Intrinsic Host Antiviral Activity Against Pathogenic Filoviruses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$488,754.00
Summary
Bats are a major reservoir for deadly human viruses including Ebola and Marburg virus. In contrast to humans, bats can be infected with these viruses without showing clinical signs of disease. The reason why bats can co-exist with these viruses is unknown. This study will determine if a bat antiviral molecule contributes to limiting virus release compared to the human version that could reveal strategies to prevent and control these deadly viruses in humans.
Small business job creation: employer and employee perspectives of job quality. Small business is high on the policy agenda as employment growth is trending downwards. Recent recommendations to increase small business employment highlight the importance of both quantity and job quality. This project will investigate what is a quality small business job from employer and employee perspectives. The research will focus on new small business jobs in the Latrobe Valley - a 'less favored' region. The ....Small business job creation: employer and employee perspectives of job quality. Small business is high on the policy agenda as employment growth is trending downwards. Recent recommendations to increase small business employment highlight the importance of both quantity and job quality. This project will investigate what is a quality small business job from employer and employee perspectives. The research will focus on new small business jobs in the Latrobe Valley - a 'less favored' region. The findings will fill a significant gap in knowledge about the process of job generation and lead to a better understanding of the determinants of job quality from different perspectives, which can assist economic policy development.Read moreRead less
Family business and succession planning: dynamics, barriers and strategies. This research will generate better strategies, protocols and policies for family business succession planning, tailored to the Australian context. Family businesses constitute about 70-80 per cent of Australian businesses, and $4.5 trillion in business value. It is estimated that $3.5 trillion of business value will change hands in the next decade as the post-war generation of business founders moves on. Yet surveys rout ....Family business and succession planning: dynamics, barriers and strategies. This research will generate better strategies, protocols and policies for family business succession planning, tailored to the Australian context. Family businesses constitute about 70-80 per cent of Australian businesses, and $4.5 trillion in business value. It is estimated that $3.5 trillion of business value will change hands in the next decade as the post-war generation of business founders moves on. Yet surveys routinely show that family businesses indefinitely defer succession planning, placing businesses and their stakeholders at risk of acrimonious conflict and business failure. This research will contribute towards the National Research Priority goals strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric and ageing well, ageing productively.Read moreRead less
Developing a data-based system for competitor analysis, performance monitoring, and decision-making within the disability employment service industry. There are three aims: to implement a database that would assist business decision-making and improvement of professional practices; to provide the peak body means for reporting to members, representing members to the funding body, and promoting the industry; to develop a system relevant to micro and small businesses across industries. Disability ....Developing a data-based system for competitor analysis, performance monitoring, and decision-making within the disability employment service industry. There are three aims: to implement a database that would assist business decision-making and improvement of professional practices; to provide the peak body means for reporting to members, representing members to the funding body, and promoting the industry; to develop a system relevant to micro and small businesses across industries. Disability employment services currently do not have means for competitor analysis even though it is recognised as integral to business planning. We expect that organisations will use the system, making more informed decisions, improving their performance, and improving their influence in discussions with the funding body.Read moreRead less
Harnessing Tyrosine Metabolism To Combat Respiratory Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$866,467.00
Summary
Cross-talk between our immune system and the microbiome is central to health and disease. In particular, the gut microbiome has wide-ranging effects throughout the body, in part through the production of metabolites with immunomodulatory activity. We have discovered a novel subset of microbial metabolites which can protect mice against allergic airway inflammation, a model of asthma. We now aim to discovery how these metabolites work with a view towards developing them as therapeutics.
The Adoption of Information Technologies by Rural General Practitioners: A Socio-Technical Analysis. Many information technology (IT) products have been developed to support general practitioners (GPs) in aspects of their work (GPSRG, 1998). It is apparent that GPs are not making best use of these systems. The question is: if IT applications have been developed, why are GPs reluctant to use them? This study contrasts two approaches to innovation in researching the adoption of IT by rural gener ....The Adoption of Information Technologies by Rural General Practitioners: A Socio-Technical Analysis. Many information technology (IT) products have been developed to support general practitioners (GPs) in aspects of their work (GPSRG, 1998). It is apparent that GPs are not making best use of these systems. The question is: if IT applications have been developed, why are GPs reluctant to use them? This study contrasts two approaches to innovation in researching the adoption of IT by rural general practitioners. It aims to identify and model socio-technical factors that enable and inhibit the uptake of IT.
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Demand and Supply of Creative Arts in Rural and Regional Areas. The arts industry has experienced substantial growth over the last thirty years, providing significant economic and social benefits nationally. While growth in this sector is represented on both the demand and supply sides, it has not been evenly distributed geographically. There is significant difference between the health of the arts industry in the city centres and that of rural and regional areas. This project will investigat ....Demand and Supply of Creative Arts in Rural and Regional Areas. The arts industry has experienced substantial growth over the last thirty years, providing significant economic and social benefits nationally. While growth in this sector is represented on both the demand and supply sides, it has not been evenly distributed geographically. There is significant difference between the health of the arts industry in the city centres and that of rural and regional areas. This project will investigate entrepreneurial capacity of the arts in regional Victoria and develop best practice business models that promote sustainability in small to medium sized arts enterprises which will in turn aid in the regeneration of regional areas.Read moreRead less
THE IMMUNOLOGICAL LEGACY OF OBESITY ON VIRAL PATHOGENESIS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$652,275.00
Summary
Obesity is a key risk factor for severe viral infections. Our preliminary data suggest that in mice this susceptibility is not reduced by weight loss. In this grant we will investigate a) the mechanisms driving the legacy effect of obesity on antiviral immunity b) whether or not we can reverse this legacy effect by treatment with the drug MCC950 and c) the antiviral response of overweight children and adults who have and haven't recently lost weight.
Understanding Influenza-specific T Cell Immunity In The Indigenous Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$870,112.00
Summary
Hospitalisation and death rates from influenza are high in the Indigenous population. There is an urgent need for one-shot universal vaccine that protects against seasonal and pandemic strains. T cells recognising conserved viral regions can elicit such protection. As T cells are restricted by proteins called HLAs, variable between different ethnicities, we will define T cell regions and their HLA restrictions in the Indigenous population to propose strategies for universal T cell-based protecti ....Hospitalisation and death rates from influenza are high in the Indigenous population. There is an urgent need for one-shot universal vaccine that protects against seasonal and pandemic strains. T cells recognising conserved viral regions can elicit such protection. As T cells are restricted by proteins called HLAs, variable between different ethnicities, we will define T cell regions and their HLA restrictions in the Indigenous population to propose strategies for universal T cell-based protective immunity and vaccine design against influenza.Read moreRead less
Dissecting The Central Organisation Of Cough Neural Networks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$880,928.00
Summary
Cough is the most prevalent symptom of lung disease and the most common reason for people to seek medical advice. However, cough neural processes are poorly defined and as a result current cough therapies are largely ineffective making cough a significant unmet clinical problem. This project will novel viral strategies to dissect and manipulate cough neural pathways in the brain, providing insights into the neural processing of airway sensations and coughing.