Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101394
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Early developmental influences on neocortical organisation. This project seeks to identify the influence of preceding developmental stages on the correct formation of the brain. Development is a sequence of transformations where every stage depends on the outcome of previous stages. The project intends to examine how the early sensory periphery, early-born brain circuits, and intrinsic neuronal interactions affect the subsequent organisation of the cerebral cortex – a mammal-specific brain regio ....Early developmental influences on neocortical organisation. This project seeks to identify the influence of preceding developmental stages on the correct formation of the brain. Development is a sequence of transformations where every stage depends on the outcome of previous stages. The project intends to examine how the early sensory periphery, early-born brain circuits, and intrinsic neuronal interactions affect the subsequent organisation of the cerebral cortex – a mammal-specific brain region responsible for perception, motor planning and cognition. It expects to provide novel mechanistic and conceptual insights into the process of normal brain development and more general biological phenomena, such as development and evolution. It may also provide insights into several genetic and non-genetic causes of brain malformations.Read moreRead less
Molecular switches and genetic consequences of grain retention in cereals. Grain retention at maturity was key for crop domestication and laid the basis for farming. Wheat and barley have evolved a novel mechanism for ensuring grain retention and, although the genes are known, the mechanisms for action are not. Grain dispersal in the wild relatives involves highly targeted changes in the walls of a small number of cells. This project will explore how the two identified genes control this proces ....Molecular switches and genetic consequences of grain retention in cereals. Grain retention at maturity was key for crop domestication and laid the basis for farming. Wheat and barley have evolved a novel mechanism for ensuring grain retention and, although the genes are known, the mechanisms for action are not. Grain dispersal in the wild relatives involves highly targeted changes in the walls of a small number of cells. This project will explore how the two identified genes control this process and clarify their mode of action. The genes ensuring grain retention have been so critical for domestication that the region surrounding them has become genetically fixed. The project will assess the implication of fixation on genetic diversity and develop options to bring novel variation into breeding programs.Read moreRead less
Understanding the evolution of the alternation of generations in the land plant life cycle. This project will investigate the genetic basis and evolution of the land plant life cycle, in which both haploid and diploid phases consist of complex multicellular bodies. The project's findings, which will be made using two model laboratory plants, will be applicable to all plants and will help understand important processes such as pollen and seed production.
Continuous tooth replacement in mammals: revealing the fundamental processes in tooth generation and movement. This project will investigate how molar teeth are made in mammals by examining the nabarlek, or little rock-wallaby, which is one of a handful of mammals that is able to regenerate new molars throughout its life. These new teeth migrate through the bone in order to move into the correct position in the mouth. By investigating two well-studied organisms, the mouse and the tammar wallaby, ....Continuous tooth replacement in mammals: revealing the fundamental processes in tooth generation and movement. This project will investigate how molar teeth are made in mammals by examining the nabarlek, or little rock-wallaby, which is one of a handful of mammals that is able to regenerate new molars throughout its life. These new teeth migrate through the bone in order to move into the correct position in the mouth. By investigating two well-studied organisms, the mouse and the tammar wallaby, as well as the nabarlek itself, the developmental processes and genes involved in molar generation and movement will be revealed. This project will integrate findings in regenerative medicine, evolutionary biology, materials engineering and palaeontology to reveal the mechanisms and origins of this astounding capability.Read moreRead less
Cell death by self-eating: Autophagy-dependent tissue removal. This project aims to study the mechanisms and regulation of autophagy-dependent cell death. Cell death maintains cell and tissue homeostasis. Although most cell death is mediated by apoptosis, other modes of cell deletion have emerged recently. One form of cell death involves autophagy, the catabolic process of cellular self-digestion through lysosomal enzymes. As autophagy is a default mechanism of cell survival under stress, the id ....Cell death by self-eating: Autophagy-dependent tissue removal. This project aims to study the mechanisms and regulation of autophagy-dependent cell death. Cell death maintains cell and tissue homeostasis. Although most cell death is mediated by apoptosis, other modes of cell deletion have emerged recently. One form of cell death involves autophagy, the catabolic process of cellular self-digestion through lysosomal enzymes. As autophagy is a default mechanism of cell survival under stress, the idea of autophagy-dependent cell death has been controversial. This proposal aims to resolve this question and provide highly topical knowledge of broad biological significance.Read moreRead less
Hippo signalling control of transcription in lymphatic vascular development. Lymphatic vasculature forms complex, branched networks present in almost all vertebrate tissues and organs. Signalling in lymphatic endothelial cells determines the fate, structure and function of these complex and essential networks. This project follows our recent discovery of a major role for the Hippo signalling pathway in lymphatic vascular development. It aims to investigate how Hippo signalling regulates essenti ....Hippo signalling control of transcription in lymphatic vascular development. Lymphatic vasculature forms complex, branched networks present in almost all vertebrate tissues and organs. Signalling in lymphatic endothelial cells determines the fate, structure and function of these complex and essential networks. This project follows our recent discovery of a major role for the Hippo signalling pathway in lymphatic vascular development. It aims to investigate how Hippo signalling regulates essential target genes that drive lymphatic development. The project expects to generate fundamental knowledge in vascular signalling, transcription and the control of vascular network growth and expansion. Outcomes may provide significant benefits in new approaches in stem cell biology, tissue engineering and regenerative biology. Read moreRead less
Post-translational control of cell fate decision. Deciphering the multi-layered regulation of cell fate decisions is challenging. While progress has been made in understanding the role of transcriptional regulation, the influence of post-translational modification is poorly understood. Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4 (NEDD4)-mediated ubiquitination is absolute necessary for sex determination, a unique model of cell fate decision where gonadal cell precurs ....Post-translational control of cell fate decision. Deciphering the multi-layered regulation of cell fate decisions is challenging. While progress has been made in understanding the role of transcriptional regulation, the influence of post-translational modification is poorly understood. Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4 (NEDD4)-mediated ubiquitination is absolute necessary for sex determination, a unique model of cell fate decision where gonadal cell precursors differentiate either along the male or the female pathway. Thus, this project aims to analyse in detail at which stage NEDD4 action is required and what are the crucial target proteins. This project could provide a deeper understanding of how post-translational modifications influence cell fate decisions during embryogenesis.Read moreRead less
The cost of keeping gruesome images from the world. This project aims to investigate one of society’s most invisible ‘frontline’ trauma workforces—the online content moderators responsible for limiting the public’s exposure to distressing and sensitive content on social media. Using a series of rigorous experiments, and cutting-edge psychological and physiological assessment techniques, the research will advance our understanding of the impact of indirect trauma on mental health. Expected outcom ....The cost of keeping gruesome images from the world. This project aims to investigate one of society’s most invisible ‘frontline’ trauma workforces—the online content moderators responsible for limiting the public’s exposure to distressing and sensitive content on social media. Using a series of rigorous experiments, and cutting-edge psychological and physiological assessment techniques, the research will advance our understanding of the impact of indirect trauma on mental health. Expected outcomes include novel empirical evidence for preventative strategies that will predict, monitor and reduce negative mental health outcomes. This will provide significant global benefits to people with indirect trauma experiences, such as defence and forensic personnel.Read moreRead less
Evaluation of a Training Program for Staff to Recognize Depression Among Aged People Living in Residential and Community Care. Depression is a significant problem among older people, and is likely to increase in prevalence with the aging of the population. A large percentage of depressed older people fail to receive treatment because their depression is not diagnosed. This illness leads to high economic and social costs if it is not diagnosed and treated. This project will evaluate the effective ....Evaluation of a Training Program for Staff to Recognize Depression Among Aged People Living in Residential and Community Care. Depression is a significant problem among older people, and is likely to increase in prevalence with the aging of the population. A large percentage of depressed older people fail to receive treatment because their depression is not diagnosed. This illness leads to high economic and social costs if it is not diagnosed and treated. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of a training program to assist carers to detect depression, and so refer older people for treatment of this condition. Read moreRead less
Normative study of a checklist of emotional and behavioural disturbance in adults with intellectual disability. People with intellectual disability (ID) are three times more likely to suffer mental illness than the general community, making this a bigger problem than schizophrenia. They are a great burden to their carers and cost to the community but their mental health problems remain largely untreated. This study aims to conduct the largest and most comprehensive survey of the mental health ....Normative study of a checklist of emotional and behavioural disturbance in adults with intellectual disability. People with intellectual disability (ID) are three times more likely to suffer mental illness than the general community, making this a bigger problem than schizophrenia. They are a great burden to their carers and cost to the community but their mental health problems remain largely untreated. This study aims to conduct the largest and most comprehensive survey of the mental health of adults with ID that has been undertaken internationally to date. The population will cover the age span of late adolescence (16 years) through the transition to adult life then through to the elderly. The research will establish the prevalence and nature of mental illness and potential risk factors in a large representative population of adults with ID.Read moreRead less