Molecular, physiological and environmental regulation of toxic prussic acid levels (cyanogenesis) in forage sorghum. Forage sorghum is grown widely in dry, tropical areas of Australia. The leaves contain dhurrin, a natural defence product that liberates prussic acid (cyanide) when leaf tissue is disrupted (eg when chewed). The problem is that young plants or those experiencing drought are highly toxic, resulting in financial loss through reduced nutritive value, livestock loss and wasted feed. U ....Molecular, physiological and environmental regulation of toxic prussic acid levels (cyanogenesis) in forage sorghum. Forage sorghum is grown widely in dry, tropical areas of Australia. The leaves contain dhurrin, a natural defence product that liberates prussic acid (cyanide) when leaf tissue is disrupted (eg when chewed). The problem is that young plants or those experiencing drought are highly toxic, resulting in financial loss through reduced nutritive value, livestock loss and wasted feed. Using new, non-GM technology we will identify novel genetically altered sorghum lines with negligible prussic acid. Lines with enhanced levels could be used as soil biofumigants. Breeders can use this germplasm to develop varieties tailored for increasingly dry Australian conditions. The new varieties with controlled dhurrin content will be suitable for export.Read moreRead less
Young women negotiating from the margins of education and work: towards gender justice in educational and youth policies and programs. Young women who leave school early are the most economically disadvantaged young people in the labour market. We will investigate the educational, labour market, biographical and social experiences of these young women, and their inter-actions with teachers and youth service providers. We will identify trends, differences and similarities across rural and urban l ....Young women negotiating from the margins of education and work: towards gender justice in educational and youth policies and programs. Young women who leave school early are the most economically disadvantaged young people in the labour market. We will investigate the educational, labour market, biographical and social experiences of these young women, and their inter-actions with teachers and youth service providers. We will identify trends, differences and similarities across rural and urban locations and across generations, and develop a profile of factors and programs most likely to help these young women negotiate their post-school lives. The research findings will enrich gender justice and social theory and contribute to policy and program development in the education and youth services sectors.
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Finding The Genetic Causes Of Asthma: The Australian Asthma Genetics Consortium (AAGC)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,697,639.00
Summary
Asthma is a major burden on individuals and health systems. Despite many decades of research, no major effective new treatments for asthma have emerged recently. We will establish a large international consortium to systematically test nearly all known human genes to identify those that influence asthma susceptibility. We expect to identify pathways not previously implicated in asthma and so lead to a potential breakthrough in the development of more effective treatments.
Most eye diseases have a genetic contribution, whether rare disorders affecting children such as retinoblastoma or congenital cataracts through to common disorders of older people such as myopia, age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma. We will continue our successful research to find genes that cause these diseases and use this to improve patient care and prevent blindness. We will work out how families can use this genetic information to participate in trials to develop new treatments.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100829
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,100.00
Summary
Geometric approaches to quantum many body problems. The project aims to utilise results from differential geometry and related areas to investigate the physics of interacting many-body quantum systems. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of mathematical physics with broad applications in quantum information, condensed matter physics and statistical mechanics. The key focus will lie on the development of variational methods for the efficient simulation of quantum evolution ....Geometric approaches to quantum many body problems. The project aims to utilise results from differential geometry and related areas to investigate the physics of interacting many-body quantum systems. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of mathematical physics with broad applications in quantum information, condensed matter physics and statistical mechanics. The key focus will lie on the development of variational methods for the efficient simulation of quantum evolution and the characterisation of suitable quantum state families by their correlation structures.Read moreRead less
High specificity nanosensors for glycobiology . This project aims to develop high specificity glycosensors for identifying and characterising carbohydrates. These glycosensors are expected to generate detailed information on carbohydrate stereochemical structure and how this controls protein-carbohydrate binding and other interactions fundamental to biochemical processes. This innovative nanotechnology aims to deliver a new capability for understanding cellular recognition and antigen binding me ....High specificity nanosensors for glycobiology . This project aims to develop high specificity glycosensors for identifying and characterising carbohydrates. These glycosensors are expected to generate detailed information on carbohydrate stereochemical structure and how this controls protein-carbohydrate binding and other interactions fundamental to biochemical processes. This innovative nanotechnology aims to deliver a new capability for understanding cellular recognition and antigen binding mechanisms. The expected outcomes are new tools for glycobiology and research into carbohydrate structure-function relationships, strengthening Australia’s global reputation in nanosensors with an incisive analytical technology for biomedical sciences and the many industries utilising carbohydrates.Read moreRead less
Safe and unsafe workplace behaviour: the impact of organisational culture and climate. This APA(I) project involves a study of safety cultures of organizations and safety climates of workgroups. It will develop and trial safety interventions derived from an understanding of the normative and individual psychological contracts of safety. It is hypothesized that such contracts will impact on safety behaviors and injury rate. The project will be conducted in collaboration with Kmart and KAAL (A ....Safe and unsafe workplace behaviour: the impact of organisational culture and climate. This APA(I) project involves a study of safety cultures of organizations and safety climates of workgroups. It will develop and trial safety interventions derived from an understanding of the normative and individual psychological contracts of safety. It is hypothesized that such contracts will impact on safety behaviors and injury rate. The project will be conducted in collaboration with Kmart and KAAL (Alcoa) who experience very different levels of risk. The ultimate aim is to develop a better understanding of the complex human systems which impact on safety behaviors and injury rates in organizations.Read moreRead less
A Population-based Family Study Of Filaggrin Mutations And Allergic Disease Risk In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$308,584.00
Summary
It is biologically plausible that the association of known environmental risk factors for asthma may be different for genetically susceptible individuals. Few studies have examined the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. that have not considered genetic susceptibility are estimating an average risk of asthma across all genotypes in the population which may not be relevant for a particular sub-group.
Socially just schooling: a cross-cultural analysis of gender, cultural diversity and social change within Australia and the UK. The study will examine issues of gender justice, cultural diversity and schooling. Through cross-cultural insight developed from analysis of schools in Australia and the UK, the study will enhance policy and practice associated with socially just schooling.
A socio-cultural analysis of eating disorders among pre-teen boys and girls. This project tackles the tough question of why there has been a dramatic increase in eating disorders amongst very young boys and girls by examining the social conditions of children's lives in contemporary Australia. The findings will provide important information for policy makers, educators and clinicians working with children and families.