Islam and Secular Urban Culture in Early Modern Middle East. Australia is the homeland of a growing Muslim community, and Islam is an important feature in Australia's religious and cultural landscape. The project contributes to expanding Australia's knowledge of Islam, to developing its ability to engage and interact in constructive and enabling ways with the Muslim communities locally, regionally, and internationally, and to heightening the Muslims' respect for the modern secular culture by mak ....Islam and Secular Urban Culture in Early Modern Middle East. Australia is the homeland of a growing Muslim community, and Islam is an important feature in Australia's religious and cultural landscape. The project contributes to expanding Australia's knowledge of Islam, to developing its ability to engage and interact in constructive and enabling ways with the Muslim communities locally, regionally, and internationally, and to heightening the Muslims' respect for the modern secular culture by making them aware of their creative role in its making. It addresses a prevailing misunderstanding about secular culture in Islam and enhances Australia's international reputation as a centre of cutting-edge research in the fields of Islamic studies.Read moreRead less
Islam, Modernity and the Enlightenment: A New Perspective. Australia's encounters with Islam have never been as politically, militarily and emotionally demanding as the events of the last few years have revealed. In the current climate of tension and conflict a deeper understanding of Islam - its socio-religious and intellectual history, its systems of thought, and its attitude towards modernity and the modern world - is vital to enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regi ....Islam, Modernity and the Enlightenment: A New Perspective. Australia's encounters with Islam have never been as politically, militarily and emotionally demanding as the events of the last few years have revealed. In the current climate of tension and conflict a deeper understanding of Islam - its socio-religious and intellectual history, its systems of thought, and its attitude towards modernity and the modern world - is vital to enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment. This project contributes to enhancing Australia's ability to engage and interact in constructive and enabling ways with the Muslim communities locally, regionally and internationally.Read moreRead less
A Platform for Rapid and Flexible Development of Context-Aware Web Services. Context awareness is one of the most exciting trends in computing today, and it holds the potential to make our daily life more productive, convenient and enjoyable. The proposed project will produce a comprehensive platform for developing context-aware Web services, which will facilitate ready implementation of many innovative applications and make important contributions to Australian society and the national economy. ....A Platform for Rapid and Flexible Development of Context-Aware Web Services. Context awareness is one of the most exciting trends in computing today, and it holds the potential to make our daily life more productive, convenient and enjoyable. The proposed project will produce a comprehensive platform for developing context-aware Web services, which will facilitate ready implementation of many innovative applications and make important contributions to Australian society and the national economy. One such application is an intelligent seniors assistance service that will improve quality of life for senior citizens while helping them maintain an independent lifestyle. This project will also place Australia at the forefront of Web service development.Read moreRead less
Moving beyond crisis management: Creating a future for people with disabilities living with ageing parents. The needs of thousands of people with disabilities being cared for by ageing parents are beyond the capacity of our existing formal mechanisms for providing care. In order to mitigate this national crisis in support, this research will establish effective, resource efficient support strategies where there are currently no plans in place for future care arrangements. By enhancing the capaci ....Moving beyond crisis management: Creating a future for people with disabilities living with ageing parents. The needs of thousands of people with disabilities being cared for by ageing parents are beyond the capacity of our existing formal mechanisms for providing care. In order to mitigate this national crisis in support, this research will establish effective, resource efficient support strategies where there are currently no plans in place for future care arrangements. By enhancing the capacity of the community to provide support the benefit of existing formal supports will be extended to address the needs of more families. This project will position Australian disability research and support at the forefront of international efforts to legitimize the claim of people with disabilities and their families on community resources.Read moreRead less
Investigating The Role Of The UPF3B Gene And Nonsense Mediated RNA Decay (NMD) Process In Mental Retardation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$572,710.00
Summary
Intellectual disability is a frequent and important medical problem. Genetic and environmental factors contribute about equally to the aetiology of intellectual disability. Estimated 1-3% of population suffer from a form of intellectual disability. Among the genetic factors contributing to intellectual disability are genes, and their mutations, on one of the human chromosomes, chromosome X. We have been studying human X-chromosome genes for many years and discovered in excess of 20 novel genes c ....Intellectual disability is a frequent and important medical problem. Genetic and environmental factors contribute about equally to the aetiology of intellectual disability. Estimated 1-3% of population suffer from a form of intellectual disability. Among the genetic factors contributing to intellectual disability are genes, and their mutations, on one of the human chromosomes, chromosome X. We have been studying human X-chromosome genes for many years and discovered in excess of 20 novel genes causing various forms of intellectual disability. Surprisingly the number of genes, in which mutations cause various forms of intellectual disability is unexpectedly high. Just on the human X-chromosome we expect in excess of 200 such genes, which is nearly 30% of the gene content of this chromosome. We propose to study a novel gene, UPF3B, we recently identified to be mutated in a form of intellectual disability. The normal function of this gene and its protein is known to a certain extent. The UPF3B protein plays a role of a guardian of other genes in human (and also other species) cells. The role of the UPF3B protein is to prevent erroneous genetic information to be used for the building of proteins with potentially toxic effects to the organism. In our patients this process clearly malfunctions as a consequence of the damaged UPF3B gene. We propose to shed some more light in to the molecular intricacies of this process with the aim to better understand the mechanics of the process. Families, which participate in our studies and have this gene involved will benefit from the availability of direct test. Multiple other families around the world are also likely to benefit, now or in the future.Read moreRead less
Preventing the financial abuse of older people by a family member: Designing and evaluating older-person-centred models of family mediation. The financial abuse of older people is a significant social problem that is likely to intensify as Australia's ageing population continues to rise exponentially over the next twenty years. This project engages a broad range of stakeholders, including older people and their families, in the process of developing specialised models of family mediation to redu ....Preventing the financial abuse of older people by a family member: Designing and evaluating older-person-centred models of family mediation. The financial abuse of older people is a significant social problem that is likely to intensify as Australia's ageing population continues to rise exponentially over the next twenty years. This project engages a broad range of stakeholders, including older people and their families, in the process of developing specialised models of family mediation to reduce the incidence and severity of financial abuse within a framework that promotes social sustainability and family cohesion. The outcomes of the project, therefore, will have a direct and positive impact on policy and practice in the social and economic care of older people.Read moreRead less
Emerging from the shadows: the evaluation of intervention strategies to reduce social isolation amongst the aged. Social isolation imposes a high cost on affected individuals and the community at large. This project will determine what interventions work in addressing social isolation amongst the older population.
The rise of the consumer: engagement of older people with consumer directed care. Australia is adopting a new model of care for older Australians - consumer directed care. This project will provide the evidence needed by governments and service providers to create the most effective and supportive system.
Demographic change, ageing and the workforce: An integrated model to inform workforce development and planning in Australia. This project will greatly extend our understanding of the impact of demographic change and ageing on the workforce. It will develop a conceptual framework to strategically inform workforce development and a workforce planning model to assist Australian workplaces to respond to the challenge of demographic change and ageing. The need to develop a better understanding of, an ....Demographic change, ageing and the workforce: An integrated model to inform workforce development and planning in Australia. This project will greatly extend our understanding of the impact of demographic change and ageing on the workforce. It will develop a conceptual framework to strategically inform workforce development and a workforce planning model to assist Australian workplaces to respond to the challenge of demographic change and ageing. The need to develop a better understanding of, and respond to, the implications of demographic change and ageing for workforce development in Australia has been recognised nationally through the National Strategy for Ageing and is of direct relevance to the ARC's national research priority Ageing Well, Ageing Productively. Read moreRead less
The role of online social networks in successful ageing: benefitting from 'who you know' at older ages. The project will increase understanding of how online social networking contributes to successful ageing through partnering, economic and voluntary activity, family and social connectedness. The findings will inform policy recommendations, social interventions and education programs designed to enhance 'ageing well, ageing productively'. These are expected to benefit the health and well-being ....The role of online social networks in successful ageing: benefitting from 'who you know' at older ages. The project will increase understanding of how online social networking contributes to successful ageing through partnering, economic and voluntary activity, family and social connectedness. The findings will inform policy recommendations, social interventions and education programs designed to enhance 'ageing well, ageing productively'. These are expected to benefit the health and well-being of older Australians, with economic benefits of increased contributions to society and fewer demands on services. Social and economic benefits are also expected from insights into reducing the technological and psychological barriers that prevent older people from benefiting from the Internet and online social networking.Read moreRead less