New guardians of the mucosa: Molecular characterisation of M cell biology. We aim to completely define the cellular and molecular biology of gut and lung M cells for the first time. We will elucidate how they develop, are regulated and function at a molecular level, and how M cells maintain normal gut and lung tissues and induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges. In the future, the new insights will be essential pre-requisites for the development of mucosal-based intervent ....New guardians of the mucosa: Molecular characterisation of M cell biology. We aim to completely define the cellular and molecular biology of gut and lung M cells for the first time. We will elucidate how they develop, are regulated and function at a molecular level, and how M cells maintain normal gut and lung tissues and induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges. In the future, the new insights will be essential pre-requisites for the development of mucosal-based interventions and vaccines that protect the gut and lung from infectious and inflammatory issues. The harnessing of effective immune responses to control such challenges, are of enormous fundamental and long-standing biological interest, and are amongst the most important areas of current scientific research.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100001
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$875,000.00
Summary
A 3-photon imaging system for deep live imaging. This project aims to establish Australia’s first 3-photon microscope system with adaptive optics for deep intravital imaging. This advanced imaging system will enable researchers to investigate the biology of cells and tissue structures in a wide range of organs and engineered tissues, to a degree not possible with existing technology. This project will capitalise on advanced laser, microscope and adaptive optics technologies with the expected out ....A 3-photon imaging system for deep live imaging. This project aims to establish Australia’s first 3-photon microscope system with adaptive optics for deep intravital imaging. This advanced imaging system will enable researchers to investigate the biology of cells and tissue structures in a wide range of organs and engineered tissues, to a degree not possible with existing technology. This project will capitalise on advanced laser, microscope and adaptive optics technologies with the expected outcomes to include the generation of new knowledge of major biological systems, including the immune system and the nervous system. This will provide significant benefits to fundamental interdisciplinary research into immunology, infectious disease, neuroscience, mechanobiology and engineering.Read moreRead less
Early career teacher induction: Supporting precarious teachers. This project aims to investigate the ways in which Australian induction policies support precariously employed early career teachers to effectively manage student classroom behaviour. This project expects to generate new knowledge of workforce development and induction experiences of early career teachers employed on casual and short-term contracts. Expected outcomes of this project include alternative policy and practice recommenda ....Early career teacher induction: Supporting precarious teachers. This project aims to investigate the ways in which Australian induction policies support precariously employed early career teachers to effectively manage student classroom behaviour. This project expects to generate new knowledge of workforce development and induction experiences of early career teachers employed on casual and short-term contracts. Expected outcomes of this project include alternative policy and practice recommendations to support the transition of insecure replacement teachers within the profession. The benefits of this research include, improving teachers’ classroom management practices; the retention of new teachers; improving teacher workforce development; and building a healthier education system. Read moreRead less
Equipping Australian teachers today to face AI tomorrow. Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are set to transform society, including how people work and learn. Yet there is very little research about what Australian teachers need to know in order to prepare students to thrive in an AI-rich society and workforce. This study aims to construct a foundational understanding for teaching with and about AI. It will also show how to develop effective networks to empower teachers as active chang ....Equipping Australian teachers today to face AI tomorrow. Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are set to transform society, including how people work and learn. Yet there is very little research about what Australian teachers need to know in order to prepare students to thrive in an AI-rich society and workforce. This study aims to construct a foundational understanding for teaching with and about AI. It will also show how to develop effective networks to empower teachers as active change agents. The expected outcomes will equip teachers with the knowledge and resources to lead the development of Australia’s future AI capability, including through enhanced classroom practices and more creative teacher networks.Read moreRead less
Tree-mediated methane fluxes: A new frontier in the global carbon cycle. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Recent evidence suggests that tree-mediated fluxes may be a significant, but overlooked source of methane to the atmosphere. This project aims to quantify the magnitude and drivers of tree-mediated methane fluxes from Australia’s dominant forest types. Innovatively, we will be using a novel combination of empirical field based measurements, gas tracer experiments, microbial ana ....Tree-mediated methane fluxes: A new frontier in the global carbon cycle. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Recent evidence suggests that tree-mediated fluxes may be a significant, but overlooked source of methane to the atmosphere. This project aims to quantify the magnitude and drivers of tree-mediated methane fluxes from Australia’s dominant forest types. Innovatively, we will be using a novel combination of empirical field based measurements, gas tracer experiments, microbial analysis and modelling methods. Expected outcomes are a mechanistic understanding of tree-mediated methane fluxes, helping to constrain regional, national and global methane budgets. The results of this study will help inform publicly funded greenhouse gas abatement strategies, ensuring a maximal return on investment.Read moreRead less
Career change teachers: Addressing teacher shortages in Australia . Australia is facing a teacher shortage crisis. Consequently, there have been concerted efforts by governments to attract people into teaching from other sections of the workforce. However, career change teachers often do not stay longer than five years in the profession. There is little evidence on how their retention can be enhanced. This project aims to better understand the differing motivations and experiences of these teach ....Career change teachers: Addressing teacher shortages in Australia . Australia is facing a teacher shortage crisis. Consequently, there have been concerted efforts by governments to attract people into teaching from other sections of the workforce. However, career change teachers often do not stay longer than five years in the profession. There is little evidence on how their retention can be enhanced. This project aims to better understand the differing motivations and experiences of these teachers from diverse backgrounds, and to determine how they can be better prepared and supported through their early years of teaching. A clear benefit of this project will be the longer term success for career change teachers and their schools and will ensure young people are not disadvantaged by high teacher turnover. Read moreRead less
Transnationalism and diaspora. This study aims to incorporate diaspora, circular migration and transnational linkages into demographic concepts of population and migration. Transnationalism’s replacement of permanent movements as the dominant paradigm in migration studies raises questions for demographic measurement and the study of migration. This project will use traditional demographic data with integrated quantitative and qualitative research to analyse the diaspora–migration–development nex ....Transnationalism and diaspora. This study aims to incorporate diaspora, circular migration and transnational linkages into demographic concepts of population and migration. Transnationalism’s replacement of permanent movements as the dominant paradigm in migration studies raises questions for demographic measurement and the study of migration. This project will use traditional demographic data with integrated quantitative and qualitative research to analyse the diaspora–migration–development nexus. It will study four countries to understand the characteristics of diasporas, their international linkages and their potential for enhancing development in origin countries. This is expected to generate policy advice on how to maximise the economic potential of diaspora.Read moreRead less
Investigating the atomic structure of an immune cell inhibitory receptor. T cells play a key role in the adaptive immune system, whose reactivity must be controlled to prevent aberrant reactivity. Central to the function of T cells is the T cell antigen receptor, and a host of co-stimulatory molecules, co-receptors and inhibitory receptors. This proposal, in partnership with Immutep Ltd, aims to gain a basic understanding of the structure and function of a key inhibitory receptor found on T cel ....Investigating the atomic structure of an immune cell inhibitory receptor. T cells play a key role in the adaptive immune system, whose reactivity must be controlled to prevent aberrant reactivity. Central to the function of T cells is the T cell antigen receptor, and a host of co-stimulatory molecules, co-receptors and inhibitory receptors. This proposal, in partnership with Immutep Ltd, aims to gain a basic understanding of the structure and function of a key inhibitory receptor found on T cells, termed the Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3). The proposal utilises a combination of cellular immunology and structural biology to gain insight into the form and function of the LAG-3 molecule. Ultimately this fundamental knowledge can be used by the biotechnology industry.Read moreRead less
Investigating literary knowledge in the making of English teachers. This project aims to create new understanding of the role of literary knowledge within subject English. English education is mandated in Australian schooling; however, subject content as well as teachers’ knowledge and pedagogical approaches are highly contested, particularly regarding the teaching of literature. Using a national survey, focus group interviews and a longitudinal study, the project aims to provide new understandi ....Investigating literary knowledge in the making of English teachers. This project aims to create new understanding of the role of literary knowledge within subject English. English education is mandated in Australian schooling; however, subject content as well as teachers’ knowledge and pedagogical approaches are highly contested, particularly regarding the teaching of literature. Using a national survey, focus group interviews and a longitudinal study, the project aims to provide new understandings of the literary knowledge that early career teachers need, of the impact of curricula and professional practice on disciplinary knowledge, and about the operation of literary studies across school and university. Significantly, it plans to use ‘literary sociability’, an innovative methodology, to generate empirical and conceptual perspectives on literary studies in Australia that will be of value internationally.Read moreRead less
Shifting the Culture of Out-of-field Professional Education for Teachers. This project aims to model an education system that would diversify the expertise of teachers as part of attending to long-term teacher shortage. It responds to a pressing national need for a system of valued and accessible professional education (PE) for out-of-field teachers. The project draws on perspectives from schools, governments and PE providers to expose current practices, cultural norms, and policies; propose an ....Shifting the Culture of Out-of-field Professional Education for Teachers. This project aims to model an education system that would diversify the expertise of teachers as part of attending to long-term teacher shortage. It responds to a pressing national need for a system of valued and accessible professional education (PE) for out-of-field teachers. The project draws on perspectives from schools, governments and PE providers to expose current practices, cultural norms, and policies; propose an 'ideal' PE ecosystem that values re-specialisation in the core subjects; and develop principles to inform policy and practice needed to attain this ideal. The evidence-based framing of PE will inform efforts by schools, PE providers and policy makers to sustain a highly capable, adaptive and specialised teaching workforce.Read moreRead less