 |
|
 | Research Achievements |  |
| 2010
| NHMRC Grant Scheme |
| | NHMRC Project Grants funding scheme is awarded to individuals or teams of researchers undertaking the highest quality biomedical research.
NHMRC Project Grant Scheme Award Recipient
Dr Sureshkumar Balasubramanian
A systems biology approach to elucidate common principles and mechanisms underlying triplet repeat expansion associated genetic defects - $726,284
NHMRC Project Grant Scheme Award - Project Summary
Dr Sureshkumar Balasubramanian
A systems biology approach to elucidate common principles and mechanisms underlying triplet repeat expansion associated genetic defects.
Several human genetic diseases that affect the nervous system occur due to expansions of the DNA repeats in the genome. Here, we use a combination of cutting edge technologies such as systems biology and genomics to uncover the common principles and use them to devise novel therapeutic strategies. | | |
| | 2010
| Future Fellows |
| | Our School has achieved 100% success and been awarded five ARC Future Fellowships totalling more than $3.6 million – making us the most awarded School in the most competitive institution in the round.
Future Fellowship Award Recipients
Dr Sureshkumar Balasubramanian
Genomics of temperature response in plants - $700,927
A/Prof Christine Beveridge
Strigolactone, a new plant hormone: its regulation, role and potential for plant improvement - $774,692
Dr Bryan Fry
Adaptive evolution of coleoid (cuttlefish, octopus, squid) venoms - $791,360
Dr Dustin Marshall
Understanding and predicting invasion in the sea: a mechanistic approach - $695,571
Dr Kerrie Wilson
Prioritising habitat restoration for biodiversity and ecosystem service outcomes - $669,327
Future Fellowship Awards - Project Summaries
Dr Sureshkumar Balasubramanian
Genomics of temperature response in plants.
Climate change is predicted to have negative impacts on Australian agriculture. This project will use genomic tools to uncover biological mechanisms for plant response to temperature that will help design crop varieties that are more tolerant to higher temperatures.
A/Prof Christine Beveridge
Strigolactone, a new plant hormone: its regulation, role and potential for plant improvement.
This project will investigate a new plant hormone, one of only 10 or so discovered to date in plants. This hormone regulates shoot number, water and nutrient uptake and the ability of shoots to generate roots and develop wood. The Project will produce genetic tools and describe new processes for applications in sustainable plant improvement.
Dr Bryan Fry
Adaptive evolution of coleoid (cuttlefish, octopus, squid) venoms.
This project represents an opportunity for biodiscovery from the venoms of cuttlefish, octopuses and squids. The independent adaptation for venom active at the subzero Arctic and Antarctic polar waters is of particular evolutionary interest. However, their divergent, bioactive compounds are also a rich drug design resource.
Dr Dustin Marshall
Understanding and predicting invasion in the sea: a mechanistic approach.
Marine invasive species cost millions of dollars each year. This project aims to determine how and why invasive species out compete native species around much of the coast of Australia. Identifying the conditions that help invasive species outcompete native species will help managers reduce the spread and impact of marine invasive species.
Dr Kerrie Wilson
Prioritising habitat restoration for biodiversity and ecosystem service outcomes.
An emerging carbon market will provide funds for habitat restoration over the coming decades, but this will only be realised through careful prioritisation and planning. This research will prioritise investments in habitat restoration in order to cost-effectively achieve biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service protection goals. | | Keywords: | Future Fellows |
| |
| | 2010
| ARC Success |
| | The School of Biological Sciences has been awarded $5.7 million in new research funding to commence in 2011. The School has received 15% of the Discovery grants awarded to The University of Queensland by the Australian Research Council. The number of Discovery grants received by the School in this round was greater than the total number of grants awarded to the majority of Australian Universities.
Discovery Award Recipients
Dr Sassan Asgari
Regulatory cellular microRNA’s and their role in insect anti-viral responses - $440,000
A/Prof Christine Beveridge
New plant development discoveries stem from strigolactone research - $375,000
A/Prof Christine Beveridge
The new plant hormone controlling shoot branching - $750,000
Prof Mark Blows
Mutational genetic variance and the fitness optimum - $380,000
Dr Stephen Chenoweth
A genomic approach to understanding the maintenance of genetic variation under sexual selection - $575,000 ARF
Dr Sandie Degnan
Larval dispersal and settlement mechanisms in the first genome-enabled Australian marine animal, Amphimedon queenslandica (Porifera) - $310,000
Dr Elizabeth Dun
Crosstalk between branching and flowering regulatory pathways in shoot development - $306,000 APD
Professor Craig Franklin
Living in a changing climate: the impacts of temperature during aestivation on burrowing frogs - $329,000
Dr Carissa Klein
Prioritising socially and economically viable land- and sea-based investments to protect coral reefs - $325,000 APD
Dr Dustin Marshall
Are good males bad females? Sexual conflict in hermaphrodites - $233,000
Dr Dustin Marshall
Understanding the ecological effects of genetic diversity: causes, consequences and relative importance - $541,000 ARF
A/Prof Peer Schenk
Mediator: a new concept for controlled gene expression in plant biotechnology - $390,000
Dr Sridevi Sureshkumar
Functional analysis of alternative splicing in plants - $306,000 – APD
With the School of Biomedical Sciences
Dr Karen Cheney & A/Prof Thomas Cribb
The functions of reef fish colour patterns: how did the coral trout get it’s spots? $230,000
With The University of Melbourne
Dr Craig White
Testing metabolic theories in ecology - $310,000
Linkage Award Recipients
Dr Sophie Dove
A lipodomic approach to cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis - $140,000
Partner: Independent Marine Bio-Chemistry Research Pty Ltd
Dr Karyn Johnson
Cellular and molecular interactions of rhabdoviruses with their plant hosts and insect - $111,000
Partner: QLD Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Dr Kathy Townsend
An integrated examination of the drivers of movements of large filter feeding organisms of high ecotourism value: a case study - $190,000
Partners: Consolidated Rutile Ltd, Earthwatch Institute, LADY Elliot Island Eco Resort, Manta Lodge and Scuba Centre
| | Keywords: | ARC |
| |
| |
| Research Excellence in ERA |
| | UQ tops the country for research excellence in Biological Sciences
UQ’s research in Biological Sciences was given the maximum rating of 5 “well above world standard” in the Australian Research Council’s recent Excellence in Research for Australia initiative (ERA). Our research strengths in Biological sciences are comprehensive, UQ was one of only six universities that had research assessed in all codes within Biological Sciences and scored the highest summed ranks across those codes (joint with University of Melbourne). UQ also did extremely well in Environmental Sciences, again scoring a 5 in that broad code and was the only university assessed in all codes within Environmental Sciences. Ecology, Ecological Applications, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Plant Biology and Zoology all scored 5’s; these areas represent the vast majority of the research activity in the School of Biological Sciences.
The Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative assesses research quality within Australia's higher education institutions using a combination of indicators and expert review by committees comprising experienced, internationally-recognised experts. | | Keywords: | ERA, well above world standard |
| |
|
|
» Contacts
