Kruppel-like factors and the methylome. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the KLF/SP family of transcription factors work in part via dynamic interactions with methylated cytosine nucleotides in DNA. This is fundamental to their function as pioneer factors in reprograming and their ability to co-ordinate differentiation and organogenesis. Conversely, dynamic changes in methylation status engage or disengage new regulatory elements in the genome via recruitment of KLF/SP family protei ....Kruppel-like factors and the methylome. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the KLF/SP family of transcription factors work in part via dynamic interactions with methylated cytosine nucleotides in DNA. This is fundamental to their function as pioneer factors in reprograming and their ability to co-ordinate differentiation and organogenesis. Conversely, dynamic changes in methylation status engage or disengage new regulatory elements in the genome via recruitment of KLF/SP family proteins as specific effectors. This project will address a new paradigm in genetics that is likely to underpin development.Read moreRead less
Controlling the adhesome to regulate cell fate on biomaterials. Mesenchymal stem cell-based tissue engineering practices are hampered worldwide by the lack of appreciation and understanding of the matrix-mediated cues that must be provided during adhesion and spreading to drive cells to definitive tissue end points. This project will address these knowledge deficiencies by combining high throughput array technologies, a set of tailorable self-assembling biomaterials and real-time biosensors to r ....Controlling the adhesome to regulate cell fate on biomaterials. Mesenchymal stem cell-based tissue engineering practices are hampered worldwide by the lack of appreciation and understanding of the matrix-mediated cues that must be provided during adhesion and spreading to drive cells to definitive tissue end points. This project will address these knowledge deficiencies by combining high throughput array technologies, a set of tailorable self-assembling biomaterials and real-time biosensors to rapidly, at high resolution, elucidate how mechanotransductive cues determine the fate choice of mesenchymal stem cells, and furthermore, how to manipulate them with smart biomaterial design to achieve desired outcomes for tissue engineering. Read moreRead less
An anti-senescence nanoplatform and its underlying mechanism. The project will bring together complementary expertise and skills by combining biomaterials, cell and molecular biology, and engineering, to develop a novel nano-biomaterial platform for anti-senescence and gain an in-depth understanding of its underlying mechanisms. The underlying mechanisms of senescence remain elusive and bone substitutes with anti-senescence property have not been explored and becoming a growing field of interest ....An anti-senescence nanoplatform and its underlying mechanism. The project will bring together complementary expertise and skills by combining biomaterials, cell and molecular biology, and engineering, to develop a novel nano-biomaterial platform for anti-senescence and gain an in-depth understanding of its underlying mechanisms. The underlying mechanisms of senescence remain elusive and bone substitutes with anti-senescence property have not been explored and becoming a growing field of interest in bone regeneration. The project will develop a well-defined and efficient nanomaterial platform with optimal combination of nano-surface features and chemistry for cell rejuvenation, and it will give unprecedented depth of interdisciplinary understanding of senescence rejuvenation mechanisms.Read moreRead less
The role of protein glycosylation in erythropoiesis . This project aims to understand how the sugar code of key-signalling proteins influences the development of red blood cells. This project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of stem cell signalling by innovative integration of biological and computational molecular characterisation techniques. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of novel workflows to study key regulators of cell development and ....The role of protein glycosylation in erythropoiesis . This project aims to understand how the sugar code of key-signalling proteins influences the development of red blood cells. This project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of stem cell signalling by innovative integration of biological and computational molecular characterisation techniques. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of novel workflows to study key regulators of cell development and the generation of new knowledge in stem cell signalling that will find applications in transforming stem cell therapies and associated research for future applications such as the laboratory manufacturing of red blood cells to close the availability gap for transfusion purposes.Read moreRead less
Tuning mesenchymal stem cell lifespan, performance, and differentiation. This project aims to fully characterise a unique molecular process that strongly modulates mesenchymal stem cell lifespan and behaviour. This work is significant, as it is expected to reveal new concepts underpinning the mechanistic actions of classical structural proteins. It will also shape a more nuanced understanding of the context-dependent mechanical and biochemical signals that regulate stem cell fate and function. E ....Tuning mesenchymal stem cell lifespan, performance, and differentiation. This project aims to fully characterise a unique molecular process that strongly modulates mesenchymal stem cell lifespan and behaviour. This work is significant, as it is expected to reveal new concepts underpinning the mechanistic actions of classical structural proteins. It will also shape a more nuanced understanding of the context-dependent mechanical and biochemical signals that regulate stem cell fate and function. Expected outcomes include new knowledge surrounding native extracellular matrix and stem cell biology, and the development of strategies to define and tailor stem cell properties. This work is anticipated to drive new technologies that can efficiently and robustly manipulate stem cells for diverse functional applications.Read moreRead less
Developing the basis for an quality control platform for human pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated derivatives. Biophotonic techniques based on spectroscopy have the potential to provide low-cost, automatable measurements for the quality control of stem and differentiated cells produced for use in industry and regenerative medicine. This project is aimed at acquiring the fundamental scientific knowledge base required to bring this about.
Mechanisms of Recovery after Extinction of Conditioned Behaviour. Old habits die hard and may never die at all. My previous ARC-funded research has revealed that extinguished learning can be recovered rapidly and in unsuspected ways. This project is aimed at building a neural network to explain how old learning can recovered. In practical terms, rapid recovery has both benefits, e.g., our ability to regain old skills with brief refresher training, and costs, e.g., relapse after therapies for anx ....Mechanisms of Recovery after Extinction of Conditioned Behaviour. Old habits die hard and may never die at all. My previous ARC-funded research has revealed that extinguished learning can be recovered rapidly and in unsuspected ways. This project is aimed at building a neural network to explain how old learning can recovered. In practical terms, rapid recovery has both benefits, e.g., our ability to regain old skills with brief refresher training, and costs, e.g., relapse after therapies for anxiety disorders and substance abuse. In theoretical terms, understanding recovery in biological systems will inform research concerning both the neural basis of memory and the design of robots.Read moreRead less
Design of dynamic visual signals. Models of the design of visual signals depend heavily upon analyses of static ornaments. Nothing is known about dynamic visual signals. We will use an array of new techniques to tackle this problem for the first time. Motion analyses will define the task faced by the visual system. Sensory limitations will be measured to identify constraints on signal evolution. Digital video playback studies will assess recognition and explain aspects of signal design. Results ....Design of dynamic visual signals. Models of the design of visual signals depend heavily upon analyses of static ornaments. Nothing is known about dynamic visual signals. We will use an array of new techniques to tackle this problem for the first time. Motion analyses will define the task faced by the visual system. Sensory limitations will be measured to identify constraints on signal evolution. Digital video playback studies will assess recognition and explain aspects of signal design. Results will test the generality of principles that have been developed in studies of female mate choice and extend these ideas to address intra-sexual selection operating through opponent assessment.Read moreRead less
Behaviour Bootstrapping for Ad Hoc, Heterogeneous Robot Swarms. This project aims to develop algorithms to permit groups of robots to evolve coordinated, collective, swarm behaviours. Groups of robots will be conceptualised as developmental swarm organisms with an initially limited set of behaviours, but equipped with structures and processes to permit them to evolve new behaviours. This project expects to deliver the next generation of computational intelligence technologies to enable humans to ....Behaviour Bootstrapping for Ad Hoc, Heterogeneous Robot Swarms. This project aims to develop algorithms to permit groups of robots to evolve coordinated, collective, swarm behaviours. Groups of robots will be conceptualised as developmental swarm organisms with an initially limited set of behaviours, but equipped with structures and processes to permit them to evolve new behaviours. This project expects to deliver the next generation of computational intelligence technologies to enable humans to harness large groups of robots for new kinds of transport and inspection tasks in smart cities, smart farming and defence. The expected outcomes of the project include new software frameworks for distributed developmental learning, extending developmental robotics to evolutionary robot swarms. Read moreRead less
Machine education for trusted multi-skilled evolutionary learners . Transforming data assets into organisational knowledge assets sits in the hands of a few, highly specialised, data scientists. The aim of this research is to design educational instruments to support non-experts to teach artificial intelligence (AI) systems in a similar way to educating human teachers to teach human learners. The significance of the project lies in affording the wider smart, but not necessarily AI expert, commun ....Machine education for trusted multi-skilled evolutionary learners . Transforming data assets into organisational knowledge assets sits in the hands of a few, highly specialised, data scientists. The aim of this research is to design educational instruments to support non-experts to teach artificial intelligence (AI) systems in a similar way to educating human teachers to teach human learners. The significance of the project lies in affording the wider smart, but not necessarily AI expert, community the ability to contribute to growing our knowledge-based society in a safe, transparent and trustworthy manner. Outcomes will include innovative instruments to teach machines, novel knowledge creation, trusted and transparent AI systems, and a new generation of human teachers specialised in educating AI systems.Read moreRead less