Chemo-prevention of tropical canine parasitoses and vector-borne diseases. This project will determine the prevalence and diversity of established, emerging and novel canine vector-borne agents and endoparasites in a tropical setting by using conventional and next generation molecular diagnostic tools. It will fill an important gap by providing independently-verified evidence on how well canine anti-parasitic products marketed in Australia and Asia by Bayer Animal Health, perform in high-infecti ....Chemo-prevention of tropical canine parasitoses and vector-borne diseases. This project will determine the prevalence and diversity of established, emerging and novel canine vector-borne agents and endoparasites in a tropical setting by using conventional and next generation molecular diagnostic tools. It will fill an important gap by providing independently-verified evidence on how well canine anti-parasitic products marketed in Australia and Asia by Bayer Animal Health, perform in high-infection pressure settings, as a chemo-preventative for these disease agents. Tropical regions spanning northern Australia and Southern Asia are highly conducive to a plethora of canine vector-borne and parasitic pathogens that cause significant morbidity and mortality in dogs. Many of these agents also pose a risk to public health. The outcomes will be directly translated to best-practice guidelines for the advancement of companion animal (and indirectly human) health and welfare.Read moreRead less
Reducing health disparities for culturally and linguistically diverse peoples. This project aims to develop a greater understanding of migrants and the factors that predict poor health outcomes related to blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections. The delayed access by migrants to healthcare from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds results in late diagnosis, low treatment uptake, and poorer health outcomes, with enhanced risk of infection and increased burden on the h ....Reducing health disparities for culturally and linguistically diverse peoples. This project aims to develop a greater understanding of migrants and the factors that predict poor health outcomes related to blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections. The delayed access by migrants to healthcare from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds results in late diagnosis, low treatment uptake, and poorer health outcomes, with enhanced risk of infection and increased burden on the health system. The data collected in this project will assist in developing health services to meet these needs.Read moreRead less
The infectome of NSW dairy calves, a genomic microbial surveillance . Infectious diseases are the main cause of disease and mortality in calves. The knowledge of the diversity of infectious disease-causing agents in NSW dairy cattle is not comprehensive. Thus, the immediate goal of this proposal is to redress this knowledge gap using untargeted microbial genomic sequencing to characterise and identify known and emerging enteric and respiratory pathogens in dairy calves. We will determine the occ ....The infectome of NSW dairy calves, a genomic microbial surveillance . Infectious diseases are the main cause of disease and mortality in calves. The knowledge of the diversity of infectious disease-causing agents in NSW dairy cattle is not comprehensive. Thus, the immediate goal of this proposal is to redress this knowledge gap using untargeted microbial genomic sequencing to characterise and identify known and emerging enteric and respiratory pathogens in dairy calves. We will determine the occurrence and distribution of their microbial species across all NSW dairy regions. This will enable the Australian dairy industry to improve animal health and productivity, and diagnostic capacity, which will allow farmers to make informed management decisions about disease control strategies. Read moreRead less
Understanding platinum dissolution in biomedical stimulating electrodes. Platinum is the main material used in electrodes for neurostimulators like the cochlear implant. Platinum electrodes can experience dissolution during implantation, which can impact on their function. The mechanisms governing this dissolution process are complex and still not fully understood. This research aims to understand the chemical, electrical and biological factors that impact on platinum dissolution in electrodes. ....Understanding platinum dissolution in biomedical stimulating electrodes. Platinum is the main material used in electrodes for neurostimulators like the cochlear implant. Platinum electrodes can experience dissolution during implantation, which can impact on their function. The mechanisms governing this dissolution process are complex and still not fully understood. This research aims to understand the chemical, electrical and biological factors that impact on platinum dissolution in electrodes. It will also develop new 3D models to simulate conditions in the human body for more rapid testing of electrodes. The new knowledge generated will improve the accuracy of predictions of platinum dissolution, develop new approaches for minimising dissolution, and contribute to reducing need for animal experimentation.Read moreRead less
Threats of avian pathogens to endangered parrots and human health: developing and utilizing tools for risk reduction. Emerging infectious diseases (EID) are among the most significant threats to conservation, agriculture and public health worldwide. Among these are two globally significant avian pathogens, Chlamydia psittaci and Beak and Feather Disease Virus. This project aims to determine transmission dynamics, fitness costs of infection, and quantify the roles of genetic diversity and host st ....Threats of avian pathogens to endangered parrots and human health: developing and utilizing tools for risk reduction. Emerging infectious diseases (EID) are among the most significant threats to conservation, agriculture and public health worldwide. Among these are two globally significant avian pathogens, Chlamydia psittaci and Beak and Feather Disease Virus. This project aims to determine transmission dynamics, fitness costs of infection, and quantify the roles of genetic diversity and host stress in infection and disease emergence. The project aims to also determine to what extent zoonotic poultry/human infection is related to infection in wild birds. The outcomes aim to be the development of critical knowledge and tools to help manage two avian pathogens causing significant conservation, agricultural and public health concern around the world.Read moreRead less
Single cell imaging of trace elements by laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry. The precise mechanism of how many diseases function on the cellular level is not well understood. Trace elements are important to normal cellular function and have the potential to cause significant damage if delicate levels are disturbed. This project will introduce a new, cost-effective alternative to the synchrotron for mapping of trace elements in single cells. This breakthrough science ....Single cell imaging of trace elements by laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry. The precise mechanism of how many diseases function on the cellular level is not well understood. Trace elements are important to normal cellular function and have the potential to cause significant damage if delicate levels are disturbed. This project will introduce a new, cost-effective alternative to the synchrotron for mapping of trace elements in single cells. This breakthrough science will transform a common analytical instrument into a powerful new tool for probing the cellular mechanisms of chronic illness. This frontier technology will help determine the role of trace metals in the development of neurodegenerative disease.Read moreRead less
Enhancing fertility for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. Enhancing fertility for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. Responding to industry calls for improved methods of detecting and managing infertility in both stallions and mares, this project aims to provide a platform for competitive collaborations between universities, biotechnology companies and horse breeders: the end-users of technological developments in equine reproduction. The Thoroughbred and Standardbred bree ....Enhancing fertility for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. Enhancing fertility for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. Responding to industry calls for improved methods of detecting and managing infertility in both stallions and mares, this project aims to provide a platform for competitive collaborations between universities, biotechnology companies and horse breeders: the end-users of technological developments in equine reproduction. The Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding industries contribute over $6.5 billion per annum to the Australian economy and employ thousands of staff across their value chains. However, these industries suffer from breeding program inefficiencies that amount to over $800 million in annual losses. Expected outcomes are novel reproductive technologies and specialised research capabilities that will make the Australian equine industry a global leader.Read moreRead less
Transforming museum industry to cryopreserve Australia’s diverse wildlife. This project aspires to develop methods for collecting, culturing and cryopreserving cells from wildlife in line with museum industry practice. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the collection of live cells from animals under field conditions and their long-term maintenance in museum collections. Expected outcomes of the project include enhanced capacity of museums to build live cell collections and to s ....Transforming museum industry to cryopreserve Australia’s diverse wildlife. This project aspires to develop methods for collecting, culturing and cryopreserving cells from wildlife in line with museum industry practice. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the collection of live cells from animals under field conditions and their long-term maintenance in museum collections. Expected outcomes of the project include enhanced capacity of museums to build live cell collections and to support and collaborate with cellular biologists. Growth of live cell collections in Australian museums will fuel innovation in cellular technologies, advance fundamental biological knowledge, and shift museums from the role of documenting losses of genetic variation to preserving that genetic variation in living form.
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Enhancing the efficiency of equine reproduction: relevant to the Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding industries. The purpose of this project is to link the equine breeding industry with a major centre of reproductive research at the University of Newcastle. By creating this unique nexus, major efficiency gains will be achieved for this industry that will not only secure its international competitiveness but also significantly enhance its profitability.
Metalloproteomics: A new piece of the systems biology puzzle. Systems biology uses advanced analytical technology to study the complex chemistry of the living cell. Many cellular functions are the result of chemical reactions involving metalloproteins, which are notoriously difficult to study due to the weak bonds between metal and protein that is not normally amenable to traditional proteomic approaches. In partnership with the leading analytical manufacturer Agilent Technologies, this project ....Metalloproteomics: A new piece of the systems biology puzzle. Systems biology uses advanced analytical technology to study the complex chemistry of the living cell. Many cellular functions are the result of chemical reactions involving metalloproteins, which are notoriously difficult to study due to the weak bonds between metal and protein that is not normally amenable to traditional proteomic approaches. In partnership with the leading analytical manufacturer Agilent Technologies, this project aims to adapt and apply advanced mass spectrometry to the study of metalloproteins, developing new methods for studying hundreds of molecules in single experiments. Using the C. elegans model organism the project aims to showcase the importance of metals in biology and develop new solutions for the $2.9 billion proteomics industry.Read moreRead less