Genes to phenotype: Exploiting the marsupial model. This research will exploit one of Australia's finest natural resources, its marsupial fauna. The features of marsupial reproduction and development provide a unique opportunity to answer fundamental biological questions. This research will show how the minor differences in key developmental genes that have arisen in their 100 million year isolation give rise to the characteristic differences in developmental timing and reproduction between mar ....Genes to phenotype: Exploiting the marsupial model. This research will exploit one of Australia's finest natural resources, its marsupial fauna. The features of marsupial reproduction and development provide a unique opportunity to answer fundamental biological questions. This research will show how the minor differences in key developmental genes that have arisen in their 100 million year isolation give rise to the characteristic differences in developmental timing and reproduction between marsupials and other mammals. The focus on reproduction and development will also provide invaluable knowledge to underpin efforts to conserve our endangered species and to control those that are overabundant.Read moreRead less
Extrinsic Control of Mammalian Germ Cell Delineation. Australia is a leader in the recent exciting breakthroughs in reproduction and development, such as cloning and embryonic stem cell propagation, and understanding how germ cells are specified would help us understand the biology underlying specification and developmental potential of all cells. This research will continue to contribute to maintaining Australia's high reputation in advances in reproductive biology. In addition, a greater under ....Extrinsic Control of Mammalian Germ Cell Delineation. Australia is a leader in the recent exciting breakthroughs in reproduction and development, such as cloning and embryonic stem cell propagation, and understanding how germ cells are specified would help us understand the biology underlying specification and developmental potential of all cells. This research will continue to contribute to maintaining Australia's high reputation in advances in reproductive biology. In addition, a greater understanding of marsupial reproduction is a high priority for Australia in the 21st century, with its current unacceptably high rate of mammalian extinctions, for 'we cannot conserve until we comprehend' (Short, 1985).The results therefore are of great potential benefit to society.
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Hospital Admission, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Disability And Birth Defects In Assisted Conception Infants.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$115,110.00
Summary
We have recently completed a study examining the prevalence of birth defects in assisted conception infants born in Western Australia from 1993-1997. Contrary to reassuring claims by other researchers in this area, we found that assisted conception infants have a two-fold increased risk of being diagnosed with a major birth defect by one year of age. We now propose to examine other long-term health outcomes in these children. This study involves record linkage between the WA Reproductive Technol ....We have recently completed a study examining the prevalence of birth defects in assisted conception infants born in Western Australia from 1993-1997. Contrary to reassuring claims by other researchers in this area, we found that assisted conception infants have a two-fold increased risk of being diagnosed with a major birth defect by one year of age. We now propose to examine other long-term health outcomes in these children. This study involves record linkage between the WA Reproductive Technology Register and four other population-based databases. The prevalence of cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, hospital admission and birth defects in assisted conception children born in WA between 1993 and 2001 will be compared to that seen in all other Western Australian children born over the same time period. The collection of information on risks associated with assisted conception treatment is vital to allow adequate counselling of couples considering fertility treatment. Cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, birth defects and hospital admission are all serious adverse health outcomes and, despite the introduction of IVF to most Western countries twenty years ago, there are limited data in the literature concerning the occurrence of these conditions in assisted conception infants. Quantifying the contribution of assisted conception treatment to neonatal, infant and childhood morbidity and mortality is also important for the planning of health service provision. Although assisted conception births represent only a small proportion of total births in Australia, these infants may require a disproportionate level of health care services, such as neonatal intensive care treatment due to complications associated with preterm or multiple birth. The wide application of assisted conception treatment in Australia and the increased number of pregnancies achieved by these means reinforce the urgent need for valid data on the health of children born after these procedures.Read moreRead less
The Long-term Consequences Of Assisted Reproduction On The Growth, Metabolic, Respiratory, Psychological, Immunological And Reproductive Development Of The Offspring.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,552,096.00
Summary
1 in 25 children are born from IVF treatment - incredibly- to our shame; no data exists as to the long-term health of these children. Presented is a unique opportunity, which would be exceedingly difficult to replicate elsewhere in the world, to determine the long-term consequences of IVF upon the development of the offspring, by comparing their growth, metabolic, respiratory, psychological, immunological and reproductive development to a representative sample of WA children- the Raine cohort.
Domestic air quality: towards the setting of guidelines. Air quality standards have been developed to protect human health. Although people spend most of their time indoors there are no standards and only a few guidelines for indoor air pollution (IAP). The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of IAP that may worsen asthma in children. Childhood asthma will be used as a health indicator due to its high prevalence, cost to the healthcare system and implications for respiratory morbidity ....Domestic air quality: towards the setting of guidelines. Air quality standards have been developed to protect human health. Although people spend most of their time indoors there are no standards and only a few guidelines for indoor air pollution (IAP). The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of IAP that may worsen asthma in children. Childhood asthma will be used as a health indicator due to its high prevalence, cost to the healthcare system and implications for respiratory morbidity in adult life. We expect to identify levels of IAP that will represent a health risk as well as the factors that may contribute to increased IAP in homes.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of infertility induced in mice by vaccination with murine zona pellucida 3. This research investigates the means by which a novel immunocontraceptive vaccine induces an infertile state in female mice. The vaccine stimulates an autoimmune condition which resembles certain naturally occurring ovarian diseases. By investigating how ovarian cellular interactions are maintained in normal ovaries and disrupted by the immunocontraceptive vaccine, we will learn a great deal about ovarian fu ....Mechanisms of infertility induced in mice by vaccination with murine zona pellucida 3. This research investigates the means by which a novel immunocontraceptive vaccine induces an infertile state in female mice. The vaccine stimulates an autoimmune condition which resembles certain naturally occurring ovarian diseases. By investigating how ovarian cellular interactions are maintained in normal ovaries and disrupted by the immunocontraceptive vaccine, we will learn a great deal about ovarian function in health and disease. Ultimately this information will be applied to improving the reproductive health of women.
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Psychosocial and economic impacts of rare diseases on Australian children, families and health professionals. Rare childhood diseases have enormous impacts on children and families; health services, and health professionals. This project will enable Australia to lead the international research effort by using a coordinated approach to study the impacts of rare diseases in order to improve psychosocial, health and economic outcomes for children and families.
Oxygen Signalling in Grapevine Bud Dormancy. Dormancy is an important economic and ecological trait of many trees and crop plants, including most commercially valuable fruit species. This project aims to: define oxygen and radicals of oxygen as central cues of grapevine bud development and dormancy; identify and model the developmental processes that occur during dormancy onset, maintenance and release (bud burst); as well as to identify the molecular and biochemical regulators of oxygen signals ....Oxygen Signalling in Grapevine Bud Dormancy. Dormancy is an important economic and ecological trait of many trees and crop plants, including most commercially valuable fruit species. This project aims to: define oxygen and radicals of oxygen as central cues of grapevine bud development and dormancy; identify and model the developmental processes that occur during dormancy onset, maintenance and release (bud burst); as well as to identify the molecular and biochemical regulators of oxygen signals in bud dormancy. The knowledge generated could provide a platform to test impacts of climate change on fruit and tree species, and lead to better management of fruit and tree species in agricultural and ecological systems.Read moreRead less
The critical role of kisspeptin/neurokinin/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) release. The brain controls fertility through the secretion of its primary stimulatory factor, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). Brain cells producing three key peptide hormones, kisspeptin, neurokin B and dynorphin (termed KNDy cells) are vital for the control of GnRH. This project will detail the role of KNDy cells in puberty and reproduction.