{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/FT250100646"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"FT250100646","attributes":{"code":"FT250100646","administering-organisation":"The University of Queensland","announcement-administering-organisation":"The University of Queensland","scheme-name":"ARC Future Fellowships","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2025,"years-funded":4,"project-start-date":"2026-01-01","anticipated-end-date":"2029-12-31","grant-summary":"Deciphering invertebrate venoms devastating Australia's pets and livestock. Paralysis ticks and processionary caterpillars are two species of venomous invertebrate that wreak havoc on Australian pets and livestock. Tick paralysis affects ~10,000 animals yearly, causing hundreds of animal deaths. Ingestion of processionary caterpillars causes gravid mares to abort their foetuses. The neurotoxin responsible for tick paralysis has been identified, but it is unknown how it works, and it is unknown if caterpillar venom toxins contribute to equine foetal loss. This project aims to determine when tick neurotoxins are biosynthesised, and where and how they act; and what biological activities processionary caterpillar venom has, which toxins cause these bioactivities, and if venom contributes to equine foetal loss. ","funding-current":974598.00,"funding-at-announcement":953619,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Andrew","familyName":"Walker","roleName":"Future Fellowship","roleCode":"FT","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0003-1296-6593 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Andrew","familyName":"Walker","roleName":"Future Fellowship","roleCode":"FT","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0003-1296-6593 "}],"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":"310913","name":"Invertebrate Biology","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":true,"code":"3404","name":"Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"340401","name":"Biologically Active Molecules","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"340407","name":"Proteins and Peptides","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"100406","name":"Horses","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"109902","name":"Animal Welfare","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"280102","name":"Expanding Knowledge In the Biological Sciences","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["Belgium","Italy"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"This project aims to better understand venom toxins produced by two species of arthropod that cause serious harm to our pets and livestock, the Australian paralysis tick and the Australian processionary caterpillar. Paralysis ticks affect ~10,000 animals yearly, causing hundreds of animal deaths. In 2013 in the Hunter Valley, it was discovered that a significant proportion of pregnant mares aborted foetuses due to contact with venomous processionary caterpillars. However, the molecular mechanism by which tick neurotoxins work is unknown, and it is unknown what bioactivity processionary caterpillar venom has or if the venom contributes to equine foetal loss. This project will fill these knowledge gaps and will pave the way for new or improved therapeutics (e.g. vaccines, antivenoms, or veterinary medicines). Economic and commercial benefits may result by avoidance of veterinary costs (up to $10K for mechanical ventilation of an individual dog) and loss of horse pregnancies in the equine industry, and through commercial production of veterinary therapeutics. This project has strong potential to promote links between academia and industry, and presents great opportunities for science communication to the general public, which will be delivered through TV, radio, print and online media, and school presentations. This project will contribute to the National Interest by providing knowledge with the potential to protect our pets and livestock, an integral part of Australian life."}}}