Preparing bilbies for feral weather: developing an early warning system for conservation management

Preparing bilbies for feral weather: developing an early warning system for conservation management

Advisor/s

A/Prof Ulf Schmitz, Dr Daniel Xing, Prof Andreas Lopata

College or Research Centre

College of Medicine & Dentistry; College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Science

Summary of Project

Join our dynamic research team at JCU and the Townsville Cancer Centre (TCC) for an exciting HDR (Higher Degree by Research) project that merges cutting-edge technology with critical clinical applications. Our umbrella project encompasses two groundbreaking research initiatives aimed at improving cancer treatment outcomes and patient care. Project 1: Enhancing Glioblastoma Treatment with Magnetic Resonance and Radiotherapy Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most aggressive brain cancers, with limited survival rates despite recent advances in treatment. Our research focuses on the novel application of tumour treating fields and the integration of a magnetic resonance linear accelerator (MRL) to explore the biological effects of combining magnetic fields with ionizing radiation. We aim to uncover how these combined modalities impact tumour and immune cell interactions, ultimately seeking to improve GBM treatment efficacy. Project 2: Developing Blood-Based Surveillance for HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC) presents unique challenges in post-treatment surveillance, particularly for patients in remote regions. Our research aims to develop and validate a blood-based circulating HPV-DNA (cHPV-DNA) test using next-generation sequencing (NGS). This innovative approach will enable earlier detection of recurrent disease, reduce patient burden, and improve survival outcomes for HPV-OPSCC patients.

Greater bilbies, though once abundant in Australia, are a threatened species. In Queensland a wild population of bilbies persists in the Channel Country in the far west of the state. This population is separated from the rest of the Australian population and is thus of high conservation value. Arid environments, where bilbies live, are characterized by boom-bust cycles driven by rare rainfall events. Heavy rainfall results in a vegetation-boom, causing plant-eating mammal numbers to increase, in turn causing feral predators like cats to boom as well. Initially, cats feed mainly on common mammals like long-haired rats, but once rat numbers drop, they switch to bilbies. Rain-driven cat booms have over the past decades reduced the bilby population to undetectable levels several times, and therefore feral cat management programs have been started. However, effective cat management and bilby conservation in such remote areas requires timely planning of resources well in advance. What is urgently needed is an early warning system that can reliably predict when rat and cat booms and subsequent prey-switch events will likely occur. Decade-long census time series are available on various species from arid Australia to determine over what time-frame cat and rat (and other boom-bust mammals) numbers will increase after rainfall and how we can best manage their peaks. They await to be analysed and translated into practical tools for conservation management.

Key Words

brain cancer; head and neck cancer; radiation oncology; biomarker; bioinformatics next generation sequencing

Would suit an applicant who

We invite motivated students with a passion for oncology, molecular biology, and innovative technology to apply. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to transformative research with the potential to significantly impact patient care and treatment outcomes.

is looking for an Honours, MSc by Research, PhD project or postdoctoral fellowship application.

Requirements:

• Experience with statistical modelling of time-series data / regression analysis
• An affinity with wildlife conservation
• People with a background in population dynamical / mathematical / ecological modelling can also develop the project in that direction

Updated: 15 Aug 2022