General systems modelling of hydrogen production network in Australia. The project aims at further developing a general framework for systems modelling and applying the framework to investigate the feasibility and sustainability of large-scale hydrogen production in Australia. Two pathways proposed in this project are to be examined: 1) hybrid plants sourcing hydrogen from fossil fuels and solar thermal energy and 2) hydrogen production network producing hydrogen from 100% renewable energy. The ....General systems modelling of hydrogen production network in Australia. The project aims at further developing a general framework for systems modelling and applying the framework to investigate the feasibility and sustainability of large-scale hydrogen production in Australia. Two pathways proposed in this project are to be examined: 1) hybrid plants sourcing hydrogen from fossil fuels and solar thermal energy and 2) hydrogen production network producing hydrogen from 100% renewable energy. The project involves building systems models and using these models to determine optimal operational parameters and conditions with the goal of maintaining export of high-end energy resources to Japan and other countries as well as using hydrogen domestically while minimising the environment effects of hydrogen production.Read moreRead less
Targeting TGF-beta proteins to control animal reproduction. This project aims to develop a suite of novel biologics to control fertility in female mammals. This project expects to demonstrate that targeting a single class of ovarian proteins will enhance or inhibit egg production. The expected outcomes of this project are to (1) transform the breeding of livestock animals, which should provide significant benefits to the agricultural industry, through increased herd/flock sizes, and (2) provide ....Targeting TGF-beta proteins to control animal reproduction. This project aims to develop a suite of novel biologics to control fertility in female mammals. This project expects to demonstrate that targeting a single class of ovarian proteins will enhance or inhibit egg production. The expected outcomes of this project are to (1) transform the breeding of livestock animals, which should provide significant benefits to the agricultural industry, through increased herd/flock sizes, and (2) provide a non-surgical method of contraception in companion/feral species, which should address the large unmet need for fertility control in these animals.
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Breaking the nexus: more biomass in cereal grain. Grain yield is controlled by complex, regulated genetic networks or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) derived from natural variations in many crop plants. Yield is a product of the three major parameters: panicle number, grain number and grain size, trade-offs are commonly observed between grain number and size. There is evidence to suggest it is possible to improve grain size without altering overall biomass. With the genomic and genetic resource t ....Breaking the nexus: more biomass in cereal grain. Grain yield is controlled by complex, regulated genetic networks or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) derived from natural variations in many crop plants. Yield is a product of the three major parameters: panicle number, grain number and grain size, trade-offs are commonly observed between grain number and size. There is evidence to suggest it is possible to improve grain size without altering overall biomass. With the genomic and genetic resource tools at hand. This project will elucidate the genetic architecture of grain size, and manipulate the key loci to generate more biomass in the grain, minimising or eliminating the adverse impact on seed number. This will maximise harvestable yield without imposing increased demand for water and nutrients.Read moreRead less
Cereal blueprints for a water-limited world. This project aims to demonstrate that key developmental genes in cereals can be manipulated to design plant architecture for specific resource-limited environments. Producing more food with less water is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. This project expects to increase understanding of how shoot and root systems can be uncoupled to enhance crop adaptation in water-limited environments using an accelerated genome editing approach. ....Cereal blueprints for a water-limited world. This project aims to demonstrate that key developmental genes in cereals can be manipulated to design plant architecture for specific resource-limited environments. Producing more food with less water is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. This project expects to increase understanding of how shoot and root systems can be uncoupled to enhance crop adaptation in water-limited environments using an accelerated genome editing approach. An expected outcome of the project is enhanced drought adaptation for cereals in a dry world. This should provide significant benefits to farmers and consumers in Australia and worldwide.Read moreRead less
Molecular Resolution 3D Atlas of the Photosynthetic Machinery. The project aims to produce an atomic-resolution 3-D atlas of the photosynthetic machinery of single-cell green algae to guide the targeted engineering of high efficiency algae production cell lines and bio-inspired artificial solar fuel systems. Photosynthesis drives the first step of all algae production processes by capturing solar energy and converting it to chemical energy (for example sustainable fuels, food and high value prod ....Molecular Resolution 3D Atlas of the Photosynthetic Machinery. The project aims to produce an atomic-resolution 3-D atlas of the photosynthetic machinery of single-cell green algae to guide the targeted engineering of high efficiency algae production cell lines and bio-inspired artificial solar fuel systems. Photosynthesis drives the first step of all algae production processes by capturing solar energy and converting it to chemical energy (for example sustainable fuels, food and high value products), but excess light can cause photodamage. Microalgae have evolved intricate photo-protection mechanisms that can dissipate up to 90 per cent of the captured light energy. Fine-tuning the light harvesting complexes could considerably increase efficiency.Read moreRead less
Perovskite Quantum Dots for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Sustainable hydrogen production is highly significant towards decarbonised economy. This project aims to develop new classes of organometal halide perovskite quantum dots (OHPQDs) for efficient photoelecrochemical hydrogen production. The key concept is to design toxic Lead free/less OHPQDs for use as stable photoelectrode materials in self-powered sunlight driven water splitting devices. Expected outcomes include new generation advanced mat ....Perovskite Quantum Dots for Solar Hydrogen Generation. Sustainable hydrogen production is highly significant towards decarbonised economy. This project aims to develop new classes of organometal halide perovskite quantum dots (OHPQDs) for efficient photoelecrochemical hydrogen production. The key concept is to design toxic Lead free/less OHPQDs for use as stable photoelectrode materials in self-powered sunlight driven water splitting devices. Expected outcomes include new generation advanced materials and revolutionary technologies for efficient solar hydrogen generation. The successful completion of this project will significantly benefit Australia by positioning the nation at the frontier of renewable hydrogen supply technologies. Read moreRead less
Plant heterotrimeric G proteins: new roles in defence, stomatal control and ABA perception. Agriculture is an important economic activity in Australia that results in considerable export revenues. Two of the major problems facing agriculture around the globe are the incidence of diseases and the scarcity of water. Agricultural losses caused by plant pathogens and low water availability account for billions of dollars every year and have profound economic and social implications. Water is an extr ....Plant heterotrimeric G proteins: new roles in defence, stomatal control and ABA perception. Agriculture is an important economic activity in Australia that results in considerable export revenues. Two of the major problems facing agriculture around the globe are the incidence of diseases and the scarcity of water. Agricultural losses caused by plant pathogens and low water availability account for billions of dollars every year and have profound economic and social implications. Water is an extremely scarce resource in Australia and periodic droughts inflict immense losses to the Australian agricultural sector. Our research will explore new and cleaner strategies to provide crop protection as well as to increase water use efficiency.Read moreRead less
Manipulation of apoptosis-related genes to generate novel disease resistances in banana. Bananas are one of Australia's most important fruit crops. However, the industry is continually threatened by numerous diseases including yellow and black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt and bunchy top. Control of these diseases currently requires either extensive pesticide treatments or complex agronomic procedures, of which most are ineffective, expensive or environmentally damaging. The aim of this project is to ....Manipulation of apoptosis-related genes to generate novel disease resistances in banana. Bananas are one of Australia's most important fruit crops. However, the industry is continually threatened by numerous diseases including yellow and black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt and bunchy top. Control of these diseases currently requires either extensive pesticide treatments or complex agronomic procedures, of which most are ineffective, expensive or environmentally damaging. The aim of this project is to utilise a novel strategy to generate transgenic bananas with resistance to these diseases. The benefit will be both economic and environmental as implementation should significantly reduce or eliminate pesticide use. Importantly, this strategy can potentially be extrapolated to many other crops.Read moreRead less
A new photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen and electricity. This project aims to develop a new integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity simultaneously. The key concept is to design innovative advanced materials which will be integrated into PEC devices with capacitor function for both solar fuel production and electricity storage. This project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the fundamental mechanism of de ....A new photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen and electricity. This project aims to develop a new integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity simultaneously. The key concept is to design innovative advanced materials which will be integrated into PEC devices with capacitor function for both solar fuel production and electricity storage. This project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the fundamental mechanism of developing functional materials for more efficient solar energy conversion and storage. Expected outcomes include prototypes of the next generation advanced materials and technologies for sustainable energy utilisation systems for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity.Read moreRead less
Generating broad and stable resistance to gemini- and nanoviruses. The ssDNA geminiviruses and nanoviruses are considered a major threat to crop production in the tropics and subtropics. There are currently no effective control strategies for these viruses. We have been developing a novel transgenic strategy for generating resistance to ssDNA viruses based on the activation of a suicide gene in the presence of the viral Rep protein. Importantly, we have demonstrated proof-of-principle using Toba ....Generating broad and stable resistance to gemini- and nanoviruses. The ssDNA geminiviruses and nanoviruses are considered a major threat to crop production in the tropics and subtropics. There are currently no effective control strategies for these viruses. We have been developing a novel transgenic strategy for generating resistance to ssDNA viruses based on the activation of a suicide gene in the presence of the viral Rep protein. Importantly, we have demonstrated proof-of-principle using Tobacco yellow dwarf mastrevirus. In this project, we aim to further develop this strategy into a broad and stable mechanism for generating resistance to all known geminiviruses and nanoviruses.Read moreRead less