Role of R-loops and double R-loops in genome organisation and transcription. The majority of our genome is converted to an extensive network of non-protein-coding RNA molecules (ncRNAs), but the function of these ncRNAs is unknown. This project aims to identify and determine the mechanism of action of nuclear ncRNA networks with a particular focus on nuclear ncRNAs that form RNA-DNA hybrids with the genomic DNA. These studies have the potential to lead to ground-breaking discoveries in our under ....Role of R-loops and double R-loops in genome organisation and transcription. The majority of our genome is converted to an extensive network of non-protein-coding RNA molecules (ncRNAs), but the function of these ncRNAs is unknown. This project aims to identify and determine the mechanism of action of nuclear ncRNA networks with a particular focus on nuclear ncRNAs that form RNA-DNA hybrids with the genomic DNA. These studies have the potential to lead to ground-breaking discoveries in our understanding of genome organisation and the mechanism of transcription control, and might provide an entirely new tool-box to manipulate genome function. This should provide significant benefits to efforts to develop innovative biotechnology and genome editing technologies in plants and animals.Read moreRead less
RNA surveillance and the initial steps of RNA biogenesis. This project aims to understand the initial steps of RNA biogenesis and how this process is linked to the chromatin environment. Although less than five per cent of our genome encodes proteins, almost the entire genome is transcribed to RNA. A large portion of these transcripts are degraded during the early steps of RNA biogenesis by the RNA surveillance machinery, but the mechanism for the recognition and degradation of these transcripts ....RNA surveillance and the initial steps of RNA biogenesis. This project aims to understand the initial steps of RNA biogenesis and how this process is linked to the chromatin environment. Although less than five per cent of our genome encodes proteins, almost the entire genome is transcribed to RNA. A large portion of these transcripts are degraded during the early steps of RNA biogenesis by the RNA surveillance machinery, but the mechanism for the recognition and degradation of these transcripts is not understood. New evidence suggests that the chromatin environment of the transcribed locus plays an important role in this process. This project will lead to significant benefits in the implementation of emerging RNA-based technologies and in understanding how genome stability is maintained.Read moreRead less
Uncovering an evolutionary advanced mechanism of gene expression control. This project aims to uncover a new mechanism that activates gene expression in mammals, which involves unexpected connections between the core components of chromosomes and essential enzymatic machines required for the expression of genes. This project will generate new knowledge on the poorly understood process of how the extensive genomic information of multicellular organisms is selectively chosen to enable the expressi ....Uncovering an evolutionary advanced mechanism of gene expression control. This project aims to uncover a new mechanism that activates gene expression in mammals, which involves unexpected connections between the core components of chromosomes and essential enzymatic machines required for the expression of genes. This project will generate new knowledge on the poorly understood process of how the extensive genomic information of multicellular organisms is selectively chosen to enable the expression of only the required subset of genes. This will revolutionise our understanding of the mechanisms of gene control thereby shaping the field in the future. Significantly, this will allow new ways to manipulate gene expression that will impact biotechnology by providing new efficient ways to produce proteins or RNA. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100184
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,000.00
Summary
Pioneering alpine epigenomics to discover adaptive genetic elements. The genetic code of native plants are yet to be explored for DNA elements that promote resilience to climate change. These elements are now ripe for discovery due to recent advances in epigenomics allowing for rapid identification. This proposal aims to discover heat-associated elements in waxy bluebells, which inhabit Australia’s vulnerable high country. Expected outcomes include new insights on gene regulatory mechanisms in n ....Pioneering alpine epigenomics to discover adaptive genetic elements. The genetic code of native plants are yet to be explored for DNA elements that promote resilience to climate change. These elements are now ripe for discovery due to recent advances in epigenomics allowing for rapid identification. This proposal aims to discover heat-associated elements in waxy bluebells, which inhabit Australia’s vulnerable high country. Expected outcomes include new insights on gene regulatory mechanisms in native plants; the generation of resources for genetic conservation, and catalysing further molecular research into Australian flora. This should provide significant benefits by revealing genome regulation in native plants, thereby improving the ability to predict the impacts of climate change.Read moreRead less
Pedalling for change: cultural geography for traffic congestion innovation. This project aims to offer new knowledge about why commuter cycling has failed to increase at a time when leisure cycling grows exponentially. The project seeks to provide evidence about what cycling enables people to achieve through analysis of a database of media discourses, policies and most importantly the experiences of cyclists. Expected outcomes include an enhanced understanding of cycling as response to congestio ....Pedalling for change: cultural geography for traffic congestion innovation. This project aims to offer new knowledge about why commuter cycling has failed to increase at a time when leisure cycling grows exponentially. The project seeks to provide evidence about what cycling enables people to achieve through analysis of a database of media discourses, policies and most importantly the experiences of cyclists. Expected outcomes include an enhanced understanding of cycling as response to congestion and improved policy strategies for increasing purposeful cycling in cities including moving the focus from cycling participation rates to cultures of cycling. Australia will benefit from cycling growing as a mode of transport to attenuate traffic congestion in metropolitan centres.Read moreRead less
Navigating New Waters: Supporting Fisheries And Aquaculture Businesses To Pursue Seafood Tourism As A Diversification Pathway
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$135,000.00
Summary
This project is a strategic initiative to support seafood businesses in diversifying into new economic markets. Amidst evolving global challenges and the impact of Covid-19 on the seafood industry, the need for diversification is more pressing than ever. The proposed project addresses this need by providing seafood business with the necessary support and resources to diversify into a sector which boasts much potential: seafood tourism. Seafood tourism presents a practical and feasible appro .... This project is a strategic initiative to support seafood businesses in diversifying into new economic markets. Amidst evolving global challenges and the impact of Covid-19 on the seafood industry, the need for diversification is more pressing than ever. The proposed project addresses this need by providing seafood business with the necessary support and resources to diversify into a sector which boasts much potential: seafood tourism. Seafood tourism presents a practical and feasible approach to diversification, which leverages the intrigue of marine environments and the seafood production process. Whilst feasible, there are inherent challenges and risks involved in pursuing this diversification pathway. This project directly responds to the request of F&A for support in navigating the diversification process. Central to its approach, is the delivery of decision-support tools which can facilitate informed decision-making and mitigate potential risks involved in diversifying. These tools will be vital in ensuring F&A businesses make sound and strategic decisions regarding their suitability to different seafood tourism models.
Objectives: 1. Identify the range of seafood tourism business models and determine success factors for different models. 2. Document and compare the operating environment and the regulations in each jurisdiction (across production, food safety, tourism) for establishing and maintaining seafood tourism enterprises. 3. Identify the business capacity and capability needed for successful seafood businesses, inclusive of skills, assets, and networks. 4. Develop decision support tools for seafood operators to undertake a first pass assessment of the potential suitability of different tourism models. Read moreRead less
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100672
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,337.00
Summary
Measuring real-time mental workload to improve our Defence capability. This project aims to develop a novel platform for measuring real-time variation in the cognitive workload of humans working with advanced Defence technologies. The project expects to combine innovative statistical techniques with cutting-edge psychological and neuroscience developments to measure and process workload-related brain activity in real-time. Expected outcomes of the project include an enhanced capacity to measure ....Measuring real-time mental workload to improve our Defence capability. This project aims to develop a novel platform for measuring real-time variation in the cognitive workload of humans working with advanced Defence technologies. The project expects to combine innovative statistical techniques with cutting-edge psychological and neuroscience developments to measure and process workload-related brain activity in real-time. Expected outcomes of the project include an enhanced capacity to measure and respond to cognitive workload in the field. This should provide significant benefits such as enhanced performance and safety outcomes, which will provide a strategic advantage to the Australian Defence Force by facilitating the development of advanced technologies that respond to the capabilities of the human user.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC170100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,123,492.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies aims to create and develop the skills and technology to benefit from the transformative impacts that cell/organ-on-a-chip technology will have on the medtech/pharma industries. By combining microfluidics-based/real-time technologies with personalised medicine the Training Centre will provide industry growth opportunities through improved screening of potential therap ....ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies aims to create and develop the skills and technology to benefit from the transformative impacts that cell/organ-on-a-chip technology will have on the medtech/pharma industries. By combining microfluidics-based/real-time technologies with personalised medicine the Training Centre will provide industry growth opportunities through improved screening of potential therapeutics. The use of an individual patient’s cellular and molecular research findings will ultimately enable personalised diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.Read moreRead less
RNA-binding proteins rewire transcriptomes in immune cell differentiation. This project aims to combine advanced computational and experimental techniques to investigate a new layer of gene regulation by novel RNA binding proteins (RBP) which control messenger RNA length in immune cells. This project expects to demonstrate that these RBPs have a profound effect on immune cell differentiation and response to infection. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new RBPs regulating immunity, with ....RNA-binding proteins rewire transcriptomes in immune cell differentiation. This project aims to combine advanced computational and experimental techniques to investigate a new layer of gene regulation by novel RNA binding proteins (RBP) which control messenger RNA length in immune cells. This project expects to demonstrate that these RBPs have a profound effect on immune cell differentiation and response to infection. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new RBPs regulating immunity, with mechanism and function determined by novel CRISPR editing of a transgenic mouse model. The significant benefit will be a more complete understanding of RNA mechanisms of immune response, which will be critical in informing future advances in the rapidly developing areas of RNA-based biotechnologies and synthetic immunology.Read moreRead less
Ethical and Social Issues in Translating Epigenetics into Antenatal Care. This project aims to investigate how knowledge about the intergenerational transmission of health and disease is shaping antenatal care in Australia. It expects to generate new knowledge about how the science of epigenetics can be used to address social inequality and is anticipated to have impact across the social sciences, bioethics and public health. Expected outcomes of the project include novel theoretical approaches ....Ethical and Social Issues in Translating Epigenetics into Antenatal Care. This project aims to investigate how knowledge about the intergenerational transmission of health and disease is shaping antenatal care in Australia. It expects to generate new knowledge about how the science of epigenetics can be used to address social inequality and is anticipated to have impact across the social sciences, bioethics and public health. Expected outcomes of the project include novel theoretical approaches to the ethics of pregnancy, along with guidance tools to shape the use of epigenetics in antenatal care and social policy to reduce social inequalities. This should provide significant benefits, improving information and support available to vulnerable women as they negotiate maternal health and social services. Read moreRead less