De Novo Mutations And The Pathogenesis Of Childhood-onset Autoimmune Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,406,510.00
Summary
This project aims to reveal the gene abnormalities that cause devastating autoimmune diseases to develop in some children, such as Type 1 diabetes, juvenile arthritis and autoimmune destruction of blood cells. The project will use new technologies to identify alterations in the DNA sequence of a child compared to either of their parents, and to test suspicious DNA alterations in laboratory mice in order to understand the gene effects and evaluate new treatments.
Bayesian estimation of flexible spatial models with applications in medical imaging and econometric modeling. This project aims to develop statistical methodology for estimating flexible highly parameterised Bayesian spatial models. The flexible models examined will include regression, choice and time series models for data that is spatially registered. Spatial smoothing of parameters in the models will involve application of hierarchical spatial prior distributions. The resulting methodology wi ....Bayesian estimation of flexible spatial models with applications in medical imaging and econometric modeling. This project aims to develop statistical methodology for estimating flexible highly parameterised Bayesian spatial models. The flexible models examined will include regression, choice and time series models for data that is spatially registered. Spatial smoothing of parameters in the models will involve application of hierarchical spatial prior distributions. The resulting methodology will be applied to the analysis of medical imaging data and to the estimation of spatial econometric models of residential real estate prices. The expected outcomes include developments in the frontier framework of Bayesian computational estimation methodology, improved methods for medical image processing and estimation of high resolution spatial models of residential real estate prices in Australian metropolitan centres.Read moreRead less
ANATOMICAL ORGAN MODELLING AND SURGICAL PROCEDURE SIMULATION FOR THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY. We aim to establish novel virtual reality-based surgical procedure simulation methodologies, geometric and physical models of human organs, and surgical tools and interaction modules for thoracoscopic surgery or for minimally invasive surgical procedures. This is needed to optimize surgical strategy and to anticipate possible problems that may arise during the procedure, and to train medical staff as the tren ....ANATOMICAL ORGAN MODELLING AND SURGICAL PROCEDURE SIMULATION FOR THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY. We aim to establish novel virtual reality-based surgical procedure simulation methodologies, geometric and physical models of human organs, and surgical tools and interaction modules for thoracoscopic surgery or for minimally invasive surgical procedures. This is needed to optimize surgical strategy and to anticipate possible problems that may arise during the procedure, and to train medical staff as the trend towards robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery continues. What makes this project novel is the anatomical organ modeling approach based on virtual springs and dampers traversing between the top and bottom surfaces of the organs and tissues, contrary to previous approaches.Read moreRead less
Detection and Quantification of General Fetal Movements from Accelerometer Measurements using Nonstationary Signal Processing Techniques. There are approximately 1,750 fetal deaths per year in Australian with about one-third occurring late in gestation and without an apparent cause. The development of an automated system capable of long-term monitoring of fetal health will result in accurate diagnoses and prediction of future outcome. This will, in turn, allow early intervention by the clinicia ....Detection and Quantification of General Fetal Movements from Accelerometer Measurements using Nonstationary Signal Processing Techniques. There are approximately 1,750 fetal deaths per year in Australian with about one-third occurring late in gestation and without an apparent cause. The development of an automated system capable of long-term monitoring of fetal health will result in accurate diagnoses and prediction of future outcome. This will, in turn, allow early intervention by the clinician to reduce fetal deaths and enhance the chances of good outcomes with resultant savings in social and financial costs to the community. The development of such equipment would spawn future research into intervention treatments and contribute to Australia's position as a world leader in computerised health monitoring systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560685
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,000.00
Summary
Scanning Probe Microscopy for Bioelectrochemistry. New methods to study the fundamental properties of biological samples, in particular proteins, are continuing to advance and impact on society. We will establish a leading edge facility for high-resolution imaging of biomolecules with redox functions. This will enable the continued development of new enzyme based diagnostic tests by understanding the dynamic nature of coupled electron and molecular interactions with redox enzymes in solution. Th ....Scanning Probe Microscopy for Bioelectrochemistry. New methods to study the fundamental properties of biological samples, in particular proteins, are continuing to advance and impact on society. We will establish a leading edge facility for high-resolution imaging of biomolecules with redox functions. This will enable the continued development of new enzyme based diagnostic tests by understanding the dynamic nature of coupled electron and molecular interactions with redox enzymes in solution. The bioelectrochemical imaging facility will be unique in Australia and establish an important cross-disciplinary approach within the international community.Read moreRead less
Development of the PD GeneChip: a research and diagnostic tool for Parkinson's disease. The PD GeneChip will provide both social and economic benefits to Australia. It will be a key research platform for Australian scientists, and will facilitate collaboration both within Australia and overseas. It will assist with health care management of PD (Parkinson's disease) patients by providing a cost-effective diagnostic tool and the possibility of predicting the clinical course of disease. This inform ....Development of the PD GeneChip: a research and diagnostic tool for Parkinson's disease. The PD GeneChip will provide both social and economic benefits to Australia. It will be a key research platform for Australian scientists, and will facilitate collaboration both within Australia and overseas. It will assist with health care management of PD (Parkinson's disease) patients by providing a cost-effective diagnostic tool and the possibility of predicting the clinical course of disease. This information will provide the basis for tailoring treatment to a patients needs. It is anticipated that marketing of the PD GeneChip within Australia and overseas may produce revenue of at least $40 million annually.Read moreRead less
The effect of acquiring a disability in adulthood. This project aims to analyse the effect the acquisition of a disability in adulthood has on subsequent socio-economic circumstances (employment, housing, education, income, social capital, wealth) and wellbeing. Researchers from epidemiology, econometrics and statistics will use longitudinal data to model the patterns of disability and subsequent socio-economic and health circumstances over time. The methods aim to make causal statements and pro ....The effect of acquiring a disability in adulthood. This project aims to analyse the effect the acquisition of a disability in adulthood has on subsequent socio-economic circumstances (employment, housing, education, income, social capital, wealth) and wellbeing. Researchers from epidemiology, econometrics and statistics will use longitudinal data to model the patterns of disability and subsequent socio-economic and health circumstances over time. The methods aim to make causal statements and provide a template for research and evaluation in this field. Outcomes are expected to set priorities for action to improve socio-economic conditions, productivity and health for people with disabilities.Read moreRead less
Experiences of addiction, treatment and recovery: An online resource for members of the public, health professionals and policymakers. Alcohol and other drug addiction is a major health and social issue in Australia. Treatment success rates are modest and little is known about how people experience and manage addiction and the stigma that accompanies it. This project will generate new knowledge on alcohol and other drug addiction by applying a proven qualitative methodology to these issues for t ....Experiences of addiction, treatment and recovery: An online resource for members of the public, health professionals and policymakers. Alcohol and other drug addiction is a major health and social issue in Australia. Treatment success rates are modest and little is known about how people experience and manage addiction and the stigma that accompanies it. This project will generate new knowledge on alcohol and other drug addiction by applying a proven qualitative methodology to these issues for the first time. It will produce an effective, innovative online resource for affected Australians, their family and friends, and the wider Australian community including health professionals and policymakers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989567
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
State of the Art Surface Characterisation Facility for the Sydney Basin. Many of the grand challenges of our time, including finding alternative sources of energy, maximizing our current supply of natural resources, identifying and treating pollution in general, and in water in particular, and developing therapies and biomaterials that enable the personalisation of therapies to each individual are being solved using developments in the molecular sciences. Pivotal to the success of such research ....State of the Art Surface Characterisation Facility for the Sydney Basin. Many of the grand challenges of our time, including finding alternative sources of energy, maximizing our current supply of natural resources, identifying and treating pollution in general, and in water in particular, and developing therapies and biomaterials that enable the personalisation of therapies to each individual are being solved using developments in the molecular sciences. Pivotal to the success of such research is to understand materials and surfaces at the molecular level. The request is to purchase surface analysis instrumentation which will dramatically enhance the ability of scientists around Australia understand how to develop solutions to these grand challenges.Read moreRead less
Structural-functional connectivity in the brain. This project aims to develop magnetic resonance imaging analysis methods to non-invasively study brain connectivity. Recent advances in imaging can comprehensively describe the brain’s complex network of functional and structural connections (the brain ‘connectome’). This project will simultaneously investigate structural and functional connectivity, and characterise the dynamic properties of the connectome using graph-theoretic approaches. This p ....Structural-functional connectivity in the brain. This project aims to develop magnetic resonance imaging analysis methods to non-invasively study brain connectivity. Recent advances in imaging can comprehensively describe the brain’s complex network of functional and structural connections (the brain ‘connectome’). This project will simultaneously investigate structural and functional connectivity, and characterise the dynamic properties of the connectome using graph-theoretic approaches. This project should give neuroscientists computational tools to comprehensively map the network architecture of the human brain.Read moreRead less