Robust and Distributed Control of Quantum Systems. Australia has considerable strengths in quantum technology research. As these technologies advance, the issue of control and in particular feedback control becomes a critical one. This research project will strengthen Australia's position in quantum technology by developing new methodologies for designing high performance robust and distributed feedback controllers for quantum systems. The project will also add to Australia's strength in quantum ....Robust and Distributed Control of Quantum Systems. Australia has considerable strengths in quantum technology research. As these technologies advance, the issue of control and in particular feedback control becomes a critical one. This research project will strengthen Australia's position in quantum technology by developing new methodologies for designing high performance robust and distributed feedback controllers for quantum systems. The project will also add to Australia's strength in quantum technology by contributing to the research training of young researchers with expertise both in control systems engineering and quantum technology. This project will help Australia reap the maximum possible benefit from the new industries to emerge from the field of quantum technology.Read moreRead less
Molecular control of apoptosis and protein homeostasis. A million cells are produced every second by cell division. At the same time a million cells commit suicide by a process called apoptosis. When cells fail to die when they should they can develop into cancers. In heart attacks, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, many cells appear to activate their self destruct mechanism to die unnecessarily. Drugs that can cause cancer cells to kill themselves, or drugs that prevent cells dying when th ....Molecular control of apoptosis and protein homeostasis. A million cells are produced every second by cell division. At the same time a million cells commit suicide by a process called apoptosis. When cells fail to die when they should they can develop into cancers. In heart attacks, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, many cells appear to activate their self destruct mechanism to die unnecessarily. Drugs that can cause cancer cells to kill themselves, or drugs that prevent cells dying when they shouldn't, would make a major impact on many important diseases. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell death is the first step towards developing these drugs.Read moreRead less
Genes to phenotype: Exploiting the marsupial model. This research will exploit one of Australia's finest natural resources, its marsupial fauna. The features of marsupial reproduction and development provide a unique opportunity to answer fundamental biological questions. This research will show how the minor differences in key developmental genes that have arisen in their 100 million year isolation give rise to the characteristic differences in developmental timing and reproduction between mar ....Genes to phenotype: Exploiting the marsupial model. This research will exploit one of Australia's finest natural resources, its marsupial fauna. The features of marsupial reproduction and development provide a unique opportunity to answer fundamental biological questions. This research will show how the minor differences in key developmental genes that have arisen in their 100 million year isolation give rise to the characteristic differences in developmental timing and reproduction between marsupials and other mammals. The focus on reproduction and development will also provide invaluable knowledge to underpin efforts to conserve our endangered species and to control those that are overabundant.Read moreRead less
Membrane Attack Complex / Perforin like proteins in Defence, Attack and Developmental Biology. This proposal will result in a major advancement of knowledge, for example, in our understanding of the emerging links between immunity and development as well as the role and mechanism of function of the pore forming family of MACPF proteins in host defence, attack, embryo development and diseases such as cancer. These data will be crucial for developing approaches to control unwanted MACPF function, ....Membrane Attack Complex / Perforin like proteins in Defence, Attack and Developmental Biology. This proposal will result in a major advancement of knowledge, for example, in our understanding of the emerging links between immunity and development as well as the role and mechanism of function of the pore forming family of MACPF proteins in host defence, attack, embryo development and diseases such as cancer. These data will be crucial for developing approaches to control unwanted MACPF function, for example in disease such as diabetes or transplant rejection. Furthermore, a detailed understanding of how MACPF proteins assemble into rings and punch holes in membranes will facilitate the development of these proteins as technological tools.Read moreRead less
Constructing an embryo. This project investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying temporal and spatial organisation in the eutherian preimplantation embryo. It will examine: the relative roles of cell cycle and circadian clocks in developmental timing; the molecular mechanism by which intercellular adhesion patterns influence spatial organisation; the extent to which marsupials use similar timing and spatial localisation mechanisms to eutherians; the impact of in-vitro manipulat ....Constructing an embryo. This project investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying temporal and spatial organisation in the eutherian preimplantation embryo. It will examine: the relative roles of cell cycle and circadian clocks in developmental timing; the molecular mechanism by which intercellular adhesion patterns influence spatial organisation; the extent to which marsupials use similar timing and spatial localisation mechanisms to eutherians; the impact of in-vitro manipulations over the first 5 days of mouse pregnancy on embryonic temporal and spatial organisation.Read moreRead less
Deciphering genome function in animal development. The normal development of an embryo depends on complex and finely tuned gene regulatory mechanisms. In this Fellowship, I will use sophisticated new technologies to discover which of our 30,000 genes is important for embryonic development, reveal the roles of these genes, and identify the control mechanisms that can go awry to cause birth defects. Our research will suggest new ways to diagnose and deal with these conditions, and will be applicab ....Deciphering genome function in animal development. The normal development of an embryo depends on complex and finely tuned gene regulatory mechanisms. In this Fellowship, I will use sophisticated new technologies to discover which of our 30,000 genes is important for embryonic development, reveal the roles of these genes, and identify the control mechanisms that can go awry to cause birth defects. Our research will suggest new ways to diagnose and deal with these conditions, and will be applicable to stem cell technologies, tissue regeneration, cancer biology, conservation, pest management and livestock breeding, thus delivering significant economic and social benefits to Australia. Read moreRead less
An investigation into Infection, Immunity & Rational Drug Design. The human population is constantly under threat of microbial attack. The survival of our species reflects a delicate balance between infection and immunity. Whether an individual mounts an effective immune response or succumbs to microbial infection is critically dependent on host proteins interacting effectively with microbial antigens, versus microbes developing sophisticated strategies of invasion and immune evasion. This pr ....An investigation into Infection, Immunity & Rational Drug Design. The human population is constantly under threat of microbial attack. The survival of our species reflects a delicate balance between infection and immunity. Whether an individual mounts an effective immune response or succumbs to microbial infection is critically dependent on host proteins interacting effectively with microbial antigens, versus microbes developing sophisticated strategies of invasion and immune evasion. This proposal will provide fundamental advancement of knowledge in the areas of infection and immunity. The information gleaned from this research will lead to the rational development of therapeutics. Consequently, the research will potentially have an enormous global impact in the area of biomedical health.Read moreRead less
Cellular Plasticity in the Brain: discovering molecular mechanisms controlling the production of neurons during brain development, function, ageing and disease. The program aims to understand the mechanisms regulating Brain Plasticity - this recently discovered property of the brain to respond to environmental stimuli, both physiological and pathological, by producing new functional neurons. Specifically, the program will discover how the brain's stem cells are stimulated to produce new neurons. ....Cellular Plasticity in the Brain: discovering molecular mechanisms controlling the production of neurons during brain development, function, ageing and disease. The program aims to understand the mechanisms regulating Brain Plasticity - this recently discovered property of the brain to respond to environmental stimuli, both physiological and pathological, by producing new functional neurons. Specifically, the program will discover how the brain's stem cells are stimulated to produce new neurons. This understanding will significantly expand our knowledge of how the brain develops, and how functions, like memory, are modulated by neuronal replacement. Discoveries will underpin the development of, in association with Australia's biotechnology sector, a new generation of therapeutics, which treat neurological diseases, like Stroke, by stimulating the production of functional neurons.Read moreRead less
COMPLEX NETWORKS: DYNAMICS, OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL. Complex networks such large power grids, the Internet, transportation networks and co-operation networks of all kinds provide challenges for frontier technologies particularly computing, communication and control. In particular, advanced societies have become dependent on large infrastructure networks to an extent beyond our capability to plan and control them. The recent spate of collapses in power grids and virus attacks on the Internet i ....COMPLEX NETWORKS: DYNAMICS, OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL. Complex networks such large power grids, the Internet, transportation networks and co-operation networks of all kinds provide challenges for frontier technologies particularly computing, communication and control. In particular, advanced societies have become dependent on large infrastructure networks to an extent beyond our capability to plan and control them. The recent spate of collapses in power grids and virus attacks on the Internet illustrate the need for research on modelling, analysis of behaviour, planning and control in such networks. This project aims to establish research in this area for Australia's benefit.Read moreRead less
Climate change: adaptation and resilience in the face of uncertainty. Climate change poses a wide range of challenges to Australia's agricultural sector and for the management of natural ecosystems. These challenges are recognised in the National Research Priorities 1, An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, and 4, Safeguarding Australia. The potential economic costs of climate change to vital national assets such as the Murray-Darling Basin and the Great Barrier Reef, amount to billions of do ....Climate change: adaptation and resilience in the face of uncertainty. Climate change poses a wide range of challenges to Australia's agricultural sector and for the management of natural ecosystems. These challenges are recognised in the National Research Priorities 1, An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, and 4, Safeguarding Australia. The potential economic costs of climate change to vital national assets such as the Murray-Darling Basin and the Great Barrier Reef, amount to billions of dollars per year, and ecological costs are even more significant. Uncertainty about the rate at which climate change will take place and about effects in different regions is central to the problem. This project will explore adaptive management strategies that promote resilience in the face of uncertainty.
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