Methods to infer dense genomic information from sparsely genotyped populations. Prediction of phenotype based on DNA polymorphisms or sequence has important applications such as prediction of disease risk in human medicine and prediction of genetic value in plant or animal breeding. This project will enhance precision and lower the cost of association studies leading to substantial increase in accuracy of such predictions. This will allow more effective genetic improvement, particularly of diff ....Methods to infer dense genomic information from sparsely genotyped populations. Prediction of phenotype based on DNA polymorphisms or sequence has important applications such as prediction of disease risk in human medicine and prediction of genetic value in plant or animal breeding. This project will enhance precision and lower the cost of association studies leading to substantial increase in accuracy of such predictions. This will allow more effective genetic improvement, particularly of difficult but important traits such as disease resistance, reduced green-house gas emissions and product quality. The same methods can be extended to improve genetic improvement in plants and better prediction of human disease risk. Read moreRead less
Attraction and retention: the role of mobility in educational pathways and human capital development. This project will examine the factors that attract and retain school leavers and tertiary graduates in cities, towns and rural areas of non-metropolitan Victoria. It will increase understanding of how spatial mobility shapes young people's transition through higher education to adulthood and guide regional development policy to enhance human capital.
Evaluating the effectiveness of fire safety programs in emergency services management. Measuring the effectiveness of fire safety programs is critical to minimising economic costs, optimising resource utilisation and mitigating risk to individuals of injury and death. This project will be the first study to develop a methodological framework that integrates geographical, statistical and temporal analyses for their evaluation.
Identifying the diversity and evolution of loci associated with adaptation to aridity/heat and salinity in ancient cereal crops. This project will use ancient grains of wheat, barley and rye to find 'lost' genetic diversity at key genes associated with resistance to aridity, salt and disease. This project will make the proteins of key genes, and study their interaction with the environment over time by measuring ions in the grains to reveal the ancient environmental conditions.
Genomic selection: a new frontier for higher rates of genetic gain in wheat. The historical rates of genetic gain in wheat production are insufficient to meet the world's future needs for wheat-based food. Genomic selection (GS) is the most likely candidate tool that is capable of delivering the required level of genetic gain. This project will develop data-sets and statistical methods to implement GS in wheat.
Equitable local outcomes in adaptation to sea-level rise. The project clearly falls within the priority goal of responding to climate change and variability in being about responding to sea-level rise. It is of direct benefit to rural communities in Gippsland that are vulnerable to sea-level rise, and the project has been identified as a priority research need by the Gippsland Coastal Board, local governments in Gippsland, and the Victorian Government, all of whom are partners in this project. T ....Equitable local outcomes in adaptation to sea-level rise. The project clearly falls within the priority goal of responding to climate change and variability in being about responding to sea-level rise. It is of direct benefit to rural communities in Gippsland that are vulnerable to sea-level rise, and the project has been identified as a priority research need by the Gippsland Coastal Board, local governments in Gippsland, and the Victorian Government, all of whom are partners in this project. The guidelines produced will contribute to improved decision making about adaptation nationally and internationally, and the project's intellectual outcomes will be of interest and values to researchers working in Australia and abroad.Read moreRead less
Rip currents: an evidence based approach to managing the greatest beach hazard. For the first time, an understanding of the action of swimmers caught in rip currents will be linked through interviews with rip current survivors and measurements of swimmer response and rip flow. This project will provide information that will improve existing rip current education and assist in reducing the unacceptably high drowning toll on Australian beaches.
Contraception understandings and experiences of Australian women. Most women use contraception for much of their lives, yet we know little about how they experience the effects on their bodies and relationships. This in-depth study will explore women's thoughts, feelings and experiences and the results will be used for training doctors and nurses in contraceptive counselling and prescribing.
Developing Zn-dense, high-yielding wheat by molecular marker technology. The objective of this project is to identify pathways leading to the accumulation of zinc — an important element for human nutrition — in wheat. The project aims to provide biochemical and molecular markers for breeding programs that will facilitate the selection of superior breeding lines for improved human nutrition and seed health. This project builds on studies using a wheat diversity panel with 90 000 gene-based single ....Developing Zn-dense, high-yielding wheat by molecular marker technology. The objective of this project is to identify pathways leading to the accumulation of zinc — an important element for human nutrition — in wheat. The project aims to provide biochemical and molecular markers for breeding programs that will facilitate the selection of superior breeding lines for improved human nutrition and seed health. This project builds on studies using a wheat diversity panel with 90 000 gene-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, where zinc–SNP associations were identified. The project also builds on recent studies that show particular metabolites and macronutrients around anthesis are linked to improved grain zinc concentration at maturity.Read moreRead less
Designing dendrimer-based lymphatic drug vectors as improved treatments for metastatic cancer. This project builds on areas of research strength in Australia (nanotechnology and biotechnology/biomaterials) and will add considerably to the expanding Australian expertise-base in dendrimer technology (in which it is a world leader). The project will advance the fundamental science base that underpins dendrimer design and has the potential to deliver substantial benefits in improved drug delivery an ....Designing dendrimer-based lymphatic drug vectors as improved treatments for metastatic cancer. This project builds on areas of research strength in Australia (nanotechnology and biotechnology/biomaterials) and will add considerably to the expanding Australian expertise-base in dendrimer technology (in which it is a world leader). The project will advance the fundamental science base that underpins dendrimer design and has the potential to deliver substantial benefits in improved drug delivery and therefore health outcomes for Australia. The interdisciplinary nature of this project will also result in a unique training program for the researchers involved. Such experience is in great demand in Australia where the developing biotechnology and nanotechnology industry is critically short of scientists with skills in drug delivery.Read moreRead less