Genetic and Hormonal Regulation of Plant Growth. Leguminous plants make a substantial contribution to the Australian economy. To ensure future growth, we need to know more about how legume development is regulated. Genetic mutants, typically affecting the growth-promoting gibberellin plant hormones, played a key role in the green revolution, which transformed agriculture world-wide. Recent results show that gibberellin acts in concert with another hormone, auxin. We will generate new auxin-relat ....Genetic and Hormonal Regulation of Plant Growth. Leguminous plants make a substantial contribution to the Australian economy. To ensure future growth, we need to know more about how legume development is regulated. Genetic mutants, typically affecting the growth-promoting gibberellin plant hormones, played a key role in the green revolution, which transformed agriculture world-wide. Recent results show that gibberellin acts in concert with another hormone, auxin. We will generate new auxin-related mutants that will help us to understand how auxin and auxin-mediated interactions affect crop architecture and performance. Further benefit will accrue from training of students in state-of-the-art techniques, and the generation of new germplasm for use by other researchers and plant breeders. Read moreRead less
Genetic and Hormonal Interactions Controlling Shoot Growth. This project will determine how plant growth is regulated at the genetic, biochemical, and physiological levels, and how plant hormones provide key links between the genotype and overall phenotype (phenome). The work uses peas as a model because of the wealth of mutants available and the suitability of the species for physiological and biochemical studies. Our results will allow comparison of development in the caulescent pea plant wi ....Genetic and Hormonal Interactions Controlling Shoot Growth. This project will determine how plant growth is regulated at the genetic, biochemical, and physiological levels, and how plant hormones provide key links between the genotype and overall phenotype (phenome). The work uses peas as a model because of the wealth of mutants available and the suitability of the species for physiological and biochemical studies. Our results will allow comparison of development in the caulescent pea plant with other model species with different growth habits, such as Arabidopsis. The project is significant because it will enable shoot growth to be modified either genetically or chemically to meet particular agronomic objectives.Read moreRead less
Brassinosteroids and Plant Development. Brassinosteroids are steroid hormones, which are essential for normal plant growth and development. This project will address fundamental questions regarding the biology of these substances. The work uses pea as a model species because of its suitability for physiological, biochemical and genetic studies. The results obtained will substantially increase our knowledge of the way in which these substances regulate plant growth. This is significant as it will ....Brassinosteroids and Plant Development. Brassinosteroids are steroid hormones, which are essential for normal plant growth and development. This project will address fundamental questions regarding the biology of these substances. The work uses pea as a model species because of its suitability for physiological, biochemical and genetic studies. The results obtained will substantially increase our knowledge of the way in which these substances regulate plant growth. This is significant as it will ultimately allow plant growth to be modified either genetically or chemically, to meet particular agronomic objectives.Read moreRead less
The pull-out capacity of a newly developed grouted soil nailing system. The project aims to develop a new reliable and efficient grouted soil nail system for improving the performance of loose soft soils. Important applications of the research include the mitigation of landslides, which pose a major threat to communities and infrastructure worldwide. Laboratory small scale experiments and numerical analyses will be carried out to optimize the grouting efficiency and enhance the pull-out resistan ....The pull-out capacity of a newly developed grouted soil nailing system. The project aims to develop a new reliable and efficient grouted soil nail system for improving the performance of loose soft soils. Important applications of the research include the mitigation of landslides, which pose a major threat to communities and infrastructure worldwide. Laboratory small scale experiments and numerical analyses will be carried out to optimize the grouting efficiency and enhance the pull-out resistance between the grout and surrounded soil in the soil nail system. This integrated project will provide a valuable tool for engineers who wish to stabilize loose fill slopes or soft grounds in Australia and worldwide.Read moreRead less
Integrated genetic regulation of photomorphogenesis in Pisum. This project will use a molecular genetic approach in garden pea to investigate the roles of photoreceptors that mediate developmental responses to light. It will define gene families encoding phytochrome, cryptochrome and phototropin photoreceptors, characterise photoreceptor gene expression, and identify mutants with impaired response to light. The mutants will be used in molecular, physiological and biochemical studies to examine h ....Integrated genetic regulation of photomorphogenesis in Pisum. This project will use a molecular genetic approach in garden pea to investigate the roles of photoreceptors that mediate developmental responses to light. It will define gene families encoding phytochrome, cryptochrome and phototropin photoreceptors, characterise photoreceptor gene expression, and identify mutants with impaired response to light. The mutants will be used in molecular, physiological and biochemical studies to examine how photoreceptors control and co-ordinate development throughout the plant via effects on plant hormone synthesis and response. Results from the project will be of practical importance in manipulating key aspects of plant growth to better suit particular environmental and agronomic objectives.Read moreRead less
Managing Fresh-Water Resources in Saline Environments. Australian industry and urban developments often rely on a secure supply of fresh water. In many situations, the fresh water occurs adjacent to large expanses of saline water. This poses special constraints on how the fresh water can be recovered. This project undertakes careful mathematical modelling of fresh water recovery from reservoirs and from within islands (where it may be the only practical source of drinking water). The injecti ....Managing Fresh-Water Resources in Saline Environments. Australian industry and urban developments often rely on a secure supply of fresh water. In many situations, the fresh water occurs adjacent to large expanses of saline water. This poses special constraints on how the fresh water can be recovered. This project undertakes careful mathematical modelling of fresh water recovery from reservoirs and from within islands (where it may be the only practical source of drinking water). The injection and extraction of ground water in novel "mineral leaching" mining technology will also be investigated.Read moreRead less
A Biologically Responsive and Anatomically Authentic Human Nasal Model. As respiratory conditions caused by pollutants and viruses become more prevalent, human nasal models to study infection/protection mechanisms and nasal drug/vaccine delivery are increasingly important. This project aims to develop a world-first human nasal model to mimic both anatomical and biological aspects of the nasal cavity and predict the distribution and deposition of fine particles and the resultant biological respon ....A Biologically Responsive and Anatomically Authentic Human Nasal Model. As respiratory conditions caused by pollutants and viruses become more prevalent, human nasal models to study infection/protection mechanisms and nasal drug/vaccine delivery are increasingly important. This project aims to develop a world-first human nasal model to mimic both anatomical and biological aspects of the nasal cavity and predict the distribution and deposition of fine particles and the resultant biological response from the nasal mucosa. The aim is to overcome a key fabrication challenge - to 3D print an anatomically accurate nasal construct with a porous wall on which to grow and mature functional nasal tissue that lines a nasal cavity wall. The benefit would be enabling faster development of more targeted drugs and vaccines.Read moreRead less
Ultrasound in muscle vascular research, and gene therapy. This project focuses on ultrasound and microbubbles for the imaging of microvascular blood flow patterns in skeletal muscle and as a modality for drug delivery. The aim is to develop and refine technology specifically for (i) assessment of muscle microvascular flow in health and disease, and for (ii) delivery of state-of-the art gene constructs to endothelial cells that control blood flow in the muscle microvasculature. We anticipate impr ....Ultrasound in muscle vascular research, and gene therapy. This project focuses on ultrasound and microbubbles for the imaging of microvascular blood flow patterns in skeletal muscle and as a modality for drug delivery. The aim is to develop and refine technology specifically for (i) assessment of muscle microvascular flow in health and disease, and for (ii) delivery of state-of-the art gene constructs to endothelial cells that control blood flow in the muscle microvasculature. We anticipate improved technology for early diagnosis of impairment in microvascular flow relevant to muscle insulin resistance and novel therapeutics that improve muscle microvascular blood flow applicable to the treatment of diabetes.Read moreRead less
Optimising Control of Hydroelectric Turbines Subject to Basslink Instability. With the introduction of Basslink, an underwater DC power cable across the Bass Strait, Tasmania will be connected to the national Electricity Market. Basslink will also provide an opportunity to utilise the significant water energy potential found throughout Tasmania. This project will examine the impact and disturbances due to the connection of Basslink with Tasmanian hydro power systems and develop control strategi ....Optimising Control of Hydroelectric Turbines Subject to Basslink Instability. With the introduction of Basslink, an underwater DC power cable across the Bass Strait, Tasmania will be connected to the national Electricity Market. Basslink will also provide an opportunity to utilise the significant water energy potential found throughout Tasmania. This project will examine the impact and disturbances due to the connection of Basslink with Tasmanian hydro power systems and develop control strategies for effective operation and control of hydro turbines with Basslink. Particular attention will be paid to the quality and reliability of electricity supply in Tasmania.Read moreRead less
Micro-electrofluidic platforms for monitoring 3D human biological models. The ability to study living cells and human biological models (cell cultures) delivers greater understanding of basic biological function and response to applied (bio)chemical stimuli. Creating the physical environments to sustain biological models, and mimic natural conditions and fluidic pathways, is immensely challenging, yet essential to deliver meaningful observational data. This project will deliver this capability t ....Micro-electrofluidic platforms for monitoring 3D human biological models. The ability to study living cells and human biological models (cell cultures) delivers greater understanding of basic biological function and response to applied (bio)chemical stimuli. Creating the physical environments to sustain biological models, and mimic natural conditions and fluidic pathways, is immensely challenging, yet essential to deliver meaningful observational data. This project will deliver this capability through the convergence of expertise and innovation in analytical chemistry, materials science and cellular biology, ultilising the latest technology and understanding of 3D micro/electrofluidics, to enable the study and stimulation of advanced biological models, sustained within precisely controlled 3D micro-environments.Read moreRead less