Single minded 1 in neuron development and satiety signalling. An understanding of how Single minded 1 (SIM1) regulates target genes may allow new pharmaceutical approaches to be designed to combat obesity. As Sim1 belongs to a family of closely related gene regulatory proteins which function in early development and homeostasis, deciphering the molecular control mechanisms of Sim1 may help understand how the related factors function in processes such as angiogenesis, response to low oxygen stres ....Single minded 1 in neuron development and satiety signalling. An understanding of how Single minded 1 (SIM1) regulates target genes may allow new pharmaceutical approaches to be designed to combat obesity. As Sim1 belongs to a family of closely related gene regulatory proteins which function in early development and homeostasis, deciphering the molecular control mechanisms of Sim1 may help understand how the related factors function in processes such as angiogenesis, response to low oxygen stress, invasion of environmental pollutants and autism spectrum diseases. The ability to manipulate these factors would be of great benefit in treating a range of disorders, but a thorough molecular understanding of these factors needs be obtained prior to attempting design of pharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Structural and functional characterisation of PI3Kgamma, uniquely activated by p101. The movement of cells is involved in all aspects of life including development, growth and maintenance of organisms. In spite of this, our understanding of the mechanism involved in cell migration is limited. There are a number of conditions in which the ability to control cell movement would be of significant benefit. Examples include autoimmune conditions, asthma and cancer, the social and economic burdens ....Structural and functional characterisation of PI3Kgamma, uniquely activated by p101. The movement of cells is involved in all aspects of life including development, growth and maintenance of organisms. In spite of this, our understanding of the mechanism involved in cell migration is limited. There are a number of conditions in which the ability to control cell movement would be of significant benefit. Examples include autoimmune conditions, asthma and cancer, the social and economic burdens of which account for billions of dollars and millions of Australians. This project aims to understand one of the major mechanisms that controls cell migration, which is expected to produce significant economic and social outcomes in the areas of basic science knowledge, human health, and biotechnology. Read moreRead less
Beyond access: women, higher education and the quiet revolutions of the 1950s. This project challenges the standard narrative of women in the 1950s through a study of the intersections of higher education, gender and place. By studying women graduates in Australia and the United States within the context of demographic, employment and cultural change, it develops life histories of graduate women over several decades of their post-universtiy lives, drawing on comparative sources. It offers a new ....Beyond access: women, higher education and the quiet revolutions of the 1950s. This project challenges the standard narrative of women in the 1950s through a study of the intersections of higher education, gender and place. By studying women graduates in Australia and the United States within the context of demographic, employment and cultural change, it develops life histories of graduate women over several decades of their post-universtiy lives, drawing on comparative sources. It offers a new framework for women's educational history, one that goes beyond access and focuses on the new identities that were formed as graduate women negotiated the contradictions of higher education and the dominant femininity of the period.Read moreRead less
Omega-3 fats in vegetable oils: Improving their benefits. While authoritative health agencies in Western countries recommend increased intake of omega-3 fats, fish stocks world-wide are already under stress and could not sustain the general uptake of this advice. Nor could aquaculture expansion meet the demand for omega-3 fats with current practices of using wild fish or fish meal or fish oil for feed. This project will address the knowledge gap in how fish handle the omega-3 fatty acids from ve ....Omega-3 fats in vegetable oils: Improving their benefits. While authoritative health agencies in Western countries recommend increased intake of omega-3 fats, fish stocks world-wide are already under stress and could not sustain the general uptake of this advice. Nor could aquaculture expansion meet the demand for omega-3 fats with current practices of using wild fish or fish meal or fish oil for feed. This project will address the knowledge gap in how fish handle the omega-3 fatty acids from vegetable oils such as canola, flaxseed and echium. Australia is well placed in agriculture and aquaculture to capture the value of this research.Read moreRead less
Single Minded 2: Cross coupling or specificity within the bHLH/PAS transcription factor family? Understanding the mechanisms of action of SIM2 may lead to novel ideas towards drug development for diseases such as Down syndrome and cancer. The SIM2 protein can interfere with activity of the related Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF), a protein important in stress response and recovery from stroke. Understanding the molecular basis of this interference could aid current strategies being used to manipu ....Single Minded 2: Cross coupling or specificity within the bHLH/PAS transcription factor family? Understanding the mechanisms of action of SIM2 may lead to novel ideas towards drug development for diseases such as Down syndrome and cancer. The SIM2 protein can interfere with activity of the related Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF), a protein important in stress response and recovery from stroke. Understanding the molecular basis of this interference could aid current strategies being used to manipulate HIF for pharmaceutical benefit.Read moreRead less
The role of the neuronal Hu proteins in the regulation of the BMP signalling pathway. We aim to understand the critical decision of a neural progenitor to commit to becoming a neuron. The BMP signalling pathway is central in this decision. Neural progenitors appear to become insensitive to BMP signals, and this lack of signalling leads to neuronal differentiation. We hypothesise that neuronal identity is regulated by an unusual genetic switch- the translational regulation by the neuronal Hu pr ....The role of the neuronal Hu proteins in the regulation of the BMP signalling pathway. We aim to understand the critical decision of a neural progenitor to commit to becoming a neuron. The BMP signalling pathway is central in this decision. Neural progenitors appear to become insensitive to BMP signals, and this lack of signalling leads to neuronal differentiation. We hypothesise that neuronal identity is regulated by an unusual genetic switch- the translational regulation by the neuronal Hu proteins of two proteins in the BMP pathway. Verification of a post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism for cell fate determination would be a major discovery, and may prompt investigation of how to harness the neuron-inducing function of the Hu proteins to address the therapeutic need for new neurons in neurologic diseases.Read moreRead less
Domestic Subversions: maternalism and cross-cultural histories. This project will assist in the processes of reconciliation, by fostering a sense of a shared history, and increasing public awareness of the complexity of race relations histories in Australia. It will redress a significant gap in Australian knowledge and literature. Very little is known about the history of Aboriginal domestic workers and their relationships with their white employers in Australia, despite growing awareness of the ....Domestic Subversions: maternalism and cross-cultural histories. This project will assist in the processes of reconciliation, by fostering a sense of a shared history, and increasing public awareness of the complexity of race relations histories in Australia. It will redress a significant gap in Australian knowledge and literature. Very little is known about the history of Aboriginal domestic workers and their relationships with their white employers in Australia, despite growing awareness of the significance of domestic service in Aboriginal child removal policies. The project will also assist in establishing Australian historical scholarship at the forefront of leading international research initiatives in gender, race and colonialism studies. Read moreRead less
Toward a Female Stoic Tradition: Women's Writings in England, 1600-1800. This project aims to investigate the neglected history of women’s engagement with Stoic ideas in early modern England. It expects to generate new knowledge of a distinctive strand of women’s Stoic thought by taking a novel interdisciplinary approach to different genres of early modern writing. The intended outcomes include a new understanding of women’s valuable contributions to philosophy, literature, and politics in the p ....Toward a Female Stoic Tradition: Women's Writings in England, 1600-1800. This project aims to investigate the neglected history of women’s engagement with Stoic ideas in early modern England. It expects to generate new knowledge of a distinctive strand of women’s Stoic thought by taking a novel interdisciplinary approach to different genres of early modern writing. The intended outcomes include a new understanding of women’s valuable contributions to philosophy, literature, and politics in the period, as well as a greater appreciation of the gender-inclusivity of Stoic philosophy. This should provide significant benefits, such as the development of Stoic therapeutic techniques informed by women’s experiences, and the promotion of gender equality through the recognition of women’s intellectual history.Read moreRead less
Reconfiguring intimate life: Gender and sexuality as sites of national redefinition in Australia since 1996. This project opens up current thinking about the nature of change in twenty-first century life in Australia by focusing on issues of gender and sexuality. It draws critical attention to a field of contest and re-negotiation of national identity and belonging, thus far not identified, that has far-reaching effects for the national fabric. It provides opportunities for thinking about sexual ....Reconfiguring intimate life: Gender and sexuality as sites of national redefinition in Australia since 1996. This project opens up current thinking about the nature of change in twenty-first century life in Australia by focusing on issues of gender and sexuality. It draws critical attention to a field of contest and re-negotiation of national identity and belonging, thus far not identified, that has far-reaching effects for the national fabric. It provides opportunities for thinking about sexual and reproductive relationships in ways that can be open to voices, stories and forms of belonging that signal a more generous, sustainable and healthy non-violent future.
The impact of the project will be on professional and scholarly training, teaching and research across a variety of disciplinary areas, as well as public debate. Read moreRead less
Restructuring the male breadwinner model: New challenges for a rapidly changing Australia. This project investigates changes to the Australian male breadwinner gender order in the key spheres of labour markets, households and public policies. Gender arrangements in these spheres play a key role in economic development reflecting the intertwining of economic and social processes in a country's well-being. Increased understanding of the implications of current changes affecting the gender order an ....Restructuring the male breadwinner model: New challenges for a rapidly changing Australia. This project investigates changes to the Australian male breadwinner gender order in the key spheres of labour markets, households and public policies. Gender arrangements in these spheres play a key role in economic development reflecting the intertwining of economic and social processes in a country's well-being. Increased understanding of the implications of current changes affecting the gender order and social reproduction will enhance economic well-being for both individuals and society in Australia. The impact of these changes are vital policy issues. This international collaboration will develop a conceptual framework for identifying policy reform to strengthen Australia's social and economic sustainability.Read moreRead less