The Tasmanian Healthy Brain Project: A Longitudinal Intervention Study To Reduce The Risk Of Ageing-related Cognitive Decline And Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$878,792.00
Summary
It has been proposed that engagement in purposeful complex mental stimulation provides protection against dementia. The Tasmanian Healthy Brain Project (THBP) is a unique, large-scale prospective trial that examines whether university-level study in older adult population reduces ageing-related cognitive decline and risk of dementia. This project will also examine how an individual’s genetic profile may influence the potential benefits of complex mental stimulation as well as risk of dementia.
Imaging the world of miniature venomous arthropods. Venomous arthropods produce a myriad of biologically active peptides, with many having potential as pharmacological tools, bioinsecticides and pharmaceuticals. Most studies to date have focussed on large arthropods; smaller species remain neglected due to the difficulties of venom collection. This project seeks to further advance the pioneering imaging mass spectrometry approaches the project team developed for imaging toxins in the venom gland ....Imaging the world of miniature venomous arthropods. Venomous arthropods produce a myriad of biologically active peptides, with many having potential as pharmacological tools, bioinsecticides and pharmaceuticals. Most studies to date have focussed on large arthropods; smaller species remain neglected due to the difficulties of venom collection. This project seeks to further advance the pioneering imaging mass spectrometry approaches the project team developed for imaging toxins in the venom glands of spiders and centipedes. By combining high-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation imaging data with histological and transcriptomic information the project aims to provide the first detailed insights into the neglected world of miniature arthropod venoms. The approaches developed by this project aim to have wide application in the field of biology.Read moreRead less
Attention and hazard perception while driving: how experts see the scene. All drivers have 'drifted-off' or failed to see something that was clearly in view, yet trained expert drivers appear to rarely experience this. This project aims to understand in both 'normal' drivers and expert drivers, attentional mechanisms that control distraction and the perception of hazards, which is critical to road safety and young driver training.
School principals’ diminishing wellbeing. School principals’ diminishing wellbeing. This project aims to investigate the effect of State Education Departments’ policy interventions designed to improve school principals’ flagging wellbeing. Increasing competition, accountability and public scrutiny make principals stressed; since their influence on students is second only to teachers’, this threatens Australia’s socioeconomic outcomes. The project will map policy interventions to changes in princ ....School principals’ diminishing wellbeing. School principals’ diminishing wellbeing. This project aims to investigate the effect of State Education Departments’ policy interventions designed to improve school principals’ flagging wellbeing. Increasing competition, accountability and public scrutiny make principals stressed; since their influence on students is second only to teachers’, this threatens Australia’s socioeconomic outcomes. The project will map policy interventions to changes in principals’ motivation and wellbeing, and share information about the most productive and cost effective interventions with key stakeholders across Australia. This research could reverse the declining wellbeing of Australia’s school leaders.Read moreRead less
Farmers of the Future: the Challenges of Feminised Agriculture in India. Neoliberal economic policies are fundamentally transforming the social landscapes of rural India, causing a deep agrarian crisis. The agrarian changes accentuate the unequal consequences for poor women and men in relation to: production (labour, tenure); livelihood and food security; access to and ownership of assets such as land and water and access to agricultural innovations and institutions. This multiscalar project inv ....Farmers of the Future: the Challenges of Feminised Agriculture in India. Neoliberal economic policies are fundamentally transforming the social landscapes of rural India, causing a deep agrarian crisis. The agrarian changes accentuate the unequal consequences for poor women and men in relation to: production (labour, tenure); livelihood and food security; access to and ownership of assets such as land and water and access to agricultural innovations and institutions. This multiscalar project investigates the causes and consequences of feminisation of agriculture in India’s transitioning economy in order to understand how gender roles and relations are being re-shaped in communities and households in diverse socioeconomic and cultural contexts and agro-ecological areas.Read moreRead less
Understanding and Managing the Occupational Health Impacts on Investigators of Internet Child Exploitation. Through developing best practice models for managing vicarious trauma in investigators of Internet child exploitation, the project will result in enhanced job satisfaction and less burnout of workers, and reduced health costs for policing organisations. Thus the project addresses a serious occupational health issue and contributes to the goal of promoting and maintaining good health. Furth ....Understanding and Managing the Occupational Health Impacts on Investigators of Internet Child Exploitation. Through developing best practice models for managing vicarious trauma in investigators of Internet child exploitation, the project will result in enhanced job satisfaction and less burnout of workers, and reduced health costs for policing organisations. Thus the project addresses a serious occupational health issue and contributes to the goal of promoting and maintaining good health. Further, by better managing the occupational health of investigators, the project will enhance the capacity of police organisations to deliver on their mission of investigating and preventing Internet child exploitation. This in turn contributes to the reduced consumption of Internet child exploitation and the associated traumatisation of abused victims. Read moreRead less
The Nakanai Caves Cultural Heritage Project. This project aims to document and integrate the natural and cultural values of the Nakanai Caves in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, in preparation for a cultural landscape World Heritage nomination. The project’s novel methodology incorporates community knowledge with archaeological and anthropological evidence to link natural and cultural values and define the landscape from local perspectives. Local input into the research will be prioritised. B ....The Nakanai Caves Cultural Heritage Project. This project aims to document and integrate the natural and cultural values of the Nakanai Caves in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, in preparation for a cultural landscape World Heritage nomination. The project’s novel methodology incorporates community knowledge with archaeological and anthropological evidence to link natural and cultural values and define the landscape from local perspectives. Local input into the research will be prioritised. By emphasising local participation and management of World Heritage listing processes the project aims to address an identified gap in World Heritage methodologies. This project allows for a subtle, nuanced definition of cultural landscapes under the World Heritage Convention.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development. The Centre will create a multidisciplinary research team focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive the specification and differentiation of male germ cells. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of how complex regulatory networks control the expression of a complex phenotype, the spermatozoon. It will also create a platform of knowledge from which we can stimulate the growth of the Australian Biotechnology indust ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development. The Centre will create a multidisciplinary research team focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive the specification and differentiation of male germ cells. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of how complex regulatory networks control the expression of a complex phenotype, the spermatozoon. It will also create a platform of knowledge from which we can stimulate the growth of the Australian Biotechnology industry, the protection of the Australian Environment and the well-being of the Australian people. Key issues for this Centre include testicular cancer, male infertility, contraception, pest animal control, environmental impacts on human health and gene pharming.Read moreRead less
Centre Of Research Excellence In Infectious Diseases Modelling To Inform Public Health Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,600,064.00
Summary
Infectious diseases pose a global challenge, with substantial human and economic costs. Mathematical models provide valuable frameworks to assess likely benefits of interventions to control infection spread and burden. Leveraging existing NHMRC support, we will expand modeling capability to inform infectious disease control policy in Australia and our region. Focus areas include vaccine preventable disease, respiratory viruses and emerging pathogens, supported by innovative methods development.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR120100005
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,198,392.00
Summary
National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network. The National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network will capacity build and increase Indigenous higher degree, early and mid career researchers to develop new approaches to undertaking research and producing outcomes. NIRAKN's members include a number of universities, AIATSIS, and partner organisations.