A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on health ....A novel precision-engineered microfluidic chip for wear particle research. This project aims to develop 1- novel protocols to generate clinically-relevant wear particles from spinal implants in-vitro and 2- a technological framework for the fabrication of a novel microfluidic 3D spinal implant-on-a-chip with tailored mechanical, material and biological properties. This will provide a cost-effective tool, currently unavailable, that allows investigation into the impact of wear particles on healthy spinal disc cells. We expect our technological framework to become an invaluable tool for biomedical engineers, biologists, and bio-engineers to work together and generate clinically relevant in-vitro data that supports optimisation for spinal implant design, fabrication, and safety. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101683
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,354.00
Summary
Computational Design of Defect-Free Additive Manufactured Ceramic Structure. Despite its importance and potential, ceramic additive manufacturing (AM) is facing significant challenge for its inherent material characteristics prone to shrinkage and fracture during fabrication process. This project aims to fill a knowledge gap by developing a new computational design framework for a commonly-used indirect AM process. It will address a range of AM issues, such as residual stress/distortion, cracks, ....Computational Design of Defect-Free Additive Manufactured Ceramic Structure. Despite its importance and potential, ceramic additive manufacturing (AM) is facing significant challenge for its inherent material characteristics prone to shrinkage and fracture during fabrication process. This project aims to fill a knowledge gap by developing a new computational design framework for a commonly-used indirect AM process. It will address a range of AM issues, such as residual stress/distortion, cracks, and uncertainty in a nondeterministic context. The study is expected to establish novel design methodologies for ceramic AM with process modelling, robust/reliable optimisation, and fracture-based design. It will provide ceramic industry with a new framework for biomedical, aerospace and mechanical applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101128
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,154.00
Summary
Decode Neuro-Mechanobiology:mechanosensitive ion channels in proprioception. Human bodies are densely covered with numerous mechanosensory neurons that provide us with the sense of touch and pain. However, the molecular force sensors remain poorly identified. This project aims at defining the fundamental roles of mechanosensitive ion channels to sense and respond to various mechanical stimuli, and how their responses may encode mechanical cues.The ultimate goal is to provide a fundamentally new ....Decode Neuro-Mechanobiology:mechanosensitive ion channels in proprioception. Human bodies are densely covered with numerous mechanosensory neurons that provide us with the sense of touch and pain. However, the molecular force sensors remain poorly identified. This project aims at defining the fundamental roles of mechanosensitive ion channels to sense and respond to various mechanical stimuli, and how their responses may encode mechanical cues.The ultimate goal is to provide a fundamentally new understanding of proprioception and motion sensing. The new multimodality approach generated in this project is expected to evolve as a national facility for neuro-mechanobiology, and future research may lead to the inspiration of novel bionic sensor design and brain-computer interface for future neuroengineering industry.Read moreRead less