The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
Skin Patch Technology For Fast And Simple Monitoring Of Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$826,064.00
Summary
Micropatch kits will be developed to capture and detect disease-related biomarkers from the skin for diagnostic monitoring, without the need for needles, trained practitioners or expensive laboratory infrastructure
Enhanced Deep Brain Stimulation Electrodes For Improved Efficacy In Parkinson’s Disease Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$809,940.00
Summary
We are developing an advanced Deep Brain Stimulation system to improve the treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Current devices benefit only half of the patients, due to imprecision in directing the electrical current to the ideal brain targets. Our system aims to deliver the current more selectively. Our implant will contain more and smaller electrodes. We will also use a state-of-the-art stimulator, implantable on the head, with capabilities far beyond the current technology.
X-Tream: A Realtime X-ray Treatment Monitoring And Dosimetry System For Submillimetric Radiosurgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,544.00
Summary
We plan to develop a commercial prototype of a new clinical product called X-Tream, together with pre-clinical experimental and Monte Carlo data to demonstrate its performance in one potential clinical application involving an exciting and rapidly developing radiosurgery technique known as microbeam radiation therapy. We intend to show that the X-Tream system has the demonstrated ability to provide essential measurements with the necessary accuracy to allow for future clinical trials.
Development Of A Take-home Rehabilitation Device That Improves Visual Stability And Balance In Patients With Peripheral Vestibular Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$789,377.00
Summary
The balance system senses head motion via the balance organs, one in each inner ear, and stabilises vision during head movements. Without it, every time you walk, run, or drive on a bumpy road, the world appears to bounce. We have developed a device shown to reliably 'train up' the balance system. Our aim is to develop this device further for effective take-home rehabilitation.
Application Of Sutureless Technology 'SurgiLux' For Dura Mater Repair: A Proof Of Concept Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$213,125.00
Summary
A unique technology that combines biomaterials and lasers to effectively close and seal wounds could replace sutures in delicate surgery close to the brain. Wound closure in the cranium is still reliant upon sutures or 'stitches' and these have complications; a major one being leakage of cerebro spinal fluid (CSF). The application of 'SurgiLux' technology will both close and seal these wounds quickly and easily, with significant health and economic benefits.
Low-Cost Portable Inhalation Therapy Platform For Needle-Free DNA-Based Influenza Vaccination
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,644.00
Summary
Influenza affects a large proportion of the global population and can result in many deaths in a pandemic. A DNA influenza vaccine overcomes the possibility of severe side effects associated with commonly used vaccines based on weakened viruses and can be rapidly produced and easily transported without refrigeration. DNA vaccines are however unstable and difficult to deliver. We propose to address this with a low-cost and portable handheld device which allows the vaccine to simply be inhaled.
BrachyVision: A Novel Multipurpose Probe For In-body Radiation Imaging And Dosimetry.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$532,627.00
Summary
BrachyVision is an in-body imaging and dosimetry system to assist physicians in providing efficient and optimized permanent seed implant brachytherapy cancer treatment. The system allows intra-operative preplanning, image guided treatment, post implant verification and direct rectal dosimetry. It represents a major advance in clinical technology that can improve quality of life of prostate cancer patients and, through reduced post treatment complications, lead to significant health cost savings.
Superior Surgical Fixation Using A Novel Orthopaedic Expandable Fastener
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,076.00
Summary
Surgeons repair bone fractures using metal plates and screws. Sometimes the screws loosen and the surgery needs to be repeated. Expandable screws are stronger, but more difficult and sometimes impossible to remove. The research team will test a new type of screw that holds the bones together with greater strength (our current work shows 40% stronger) but can be removed easily if necessary. This grant will allow extensive mechanical testing in preparation for a first-in-human clinical trial.
Development Of Microscope-in-a-needle Devices For Improved Clinical Diagnostics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,746.00
Summary
We have developed a new high-resolution optical imaging technology. The unique aspect of our research has been to redesign the imaging probe, miniaturising it to a few hundred microns in diameter, and encase it in a hypodermic needle – a ‘microscope-in-a-needle’. We are developing specific imaging probes to aid in the assessment of lung disease; the diagnosis of liver disease; and integrated into a brain biopsy needle to enable safer brain biopsies.
Development Of A New Surgical-guidance Tool For Intra-operative Tumour Margin Assessment In Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$557,982.00
Summary
One third of breast cancer patients undergoing breast conserving surgery have insufficient tissue removed, resulting in an increased risk of recurrence. We have developed a high resolution optical imaging probe with the potential to detect small areas of cancer. It could be used to help guide the surgeon to remove all cancerous tissue from the patient. This grant will allow us to develop the probe to a stage that it can be used during surgery, and perform the world’s first clinical scans.