{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260100351"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260100351","attributes":{"code":"DE260100351","administering-organisation":"The University of Queensland","announcement-administering-organisation":"The University of Queensland","scheme-name":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2026,"years-funded":3,"project-start-date":"2026-01-01","anticipated-end-date":"2028-12-31","grant-summary":"How basal progenitors shape mammalian brain development and diversification. This project investigates how basal progenitors, a specialised subtype of neuron-producing cells, impact brain development and diversification. While placental mammals (e.g. humans) have these cells, marsupial mammals do not. By ectopically inducing basal progenitors in marsupials, this study expects to recreate placental-like brain features and will generate new knowledge on the molecular mechanisms behind basal progenitor generation and their impact on brain shape and function. Expected outcomes include insights into the evolution of complex mammalian traits. By unveiling how developmental dynamics diversify among mammals, this project has the benefit of offering new perspectives on the plasticity of these processes in health and disease.","funding-current":532771.00,"funding-at-announcement":528549,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Annalisa","familyName":"Paolino","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-2117-2819 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Annalisa","familyName":"Paolino","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-2117-2819 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"The University of Queensland","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"QLD"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"The University of Queensland","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"QLD"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":false,"code":"310404","name":"Evolution of Developmental Systems","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":true,"code":"3109","name":"Zoology","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"310906","name":"Animal Neurobiology","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"320903","name":"Central Nervous System","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"280102","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Biological Sciences","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280103","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Biomedical and Clinical Sciences","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["France","Spain"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"One of the greatest unresolved mysteries of biology is how the complex mammalian brain evolved. To understand its evolutionary principles, studying a variety of mammalian brains is crucial. This approach offers deeper insights into the human brain and can inform future research on the mechanisms and consequences of brain misdevelopment in diseases. While significant efforts have focused on understanding brain formation in placental mammals (like humans and mice), knowledge of marsupials (like koalas and kangaroos) remains limited. Marsupials are the second largest mammalian group and are primarily native to Australia, making it an ideal place to study marsupial biology internationally, thus advancing the Australian evolutionary neuroscience research sector. Preliminary data supporting this project indicate that exposing marsupials to low oxygen levels during development can cause their brains to resemble those of placental mammals. This study proposes further investigation into the mechanisms behind this effect and its impact on final brain structure and function. This research will provide valuable insights into the evolutionary changes that contributed to the diversification of mammalian brains, including the human brain’s incredible complexity. By exploring the role of oxygen in shaping brain development, this study could have impacts beyond academia, potentially informing future therapies for hypoxic conditions, such as premature birth and intrauterine growth restriction."}}}