Clinical Genetic Phenotyping Of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$582,114.00
Summary
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulty with communication, social interaction and intellectual disability. The cause is generally not known although most cases have a genetic basis involving multiple genes and possibly environmental factors. We will study families of children with ASD and carefully characterize features related to ASD in family members. This will help us to understand how ASD is inherited and serve as the basis for the discovery of autism genes.
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.
A Study Of The Molecular Epidemiology And Virulence Determinants Of Enterovirus 71 Strains From The Asia-Pacific Region
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,325.00
Summary
In this study, we aim to understand the reasons for the emergence of epidemics of severe neurological disease due to enterovirus 71 (EV71) in young children of the Asia-Pacific region since 1997, and to develop strategies for disease prevention. EV71 is a human enterovirus closely related to the polioviruses. Most infections with EV71 are trivial, however, they may occasionally result in severe disease, including brainstem encephalitis with a high mortality and acute flaccid paralysis similar to ....In this study, we aim to understand the reasons for the emergence of epidemics of severe neurological disease due to enterovirus 71 (EV71) in young children of the Asia-Pacific region since 1997, and to develop strategies for disease prevention. EV71 is a human enterovirus closely related to the polioviruses. Most infections with EV71 are trivial, however, they may occasionally result in severe disease, including brainstem encephalitis with a high mortality and acute flaccid paralysis similar to poliomyelitis. There has been a large increase in EV71 epidemic activity throughout the Asia-Pacific region since 1997, including a large epidemic in Perth, Western Australia in 1999. These epidemics have resulted in many deaths and cases of severe neurological disability. In view of the severity of EV71 neurological disease and the lack of effective treatments, our research effort needs to focus on prevention through public health surveillance and vaccine development. The major aims of our study are two-fold: 1. To study the origin and evolution of EV71 in the Asia-Pacific region using molecular techniques and to use this information to implement surveillance in Australia and Southeast Asia. It is anticipated that improved surveillance will provide early warning of impending epidemics. 2. To understand the molecular basis of virulence of EV71, with emphasis on the ability of virus to cause severe disease of the central nervous system. This study will have two goals: a. To identify the human cellular receptor of EV71. The ultimate goal of this research will be the development of a small animal model of EV71 encephalitis by constructing a transgenic mouse expressing the human cellular receptor for EV71. b. To construct an infectious cDNA clone of EV71 and to develop genetically defined attenuated strains by mutagenesis of the infectious clone. Mutant strains of EV71 will be tested for replication and virulence in newborn mice and in human neuroblastoma cells.Read moreRead less
A study of the archaeology of Caucasian Iberia with implications for grazing management in Australia. This multi-disciplinary project will promote a younger generation of talented postgraduate and undergraduate students in a wide variety of fields, including archaeology, geomatic engineering, conservation of material culture, environmental and other natural sciences. The highlands of the Caucasus, located in a bioclimatic zone with a long history of alpine grazing, can also provide answers to qu ....A study of the archaeology of Caucasian Iberia with implications for grazing management in Australia. This multi-disciplinary project will promote a younger generation of talented postgraduate and undergraduate students in a wide variety of fields, including archaeology, geomatic engineering, conservation of material culture, environmental and other natural sciences. The highlands of the Caucasus, located in a bioclimatic zone with a long history of alpine grazing, can also provide answers to questions such as the effect of grazing on biodiversity and the rehabilitation of fragile ecosystems, which may inform management and conservation activities in analogous highland country in Australia. The project will also ensure that exhibitions illustrating the rich heritage of Caucasus will reach Australian shores.Read moreRead less
Dhenia: A study of regionalism, population and society in Bronze Age Cyprus. The cemetery complex at Dhenia in Cyprus was in use for 2500 years, from the beginning of the Bronze Age (2,400 BCE) to the end of the Iron Age. This project is designed to sample this extensive site to assess its changing size and structure during periods of major social transformation. Comparative studies of contemporary sites will provide the basis for monitoring and explaining local, regional and island-wide relatio ....Dhenia: A study of regionalism, population and society in Bronze Age Cyprus. The cemetery complex at Dhenia in Cyprus was in use for 2500 years, from the beginning of the Bronze Age (2,400 BCE) to the end of the Iron Age. This project is designed to sample this extensive site to assess its changing size and structure during periods of major social transformation. Comparative studies of contemporary sites will provide the basis for monitoring and explaining local, regional and island-wide relationships, viewed in a context of expanding population and increasing interaction with the wider Mediterranean world. New data and approaches will contribute significantly to Cypriot archaeology and to broader archaeological theory.Read moreRead less
In the Wake of the Sea Peoples, In the Footsteps of Goliath: Excavating the Philistine Site of Tell es-Safi/Gath. This project brings Australian research into the current scholarly debates on Philistine identity, a quickly growing sub-discipline in Mediterranean archaeology. Marginalized in the Bible as decadent, current research sees the Philistines as a cosmopolitan culture resulting from migration from Cyprus and the Aegean, and interaction with the local Canaanite population. In addition, Au ....In the Wake of the Sea Peoples, In the Footsteps of Goliath: Excavating the Philistine Site of Tell es-Safi/Gath. This project brings Australian research into the current scholarly debates on Philistine identity, a quickly growing sub-discipline in Mediterranean archaeology. Marginalized in the Bible as decadent, current research sees the Philistines as a cosmopolitan culture resulting from migration from Cyprus and the Aegean, and interaction with the local Canaanite population. In addition, Australian collaboration and interaction with Israeli colleagues and students will contribute to a more positive perception of the Jewish community in Australia, which has been the recent target of anti-Semitic activities as a result of the Israeli government's invasion of Gaza.Read moreRead less
Settlement patterns, craft production, and the rise of early states in China. This project is an international, multidisciplinary archaeological program focused on monitoring the processes which led to the rise of early states in China, through extensive study of settlement patterns in the Yiluo valley, using regional surveys and geoarchaeological investigations. It will make significant contributions in four aspects: evaluation and reformulation of general theoretical and methodological approac ....Settlement patterns, craft production, and the rise of early states in China. This project is an international, multidisciplinary archaeological program focused on monitoring the processes which led to the rise of early states in China, through extensive study of settlement patterns in the Yiluo valley, using regional surveys and geoarchaeological investigations. It will make significant contributions in four aspects: evaluation and reformulation of general theoretical and methodological approaches to the interdisciplinary study of social complexity; enhanced understanding of Chinese cultural history in the light of anthropological theory; articulation of empirical approaches to the study of Chinese civilisation through archaeology; and strengthened collaborative research between archaeologists in Australia and other parts of the world.Read moreRead less
Determinant Spreading And The Role Of The MHC Class II Region In Systemic And Organ-specific Autoimmunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,570.00
Summary
Autoimmune diseases are among the most important group of disorders affecting the adult population. In these diseases the immune system damages organs and tissues producing widespread pathology (systemic autoimmunity such as Lupus erythematosus) or localised disease (organ-specific autoimmunity such as insulin dependent diabetes). We understand very little about how and why the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. This study examines how antibodies and T lymphocytes are formed against c ....Autoimmune diseases are among the most important group of disorders affecting the adult population. In these diseases the immune system damages organs and tissues producing widespread pathology (systemic autoimmunity such as Lupus erythematosus) or localised disease (organ-specific autoimmunity such as insulin dependent diabetes). We understand very little about how and why the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. This study examines how antibodies and T lymphocytes are formed against components located inside cells of the body. The study involves genetically modifying mice by introducing key human genes which influence the development of autoimmunity. In this way the role of these human genes can be examined experimentally without having to work exclusively on patients. We also hope that these mice might be important in creating new models of celiac disease and insulin dependent diabetes. The proposed experiments should tell us how these genes contribute to the development of autoimmune disease. This understanding could be relevant devising treatments and interventions to prevent autoimmune diseases.Read moreRead less
Estimation of non-additive genetic variance for complex traits using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphyisms and sequence data. Finding genes for traits of importance in agriculture, ecology and human health depends on understanding the genetic basis of these traits. This project will investigate whether variation in traits in humans, cattle and wild sheep are influenced by gene-gene interactions.
The genetic architecture and evolution of quantitative traits. Most important traits are controlled by many genes and by the environment, however there is little knowledge of how many genes are involved in these complex traits and what their effects are. This project will describe the number of genes and their effects for complex traits in humans and livestock and explain how these genes evolve.