverse reactions that are life threatening. We think these reactions are mediated by killer T cells as they are genetically controlled by immune response genes that normally guide immunity to microbes. We will study immune reactions to the drug abacavir, used to treat HIV (AIDS); allopurinol used to prevent gout and carbamazepine, used to treat epilepsy. The study may also help devise better treatments for patients who experience severe forms of these reactions.
Linking evolutionary and molecular biology to safeguard Australian honeybees. Honeybee populations are declining globally but their pollination services are of central importance for food production. This project will study honeybee proteins that influence both fertility and immunity and their effects in vivo. This knowledge is of interest for the bee breeding industry to avoid or combat bee declines in managed Australian bees.
Innovative approaches to understanding and limiting the public health risks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in animals in Australian catchments. Sophisticated molecular typing and modelling will be used to determine if chlorine-resistant parasites in animals in catchments are responsible for infection in humans. Improved catchment management and risk mitigation strategies will be developed during this project, which will make a substantial contribution to the provision of safe drinking water acro ....Innovative approaches to understanding and limiting the public health risks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in animals in Australian catchments. Sophisticated molecular typing and modelling will be used to determine if chlorine-resistant parasites in animals in catchments are responsible for infection in humans. Improved catchment management and risk mitigation strategies will be developed during this project, which will make a substantial contribution to the provision of safe drinking water across Australia.Read moreRead less
Does coevolution drive speciation? This project aims to connect micro-evolutionary processes with macro-evolutionary patterns to test the extent to which tightly coupled co-evolutionary interactions between species drive evolutionary diversification. The project will use techniques including the most recent phylogenetic modelling methods, field experiments and molecular genetics. Expected outcomes include advancing understanding of the mechanisms that generate biodiversity and developing new tec ....Does coevolution drive speciation? This project aims to connect micro-evolutionary processes with macro-evolutionary patterns to test the extent to which tightly coupled co-evolutionary interactions between species drive evolutionary diversification. The project will use techniques including the most recent phylogenetic modelling methods, field experiments and molecular genetics. Expected outcomes include advancing understanding of the mechanisms that generate biodiversity and developing new techniques for acquisition of DNA from museum specimens. The project is expected to provide significant benefits, such as insights into the processes that promote new species in nature.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100158
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,751.00
Summary
Addressing vaccine rejection: drivers and impact of mandatory vaccination. This project aims to investigate and analyse the introduction, design and implementation of mandatory child vaccination programs in Italy, France, Australia and California, using a comparative case study approach. Parental rejection of childhood vaccines can cause illness and death. However, governments limiting personal liberty can erode public acceptance. The project’s goal is to provide the tools, framework and concept ....Addressing vaccine rejection: drivers and impact of mandatory vaccination. This project aims to investigate and analyse the introduction, design and implementation of mandatory child vaccination programs in Italy, France, Australia and California, using a comparative case study approach. Parental rejection of childhood vaccines can cause illness and death. However, governments limiting personal liberty can erode public acceptance. The project’s goal is to provide the tools, framework and conceptual clarity to help researchers and policymakers consider the merits and limitations of strategies which mandate childhood vaccination.Read moreRead less
Troublesome ticks: a new molecular toolkit to investigate zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in Australia. This project will use the latest molecular diagnostic techniques to address unanswered questions about potential tick-transmitted diseases of humans and companion animals in Australia. The study will identify 'hot-spots' for tick-borne pathogens, identify areas of potential risk for humans, and investigate vector-host-pathogen interactions nationwide.
Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. This project aims to determine the bacterial, protozoal and viral biodiversity in wildlife ticks and their native mammal hosts, and provide new information about the biology and transmission dynamics of these microorganisms and their potential to cause disease in wildlife, domesticated animals and humans. Anticipated outcomes are improved diagnostic tests and management proto ....Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. This project aims to determine the bacterial, protozoal and viral biodiversity in wildlife ticks and their native mammal hosts, and provide new information about the biology and transmission dynamics of these microorganisms and their potential to cause disease in wildlife, domesticated animals and humans. Anticipated outcomes are improved diagnostic tests and management protocols for tick-borne disease in Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100388
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,977.00
Summary
Ecological and phylogenomic insights into infectious diseases in animals. This project aims to address major knowledge gaps in our understanding of Clostridium difficile, a leading cause of severe gastrointestinal disease in animals. The project is expected to define the epidemiology of C. difficile infection in Australian horses, characterise the genetic and phenotypic traits of C. difficile strains causing equine disease and develop a new tool for enhanced genomic tracking of C. difficile in a ....Ecological and phylogenomic insights into infectious diseases in animals. This project aims to address major knowledge gaps in our understanding of Clostridium difficile, a leading cause of severe gastrointestinal disease in animals. The project is expected to define the epidemiology of C. difficile infection in Australian horses, characterise the genetic and phenotypic traits of C. difficile strains causing equine disease and develop a new tool for enhanced genomic tracking of C. difficile in animals. These outcomes will support strategies by the veterinary sector to improve the detection, prevention and control of C. difficile infections in animals, providing long-term socio-economic benefits arising from reduced incidence and mortality associated with C. difficile infections in Australian horses and livestock.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101470
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Using social network models to understand the factors driving parasite transmission in bettong populations. Parasitic diseases pose a significant threat to Australia's biodiversity. This project will apply the use of social networks models to understanding how different parasites are spread through endangered bettong populations.