Molecular dissection of the functional regions of genes that encode actinins (ACTN2 and ACTN3) and their contribution to normal variation in skeletal muscle function. The project has discovered a common genetic variant that affects skeletal muscle structure, function and metabolism and influences athletic ability, and response to diet and exercise. The project will study how this gene influences muscle bulk and strength, the metabolic efficiency of muscle and the risk of obesity in the general ....Molecular dissection of the functional regions of genes that encode actinins (ACTN2 and ACTN3) and their contribution to normal variation in skeletal muscle function. The project has discovered a common genetic variant that affects skeletal muscle structure, function and metabolism and influences athletic ability, and response to diet and exercise. The project will study how this gene influences muscle bulk and strength, the metabolic efficiency of muscle and the risk of obesity in the general population.Read moreRead less
Brain sodium channel: functional role of developmentally regulated alternative splicing. This project will identify the roles of neonatal and adult forms of a sodium channel in the function of neurons in the developing brain. Sodium channels are vital for brain function and this study will improve our understanding of the function of healthy brain as well as of underlying mechanisms of some neurological disorders.
Hemispheric asymmetry of motor and language representation: Effects of hand preference and mirror movements. The neuroscience community has recently exploited advances in brain imaging to understand cerebral representation of many cognitive functions. The proposed study will expand our knowledge of brain-behaviour relationships, another key area of cognitive neuroscience research. Its successful funding and completion will increase Australia's standing as a major contributor to world research ou ....Hemispheric asymmetry of motor and language representation: Effects of hand preference and mirror movements. The neuroscience community has recently exploited advances in brain imaging to understand cerebral representation of many cognitive functions. The proposed study will expand our knowledge of brain-behaviour relationships, another key area of cognitive neuroscience research. Its successful funding and completion will increase Australia's standing as a major contributor to world research outcomes in this innovative and important field, and place Australia at its forefront. The investigator's access to advanced brain imaging and to the unique population of individuals with mirror movements, combined with expertise and experience in neuropsychology and brain imaging, places the research in an internationally competitive position.Read moreRead less
The capacity for exceptional brain repair in a novel rodent species. This project aims to provide a new and much-needed living tool for studying brain injury and repair. The project expects to generate new evidence of effective brain repair in a mammalian species, the spiny mouse. In particular, it will provide important knowledge of the cellular responses that coordinate to allow mammalian brain repair, revealing targets for future understanding and treatment. Expected outcomes include an in-de ....The capacity for exceptional brain repair in a novel rodent species. This project aims to provide a new and much-needed living tool for studying brain injury and repair. The project expects to generate new evidence of effective brain repair in a mammalian species, the spiny mouse. In particular, it will provide important knowledge of the cellular responses that coordinate to allow mammalian brain repair, revealing targets for future understanding and treatment. Expected outcomes include an in-depth characterisation of how neurons and non-neuronal cells (glia) contribute to brain repair, and the identification of new pathways or targets for mammalian brain repair. In the long-term this should provide significant benefits for future research focused on improving the lives of people affected by brain injury. Read moreRead less
Deciphering the cellular defences against aggregating proteins in human disease. Cells have inbuilt defences for coping with proteins that bend into abnormal sticky shapes that form toxic clusters. In many diseases, including Huntington's, the clusters severely damage nerve cells. This project will identify the genes and mechanisms cells use to protect themselves from toxic clusters, which could provide new therapeutic targets.
Optimising disease surveillance to support decision-making. COVID-19 has demonstrated the critical role of epidemic data and analytics in guiding government response to pandemic threats, reducing disease and saving lives. The demand for epidemic analytics for response to threats of national significance will only grow. The goals of this project are to 1) determine the combination(s) of surveillance methods that provide the most useful data for epidemic analysis and 2) translate these findings in ....Optimising disease surveillance to support decision-making. COVID-19 has demonstrated the critical role of epidemic data and analytics in guiding government response to pandemic threats, reducing disease and saving lives. The demand for epidemic analytics for response to threats of national significance will only grow. The goals of this project are to 1) determine the combination(s) of surveillance methods that provide the most useful data for epidemic analysis and 2) translate these findings into the blueprint for a next-generation infectious disease surveillance system for Australia. We will use a simulation-evaluation approach, coupling methods from infectious disease modelling with those from information theory optimal design. Outcomes will enable more tailored and effective pandemic response.Read moreRead less
The structure and dynamics of social contact for human disease transmission models. The methodological advances of this project will enable new insights in important social research. They will not only add significantly to national capacity in the modelling of complex social systems but they will also yield practical scientific outcomes in a significant policy domain in Australia and overseas. In Australia, response to diseases such as HIV, HCV and TB need new approaches, and the threat of pan ....The structure and dynamics of social contact for human disease transmission models. The methodological advances of this project will enable new insights in important social research. They will not only add significantly to national capacity in the modelling of complex social systems but they will also yield practical scientific outcomes in a significant policy domain in Australia and overseas. In Australia, response to diseases such as HIV, HCV and TB need new approaches, and the threat of pandemic influenza is significant. Read moreRead less
Estimation of non-additive genetic variance for complex traits using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphyisms and sequence data. Finding genes for traits of importance in agriculture, ecology and human health depends on understanding the genetic basis of these traits. This project will investigate whether variation in traits in humans, cattle and wild sheep are influenced by gene-gene interactions.
The genetic architecture and evolution of quantitative traits. Most important traits are controlled by many genes and by the environment, however there is little knowledge of how many genes are involved in these complex traits and what their effects are. This project will describe the number of genes and their effects for complex traits in humans and livestock and explain how these genes evolve.
Revealing the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of avian influenza virus. This project aims to understand how avian influenza virus (AIV) emerges, evolves and spreads in wild birds. AIV has the potential to devastate the poultry industry and cause human pandemics, but the factors that shape the genetic diversity of AIV in its wild bird reservoir are poorly understood. The project plans to combine genomic, ecological and phylogenetic approaches to reveal key aspects of AIV evolution, as well a ....Revealing the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of avian influenza virus. This project aims to understand how avian influenza virus (AIV) emerges, evolves and spreads in wild birds. AIV has the potential to devastate the poultry industry and cause human pandemics, but the factors that shape the genetic diversity of AIV in its wild bird reservoir are poorly understood. The project plans to combine genomic, ecological and phylogenetic approaches to reveal key aspects of AIV evolution, as well as the risk for future viral emergence. Using sampling sites in Australia and Antarctica, it plans to investigate AIV diversity, the evolutionary dynamics of AIV in wild birds and poultry, and the role played by environmental transmission in AIV ecology.Read moreRead less