Four projects awarded $2.4 million in ARC Discovery Project funding
In the latest round of Australian Research Council (ARC) funding, four Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) researchers have been awarded $2.4 million under the Discovery Project scheme for 2024.
The funded projects are expected to advance knowledge in a range of areas, from the physiology of vision and of the female reproductive tract, to gene regulation and a glimpse into the deep past of how we became modern day humans.
Announced 30 October, the ARC’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Judi Zielke PSM, said that the Discovery Project (DPs) scheme supports excellent basic and applied research to expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability, and enhance the scale and focus of research in the Australian Government priority areas.
With a total of 51 of these grants, Monash University researchers were awarded the highest number of ARC Discovery Projects (DP24) in the country.
Professor John Carroll, Director of the Monash BDI, said that securing funding for fundamental discovery research is now harder than ever before.
“Our futures absolutely depend on scientists making the discoveries from which innovation can flow - new medicines, new treatments, all had a start in the research laboratory,” Professor Carroll said.
“I’d like to thank the ARC for this funding, and to say that we greatly appreciate the timely release of these funding outcomes.
“It was a more competitive year than usual, and commiserations go to all of our researchers who have been unsuccessful this time,” he said.
Associate Professor Luca Fiorenza
From foraging to farming. Human adaptations during major transitions [DP240101081] awarded $717,816
This project aims to investigate the causes that led to the human demographic explosion that occurred during the Neolithic Revolution by analysing dental tissues through cutting-edge methods. This project expects to generate novel insights about the diet, health and weaning practices in Mediterranean human populations from the last 30,000 years. Expected outcomes of this project include the creation of new data on early life dietary transitions in archaeological populations, enhancing capacity to build interdisciplinary collaborations, and refining methods and concepts to study the diet of the past. This should provide significant benefits to Australian research in evolutionary anthropology, nutrition and in dentistry.
Associate Professor Craig Smith
Developmental regulation of Müllerian duct formation [DP240100491] awarded $508,798
This project aims to improve our understanding of female reproductive tract formation by studying its developmental origins. Most of the female reproductive tract derives from a pair of embryonic tubes called Müllerian ducts, the formation of which is incompletely understood. Using chicken and mouse models and innovative genetic approaches, the project will uncover novel genes and cellular pathways in Müllerian duct formation. It is expected that this work will enhance knowledge in the biological sciences in the area of female reproduction and how tubes form in biological systems. This project will train research scientists, develop collaborations and enhance Australia’s high standing in the field of reproduction.
Professor Greg Stuart
Role of the superior colliculus in sensory processing [DP240103043] awarded $592,264
The ability of an organism to attend to, and orient towards, stimuli in the environment is critical for survival. In the mammalian brain, the principal brain region performing this function is the superior colliculus. Despite its importance, little is known about the role the superior colliculus plays in sensory perception. This project addresses this issue by leveraging revolutionary new recording techniques to determine how the superior colliculus codes sensory information and ultimately drives behaviour. The outcomes will be of immediate benefit to scientists studying sensory processing and perceptual decision making, and will help keep Australia at the forefront of brain-inspired engineering and the neuroscience-based knowledge economy.
Dr Qi Zhang
Molecular mechanism for the maintenance of Polycomb-target genes repression through RNA degradation by Rixosome [DP240101212] awarded $544,187
Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) and the rixosome are evolutionarily conserved enzymes that are required for silencing the developmental genes of multicellular organisms. This project aims to investigate how these key regulators maintain gene repression using cutting-edge approaches ranging from biochemistry, structural biology, cell biology to genomics. The expected outcomes include generating new knowledge in gene regulation, strengthening the research capabilities of Australia in fundamental biology, and training the next generation of scientists.
Read more about the 51 Monash University projects funded and read more about Monash University’s nine Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science projects funded to start in 2024.
To see the full list of ARC Discovery Projects funded to start in 2024, visit the ARC website.
About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Spanning seven discovery programs across Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Development and Stem Cells, Infection, Immunity, Metabolism, Diabetes and Obesity, and Neuroscience, Monash BDI is one of the largest biomedical research institutes in Australia. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.