Targeting TGF-beta proteins to control animal reproduction. This project aims to develop a suite of novel biologics to control fertility in female mammals. This project expects to demonstrate that targeting a single class of ovarian proteins will enhance or inhibit egg production. The expected outcomes of this project are to (1) transform the breeding of livestock animals, which should provide significant benefits to the agricultural industry, through increased herd/flock sizes, and (2) provide ....Targeting TGF-beta proteins to control animal reproduction. This project aims to develop a suite of novel biologics to control fertility in female mammals. This project expects to demonstrate that targeting a single class of ovarian proteins will enhance or inhibit egg production. The expected outcomes of this project are to (1) transform the breeding of livestock animals, which should provide significant benefits to the agricultural industry, through increased herd/flock sizes, and (2) provide a non-surgical method of contraception in companion/feral species, which should address the large unmet need for fertility control in these animals.
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Molecular basis of attenuation in live Mycoplasma vaccines. This proposal aims to use an innovative approach to address an urgent issue raised by the end users of an Australian-owned poultry vaccine with an extensive global market. Recently multiple mutations have been detected in the vaccine re-isolated from vaccinated birds in the field around the world. We will apply a combination of a novel technique for targeted mutagenesis, genome sequencing, and animal experimentations, to address the sig ....Molecular basis of attenuation in live Mycoplasma vaccines. This proposal aims to use an innovative approach to address an urgent issue raised by the end users of an Australian-owned poultry vaccine with an extensive global market. Recently multiple mutations have been detected in the vaccine re-isolated from vaccinated birds in the field around the world. We will apply a combination of a novel technique for targeted mutagenesis, genome sequencing, and animal experimentations, to address the significance of these mutations. Results will improve our understanding of the basis of attenuation of the vaccine, its mechanism of action, and provide commercial confidence in the safety of the vaccine, which is needed to support Australian Universities and Businesses, and the global poultry industry.Read moreRead less
Early life nutrition to improve feed efficiency in commercial dairy goats. This project aims to improve the productivity and welfare and reduce resource waste in commercial dairy goat kids. The Australian dairy goat industry is expanding (~20% per annum) yet there is little research to overcome hurdles to improving milk and meat production. There is also increased societal pressure to improve sustainability, reduce waste and maintain animal welfare. By investigating nutritional methods to improv ....Early life nutrition to improve feed efficiency in commercial dairy goats. This project aims to improve the productivity and welfare and reduce resource waste in commercial dairy goat kids. The Australian dairy goat industry is expanding (~20% per annum) yet there is little research to overcome hurdles to improving milk and meat production. There is also increased societal pressure to improve sustainability, reduce waste and maintain animal welfare. By investigating nutritional methods to improve productivity of male (for meat) and female (for milk) kids, this project will generate new knowledge relevant to Australian and international goat production systems. This project will assist goat producers to make decisions that maximise animal productivity with flow on benefits to manufacturers of goat products. Read moreRead less
Improved models to understand the genomic architecture of complex traits. This project aims to improve modelling of the genetics underlying complex traits. The project will develop and test models for using genome-wide genetic data to investigate how much heritability (genetic effect) underlies traits of interest, where it lies in the genome, and how much of it is shared across traits. The new models will be implemented in statistical algorithms in a freely-available software package. This proj ....Improved models to understand the genomic architecture of complex traits. This project aims to improve modelling of the genetics underlying complex traits. The project will develop and test models for using genome-wide genetic data to investigate how much heritability (genetic effect) underlies traits of interest, where it lies in the genome, and how much of it is shared across traits. The new models will be implemented in statistical algorithms in a freely-available software package. This project expects to increase understanding of biological mechanisms, the efficiency of genetic association analyses and the accuracy of genomic prediction, including the effects of interventions. The project will adapt human models to a wider range of organisms, in particular bacteria.Read moreRead less
Battle of the sexes: can surroundings differentially affect male and female mammalian preimplantation embryos. Equality between the sexes is an issue even at conception. The environment surrounding the embryo can bias the development of one sex over another. This project will assist in the understanding of how male and female embryos differ and will improve assisted reproductive technologies for domestic animal breeding programs, endangered animal conservation and human infertility treatment.
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC230100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures. This Centre aims to develop the advanced capacity needed to secure Australia’s food and fibre production and export value into the future. Leveraging immense industry support, the Centre expects to develop and integrate cutting-edge plant and animal breeding technologies and deliver world-class training that addresses critical demand for highly skilled industry leaders. Expected outcomes include a future-ready predictive breedi ....ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures. This Centre aims to develop the advanced capacity needed to secure Australia’s food and fibre production and export value into the future. Leveraging immense industry support, the Centre expects to develop and integrate cutting-edge plant and animal breeding technologies and deliver world-class training that addresses critical demand for highly skilled industry leaders. Expected outcomes include a future-ready predictive breeding industry able to transform data into optimised decisions, and the human capacity to drive it. This should provide significant benefits to enhance the sustainability and profitability of all major Australian agriculture sectors, including livestock, grains, horticulture, cotton, wine, dairy, forestry and fisheries.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the maternal gut microbiome as a driver of fetal development . This project aims to experimentally determine how changes in the maternal gut microbiota impact the phenotype of the offspring. This innovative project uses an interdisciplinary approach combined with novel models and the latest generation technology for genome sequencing. Expected outcomes include extensive new knowledge of how the gut microbiota communicates with the host during pregnancy and the impact this has on the ....Unravelling the maternal gut microbiome as a driver of fetal development . This project aims to experimentally determine how changes in the maternal gut microbiota impact the phenotype of the offspring. This innovative project uses an interdisciplinary approach combined with novel models and the latest generation technology for genome sequencing. Expected outcomes include extensive new knowledge of how the gut microbiota communicates with the host during pregnancy and the impact this has on the gastrointestinal, immune, cardiovascular and reproductive systems. Our findings should yield information that may ultimately be translated into products that augment agricultural production, providing significant benefits.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100375
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,191.00
Summary
Defining single-strand DNA break repair capacity in oocytes. This project aims to investigate fundamental biological mechanisms required for the production of high-quality oocytes, which fortify female fertility and the propagation of all sexually reproducing species. Exploiting unique mouse models, this study will define the importance of single strand DNA break repair capacity in oocytes for the first time, by outlining the role of single strand DNA repair proteins in maintaining genetic integ ....Defining single-strand DNA break repair capacity in oocytes. This project aims to investigate fundamental biological mechanisms required for the production of high-quality oocytes, which fortify female fertility and the propagation of all sexually reproducing species. Exploiting unique mouse models, this study will define the importance of single strand DNA break repair capacity in oocytes for the first time, by outlining the role of single strand DNA repair proteins in maintaining genetic integrity of gametes throughout their lifespan. In doing so, the intended outcome of this project is to dramatically improve our understanding of quality control in the female germ line. This should provide significant benefits to Australia by positioning it as a world leader in the field of Reproductive Science.Read moreRead less
DNA repair: a critical quality control mechanism in the female germ line. This project aims to investigate the fundamental biological mechanisms required for the production of high quality gametes, which underpin female fertility and the propagation of all sexually reproducing species. By taking advantage of unique mouse and avian models, this project expects to define the role of the DNA repair protein TOP3A in the successful completion of meiosis and it's requirement for the survival and genet ....DNA repair: a critical quality control mechanism in the female germ line. This project aims to investigate the fundamental biological mechanisms required for the production of high quality gametes, which underpin female fertility and the propagation of all sexually reproducing species. By taking advantage of unique mouse and avian models, this project expects to define the role of the DNA repair protein TOP3A in the successful completion of meiosis and it's requirement for the survival and genetic integrity of gametes throughout their lifespan. In doing so, the intended outcome of this project is to dramatically improve our understanding of quality control in the female germ line. This should provide significant benefits to Australia by positioning it as a world leader in the field of Reproductive Science.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of a new class of antimicrobial agent for multidrug-resistant infections. New drugs are required to combat the development of antibiotic resistance. This project will conduct further tests on a new compound that has shown initial activity against resistant superbugs by understanding how it works against bacteria and varying the chemical structure to improve effectiveness.