Mathematical Methods for Next Generation Sequencing. The emergence of a new generation of high throughput genomic sequencing technologies is providing unprecedented opportunities for biological research. Hidden within the huge amounts of data generated by this technology is information about the expression and regulation of genes, and the complex functional purpose of non-coding, so called 'junk', DNA. Development of mathematical and statistical tools is essential to interpreting these data. The ....Mathematical Methods for Next Generation Sequencing. The emergence of a new generation of high throughput genomic sequencing technologies is providing unprecedented opportunities for biological research. Hidden within the huge amounts of data generated by this technology is information about the expression and regulation of genes, and the complex functional purpose of non-coding, so called 'junk', DNA. Development of mathematical and statistical tools is essential to interpreting these data. The proposed research will enhance Australia's reputation for developing novel quantitative techniques at the cutting edge of modern biology. The proposed project has a broad range of potential applications in biotechnology, particularly in the medical and agricultural industries.Read moreRead less
Understanding animals through their movement. This project aims to develop a suite of analytical methods to understand animals' behaviour through their movement patterns. Animal movement patterns encode detailed information about their behavioural state. Collecting and analysing animal movement trajectories can provide us with completely new insights to behaviour. Recent developments in bio-logging technologies have provided an incredible amount of rich data on free-ranging animals. This project ....Understanding animals through their movement. This project aims to develop a suite of analytical methods to understand animals' behaviour through their movement patterns. Animal movement patterns encode detailed information about their behavioural state. Collecting and analysing animal movement trajectories can provide us with completely new insights to behaviour. Recent developments in bio-logging technologies have provided an incredible amount of rich data on free-ranging animals. This project will develop a suite of analytical techniques to interrogate this data through a combination of approaches, from fine scale experiments in the laboratory to tracking animal trajectories from the International Space Station. The findings will deliver major benefits to the broader community by transforming our ability to manage and conserve animal stocks.Read moreRead less
Mathematical models of cell migration in three-dimensional living tissues. This project aims to develop mathematical models of cell migration in crowded, living tissues. Existing models rely solely on stochastic simulations, and therefore provide no general mathematical insight into how properties of the crowding environment (obstacle shape, size, density) affect the migration of cells through that environment. This project will produce mathematical analysis, mathematical calculations and exact ....Mathematical models of cell migration in three-dimensional living tissues. This project aims to develop mathematical models of cell migration in crowded, living tissues. Existing models rely solely on stochastic simulations, and therefore provide no general mathematical insight into how properties of the crowding environment (obstacle shape, size, density) affect the migration of cells through that environment. This project will produce mathematical analysis, mathematical calculations and exact analytical tools that quantify how the crowding environment in three-dimensional living tissues affects the migration of cells within these tissues. Long term effects will be the translation of this new mathematical knowledge into decision support tools for researchers from the life sciences.Read moreRead less
Mathematical models of 4D multicellular spheroids. Mathematical models have a long, successful history of providing biological insight, and new mathematical models must be developed to keep pace with emerging technologies. Modern experimental procedures involve studying 3D multicellular spheroids with fluorescent labels to show both the location of cells and the cell cycle progression. This 4D data (3D spatial information + cell cycle time) provides vast information. No mathematical models ha ....Mathematical models of 4D multicellular spheroids. Mathematical models have a long, successful history of providing biological insight, and new mathematical models must be developed to keep pace with emerging technologies. Modern experimental procedures involve studying 3D multicellular spheroids with fluorescent labels to show both the location of cells and the cell cycle progression. This 4D data (3D spatial information + cell cycle time) provides vast information. No mathematical models have been specifically developed to interpret/predict 4D spheroids. This project will deliver the first high-fidelity mathematical models to interpret/predict 4D spheroid experiments in real time, providing quantitative insight into innate mechanisms and responses to various intervention treatments. Read moreRead less
Human skin equivalent constructs: enhanced culturing and application of laboratory-grown skin through mathematical modelling and in silico experimentation. Laboratory-grown human skin equivalent constructs, given social and legislative imperatives, will be critical for advances in novel treatment protocol definitions for wound repair, dermatogical screening of pharmacueticals and fundamental studies of skin diseases.
In silico studies undertaken in this project will make a significant contrib ....Human skin equivalent constructs: enhanced culturing and application of laboratory-grown skin through mathematical modelling and in silico experimentation. Laboratory-grown human skin equivalent constructs, given social and legislative imperatives, will be critical for advances in novel treatment protocol definitions for wound repair, dermatogical screening of pharmacueticals and fundamental studies of skin diseases.
In silico studies undertaken in this project will make a significant contribution to the effectiveness of the application of human skin constructs, by delivering new and deeper insights into the interplay between dependent processes that regulate the behaviour of skin, in vivo or ex vivo. The models and the researchers associated with this project will drive innovative studies in medical science over the next decade.Read moreRead less
Development and validation of virtual epithelial cancer models using an integrated modelling and experimental three-dimensional approach. The mathematical and experimental modelling of the human prostate and ovary applying quantitative bioengineering concepts will lead to virtual cancer models. This project aims to validate these multi-scale models to delineate biological and pathological avenues in healthy and disease tissue and improve prevention and treatment of prostate and ovarian cancer.
Bio-inspired speech analysis: Specialised information processing of vocalisations in the auditory brainstem. This project has the potential to benefit bionic ear and hearing aid users through the development of signal processing methods that mimic the amazing abilities of the brain. Speech perception performance by bionic ear users has reached a plateau and these new strategies could produce the breakthrough needed to provide the next increase in performance. The benefit for greater improved hea ....Bio-inspired speech analysis: Specialised information processing of vocalisations in the auditory brainstem. This project has the potential to benefit bionic ear and hearing aid users through the development of signal processing methods that mimic the amazing abilities of the brain. Speech perception performance by bionic ear users has reached a plateau and these new strategies could produce the breakthrough needed to provide the next increase in performance. The benefit for greater improved hearing has enormous benefit and potential for improving the quality of life of the hearing impaired, especially those with severe and profound hearing loss. In addition, the algorithms may provide more robust automatic speech recognition, making this technology more useful in everyday situations; the markets that this would open up are enormous.Read moreRead less
Modelling cell invasion incorporating the epithelial to mesenchymal transition: Exploring therapies to control wound healing and cancer progression. Cancer and wounds are closely related, commonly lethal, diseases. Both require cell growth and invasion. This project will apply experimental measurements to create new mathematical models of cancer and wounds; models that will inform new targets and strategies for the treatment of these deadly diseases.
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
A Mathematical Model of the Roles of Contraction and Oxygen in Human Wound Healing. Slow or impaired wound healing and excessive scarring associated with burns are both painful and costly. Moreover, the debilitating effect of chronic wounds can be expected to increase with the continuing aging of the population and the current rise in incidence of Type 2 diabetes. This project brings together a multidisciplinary team to develop a mathematical model of human wound healing and to drive the modelli ....A Mathematical Model of the Roles of Contraction and Oxygen in Human Wound Healing. Slow or impaired wound healing and excessive scarring associated with burns are both painful and costly. Moreover, the debilitating effect of chronic wounds can be expected to increase with the continuing aging of the population and the current rise in incidence of Type 2 diabetes. This project brings together a multidisciplinary team to develop a mathematical model of human wound healing and to drive the modelling to generate important breakthroughs at the level of basic science with implications for both experimentalists and clinicians.Read moreRead less