Identifying genes that influence clinical course and susceptibility in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common neurologic disease in young Australian adults. MS urgently needs research to identify predisposition, aid early diagnosis and provide bona fide molecular targets for new therapies. This will benefit people with MS and those susceptible to it. Crucial new knowledge identified will benefit other major areas of MS rese ....Identifying genes that influence clinical course and susceptibility in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common neurologic disease in young Australian adults. MS urgently needs research to identify predisposition, aid early diagnosis and provide bona fide molecular targets for new therapies. This will benefit people with MS and those susceptible to it. Crucial new knowledge identified will benefit other major areas of MS research including epidemiology, immunology and neurobiology. Collaboration of 8 major Australian institutions is also important for this project and future studies. The team will have access to a new national MS GeneBank (platform) with samples from 2240 patients that should generate findings important to world-wide MS genetic knowledge.Read moreRead less
Efficacy profiling innovation in novel pain therapeutics discovery. The purpose of this project is to bring innovation into the methods used for selecting novel compounds with high potential for progression into development as highly effective pain-killers for improving the relief of chronic pain. This will result in new pain-killers that are highly effective without producing unpleasant side-effects.
Discovery and characterisation of novel spider-venom peptides targeting the human sodium ion channel Nav1.7. Drugs that selectively block the human sodium ion channel Nav1.7 are likely to be powerful analgesics for treating a wide variety of pain conditions. However, it has proved difficult to obtain selective blockers of this channel. The aim of this project is to determine whether spider-venoms might provide a source of highly selective Nav1.7 blockers.
Effectiveness of social skills training for children with autism. Our industry partner, Aspect Australia, is one of the world's largest providers of educational and other services for people with autism. The demonstration of effectiveness of the program in Aspect classes will likely lead to widespread use and benefit of the program in the education sector nationally and internationally. This in turn would lead to potential lessening of disability in children with autism with improvements in thei ....Effectiveness of social skills training for children with autism. Our industry partner, Aspect Australia, is one of the world's largest providers of educational and other services for people with autism. The demonstration of effectiveness of the program in Aspect classes will likely lead to widespread use and benefit of the program in the education sector nationally and internationally. This in turn would lead to potential lessening of disability in children with autism with improvements in their mental health and significant cost savings to the community.Read moreRead less
Tailoring cellulose properties by manipulating cellulose synthase. Cellulose, a highly abundant polymer produced by plants, has many existing uses in Australian fibre and polymer industries and potential uses as, for example, an abundant feedstuff for biomass conversion into ethanol and other high value products. The optimal properties for different applications vary so that, for example, high crystallinity cellulose gives strong fibres whereas low crystallinity cellulose dissolves in gentler so ....Tailoring cellulose properties by manipulating cellulose synthase. Cellulose, a highly abundant polymer produced by plants, has many existing uses in Australian fibre and polymer industries and potential uses as, for example, an abundant feedstuff for biomass conversion into ethanol and other high value products. The optimal properties for different applications vary so that, for example, high crystallinity cellulose gives strong fibres whereas low crystallinity cellulose dissolves in gentler solvents on the way to producing cellulose-based polymers. By exploring ways to adjust the properties of celluloses for use in different applications, we can deliver potential benefits to primary producers, industries and the environment.
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Developing A Smart Farming Oriented Secure Data Infrastructure. Smart farming is the future of agriculture. However, recently the Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a
warning that the lack of data privacy and cyber security mechanisms in the field runs a high risk of disaster. This
project aims to establish an innovative secure data infrastructure for smart farming including secure and automated smart farming supply-chain management. The deliverables of this project will include the cutt ....Developing A Smart Farming Oriented Secure Data Infrastructure. Smart farming is the future of agriculture. However, recently the Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a
warning that the lack of data privacy and cyber security mechanisms in the field runs a high risk of disaster. This
project aims to establish an innovative secure data infrastructure for smart farming including secure and automated smart farming supply-chain management. The deliverables of this project will include the cutting-edge Blockchain based secure IoT data management and privacy-preserving smart contracts for smart farming supply-chain management. This data infrastructure will be the first of its kind which will lay a solid foundation for smart farming technology.Read moreRead less
Discovery of new genes for plant cellulose biosynthesis and improved fibre production. Cellulose, the world's most abundant biopolymer, is important to the cotton and forest industries and for human and animal nutrition. Before biotechnology can manipulate cellulose, we must identify the enzymes of the synthesis pathway and understand how their properties determine the properties of the cellulose they produce. Not all enzymes are known and any relationships to cellulose properties remain unexplo ....Discovery of new genes for plant cellulose biosynthesis and improved fibre production. Cellulose, the world's most abundant biopolymer, is important to the cotton and forest industries and for human and animal nutrition. Before biotechnology can manipulate cellulose, we must identify the enzymes of the synthesis pathway and understand how their properties determine the properties of the cellulose they produce. Not all enzymes are known and any relationships to cellulose properties remain unexplored. This study extends our successful mutational analysis of cellulose synthesis in Arabidopsis and initiates the molecular analysis of organisms making cellulose with distinctive properties. It will significantly advance knowledge of cellulose biosynthesis and identify novel genes for fibre improvement.Read moreRead less
Refinement And Delivery Of Synthetic Compounds That Specifically Alter Muscle Contraction. The project has broad benefits for the nation and the community. Cutting edge research at the molecular level, done within Australia, will benefit Australian scientists and research in general. The discovery of drugs that will be developed by the Australian Pharmaceutical Industry will benefit the Australian Industry sector and will have spin-offs for the racing industry, livestock industry (lean meat) an ....Refinement And Delivery Of Synthetic Compounds That Specifically Alter Muscle Contraction. The project has broad benefits for the nation and the community. Cutting edge research at the molecular level, done within Australia, will benefit Australian scientists and research in general. The discovery of drugs that will be developed by the Australian Pharmaceutical Industry will benefit the Australian Industry sector and will have spin-offs for the racing industry, livestock industry (lean meat) and for rural industry (insecticides). In addition, expansion of the outcomes of the project into preclinical development will strengthen the Australian bioscience sector. Thus the project will eventually benefit the Australian industry sector. The project will have further benefits for education and training. Read moreRead less
The molecular basis for oocyst and cyst wall formation in apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites such as Eimeria, Neospora, Toxoplasma and Plasmodium are single celled organisms - protozoa - that cause some of the most serious infectious diseases of livestock and humans ever known. Transmission of these parasites is dependent on their ability to encase themselves in protective structures known as oocyst or cyst walls. These walls are resistant to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals ....The molecular basis for oocyst and cyst wall formation in apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites such as Eimeria, Neospora, Toxoplasma and Plasmodium are single celled organisms - protozoa - that cause some of the most serious infectious diseases of livestock and humans ever known. Transmission of these parasites is dependent on their ability to encase themselves in protective structures known as oocyst or cyst walls. These walls are resistant to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals and attack by the immune system. We will discover and characterise the molecular basis for cyst wall formation. This fundamental knowledge will be the building block for new, highly specific drugs and vaccines to control these extremely important pathogens.Read moreRead less
Designing Distributed Intrusion Detection Systems for Critical Industrial Infrastructures. SCADA systems are computerized systems that control and monitor industrial and critical infrastructures, such as power grid, gas and water facilities and nuclear power plants. Many cyber-attacks on SCADA systems make such systems vulnerable. Also there is an increasing risk that SCADA vulnerabilities could be exploited by terrorist organizations. The security of SCADA systems of critical infrastructures ha ....Designing Distributed Intrusion Detection Systems for Critical Industrial Infrastructures. SCADA systems are computerized systems that control and monitor industrial and critical infrastructures, such as power grid, gas and water facilities and nuclear power plants. Many cyber-attacks on SCADA systems make such systems vulnerable. Also there is an increasing risk that SCADA vulnerabilities could be exploited by terrorist organizations. The security of SCADA systems of critical infrastructures has enormous and direct impact to our national security, economy and social life because of potential disasters that could happen from natural causes as well as malicious attacks. This project aims to investigate the relevant issues and provide efficient and reliable technological solutions to detect and prevent such problems.Read moreRead less