MONASH UNIVERSITY

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Hydrogen atom abstraction and addition via proton coupled electron transfer. To prepare new chemicals for the challenges of today, and those in the future, new ways to build materials are needed. These need to deliver maximum complexity (necessary for increasingly sophisticated applications) with minimal economic and environmental cost. In this proposal a family of reactions that are possible using light mediated chemistry will be developed. This approach will allow technologies to be discovered that will enhance the scientific communities ability to deliver materials designed for a wide array of functions from medicinal chemistry, through to materials science. Field of research: 0305 - Organic Chemistry Many industries integral to Australia's future proposerity will rely of advanced materials capable of addressing future challenges ranging from energy production to the production of therapeutic agents and food security. The ability to manufacture such materials in an ecconomically and environmentally viable fashion will be integral to the uptake of such potentially transformative technologies. In this proposal new ways to build chemicals using an innovative strategy that exploits catalysis using light, with acids and bases, will be developed to access materials beyond the reach of current technologies. These technologies will be immediately available to the Australian science and technology community providing a competitive advantage to this country in the global fine chemical sector.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Structural and functional studies of Helicobacter pylori flagellar motor. This project investigates the bacterial flagellar motor specialised for locomotion in viscous fluids. Its striking feature, revealed by cryo-tomography, is a complex cage-like protein scaffold that is hypothesised to stabilise the wider force-generating ring of the motor to sustain a larger turning force. The aim is to unravel the make-up of this scaffold and the structural basis for its ability to recruit more force-generating units, in order to advance our fundamental knowledge about the mechanism of the bacterial flagellar motor, and about strategies used by nature to increase its performance under high viscosity conditions. This research is expected to add a new paradigm for how polar flagellar motors assemble and function in bacteria. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Bacteria have evolved ingenious whip-like motors (flagella) which efficiently power movement in a fluid-filled environment. This project will reverse engineer the structure of these living motors which operate in the very viscous fluid environment of the human gut. The research will develop a blueprint of the powerhouse of these motors which harness electrochemical energy into the mechanical energy of rotation. This foundational knowledge is one of the first steps towards engineering biological motors at the nano-scale. Ultimately, breakthroughs in this area could help realise health and medical applications ranging from flagella-powered micropumps for lab-on-a-chip diagnosis to micro-robots for self-propelled, targeted cancer and gene therapy delivery.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Defining the molecular switches that govern discrete cellular fates. This project aims to elucidate how mammalian cells exploit the same molecular machinery to perform completely distinct jobs. While the repurposing of proteins by cells seems widespread, the mechanisms by which this occurs remains largely undefined. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of cell signalling and systems biology, with important implications for many multi-functional proteins. It will utilise a highly innovative and interdisciplinary approach that tightly integrates mathematical modelling and biological experiments. The expected outcomes will aid strategies for reprogramming cells towards a desired phenotype, which will bring significant benefits to the fields of synthetic biology and bioengineering. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This project aims to deliver new quantitative knowledge of the mechanisms that living cells use to control their behaviours. These knowledge will ultimately lead to development of new effective approaches that reprogram cells towards specific desired outcomes, which will bring significant benefits to major industries such as bioengineering and biofuel production. Specifically, increased cell proliferation could be exploited for high-level bacterial or mammalian cell production that is critical for green energy generation, while enhanced cell migration could be used to enhance wound healing or tissue regeneration that are essential in regenerative medicine. Furthermore, since this project integrates mathematical and biological sciences and uses mathematical tools to understand biology, it will provide critical training opportunities that aid the development of Australia’s next generation of research leaders in the crucial field of ‘quantitative systems biology’. By doing so, it will place Australian science centre-stage internationally as a leader in this important and rapidly growing research area.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Interface-aware numerical methods for stochastic inverse problems. This project aims to design novel high-performance numerical tools for solving large-scale forward and inverse problems dominated by stochastic interfaces and quantifying associated uncertainties. In real-world applications such as groundwater, these tools are instrumental for assimilating big datasets into mathematical models for providing reliable predictions. By advancing and integrating high-order polytopal schemes, multilevel methods, transport maps, and dimension reduction, this project's anticipated outcomes are highly accurate and cost-efficient numerical schemes, certified by rigorous mathematical analysis. This should provide data-centric simulation tools with enhanced reliability, for engineering and scientific applications. Field of research: 0103 - Numerical and Computational Mathematics Seawater intrusion in freshwater reservoirs is an inevitable risk faced by coastal communities. Understanding the intrusion process is extremely challenging, as it involves reactive fluids flowing through porous media with various types of interfaces. The situation is worsened by the imprecise knowledge of reservoir parameters, roughly inferred from partial measurements. Computational science, underpinned by mathematics, is the only way to generate credible intrusion predictions by solving such complex inverse problems. This project will contribute to developing rigorous models and high-performance numerical algorithms to estimate reservoir parameters through simulations of groundwater flows in the presence of multiple interfaces. In practice, such models involve big datasets and are computationally intensive. Our advancements in both mathematical foundation and computational algorithms will provide enabling technologies for large-scale data-centric simulations at a reduced cost. The software produced by this project will benefit Australian scientists by helping them predict and mitigate environmental risks.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Identification Power and Instrument Strength in Discrete Outcome Models. This project aims to develop new econometric and statistical techniques to quantify causal effects in treatment models with discrete outcomes. Expected outcomes include a much-needed weak instrument test, a measure for identification strength in partial identification setting, and an instrument-covariate selection procedure for high dimensional discrete models based identification power. The benefits include advanced knowledge in econometrics and statistics, and enhanced tools for program evaluation and policy assessment in empirical causal analysis using observational data. The project falls into the category of smarter information use and is relevant to any national priority areas where policy interventions require assessment. Field of research: 1403 - Econometrics This project aims to develop improved tools for program evaluation and policy analyses. A fundamental aspect of empirical data analysis relates to the identification and estimation of causal effects of policy relevant interventions. This research aims to improve the precision and robustness for estimating such effects. Research outputs have the potential to further enhance Australia’s international academic profile in econometric methodological research. The benefits of this research could reach far beyond academia to any national priority fields that require cost benefit analysis using observational data. As such, this research can bring national benefits in cultural, environmental and socioeconomic realms. The project falls into the category of smarter information use and it is relevant to several national priority areas such as health, energy, environment, transport, and food, where any new investments and policy interventions require routine cost benefit evaluation using real world data.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Deciphering novel cross-talk between innate cytokine receptors. Understanding the basic functions of interferons, how they signal to cells, is central to understanding fundamental immunity. Interferons are crucial molecules of the immune system that are important for normal cell development and they protect the body from viral infection and cancer but can be deleterious in different autoimmune diseases and trauma settings. Preliminary Data shows there is a pathway of interferon signalling that has previously been overlooked. This project aims to understand how this pathway works and how it contributes to the normal workings of cells. This fundamental science has future consequences for the design of vaccines and for the design of therapeutics to treat diseases that show defective interferon signalling. Field of research: 1107 - Immunology The project aims to decipher a cell signalling pathway central to immune responses. The work will change the way we currently understand the basic workings of the immune system. It will attract attention in the scientific community due to the novelty of the work and as such will result in publicity for the institutions involved and important publications. Moreover, it is likely that the findings will attract industry attention since the results of this work may contribute to the design of new vaccines or therapeutic medicines to treat autoimmune disease. The research will thus likely bring economic benefit to Australia. International collaboration will bring benefit to trainees working on the project and assist to build collaborations that may attract international funding to Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Connections in low-dimensional topology. This project aims to resolve important open questions in low-dimensional topology, by connecting hyperbolic geometry to invariants arising from quantum topology, cluster algebras, and spinors. The spaces studied in this project, namely 3-manifolds and knots, arise in applications across engineering and science. The project expects to generate new insights into these spaces by applying tools connecting them to hyperbolic geometry. Expected outcomes include efficient techniques to compute important data about 3-manifolds and knots, particularly certain polynomials encoding geometry, and exact calculations of circle packings. This should provide significant benefits, such as progress on difficult conjectures in hyperbolic geometry. Field of research: 0101 - Pure Mathematics This fundamental mathematics project will uncover insights in topology that can underpin advances in a variety of downstream applications. One immediate benefit of the project will be to boost Australia’s capacity in a research area of international importance. The project will equip researchers with tools important for the economy; students and researchers working on similar projects have used the skills they have developed for data analysis, computing, and mathematical biology. The objects studied in topology, such as knots and manifolds, arise in a wide range of applications. These include the folding of proteins and knotted DNA in biology, and so-called configuration spaces in engineering and robotics, describing a robot’s position in space. Longer term, breakthroughs in this project will yield insight that may deliver new tools in these areas, for example leading to therapeutic interventions related to knotted DNA clumps in life sciences, or increased efficiency of robots in manufacturing.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Next generation enzymes using stimuli responsive protein/polymer hybrids. Improved stability and control over activity are key to unlocking the full potential of enzymes. Advanced polymer synthesis and synthetic biology will be combined to engineer stable, bioresponsive enzyme/polymer hybrids. This study will: 1: Develop a rapid screening method to identify the optimal sites for polymer-to-enzyme attachment 2: Evaluate the stability and bioresponsive activity of enzyme/polymer hybrids 3: Formulate enzyme/polymer hybrids into a targeted nanoparticle delivery system This project will examine the performance of polymer-enzyme hybrids with cells, however these innovations will also have significant applications in other fields using enzymatic processes, such as food processing, biofuel production, and agriculture. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology Synthesising protein/polymer hybrid materials is a sophisticated, yet straight forward way to improve the properties of enzymes. These hybrid materials have the potential to revolutionise the use of enzymes in fields as diverse as agriculture (by improving soil fertility), biofuel production (by converting cellulose to fuel) and therapeutics. This proposal will engineer the precise attachment of polymers to enzymes to control their stability, activity and to improve delivery of enzymes to the places where they are required. Enzymes are a high value manufactured items, and there is a significant potential to value add to Australia’s world leading expertise in polymer manufacturing. The project will expand Australia’s knowledge base in biotechnology through the training of interdisciplinary researchers. It will also develop intellectual property that will benefit the emerging Biotec and MedTec industries in Australia, and will provide significant economic, commercial and healthcare impact.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The Contribution of Tropical Cyclones to the Earth Energy Budget. This project aims to quantify the tropical cyclone contribution to the earth energy budget to understand whether tropical cyclones feed back to the climate system. While existing literature focuses exclusively on the effects of climate change on tropical cyclone variability, this project switches this viewpoint around. One possible outcome is a better understanding of long-term tropical cyclone variability. This is particularly important for tropical cyclone vulnerable regions including the Australian east coast and the oil and gas industry off the Northwest Shelf. Furthermore, the anticipated knowledge gained by this project will inform international understanding on the impacts of tropical cyclones to the overall climate system. Field of research: 0401 - Atmospheric Sciences Environmental change is a key national science priority. Understanding the feedback between tropical cyclones (TCs) and the climate will allow us to better anticipate long-term TC behaviour. This is important for Australia for a variety of economic reasons. First, TCs have significant impacts on the populations of Queensland and NSW. A better understanding of TC activity will help governments plan for development and emergency preparedness and the insurance industry to properly account for future risk from TCs. Second, the Australian offshore oil and gas industry is greatly impacted by TC activity. Understanding long-term TC trends helps them develop operational strategies that maximize efficiency and minimize risk. Finally, the existing scientific literature focuses exclusively on the effects of climate change on TC activity. This study aspires to quantify the effect of TC activity on the climate. This knowledge will inform international understanding on the impacts of TCs to the overall climate system.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The macrophage nucleus - its form and function during migration in vivo. As cells migrate through tissues, they encounter complex, 3-dimensional environments that provide cues to guide them and present obstacles in their path. This project focuses on macrophages, a large immune cell capable of both amoeboid and mesenchymal modes of migration. The nucleus is the largest organelle and its bulk and stiffness must be managed as migrating cells travel through constrictions. The project uses specialised high-end microscopy and genetic methods to examine how the nucleus of migrating zebrafish macrophages deforms, repositions and is restructured during migration in living tissues, and how this influences macrophage locomotion. The goal is to provide fundamental insights into the cell biology of macrophage migration. Field of research: 1116 - Medical Physiology This project will generate foundational new scientific knowledge about macrophages, a cell type that all types of vertebrate animals including humans deploy throughout life in development, growth, immune defence against microbes and disease, tissue repair and organ regeneration. Immediate economic benefit will result from the research activity itself, including its timely deployment of Australian government investment in high-end computing, microscopy and biological research infrastructure. Future economic benefit may result from application of its foundational scientific knowledge, which we expect to be incorporated into textbook descriptions of white blood cell biology, enhance future research endeavours about these cells, and ultimately to improve animal and human health maintenance and disease management, particularly in the areas of immunity, inflammation and infection.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Discovery of Novel Bacteriophage with the Capacity to Modulate Gut Bacteria. This project aims to experimentally validate the largest ever collection of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) within the gut microbiome. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of bacteriophage biology and genomics by using the innovative approaches of wet-lab and bioinformatic genome analyses. Expect outcomes of this project include the discovery of novel phages using bioinformatics, wet-lab validation of their activity and characterisation of their potential to contribute new bacterial host metabolism. This should provide benefits, such as advancement to our understanding of bacteriophages, improved bioinformatic software, and a characterised collection of commercially valuable bacterial strains and phages. Field of research: 0605 - Microbiology Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and kill only bacteria. This project will deliver significant new knowledge of the biology and diversity of bacteriophages within the human gut. The research will reveal bacteriophage strains that have the potential to enable the future generation of therapies targeting bacterial pathogens of the human gut. Other strains could serve as protective factors to be applied as biological control agents in Australian medical, agricultural and food production industries. The assembled library of bacteriophages and the changes they can induce in host bacteria will therefore be a valuable resource in generating and screening so-called ‘phage therapies’ as a new line of antimicrobial defence for human and animal systems which will generate future economic and health benefits for Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Investigating gamma/delta T cell receptor recognition determinants. The immune system has evolved to protect hosts from pathogens. T cells are a critical component of the immune system that can recognise infected host cells. However, there remains many facets of T cell function that we do not understand. This project aims to investigate a major aspect of T cell immunity that is poorly understood, namely, gamma/delta T cell immunity. Specifically, using a multi-disciplinary approach, the anticipated outcome of the project is to unearth the molecular recognition determinants of gamma/delta T cells. The intended outcome is to provide basic fundamental insights and conceptual advances into a poorly understood, but crucial, component of the immune system. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Unlike alpha/beta T cells, gamma/delta T cells can recognise a staggering range of molecules that differ dramatically in size, molecular structure, and chemical nature. Given the importance of current T cell-based therapies and vaccine designs based on alpha/beta T cell immunity, it is anticipated that fundamental new knowledge of gamma/delta T cell immunity generated in this project will lead the way for new forms of immunotherapy to be explored. Generating knowledge in this area may yield valuable intellectual property and the project will ultimately build links with biotechnology companies in Australia and overseas, to ensure commercial and economic benefit, building upon Australia’s reputation as a powerhouse of biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Harnessing sperm dynamics in microfluidic sorting technologies. Mammalian reproductive tract is a complex microenvironment that has evolved to select the best sperm for fertilisation using a range of rheological, biochemical and geometrical cues. The project aims to engineer the first multiplexed platform, informed by the natural process, for fully automated and rapid selection of sperm based on all key selection criteria: morphology, swimming behaviour, and DNA integrity. The expected outcome is the next generation technology for sperm sorting and analysis. This should provide significant benefits, such as new biophysical insights into mammalian reproduction, with potential for future improvement of assisted reproduction technologies – a field in which Australia has a world leading history. Field of research: 0915 - Interdisciplinary Engineering Australia has a proud history in assisted reproduction, including the world's first In Vitro Fertilisation pregnancy. Infertility is on the rise in Australia and worldwide, affecting 1 in 6 couples. In 2016, the Australian Government spent $200 million through Medicare benefits for assisted reproduction, a 2-fold increase since 2006. However, the success rate of assisted reproduction has plateaued at just ~33% per cycle, mainly due to lack of technological development to improve sperm selection. Current methods require human intervention to manually select sperm, which is inefficient and prone to operator-error. This project aims to develop a fully automated and multiplexed technology platform to sort cells based on key sperm selection criteria (morphology, motility and DNA integrity). The project will create a made-in-Australia technology for high-quality sperm sorting; beyond this project, this technology will have the future potential to improve infertility care worldwide, with significant socioeconomic impacts.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Mechanism of secretion of large clostridial toxins . This project aims to investigate how the large clostridial toxins are secreted from important animal bacterial pathogens. This project expects to generate new knowledge about how bacteria interact with hosts through protein secretion, using a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach and cutting-edge techniques. Expected outcomes of this project include building a deep understanding of the role of export machinery in toxin secretion from bacteria, and the identification of new systems by which this is achieved. This should provide significant benefits, such as gaining new insights into new bacterial protein export mechanisms, with the aim of identifying targets for future veterinary disease interventions or biotechnological applications. Field of research: 0605 - Microbiology Infectious diseases pose economic, environmental and health threats to animals in Australia and worldwide. However, our studies of many microbes have been limited by the methods available to us in the laboratory, which have constrained our ability to answer important questions about how these microbes function. This research project will develop the tools required to study these microbes in molecular detail, and will provide training in this important research area to early career researchers and students. The outcomes of this project are intended to make important contributions to our understanding of how pathogens cause disease in their hosts and to provide insights into how they evolve to become more virulent. The aim of this proposal is to inform future disease prevention or treatment strategies and to identify targets for veterinary disease interventions or biotechnological applications. This is especially important for optimal food production and will thus support Australia’s economic future and national interest.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Viral allies: shedding light on beneficial insect viruses. Baculoviruses are rare examples of viruses recognised for their positive impact on human activities. These viruses infect a broad range of insects and have been widely used in biological research, biotechnology and agricultural pest control. This Project aims to elucidate the structure and assembly of these beneficial viruses using advanced structural, biochemical and imaging approaches. The Project is expected to generate high-resolution models that define hallmarks of a new viral lineage, a significant breakthrough in our understanding of the virosphere, and underpin the future development of innovative baculovirus-based technologies such as selective bioinsecticides for the sustainable control of invasive insects. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology The Project aims at a breakthrough in understanding of the biology of baculoviruses, a family of viruses affecting most insect species. This research is expected to attract broad scientific interest given the wide use of baculovirus as a critical tool in basic research and the commercial production of proteins for biotechnology applications. The Project is based on frontier structural biology and will train high-level scientists in cryo-electron microscopy, a field that has a national shortage in skilled research capacity. This will allow Australia to fully benefit from the "Resolution Revolution" and remain at the forefront of advanced imaging. Moreover, the knowledge and high-resolution models produced in the Project are anticipated to have economic, social and environmental benefits to Australia by paving the way to the rational design of novel virus-like particles for biotechnology and cost-effective bioinsecticides to combat invasive insects, which threaten Australian environment, health and agriculture security.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

New catalytic alkyne cyclisation strategies for complex molecule synthesis. This project aims to realise new and efficient catalytic chemistry for carbocyclic and heterocyclic synthesis, an immensely important compound family due to their synthetic, biological and material applications. This would be shown by providing new sustainable solutions that minimise resources use and waste production urgently demanded by industry and society to lessen the ecological impact of chemical manufacturing. Expected outcomes include new materials and chemical processes giving Australian industry and academia the cutting-edge in research competitiveness and capacity. This should provide major benefits such as training the next generation of Australian synthetic chemists and wealth creation by supporting the chemical sciences. Field of research: 0305 - Organic Chemistry Cyclic molecules are immensely important due to the significant contribution they make to the quality of life, from the medicine we take to the food that we eat. The discovery of new cyclic molecules to further improve the human condition, however, requires the constant creation of new knowledge in chemical synthesis. Thus, this project aims to develop powerful new chemical reactions that allow for the preparation of sophisticated molecules in an efficient manner and, in due course, impact the way materials for function are made. The new materials and catalytic methods will position Australia to gaining a greater share of the US$5.7 trillion global chemical industry by giving the Nation the cutting-edge in research competitiveness and capacity. It will realise new low-cost and sustainable solutions urgently sought after by industry and demanded by society to lessen the ecological impact of chemical manufacturing. It will also train the next generation of highly skilled synthetic chemists with the ability to address the scientific challenges of the future and essential to the growth of the Australian economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Shaping the vertebrate brain: defining the cellular and genetic drivers . This project aims to uncover specific cellular and genetic mechanisms that control growth and shape of the brain. How brain shape and size changes during evolution of vertebrates is enigmatic but important to know for better understanding of behaviour and function of intact and diseased brain. The project aims to assemble team of national and international experts to build international capacity and unique genetics model to generate new knowledge of the cellular and genetic components that drive evolution of different brain parts and shapes the vertebrate brain. In doing so the project aims to provide research training, excellence and knowledge that in future may benefit health and the society. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics This project aims to uncover the basic biological mechanisms that control brain growth and evolution. The biology responsible for brain development and growth are central for neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegeneration, resulting in reduced cognitive function and decline in the young and aging population, respectively. This project will generate new knowledge in how specific cells and genetic factors build specific brain parts and drive brain evolution. Defining the cells and molecules influencing specific brain growth will provide foundational knowledge that may lead to new stem cell and regenerative therapies, drugs or predictive diagnostic tools to target neurodegenerative conditions with significant socio-economic impact for Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Gendering Peace Mediation . This project aims to reconstruct international legal and political mediation frameworks to increase the chances of facilitating durable peace. Current peace mediation is ineffective as most peace agreements fail within 5-years. There is evidence that women's participation in conflict-resolution leads to better peace. This project will distil practical mechanisms and generalizable lessons from women’s successful community level mediation in a toolset that can inform and transform high-level mediation processes. This project will generate an evidence base for rethinking peace mediation design and practice, traditionally characterised by male-dominated institutions and disciplines, to resolve conflict and benefit national and global security. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science Australia is a major contributor to the global peace and security framework. In 2016 Australia prioritised gender equality and women’s empowerment in multilateral diplomacy, aid and development, and security engagements as part of the Australian government’s foreign policy. This project seeks to assist with these efforts by identifying and detailing the professional practices of women mediators in diplomatic, expert, and community-level roles. The aim of this work is to enhance the success rate of various peace processes, currently more than half fail to find a positive resolution. The findings will help inform Australia’s future efforts in conflict resolution and provide an opportunity for bolstering Australian global leadership on the implementation of the Women Peace and Security agenda and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Role of Pasteurella surface polysaccharides in pathogenesis and immunity. Livestock infections cause major economic losses worldwide. The bacterium Pasteurella multocida causes multiple diseases in a range of livestock, including hemorrhagic septicaemia in cattle and fowl cholera in poultry. Two surface polysaccharide structures, capsule and lipopolysaccharide, are crucial for P. multocida to cause disease. Our data indicate that varying the amount/content of these structures also affects vaccine performance. This project aims to identify how the production of these P. multocida structures are controlled and if changes to these structures affect its ability to infect different animals/birds. Using this information, the project aims to develop state-of-the-art livestock vaccines with superior disease coverage. Field of research: 0707 - Veterinary Sciences Efficient livestock industries are crucial to Australia's economic and cultural success. For decades, antibiotics have been used to decrease bacterial disease and increase production efficiency. But bacterial antibiotic resistance is at an all-time high, and there is a worldwide call to drastically reduce antibiotic use in production animals. To move towards this, better livestock disease prevention strategies are required. State-of-the-art animal vaccines must be a critical part of that strategy. Fowl cholera affects all poultry industries worldwide, including here in Australia. Fatal haemorrhagic septicaemia in cattle and buffalo is a serious disease in Asian countries and an ever-present quarantine risk for Australia. These are only two of the many diseases caused by just one bacterial species, Pasteurella multocida. Current Pasteurella vaccines offer only limited protection. This project aims to understand how to precisely manipulate the carbohydrate structures on the surface of this bacterium to enable engineering of more efficacious and broadly protective vaccines against this multi-species pathogen.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Remaking Post-industrial Plans: Urban Industrial Zoning Past and Future. This project aims to examine the changing functions and roles of urban industrial land. Planning for industrial land remains rooted in approaches that are out of step with existing and emerging conditions. Urban policymakers sacrifice dwindling employment lands for property value growth and miss opportunities to incorporate industrial activity in sustainable planning goals. Through digital archival mapping, on-site analysis, and planner interviews, this project seeks to develop a deeper understanding of how industrial lands and their regulatory settings are linked to changes in urban development over time. This should lead to new knowledge to reinvent industrial zones to meet contemporary needs and adapt to future disruptions. Field of research: 1205 - Urban and Regional Planning This project will update and reorient planning for industrial land uses resulting in significant benefits to Australian communities. Through development and application of new digital archival resources alongside detailed analysis of contemporary industrial districts, the research will inform new approaches to planning for industrial areas. Research outcomes will assist planning practitioners in meeting the needs of contemporary industrial businesses within broader sustainable planning goals and in confronting future economic disruptions. Simultaneously, it will help to shift the Australian focus from property value growth to more balanced and equitable development. Industrial lands can provide the necessary affordable space for firm start-up, innovation, and growth, but these potential benefits are lost to property redevelopment. The reinvention of industrial lands can therefore be a significant source of economic diversification and quality job creation leading to more inclusive urban economic growth.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Decoding neuronal populations for visually-guided decision and action. This project aims to investigate how the cerebral decodes visual information in order to guide sensory-guided actions. Using a high resolution technique, capable of monitoring the activity of many cells in real time, it will study how sensory signals about the motion of visual patterns interact with noise (fluctuations in neuronal activity that are not directly related to the sensation being encoded) in order to determine decisions made by an animal. Expected outcomes include new knowledge about the cellular circuits responsible for vision, and new technologies for decoding brain activity from physiological measurements, which may in the future guide the development of improved bionic devices such as brain-computer interfaces. Field of research: 1109 - Neurosciences This project will seek knowledge about how to decode ("read") brain activity using physiological measurements, in particular with respect to what the eyes are seeing, and the intention to move the eyes in specific directions. The capacity to decode brain activity is key to many emerging technologies involving brain-machine interfaces - for example, better bionic devices for restoration of brain function and for the control of external devices such as robotic arms, vehicles and computer interfaces. The immediate benefit of the project will be advancement of knowledge about the brain computations that lead to vision. It will also enrich Australian research in the neurosciences by promoting direct collaboration between biologists, physicists and engineers, and will provide multi-disciplinary training for PhD students. The project findings may also have impact in the field of neuro-technology, by providing information that will help guide the future development of improved bionic eyes and other types of brain-machine interfaces.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Bacterial vesicles transport their bioactive cargo to the host nucleus. This project aims to investigate how bacterial membrane vesicles transport their cargo to the nucleus of cells and its impact on host cell functions. Bacteria use membrane vesicles as a means of communication with the host, but the full extent of their effects on host cells has yet to be fully elucidated. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field using cutting-edge imaging and molecular biology approaches. The work should provide significant benefits, particularly towards the development of membrane vesicles in gene therapy, gene editing and other applications. Field of research: 0605 - Microbiology The proposed research will provide new knowledge on how microorganisms interact with the host. Specifically, we hypothesise that membrane vesicles, which are naturally released by bacteria, play a crucial role in communication with host cells. To address the hypothesis, we will determine the mechanisms by which these membrane vesicles enter host cells and deliver their bioactive cargo, including DNA, to the nucleus. We know that bacterial membrane vesicles share properties with synthetic nanoparticles and viruses. By understanding the cellular entry and trafficking of bacterial vesicles, it will be possible to develop these natural nanoparticles as vectors for gene therapy, gene editing and other applications aimed at improving human health, thus potentially leading to significant commercial benefits for the Australian community. Furthermore, knowledge gained from the research may be applied to the development of strategies to control the spread of antimicrobial resistance, a huge problem with significant impacts on both the health of our communities and the economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

How do transcription factors control cell fate transitions? The aim of this project is to determine how transcription factors control cellular identity, which is relevant to many biological processes including embryogenesis, cellular reprogramming and differentiation. Innovative genomic tools will be combined with various in vitro cellular conversion systems to generate fundamental mechanistic insight into how transcription factors mediate these identity changes. The knowledge gained from this work will allow us to answer standing fundamental questions in regards to cell fate control and the biochemistry of transcription factors, which in turn will aid in the development of novel gene regulation technologies applicable to a myriad of fields and industries. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics This project will unveil the fundamental mechanisms by which transcription factors control cell identity (e.g. what makes a heart cell a cell of the heart or a neuron a cell of the brain?). Understanding these processes is of major importance if we want to control cell identity and in turn generate specific cell types for their use in pharmaceutical screening and regenerative medicine approaches as well as novel technologies with future applications in the biotechnology, food and farming industry. Additionally, this project will provide important mechanistic insight into the modes of action of transcription factors, which is not only essential for the basic understanding of many physiological processes including development but might further aid in the design of novel site-specific gene editing or gene regulation tools with potential applications in a myriad of fields and disciplines.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Recordkeeping for empowerment of rural communities in developing countries. This project aims to enable more effective and culturally-sensitive information dissemination programs and digital preservation programs based on an analysis of the differences between the information needs and preferences of women and men in rural communities in developing countries. This project is expected to develop a theory of gendered recordkeeping and a framework for the application of gender-sensitive and culturally-sensitive information dissemination and information preservation programs. Expected outcomes include economic and social benefits for rural and disadvantaged communities through the empowerment of creating and preserving information in ways that meet personal and community needs and preferences. Field of research: 0807 - Library and Information Studies This project will uncover gender-specific information preferences for rural and disadvantaged communities within developing countries from our region. The project will develop a new framework for the best ways to disseminate and preserve information for those groups. This will have wide-ranging implications for digital and gender equity that will be relevant for rural communities and disadvantaged groups around the world. The outcomes will generate tangible benefit for Australia in guiding the delivery of information from Australian aid organisations and Commonwealth bodies in the developing world as well as informing Australian Government policy in the area of digital access. Specifically, the research will inform the implementation phase of the Australian Government Digital Continuity 2020 policy to ensure equitable and effective access to essential information services for disadvantaged Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Microstructured Nanohybrid Films for Passive Daytime Cooling. This project aims to develop a daytime radiative cooling surface without external energy requirement via novel microstructured nanohybrid film coatings to perpetually dump heat into cold outer space through the atmospheric window. The project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge in the area of building cooling materials, via multidisciplinary utilisation of cutting-edge construction materials and design. The expected outcome of the project will place Australia in a competitive position in advanced green building infrastructure and highly demanded energy-saving technologies. This should provide benefits, such as significantly decreasing building energy consumption, and, thus reducing greenhouse gas emission. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering An outcome of this work would be a new generation of passive daytime cooling surface which significantly improves the energy conservation efficiency and sustainability of buildings, placing Australia in the vanguard of resource and renewable energy technology. Compared with a costly cooling system upgrade, painting advanced coating films on various types of existing roofs is a cost-effective approach for energy saving. The developed microstructured nanohybrid films can passively dump heat into outer space through atmospheric window achieving sub-ambient temperature. This cutting-edge technology and associated commercialisation opportunities will directly benefit the building-related industry in Australian and global markets. This project will also provide benefits to Australian construction materials industry via the invention of high value-add products; Australian electricity grids by reducing the energy demand of building cooling systems; local communities through the mitigation of urban heat island effect; and global environmental change by cutting greenhouse gas emission and ozone-depleting coolants.