Plasticity of gastrointestinal vagal afferents. The aim of this project is to identify how leptin modulates specific subtypes of vagal afferent within the gut and the plasticity of this system under different dietary conditions. This proposed project will substantially increase understanding of the interactions between leptin, known to influence food intake, and vagal afferent satiety signals. It will also increase understanding of how these interactions alter in obesity and ultimately provide t ....Plasticity of gastrointestinal vagal afferents. The aim of this project is to identify how leptin modulates specific subtypes of vagal afferent within the gut and the plasticity of this system under different dietary conditions. This proposed project will substantially increase understanding of the interactions between leptin, known to influence food intake, and vagal afferent satiety signals. It will also increase understanding of how these interactions alter in obesity and ultimately provide targets and/or concepts for the pharmacotherapy of obesity.Read moreRead less
Central pathways regulating visceral pain. This project aims to investigate the neural pathways within the spinal cord and brain processing colorectal pain perception. The project aims to identify the spinal cord neurons relaying colorectal signalling into the brain and the influence of descending modulation from the brainstem upon these pathways. The outcomes will greatly benefit fundamental understanding of the central pathways processing visceral pain.
Function and redundancy of SOX genes in the mammalian sex determination pathway. We are studying a mouse model of abnormal sex organ development in which genetically female mice develop as males. Our basic research program will lead to greater understanding of the genetic switch controlling the formation of male and female characteristics. This research should in turn provide insight into the causes of defects in patients with disorders of sex development, helping to inform the difficult clinica ....Function and redundancy of SOX genes in the mammalian sex determination pathway. We are studying a mouse model of abnormal sex organ development in which genetically female mice develop as males. Our basic research program will lead to greater understanding of the genetic switch controlling the formation of male and female characteristics. This research should in turn provide insight into the causes of defects in patients with disorders of sex development, helping to inform the difficult clinical decisions that need to be made for their treatment, and ultimately leading to better management and therapeutic strategies. Our studies may also provide unique methods to control the exotic mouse population, using the daughterless strategy.Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanisms regulating Ca2+ channels formed by Orai and STIM proteins. Store-operated calcium channels play a central role in the functions of all animal cells. They participate in generating the cellular responses to hormones, antigens, growth factors and other physiological stimuli. The aims of this project are to elucidate cellular mechanisms that regulate interaction between the molecular components of store-operated calcium channel, Orai and STIM. Using techniques of electrophysiol ....Molecular mechanisms regulating Ca2+ channels formed by Orai and STIM proteins. Store-operated calcium channels play a central role in the functions of all animal cells. They participate in generating the cellular responses to hormones, antigens, growth factors and other physiological stimuli. The aims of this project are to elucidate cellular mechanisms that regulate interaction between the molecular components of store-operated calcium channel, Orai and STIM. Using techniques of electrophysiology and molecular biology we expect to answer a fundamental question how STIM and Orai proteins interact to form functional store-operated calcium channels, and how the expression of STIM and Orai is regulated.Read moreRead less
Cellular bases of enteric neural circuitry underlying gut propulsion. This project aims to investigate the neural bases of behaviour in the mammalian gut. The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) plays a critical role in the propulsion of intestinal contents. This project expects to establish how specific functional classes of enteric neurons control propulsion along the gut. By recording the simultaneous neural activity from hundreds of different functional classes of enteric nerve cells simultaneously ....Cellular bases of enteric neural circuitry underlying gut propulsion. This project aims to investigate the neural bases of behaviour in the mammalian gut. The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) plays a critical role in the propulsion of intestinal contents. This project expects to establish how specific functional classes of enteric neurons control propulsion along the gut. By recording the simultaneous neural activity from hundreds of different functional classes of enteric nerve cells simultaneously, whilst recording intestinal muscle electrical activity and the movements of the gut wall, the project expects to identify which enteric neurochemical classes of neurons generate specific motor patterns along the intestine.Read moreRead less
Quantitative multi-modal optical imaging of deep tissue. This project aims to create new tools to quantify the structural and functional properties of tissue. Combining multiple optical imaging technologies (multi-modal) into a single, miniaturised probe, these tools could enable physiologists and biomedical researchers to obtain new insight into disease. Encasing the highly miniaturised probe within a medical needle is aimed to allow insertion of the 'needle probe' deep into tissue, extending o ....Quantitative multi-modal optical imaging of deep tissue. This project aims to create new tools to quantify the structural and functional properties of tissue. Combining multiple optical imaging technologies (multi-modal) into a single, miniaturised probe, these tools could enable physiologists and biomedical researchers to obtain new insight into disease. Encasing the highly miniaturised probe within a medical needle is aimed to allow insertion of the 'needle probe' deep into tissue, extending optical imaging to areas not previously accessible. The project could develop novel quantification models to allow longitudinal assessment and comparison between subjects. Validating the tools with specific biomarkers, it could provide outcomes in breast and liver cancer, and a framework to explore other diseases.Read moreRead less
The virtual human knee. This project aims to investigate the Virtual Human Knee (VHK) which provides a baseline knowledge about knee mechanics in healthy individuals and a tool for studying knee mechanics in silico. The new knowledge can be used for identifying individuals most at risk for injury, developing solutions for preventing injury and for assessing knee reconstruction and implantation methods. As such, VHK will mitigate the burden of knee injury to Australia and worldwide by progressing ....The virtual human knee. This project aims to investigate the Virtual Human Knee (VHK) which provides a baseline knowledge about knee mechanics in healthy individuals and a tool for studying knee mechanics in silico. The new knowledge can be used for identifying individuals most at risk for injury, developing solutions for preventing injury and for assessing knee reconstruction and implantation methods. As such, VHK will mitigate the burden of knee injury to Australia and worldwide by progressing disciplines including anatomy, bio-mechanics, sport science, rehabilitation, surgery and medical devices.Read moreRead less
Advanced Nanostructured Biointerfaces for Cell Capture. The expected outcomes of this interdisciplinary project, which apply the most recent advances in nanotechnology and biophysics to cancer research, will enhance Australia's capacity in Frontier Technology and build strength in Nanobiotechnology. They will bring competitive advantages to the Australian biotechnology and biomedical community for further developments and applications in the multi-billion dollar field of biodiagnostics. These in ....Advanced Nanostructured Biointerfaces for Cell Capture. The expected outcomes of this interdisciplinary project, which apply the most recent advances in nanotechnology and biophysics to cancer research, will enhance Australia's capacity in Frontier Technology and build strength in Nanobiotechnology. They will bring competitive advantages to the Australian biotechnology and biomedical community for further developments and applications in the multi-billion dollar field of biodiagnostics. These innovative biodiagnostic strategies will potentially achieve a significant step in the direction of the once elusive goal of early detection and improved understanding of cancer.Read moreRead less
Small heat-shock molecular chaperone proteins and amyloid fibrils. This proposal addresses the fundamental mechanisms of protein aggregation associated with debilitating age-related diseases, e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cataract, and the prevention of aggregation via the action of a group of molecular chaperone proteins known as small heat-shock proteins. With the ageing population, the prevalence of these diseases will increase significantly over the next 20 years. Understanding and treat ....Small heat-shock molecular chaperone proteins and amyloid fibrils. This proposal addresses the fundamental mechanisms of protein aggregation associated with debilitating age-related diseases, e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cataract, and the prevention of aggregation via the action of a group of molecular chaperone proteins known as small heat-shock proteins. With the ageing population, the prevalence of these diseases will increase significantly over the next 20 years. Understanding and treating these diseases will therefore have significant long-term health benefits. Furthermore, the highly structured protein aggregates that form as hallmarks of many of these diseases have potential wide ranging applications in the emerging field of bionanotechnology, e.g. as nanowires and biofilms.Read moreRead less
Dissecting the impact of stress on reproduction: Novel peptide mediates inhibitory effects of stress on female reproduction. This research proposal offers a pioneering opportunity to develop treatments that overcome the negative impact of stress on reproduction. Specifically, knowledge generated in this project will be vital in the development of strategic defences against the impact of stress on reproduction. This project fundamentally addresses Research Priority 2: Promoting and maintaining go ....Dissecting the impact of stress on reproduction: Novel peptide mediates inhibitory effects of stress on female reproduction. This research proposal offers a pioneering opportunity to develop treatments that overcome the negative impact of stress on reproduction. Specifically, knowledge generated in this project will be vital in the development of strategic defences against the impact of stress on reproduction. This project fundamentally addresses Research Priority 2: Promoting and maintaining good health. Given that suppression of reproduction by stress occurs in all mammalian species including humans, domestic animals and wildlife, being able to prevent or overcome stress-induced reproductive dysfunction will generate significant health, social, economic and ecological benefits. Read moreRead less