A new theory for retinotectal map formation. How brains become wired up during development is a question of
importance to both biology and computing. In this project we adopt a
novel computational approach to understanding the development of
topographic maps, a wiring pattern that is ubiquitous in biological
nervous systems. This project will build capacity for research in
computational neuroscience in Australia. It may also lead to
technological benefits such as new ideas for the design o ....A new theory for retinotectal map formation. How brains become wired up during development is a question of
importance to both biology and computing. In this project we adopt a
novel computational approach to understanding the development of
topographic maps, a wiring pattern that is ubiquitous in biological
nervous systems. This project will build capacity for research in
computational neuroscience in Australia. It may also lead to
technological benefits such as new ideas for the design of self-wiring
computing devices, and new insights into
the causes of wiring defects both during normal development and
rewiring after injury.
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Motor Unit Numbers Estimation (MUNE) using Bayesian statistical methodology for monitoring of progression of neuromuscular diseases. A means of objectively measuring the pathology of a neuromuscular disease involving motor unit loss, such as motor neuron disease, is much needed. This will be achieved by using newly developed electrophysiological techniques and developing new Bayesian statistical methodology to determine the number of motor units that supply a muscle. Our innovations will reliabl ....Motor Unit Numbers Estimation (MUNE) using Bayesian statistical methodology for monitoring of progression of neuromuscular diseases. A means of objectively measuring the pathology of a neuromuscular disease involving motor unit loss, such as motor neuron disease, is much needed. This will be achieved by using newly developed electrophysiological techniques and developing new Bayesian statistical methodology to determine the number of motor units that supply a muscle. Our innovations will reliably determine the number of motor units that supply a muscle in both normal subjects and in diseased patients with loss of motor nerves. This will enable the monitoring of disease progression. An outcome will be a software package that can be used with standard electrophysiology machines.Read moreRead less
Inter-fragmentary movement in callus formation in the early phase of fracture healing. Computational models of the early phase of bone fracture healing can provide the means to characterise the biochemical factors that control this process, and subsequently influence successful healing outcomes, with or without surgical intervention. This unique approach, incorporating soft tissue and fixation device contributions to fracture healing, will ultimately provide a sound basis for clinical decision-m ....Inter-fragmentary movement in callus formation in the early phase of fracture healing. Computational models of the early phase of bone fracture healing can provide the means to characterise the biochemical factors that control this process, and subsequently influence successful healing outcomes, with or without surgical intervention. This unique approach, incorporating soft tissue and fixation device contributions to fracture healing, will ultimately provide a sound basis for clinical decision-making, implant design and future experimental studies. Facilitating treatment optimisation, the outcomes of this project will create opportunities to reduce healthcare costs, physical impairment, and productivity losses for the 150,000 Australian patients hospitalised annually with fractures.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of nerve fibre guidance by molecular gradients. Brain wiring is crucial for brain function. The project will investigate the basic principles underlying the development of brain wiring, using both experiments and mathematical models. This will lead a predictive model of how wiring develops, both in normal and abnormal situations.
The plasticity of neural codes. Information about the world is represented in the brain by the combined activity of populations of many neurons. However, the basic principles underlying how such population activity codes information are largely unknown. Using the map from the eye to the brain of the zebrafish as a model, the project aims to combine experimental measurements of neural activity with mathematical modelling in order to discover these basic principles. Of particular interest is how t ....The plasticity of neural codes. Information about the world is represented in the brain by the combined activity of populations of many neurons. However, the basic principles underlying how such population activity codes information are largely unknown. Using the map from the eye to the brain of the zebrafish as a model, the project aims to combine experimental measurements of neural activity with mathematical modelling in order to discover these basic principles. Of particular interest is how these coding principles change during development and their plasticity after disruptions to the visual map. Besides improving our understanding of how brains process information, the knowledge gained could help optimise the design of brain-computer interfaces and artificial computing devices.Read moreRead less
Wiring up the nervous system: how do axons detect molecular gradients? This project will improve our understanding of how the nervous system
becomes wired up during development. This will ultimately allow better
therapies for some types of developmental disorders, and for repairing
damaged connections for instance in the spinal cord. The theoretical
models developed will improve our understanding of the computations
necessary to generate appropriate wiring of the nervous system, which
may ....Wiring up the nervous system: how do axons detect molecular gradients? This project will improve our understanding of how the nervous system
becomes wired up during development. This will ultimately allow better
therapies for some types of developmental disorders, and for repairing
damaged connections for instance in the spinal cord. The theoretical
models developed will improve our understanding of the computations
necessary to generate appropriate wiring of the nervous system, which
may facilitate the development of self-organizing computing
devices. The project will also provide unique research training at the
interface of biology and computation, building capacity for such
interdisciplinary research throughout Australia.
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Determination of benchmarking parameters for assessing the mechanical robustness of articular cartilage: a joint mathematical and experimental investigation. Osteoarthritis associated with the deterioration of the articular cartilage affects about 12% of Australian adults. This project will use an integrated approach combining novel mathematical modelling and an extensive experimental program to establish critical mechanical parameters, in particular, the fracture toughness of articular cartilag ....Determination of benchmarking parameters for assessing the mechanical robustness of articular cartilage: a joint mathematical and experimental investigation. Osteoarthritis associated with the deterioration of the articular cartilage affects about 12% of Australian adults. This project will use an integrated approach combining novel mathematical modelling and an extensive experimental program to establish critical mechanical parameters, in particular, the fracture toughness of articular cartilage and will incorporate the unique structure of the dissimilar layers in articular cartilage. It will be used to study how these resist the propagation of an initiated crack and will offer significant insight into the desirable fracture properties of any replacement material for articular cartilage and will provide a basis for assessing replacement biomaterials.Read moreRead less
Morphological development of the kidney – a paradigm for organogenesis. This project aims to shed new light on how the kidney develops, how normal adult function is established and how congenital kidney malformations occur. It aims to investigate a mathematical pattern that has been discovered in the program of branching morphogenesis which dictates kidney development. By combining cutting-edge genetic approaches, morphological analysis and mathematical modelling, this project plans to explore h ....Morphological development of the kidney – a paradigm for organogenesis. This project aims to shed new light on how the kidney develops, how normal adult function is established and how congenital kidney malformations occur. It aims to investigate a mathematical pattern that has been discovered in the program of branching morphogenesis which dictates kidney development. By combining cutting-edge genetic approaches, morphological analysis and mathematical modelling, this project plans to explore how this pattern is established, how it dictates kidney development and whether it constitutes an ancient mechanism central to organ formation. Project outcomes may improve understanding of fundamental developmental processes and developmental disease and variation. Project findings may also be important for understanding the development of other organ systems.Read moreRead less
The structure and patterning of branching morphogenesis in the developing kidney. This project aims to understand a fundamental developmental process known as branching morphogenesis, which drives the formation of many organs including the kidney, lungs and glands. Understanding this process will be of key importance in understand how our organs form.
New data-driven mathematical models of collective cell motion. Cancer and chronic wounds are a national, and indeed, international health problem set to worsen as our population ages. Predictive and interpretive tools are required to improve our understanding of collective cell migration in relation to cancer and chronic wounds. This project will produce new validated mathematical tools for predicting collective cell migration in a general framework that can deal with application-specific detail ....New data-driven mathematical models of collective cell motion. Cancer and chronic wounds are a national, and indeed, international health problem set to worsen as our population ages. Predictive and interpretive tools are required to improve our understanding of collective cell migration in relation to cancer and chronic wounds. This project will produce new validated mathematical tools for predicting collective cell migration in a general framework that can deal with application-specific details, such as the role of cell shape and cell size. Although cell shape and size are known to affect collective cell migration, standard mathematical models ignore these details. This project will produce new predictive mathematical modelling tools that are validated by new experimental data. Read moreRead less