Benefits of blood pressure lowering to combat cardiovascular disease. Stroke and heart attack are the commonest causes of death and adult disability. In Australia, approximately 50,000 people die from cardiovascular disease each year. This project will attempt to prevent stroke/heart attack and to improve quality of life by exploring better management of high blood pressure.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102034
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
How did mammals evolve large brains? A multidisciplinary view from the pouch. This project applies novel data collection techniques to explain how the large brain sizes of today's mammals (including humans) are possible. The focus will be on brain structure, development, and evolution in the mostly Australian marsupials, whose ancestral mode of brain development makes them an ideal group for studies of brain size evolution.
The Neural Bases of Decision-Making. The smooth integration of cognitive and emotional processes is necessary for everyday decisions. Dysfunction in this integrative capacity accompanies dementia, neurodegenerative conditions and major psychiatric disorders. This project seeks to understand the neural bases of this integration in normal decision-making using cutting edge behavioural, cellular, molecular and genetic tools to map the neural system, circuit and cellular processes controlling the se ....The Neural Bases of Decision-Making. The smooth integration of cognitive and emotional processes is necessary for everyday decisions. Dysfunction in this integrative capacity accompanies dementia, neurodegenerative conditions and major psychiatric disorders. This project seeks to understand the neural bases of this integration in normal decision-making using cutting edge behavioural, cellular, molecular and genetic tools to map the neural system, circuit and cellular processes controlling the selection, evaluation and choice of goal-directed actions. Such actions can, with continued practice, transition into relatively inflexible habits. Thus, this project aims to investigate the neural processes that mediate this transition and how actions and habits interact in normal decision-making.Read moreRead less
Investigating the role of the innate immune complement system in the abnormal development of the central nervous system. Past research has discovered a surprising link between the immune system, dietary folate deficiency and the development of the embryonic brain. This project will investigate the immune system in the developing brain, in order to understand the causes of developmental defects such as neural tube defects, and the role dietary folate plays in this process.
Mapping, recovery and remediation of arm coordination deficits after stroke. Coordination of arm movement is a significant problem after a stroke. This innovative project will underpin new treatments by focusing on what type of stroke causes difficulty in coordinating arm movement, describing the coordination difficulties in detail and investigating mechanisms of recovery and treatment.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR1101002
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$21,000,000.00
Summary
Stem Cells Australia. Despite progress in stem cell research, scientists do not understand how stem cells “decide” what to become. Stem Cells Australia will draw upon strengths within Australia’s premier stem cell research universities and institutes. This collaboration between leading bioengineering, nanotechnology, stem cell and advanced molecular analysis experts, will fast-track efforts to deliver a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of stem cell regulation and differentiation, and ....Stem Cells Australia. Despite progress in stem cell research, scientists do not understand how stem cells “decide” what to become. Stem Cells Australia will draw upon strengths within Australia’s premier stem cell research universities and institutes. This collaboration between leading bioengineering, nanotechnology, stem cell and advanced molecular analysis experts, will fast-track efforts to deliver a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of stem cell regulation and differentiation, and the ability to control and influence this process. Stem Cells Australia will deliver new methods for stem cell propagation and manipulation, new translational technologies for therapeutic applications, and will prepare Australia’s future stem cell scientific leaders.Read moreRead less
Modelling the human nervous system with human pluripotent stem cells. The human nervous system is one of the most complex structures evolved to date. In order to understand how it functions, and dysfunctions in a diseased state, it is fundamental to decipher how it develops to generate various neuronal populations that form this elaborate network. Human stem cells provide a valuable source to study such processes. The aim of this project is to use human stem cells to study how early progenitor c ....Modelling the human nervous system with human pluripotent stem cells. The human nervous system is one of the most complex structures evolved to date. In order to understand how it functions, and dysfunctions in a diseased state, it is fundamental to decipher how it develops to generate various neuronal populations that form this elaborate network. Human stem cells provide a valuable source to study such processes. The aim of this project is to use human stem cells to study how early progenitor cell types that structure the nervous system are generated and how their neuronal derivatives form connectivity and functional synapses. The outcome of these studies is that we will establish a cellular model of human neurogenesis that can be utilised to study developmental disease processes.Read moreRead less
Identifying the basis for perceptual stability and perceptual omission during saccadic eye movements. The ability to explore the world via eye movements is an important feature of visual capabilities. This project will establish how the brain maintains the perception of a stable and stationary world despite the several eye movements made each second. This knowledge will fill a conspicuous gap in the understanding of the human visual system.
The role of LIM Kinase 1 in neurons. The aim of this project is to study LIM domain kinase 1 in neuronal function, using cell and mouse models. Unrestricted brain function is essential to one’s wellbeing and the ability to perform normally. Critically contributing to the function of neurons is a cytoskeleton which maintains morphology and function. However, molecular mechanisms underlying cytoskeletal dynamics are poorly understood. LIM domain kinase 1, a key regulator of the actin cytoskeleton ....The role of LIM Kinase 1 in neurons. The aim of this project is to study LIM domain kinase 1 in neuronal function, using cell and mouse models. Unrestricted brain function is essential to one’s wellbeing and the ability to perform normally. Critically contributing to the function of neurons is a cytoskeleton which maintains morphology and function. However, molecular mechanisms underlying cytoskeletal dynamics are poorly understood. LIM domain kinase 1, a key regulator of the actin cytoskeleton decreased with age and its loss associated with deficits in memory and neuronal morphology. This project could reveal fundamental processes regulating and maintaining brain function.Read moreRead less
Roles of the kynurenine pathway in physiological and pathological brain function. This project will aim to study the metabolism of the essential amino acid tryptophan in the brain and its involvement in diseases including multiple sclerosis and brain tumours.