Mouse models for the identification of factors involved in muscle adaptation. The ability of muscle to adapt to meet functional demands is essential for mobility in normal daily life, in ageing well, in individuals with muscle diseases and nerve damage and in athletes. The ability of muscle to change its cellular composition is desirable for the livestock industry. Knowledge of how genes in muscle cells are regulated to adapt to demands has significant implications for public health and economic ....Mouse models for the identification of factors involved in muscle adaptation. The ability of muscle to adapt to meet functional demands is essential for mobility in normal daily life, in ageing well, in individuals with muscle diseases and nerve damage and in athletes. The ability of muscle to change its cellular composition is desirable for the livestock industry. Knowledge of how genes in muscle cells are regulated to adapt to demands has significant implications for public health and economic benefits. We have devised model systems that will allow us to identify the regulators of these genes in order to develop therapies to combat these changes in ageing and damaged muscle, to improve the quality of meat and optimise sport performance.Read moreRead less
Microeconomic effects of Australian natural disasters. This project aims to describe and identify the effects of Australian natural disasters – such as the Black Saturday bushfires and the Brisbane floods – on important microeconomic outcomes, including health, education and employment. Natural disasters have profound economic and social effects on individuals and communities. This project intends to bring evidence on how disasters affect individuals and how the effects can be lessened. The proj ....Microeconomic effects of Australian natural disasters. This project aims to describe and identify the effects of Australian natural disasters – such as the Black Saturday bushfires and the Brisbane floods – on important microeconomic outcomes, including health, education and employment. Natural disasters have profound economic and social effects on individuals and communities. This project intends to bring evidence on how disasters affect individuals and how the effects can be lessened. The project expects to inform policy-makers on these critical issues by analysing field, survey and administrative data on individuals before and after past disasters.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of APC intracellular trafficking pathways. This is a fundamental research project aimed at addressing the cell biology of the APC tumour suppressor protein. APC gene mutations are directly linked to the development of colorectal cancer, a serious healthcare issue in Australia with approximately 12,400 new cases diagnosed each year and around 4,700 deaths. The severity of cases in men and women who develop colorectal cancer makes this a socio-economically serious health issue, an ....Characterisation of APC intracellular trafficking pathways. This is a fundamental research project aimed at addressing the cell biology of the APC tumour suppressor protein. APC gene mutations are directly linked to the development of colorectal cancer, a serious healthcare issue in Australia with approximately 12,400 new cases diagnosed each year and around 4,700 deaths. The severity of cases in men and women who develop colorectal cancer makes this a socio-economically serious health issue, and our project falls within the Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health. If successful our project will identify localisation patterns and pathways of movement of APC within cells, which could ultimately help in development of treatments. Read moreRead less
Revealing the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of avian influenza virus. This project aims to understand how avian influenza virus (AIV) emerges, evolves and spreads in wild birds. AIV has the potential to devastate the poultry industry and cause human pandemics, but the factors that shape the genetic diversity of AIV in its wild bird reservoir are poorly understood. The project plans to combine genomic, ecological and phylogenetic approaches to reveal key aspects of AIV evolution, as well a ....Revealing the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of avian influenza virus. This project aims to understand how avian influenza virus (AIV) emerges, evolves and spreads in wild birds. AIV has the potential to devastate the poultry industry and cause human pandemics, but the factors that shape the genetic diversity of AIV in its wild bird reservoir are poorly understood. The project plans to combine genomic, ecological and phylogenetic approaches to reveal key aspects of AIV evolution, as well as the risk for future viral emergence. Using sampling sites in Australia and Antarctica, it plans to investigate AIV diversity, the evolutionary dynamics of AIV in wild birds and poultry, and the role played by environmental transmission in AIV ecology.Read moreRead less
Mitochondrially targeted anti-cancer drugs modulate the mitochondrial genome. Successful cancer management requires novel therapeutical approaches. This project will test the effect of a new class of compounds that target mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cells, where they suppress expression of mitochondrial genes. By this mechanism, cancers that are resistant to apoptosis induction can be inhibited.
Understanding mutation and genetic reassortment in viruses: new mathematical models of viral dynamics and evolution. This project aims to understand how evolutionary processes and ecological conditions combine to ignite and sustain viral epidemics. Using novel mathematical models and statistical methods we will study the manner in which viral genes mutate and are recombined, as well as the rates of these important forces.
Speech production in language-impaired speakers: Informing theoretical models and clinical practice regarding grammatical processing. This research examines how language is stored and processed in our minds and the ways this can go wrong. By improving our theory of language processing, the research will result in improved diagnosis and treatment for the ten per cent of Australians who suffer from communication impairment.
Physiology of tau protein: a novel role in scaffolding and intracellular distribution. Understanding brain function remains a challenge. This project will study the normal role of the Alzheimer's disease-related protein tau in brain function during ageing. This will significantly enhance current understanding of brain function.
Imagining university education: the perspectives of young people impacted by low socio-economic status and disengagement from school. Significant effort is being made in Australia to increase the participation of students from low socio-economic status backgrounds in university education. This project will contribute to this effort by delivering knowledge on the perceptions of university education held by low socio-economic status young people aged 12-15 disengaged from school.
Mentoring and Indigenous Higher Education: Understanding how university students mentor Indigenous school students. Mentoring Indigenous school students by university students is an expanding initiative to address the education gap experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This project will investigate what works in successful mentoring between university students and young Indigenous Australians and what are 'mentoring best practices' with Indigenous young people. The projec ....Mentoring and Indigenous Higher Education: Understanding how university students mentor Indigenous school students. Mentoring Indigenous school students by university students is an expanding initiative to address the education gap experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This project will investigate what works in successful mentoring between university students and young Indigenous Australians and what are 'mentoring best practices' with Indigenous young people. The project builds on our research with the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME), a program engaging university students and Indigenous young people across Australia. Expected outcomes are new knowledge on university student mentoring of Indigenous school children and the design of 'remote' university student mentoring using communication technology.Read moreRead less