RNA-based analysis for prediction of islet death in diabetes. Death of insulin-producing cells is a common feature in diabetes. Presently, a blood glucose test remains the only blunt instrument to diagnose diabetes. The RNA-based analysis for prediction of islet death in diabetes (RAPID) study links with eight clinical trials to test this newly developed non-invasive assay for predicting diabetes. Early diagnosis will help to reduce diabetic complications in later life.
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
Why conserve genetic variation? Is this misdirected effort or a crucial concern? In attempting to conserve populations of threatened plants, ecosystem managers must prioritise allocation of resources to both immediate and long-term threats, including loss of genetic variation. This study will determine the importance of maintaining existing genetic variation within populations of several species in a major Australian plant group. As well as advancing theory in the area of plant ecological genet ....Why conserve genetic variation? Is this misdirected effort or a crucial concern? In attempting to conserve populations of threatened plants, ecosystem managers must prioritise allocation of resources to both immediate and long-term threats, including loss of genetic variation. This study will determine the importance of maintaining existing genetic variation within populations of several species in a major Australian plant group. As well as advancing theory in the area of plant ecological genetics and evolutionary biology, our results will provide a stronger scientific basis for the development of conservation policy and management decisions for conserving threatened plant species. Read moreRead less
Additive and non-additive genetic benefits of mating behaviour: a synthesis of sexual selection and conservation genetics. This research will forge a synthesis between the study of mating behaviour and it's consequences (sexual selection) and the field of conservation genetics. It will have direct relevance to conservation attempts, and far-reaching implications for how we understand sexual behaviour and the complex mating decisions animals and humans make. The work will enhance Australia's stro ....Additive and non-additive genetic benefits of mating behaviour: a synthesis of sexual selection and conservation genetics. This research will forge a synthesis between the study of mating behaviour and it's consequences (sexual selection) and the field of conservation genetics. It will have direct relevance to conservation attempts, and far-reaching implications for how we understand sexual behaviour and the complex mating decisions animals and humans make. The work will enhance Australia's strong research reputation in evolutionary genetics, sexual selection and conservation biology.Read moreRead less
Investigating the biogenesis and function of circular RNAs in the brain. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are e a novel class of RNA molecules produced in a wide spectrum of eukaryotic organisms, from yeast to humans. Their expression is particularly high in the nervous system in the fruit fly, mouse and humans. What mechanisms are responsible for the tissue-specific enrichment of circular RNA expression? What are the consequences of circular RNA production on gene expression? The overall goal of the pr ....Investigating the biogenesis and function of circular RNAs in the brain. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are e a novel class of RNA molecules produced in a wide spectrum of eukaryotic organisms, from yeast to humans. Their expression is particularly high in the nervous system in the fruit fly, mouse and humans. What mechanisms are responsible for the tissue-specific enrichment of circular RNA expression? What are the consequences of circular RNA production on gene expression? The overall goal of the proposed project is to elucidate these important aspects of circRNA biogenesis. Specifically, the project aims to (a) discover proteins that regulate circRNA expression, (b) elucidate how circRNA expression interacts with alternative splicing, and (c) identify circular RNAs that play regulatory roles in gene expression. Read moreRead less
How does the noncoding genome regulate gene expression in the human brain? The non-coding genome is recognized as a major player in orchestrating gene expression in higher eukaryotes. This project aims to identify regions of the human genome that are important for gene expression during neuronal differentiation and depolarisation (i.e. neural enhancers), and to investigate their evolutionary properties. The roles of non-coding DNA in regulating the dynamic gene expression patterns underlying com ....How does the noncoding genome regulate gene expression in the human brain? The non-coding genome is recognized as a major player in orchestrating gene expression in higher eukaryotes. This project aims to identify regions of the human genome that are important for gene expression during neuronal differentiation and depolarisation (i.e. neural enhancers), and to investigate their evolutionary properties. The roles of non-coding DNA in regulating the dynamic gene expression patterns underlying complex human brain functions remains to be elucidated. By combining transcriptome quantification and bioinformatics methods, this project will close an important knowledge gap in our understanding of transcriptional regulation underlying human brain function. This will provide benefits such as the potential to influence public health policy including in cognitive functions and aging.Read moreRead less
Dissecting cell cycle regulation using programmable gene editing technology. This program aims to harness the unprecedented power of CRISPR-Cas13 gene-editing technology to develop high-throughput tools to explore the role of RNA regulation in cell cycle control. This project expects to generate new knowledge about cell division and RNA biology by utilizing this new technology and applying interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this proposal include new research tools capable of broa ....Dissecting cell cycle regulation using programmable gene editing technology. This program aims to harness the unprecedented power of CRISPR-Cas13 gene-editing technology to develop high-throughput tools to explore the role of RNA regulation in cell cycle control. This project expects to generate new knowledge about cell division and RNA biology by utilizing this new technology and applying interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this proposal include new research tools capable of broadly addressing biological questions across multiple disciplines (e.g. from health to food production). This project intends to provide significant benefits, such as enhanced biological knowledge, multidisciplinary training opportunities and will build Australia’s capability in this rapidly expanding field.Read moreRead less
Understanding protein-nucleic-acid interaction networks in cold-adapted archaea. The aim of this project is to learn how microorganisms can function effectively in naturally cold environments. Results will determine how important cellular processes occur when microorganisms grow in the cold, and hence why they are able to maintain a natural balance in ecosystems such as Antarctica.
Genetic variation of single cell transcriptional heterogeneity in HiPSCs. This project aims to investigate whether induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can be used to study the functions of genetic variants associated with human phenotypes and cell fate decisions. The project will utilise technology to produce single cell RNA sequence data for 100,000s of cells. By sequencing individual cells, the genetic control of cellular heterogeneity both within and between cells can be identified, and in ....Genetic variation of single cell transcriptional heterogeneity in HiPSCs. This project aims to investigate whether induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can be used to study the functions of genetic variants associated with human phenotypes and cell fate decisions. The project will utilise technology to produce single cell RNA sequence data for 100,000s of cells. By sequencing individual cells, the genetic control of cellular heterogeneity both within and between cells can be identified, and in doing so, will provide significant benefit by revealing the potential for iPSC to be used for functional translation of human genomics.Read moreRead less
How to build the head: A molecular mechanistic insight. This project aims to gain an insight into the functional output of the gene regulatory network and the molecular determinants that are critical for the formation of the head. Genome-wide sequencing technologies are employed to identify the ensemble of genes that are regulated by Lhx1. By a combination of bioinformatics analysis and a system biology approach, the project aims to build a model of the network of the interacting genes for head ....How to build the head: A molecular mechanistic insight. This project aims to gain an insight into the functional output of the gene regulatory network and the molecular determinants that are critical for the formation of the head. Genome-wide sequencing technologies are employed to identify the ensemble of genes that are regulated by Lhx1. By a combination of bioinformatics analysis and a system biology approach, the project aims to build a model of the network of the interacting genes for head development, and to characterise the function of selected components of this network to refine its architecture and define the dynamics of the network. The knowledge may improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism underpinning the naturally-occurring variation in the forms of major body parts, and of how genes and signals work cooperatively to build an embryo.Read moreRead less