Terahertz and optical coherence tomography for improved cancer imaging. This project aims to improve cancer imaging by combining two complimentary, novel techniques. Its success will create an internationally leading position for Australia in cutting-edge research in optical and terahertz biomedical imaging. This innovative, fundamental research will expand Australia's research capacity in imaging sciences. The nation will benefit from new medical diagnostic techniques that will improve the dete ....Terahertz and optical coherence tomography for improved cancer imaging. This project aims to improve cancer imaging by combining two complimentary, novel techniques. Its success will create an internationally leading position for Australia in cutting-edge research in optical and terahertz biomedical imaging. This innovative, fundamental research will expand Australia's research capacity in imaging sciences. The nation will benefit from new medical diagnostic techniques that will improve the detection and treatment of cancer; as well as aid the clinical assessment of burns. This multidisciplinary, internationally collaborative research has additional wide ranging benefits in biology, medicine, pharmaceutical science and national security.Read moreRead less
Bone regulation - cell interactions to disease. Many bone disorders such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease and chancer related bone diseases are directly related to disruption of communication pathways between bone cells leading to imbalances in bone remodeling. Although these disorders are common and cause considerable suffering, in most cases little is known about the mechanisms responsible for dysfunctional remodeling. Understanding the communication network between bone cells and their inter ....Bone regulation - cell interactions to disease. Many bone disorders such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease and chancer related bone diseases are directly related to disruption of communication pathways between bone cells leading to imbalances in bone remodeling. Although these disorders are common and cause considerable suffering, in most cases little is known about the mechanisms responsible for dysfunctional remodeling. Understanding the communication network between bone cells and their interaction with drugs is essential in order to develop new therapies and to effectively design novel biological compatible bone implants. This research proposal closely aligns with national research priority two, i.e., promoting and maintaining good health (ageing well, ageing productively).Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668435
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,300,000.00
Summary
Biomedical Engineering Sensing and Imaging Facility. The sensing and imaging facility will be the only national facility for leading engineering and medical researchers to undertake multidiscipline research into live and model biological systems. The facility will capture and combine existing strengths in these fields in Melbourne. This will provide new insights into the physiology of human, animal and plant systems and the development of preventive and curative strategies for disease.
Coherent optical tissue biopsy and analysis targeting muscle pathology. This international, interdisciplinary collaborative research should change the way structures in tissues are characterised with broad impact on health, biotechnology, and the meat industry. Specific benefits include: a large reduction in the time/effort required for the ubiquitous process of histology of muscle and other tissue sections and samples; a large reduction in the number of animals required in experimentation and ....Coherent optical tissue biopsy and analysis targeting muscle pathology. This international, interdisciplinary collaborative research should change the way structures in tissues are characterised with broad impact on health, biotechnology, and the meat industry. Specific benefits include: a large reduction in the time/effort required for the ubiquitous process of histology of muscle and other tissue sections and samples; a large reduction in the number of animals required in experimentation and the possibility of time sequential studies of the same animal; and in muscular dystrophy in humans, a new capability in the direct assessment of muscle tissue and the disease treatment and progression. This suite of advances should generate intellectual property of major commercial importance.Read moreRead less
Automated texture selection and classification methods for detection of osteoarthritis in knee radiographs. In Australia there are 1-2 million OA sufferers, a condition that costs approximately $9 billion annually. This project will address an important problem of early detection and monitoring of OA and this remains in line with the National Research Priority 2. Potential outcomes of the project will result in better diagnosis and treatment of OA, reduced discomfort to the individual and saving ....Automated texture selection and classification methods for detection of osteoarthritis in knee radiographs. In Australia there are 1-2 million OA sufferers, a condition that costs approximately $9 billion annually. This project will address an important problem of early detection and monitoring of OA and this remains in line with the National Research Priority 2. Potential outcomes of the project will result in better diagnosis and treatment of OA, reduced discomfort to the individual and saving to the national economy. This project will improve existing activity and rehabilitation programs such as exercise of lower limbs and it will help in developing diets for healthy people and OA sufferers.Read moreRead less
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential ....Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential for the development of new commercial opportunities in biotechnology and biomedical science in which Australia has an excellent track record. The project will also enhance Australia's capabilities in both nanotechnologiocal and biotechnological sciences.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0221428
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,000.00
Summary
A Transportable Optical Frequency Counter, Synthesizer and Super-Continuum Generator (OFCSSG). The generation of ultra-short light pulses of just a few femtoseconds (one thousand-trillionth of a second) in duration has enabled applications in a wide range of fields, but complexity and cost has limited availability. This project will employ recently developed optical fibre and solid-state laser technology to create a cost-effective compact transportable facility of highly coherent, ultra-broadba ....A Transportable Optical Frequency Counter, Synthesizer and Super-Continuum Generator (OFCSSG). The generation of ultra-short light pulses of just a few femtoseconds (one thousand-trillionth of a second) in duration has enabled applications in a wide range of fields, but complexity and cost has limited availability. This project will employ recently developed optical fibre and solid-state laser technology to create a cost-effective compact transportable facility of highly coherent, ultra-broadband radiation. The source will enable new research and substantially enrich existing research in optical time standards and metrology, in-vivo biological imaging, and ultrafast spectroscopy. No such facility is presently available in AustraliaRead moreRead less
Techniques for probing biological media with holographic angular scattering spectroscopy. Huge effort in the biological and medical sciences is spent in using simple software to laboriously mark, count and measure cells and structures in microscope images of samples. We could replace this incredibly inefficient process in many instances with single-shot size-map images of unstained samples. If depth selectivity can be added, we could perform non-invasive measurements on animals, making a huge re ....Techniques for probing biological media with holographic angular scattering spectroscopy. Huge effort in the biological and medical sciences is spent in using simple software to laboriously mark, count and measure cells and structures in microscope images of samples. We could replace this incredibly inefficient process in many instances with single-shot size-map images of unstained samples. If depth selectivity can be added, we could perform non-invasive measurements on animals, making a huge reduction in their usage. We could assess thick tissues enabling early noninvasive diagnosis of malignancy in tumours in situ or muscle characterization for meat quality or muscular dystrophy. These benefits impact on research, animal ethics, and on health, and have commercial potential in life and medical sciences, and the meat industry.Read moreRead less
Engineering cartilage homeostasis in health and disease. Arthritis is a common, painful and often debilitating disease affecting 16% of the Australian population and costing this community $11 billion every year. It is not well understood why cartilage degenerates into joint disease, nor how it may be reversed - partly due to the large number of mechanisms involved. This project aims to overcome this complexity by developing a computational model of cartilage that can integrate the various mech ....Engineering cartilage homeostasis in health and disease. Arthritis is a common, painful and often debilitating disease affecting 16% of the Australian population and costing this community $11 billion every year. It is not well understood why cartilage degenerates into joint disease, nor how it may be reversed - partly due to the large number of mechanisms involved. This project aims to overcome this complexity by developing a computational model of cartilage that can integrate the various mechanisms of cartilage degradation. New experiments will be used to validate the model and test predictions. The model developed will provide fundamental insights into what is required for the maintenance of healthy cartilage, and what happens in injury-induced degradation of cartilage.Read moreRead less
Optical coherence elastography - High-resolution medical imaging of tissue mechanical properties. This project brings together an international, multi-disciplinary team to develop innovative, high-resolution techniques to identify diseased tissue. Success will result in a new medical imaging technique allowing clinicians to quantify the mechanical properties of tissue, effectively creating a high-resolution image of what the tissue 'feels' like. This may help them to more accurately identify can ....Optical coherence elastography - High-resolution medical imaging of tissue mechanical properties. This project brings together an international, multi-disciplinary team to develop innovative, high-resolution techniques to identify diseased tissue. Success will result in a new medical imaging technique allowing clinicians to quantify the mechanical properties of tissue, effectively creating a high-resolution image of what the tissue 'feels' like. This may help them to more accurately identify cancerous tissue during surgery and reduce rates of recurrence. It could aid in tissue engineering and regeneration and will provide a new database of tissue mechanical properties. The project will position Australia as a leader in this newly developing medical imaging technology, with significant potential for commercialisation.Read moreRead less