Mobility of water in cartilage as a probe of molecular structure and function. Clinical diagnosis of early-stage osteoarthritis is difficult, and most patients are not diagnosed until a substantial degradation of cartilage has occurred as a result of the disease. This research will study the interaction between different components of articular cartilage and investigate, how this interaction can be exploited for the development of reliable and non-invasive techniques of cartilage imaging. Mobili ....Mobility of water in cartilage as a probe of molecular structure and function. Clinical diagnosis of early-stage osteoarthritis is difficult, and most patients are not diagnosed until a substantial degradation of cartilage has occurred as a result of the disease. This research will study the interaction between different components of articular cartilage and investigate, how this interaction can be exploited for the development of reliable and non-invasive techniques of cartilage imaging. Mobility of water molecules is a potent indicator of the microscopic structure of the cartilage scaffold. We will use this fundamental biophysical relationship to measure the internal architecture of collagen fibres; observe the changes effected by mechanical load; and distinguish between healthy and osteoarthritic cartilage.
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Novel Motion Correction Technologies for Simultaneous Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The recent development of the world's first prototype combined MR-PET scanner for human use has prompted immense interest. MR-PET is likely to revolutionize clinical diagnosis and basic research, by providing exquisite structural images co-registered with simultaneous functional PET images. We will exploit the as yet unexplored potential for motion information derived from the MR sy ....Novel Motion Correction Technologies for Simultaneous Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The recent development of the world's first prototype combined MR-PET scanner for human use has prompted immense interest. MR-PET is likely to revolutionize clinical diagnosis and basic research, by providing exquisite structural images co-registered with simultaneous functional PET images. We will exploit the as yet unexplored potential for motion information derived from the MR system to be used to correct the simultaneously acquired PET data for patient motion. This research is an excellent opportunity for Australian researchers to make important contributions to an emerging technology with high economic potential, and will strengthen Australia's international position in engineering and biomedical systems development.Read moreRead less
Parametric Brain Imaging via Modeling and Analysis of Electroencephalographic Signals. Parameters of brain function and physiology will be spatially imaged with high time resolution via their effects on electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, a form of imaging that is impossible with existing methods. This will be achieved by improving existing physiologically-based models of the generation of EEGs and developing analysis tools based on fitting of model predictions to multielectrode EEG data. T ....Parametric Brain Imaging via Modeling and Analysis of Electroencephalographic Signals. Parameters of brain function and physiology will be spatially imaged with high time resolution via their effects on electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, a form of imaging that is impossible with existing methods. This will be achieved by improving existing physiologically-based models of the generation of EEGs and developing analysis tools based on fitting of model predictions to multielectrode EEG data. The results will be used to probe spatiotemporal features of EEGs in normal subjects to explore the underlying fundamental mechanisms and to infer novel parameter variations of practical relevance.Read moreRead less
Optical defects of the eye and their relationship to visual performance. All of us will need ophthalmic correction (spectacles, contact lenses and/or refractive surgery) at some stage in our lives. This research is important to the whole Australian community as it will lead to improved equipment for measuring optics of the eye and their effects on spatial vision, better techniques for measuring vision, and obtaining a better understanding of the contribution of the optics to human vision. It wil ....Optical defects of the eye and their relationship to visual performance. All of us will need ophthalmic correction (spectacles, contact lenses and/or refractive surgery) at some stage in our lives. This research is important to the whole Australian community as it will lead to improved equipment for measuring optics of the eye and their effects on spatial vision, better techniques for measuring vision, and obtaining a better understanding of the contribution of the optics to human vision. It will provide information about how correcting optical defects through customized refractive surgery and how inducing optical defects (eg with progressive addition lenses) affect vision, and will thus guide developments in refractive surgery and spectacle lenses. Read moreRead less
Optical fibre devices for sideways delivery of laser light during keyhole surgery. Mulitmode optical fibres are typically used to deliver high power laser light which is emitted from the end of the fibre to irradiate tissue during surgery. For intravenous delivery of laser light in the treatment of cardiac fibrillation (heart flutter) we require a sideways-directed illuminating beam. However reliable methods of delivering high power laser light in a sideways-directed beam are not currently avai ....Optical fibre devices for sideways delivery of laser light during keyhole surgery. Mulitmode optical fibres are typically used to deliver high power laser light which is emitted from the end of the fibre to irradiate tissue during surgery. For intravenous delivery of laser light in the treatment of cardiac fibrillation (heart flutter) we require a sideways-directed illuminating beam. However reliable methods of delivering high power laser light in a sideways-directed beam are not currently available. Using the ultraviolet laser fibre processing expertise already developed at Macquarie University, we propose to develop and characterise novel fibre-based devices which would allow controllable delivery of light sideways.Read moreRead less
Electron and Positron Interactions with Bio-Molecules. This program of research will quantify reaction rates and elucidate reaction pathways for a range of important processes in our bodies involving ionising radiation. It will lead to a greatly improved understanding of positron and electron interactions with biological systems, including DNA and its constituent molecules and, through a better understanding of the underlying fundamental interactions, will lay foundations for improvements in te ....Electron and Positron Interactions with Bio-Molecules. This program of research will quantify reaction rates and elucidate reaction pathways for a range of important processes in our bodies involving ionising radiation. It will lead to a greatly improved understanding of positron and electron interactions with biological systems, including DNA and its constituent molecules and, through a better understanding of the underlying fundamental interactions, will lay foundations for improvements in technologies such as PET imaging. Read moreRead less
High-average-power all-solid-state lasers based on new crystalline Raman materials. We have recently made significant advances in development of all-solid-state intracavity Raman lasers generating multiwatt average powers in the near infrared and (by frequency doubling) visible spectrum, with important applications in biomedicine and remote sensing. A new generation of Raman crystals, especially tungstates, offer superior optical, mechanical and thermal properties, promising high Raman gains and ....High-average-power all-solid-state lasers based on new crystalline Raman materials. We have recently made significant advances in development of all-solid-state intracavity Raman lasers generating multiwatt average powers in the near infrared and (by frequency doubling) visible spectrum, with important applications in biomedicine and remote sensing. A new generation of Raman crystals, especially tungstates, offer superior optical, mechanical and thermal properties, promising high Raman gains and choice of Stokes frequency shift. The project will investigate a range of key issues for these materials including control of the Stokes wavelength, associated polarisation control, and pump-resonator configurations giving maximum Raman laser power and efficiency. The project will lead to state-of-the-art source technology with outstanding prospects for commercialisation and practical application.Read moreRead less
Advanced technologies for laser refractive surgery. People who wear glasses can now undergo laser eye-surgery to correct their focussing problems. While many can ?throw away their glasses?, the results are optimised for one viewing situation so that when people move their eyes or refocus, visual clarity is not perfect. We need precise measurements of the eye's shape under dynamic conditions to understand exactly how optical distortions (aberrations) affect clarity of sight. This project is to b ....Advanced technologies for laser refractive surgery. People who wear glasses can now undergo laser eye-surgery to correct their focussing problems. While many can ?throw away their glasses?, the results are optimised for one viewing situation so that when people move their eyes or refocus, visual clarity is not perfect. We need precise measurements of the eye's shape under dynamic conditions to understand exactly how optical distortions (aberrations) affect clarity of sight. This project is to build a laser device that incorporates a deformable mirror to investigate the interplay between aberrations and visual clarity. This new knowledge is a vital next step to improve laser eye-surgery success.Read moreRead less
High Energy Heavy Ions in Materials Science. The outcome of this project is to develop a more accurate predictor of the rate of energy loss of high energy heavy ions in solids which will have profound implications in the use of these particles in ion implantation, materials analysis and medical physics applications. It will contribute to the development of new high technology materials and to the application of high energy ions to medical treatment procedures.
Quantitative Brain Dynamics. This proposal will benefit Australia through unique and fundamental contributions to understanding brain dynamics via the development of innovative approaches and technologies. It will contribute to the national priority goals of Breakthrough Science, Frontier Technologies, and Promoting an Innovation Culture and Economy. Science outcomes will include improved understanding and probing of brain self-organization, dynamics, and function, including unique contributio ....Quantitative Brain Dynamics. This proposal will benefit Australia through unique and fundamental contributions to understanding brain dynamics via the development of innovative approaches and technologies. It will contribute to the national priority goals of Breakthrough Science, Frontier Technologies, and Promoting an Innovation Culture and Economy. Science outcomes will include improved understanding and probing of brain self-organization, dynamics, and function, including unique contributions to understanding alertness and the foundations of vision. These outcomes will be applied to develop new technologies for brain imaging and monitoring.Read moreRead less