The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
Multilevel selection and the integrity of mitochondrial DNA. This project aims to investigate the evolutionary conundrum of how and why organelles remain asexual. The widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction suggests that sex is beneficial to organisms. Yet we all carry an ancient genome that never had sex, the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). Theory predicts that mtDNA should no longer exist, because without sex it accumulates deleterious mutations and cannot accumulate beneficial ones. Yet mt ....Multilevel selection and the integrity of mitochondrial DNA. This project aims to investigate the evolutionary conundrum of how and why organelles remain asexual. The widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction suggests that sex is beneficial to organisms. Yet we all carry an ancient genome that never had sex, the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). Theory predicts that mtDNA should no longer exist, because without sex it accumulates deleterious mutations and cannot accumulate beneficial ones. Yet mtDNA does not suffer mutational meltdown and is shown to adapt. This project will explain how, proposing that the combination of two traits, uniparental inheritance and multiple genomes per cell, make up for the lack of sex. This project expects to provide an explanation for the evolutionary question of what keeps mitochondria healthy, important as mitochondria affect ageing and health.Read moreRead less
Gene regulation by retroelement encoded natural antisense transcripts. Genetic information underpins all life on earth and is processed to make proteins, which determine the characteristics of an organism. However, only about 2% of our whole genome is made up of genes that encode proteins; the other 98% is non-coding and its function remains poorly understood. Aims and Significance: This proposal aims to utilise cutting edge genomic technologies to generate new knowledge about how the non-coding ....Gene regulation by retroelement encoded natural antisense transcripts. Genetic information underpins all life on earth and is processed to make proteins, which determine the characteristics of an organism. However, only about 2% of our whole genome is made up of genes that encode proteins; the other 98% is non-coding and its function remains poorly understood. Aims and Significance: This proposal aims to utilise cutting edge genomic technologies to generate new knowledge about how the non-coding genome regulates the expression of protein coding genes. Expected Outcomes and Benefits: This proposal will provide novel targets and methodology for gene modulation with broad applications from biology to environmental sciences.Read moreRead less
Comparative Effectiveness Of Breast Tomosynthesis And Mammography In Real-world Population Screening: Evidence To Underpin And Improve Breast Cancer Screening
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,851,430.00
Summary
This research addresses key evidence gaps in breast cancer screening by investigating tomosynthesis (3D mammography) versus standard 2D mammography screening to establish the effectiveness of tomosynthesis in Australia and internationally, including impact on cancers not detected at screening that progress clinically. Large-scale studies will be done in real world screening services including a prospective comparative study planned collaboratively with BreastScreen to guide screening policy.
Programmed cell death signalling in innate immunity. This proposal aims to address the under-explored potential for programmed cell death to promote innate immune cell signalling, which is a critical and fundamental biological process. It aims to generate new knowledge in the areas of cell death and innate signalling using innovative interdisciplinary approaches and discover new molecules that impact innate inflammatory responses. The expected outcomes of this project are to enhance our basic un ....Programmed cell death signalling in innate immunity. This proposal aims to address the under-explored potential for programmed cell death to promote innate immune cell signalling, which is a critical and fundamental biological process. It aims to generate new knowledge in the areas of cell death and innate signalling using innovative interdisciplinary approaches and discover new molecules that impact innate inflammatory responses. The expected outcomes of this project are to enhance our basic understanding of cell death, and build interdisciplinary collaborations. This work should provide significant benefit to the economy and health of Australians, as it is expected to identify molecules that will be of interest to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Prediction of phenotype for multiple traits from multi-omic data. This project aims to develop better methods for predicting traits in an individual based on their genome sequence. This method will be tested in agricultural animals and plants and in humans. The prediction formula is derived from a training dataset that has information on the traits and genome sequence of a sample of individuals. The prediction formula can then be applied to predict the trait in individuals where the trait is un ....Prediction of phenotype for multiple traits from multi-omic data. This project aims to develop better methods for predicting traits in an individual based on their genome sequence. This method will be tested in agricultural animals and plants and in humans. The prediction formula is derived from a training dataset that has information on the traits and genome sequence of a sample of individuals. The prediction formula can then be applied to predict the trait in individuals where the trait is unknown. This is useful for selecting the best parents for breeding in agriculture and for predicting the future phenotype of animals, crops and people. The proposed method uses data on very many traits to identify sequence variants that have a function and to predict the traits affected by each variant.Read moreRead less
A Vision Of Healthy Urban Design For NCD Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$608,911.00
Summary
We are living in a new city era with new risks for health, and new ways to understand them. This project will combine state-of-the art methods in computer vision and artificial intelligence alongside co-creation of a web-based toolkit for action for use by city planners and urban designers that demonstrate practical pathways Improving our understanding of the strengths and limitations of existing city designs to ensure they are safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable.
Optimizing Immunotherapy Treatment For Breast Cancer Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,938,014.00
Summary
The first steps in introducing immunotherapy for breast cancer patients have been taken in 2019. However, there is much work to do optimize immunotherapy for all breast cancer patients. My research, involving both lab and clinical trials, will develop new treatment strategies and identify new biomarkers to distinguish responders and non-responders. This will allow individualised selection of patients for evaluation of different immunotherapy approaches, with the aim of improving their survival.
Reducing Colorectal Cancer Burden In Young Adults: Precision Prevention And Early Detection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,449,800.00
Summary
Bowel cancer rate in young adults before age 50 is increasing worldwide including Australia. Since it is impossible to screen everyone, it is critical to identify who is likely to develop the disease, to optimise screening. Using the world's largest resource for young-onset bowel cancer, I will conduct studies to generate high-quality evidence to inform how to best prevent bowel cancer in young adults and translate into the policy and practice, to reduce colorectal cancer burden in young adults.
Growth Regulatory Transcriptional Networks And Novel Therapies In Vascular Pathobiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$576,760.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease and cancer together account for the majority of all deaths. Underpinning both these conditions are cellular and molecular changes in our blood vessels. This Fellowship will enable Professor Khachigian to enhance our understanding of fundamental mechanisms regulating the pathogenesis of vascular disease, and by harnessing this new knowledge in preclinical and human trials, generate novel strategies to combat a range of diseases through strategic partnership, collaboration a ....Cardiovascular disease and cancer together account for the majority of all deaths. Underpinning both these conditions are cellular and molecular changes in our blood vessels. This Fellowship will enable Professor Khachigian to enhance our understanding of fundamental mechanisms regulating the pathogenesis of vascular disease, and by harnessing this new knowledge in preclinical and human trials, generate novel strategies to combat a range of diseases through strategic partnership, collaboration and training.Read moreRead less
Creating Treatment Options For Endometrial Cancer Through High-level Clinical Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,508,156.00
Summary
Endometrial cancer (EC) arises from the inner lining of the womb. Treatment typically involves surgery (hysterectomy) to remove the womb and explore if cancer has affected the lymph glands in the pelvis. The benefit of surgery on the lymph glands is doubtful. My research program will generate evidence to inform clinical practice on the treatment of EC and explore non-surgical treatment alternatives to a hysterectomy for better patient outcomes, particularly in women who wish to start a family.