Rapid method development in pharmaceutical analysis using quality-by-design principles. Chemical analysis using separation methods underpins all stages of drug design and analysis. This project will generate new approaches to greatly reduce the time taken to develop a new method of analysis. This will be achieved through development of new computerised techniques for rapid screening, selection and optimisation of analytical methods.
Hatchery production of rock lobster seedstock for aquaculture and enhancement with emphasis on ozonation of culture water to reduce disease. The strong and growing worldwide demand for a range of lobster products cannot be fulfilled by existing wild fisheries. Only the sustainable production of lobsters using hatchery seedstock will satisfy the needs of aquaculture and the possibility of enhancing and reseeding the fishery. Lobster aquaculture will provide a new high-value industry for coastal r ....Hatchery production of rock lobster seedstock for aquaculture and enhancement with emphasis on ozonation of culture water to reduce disease. The strong and growing worldwide demand for a range of lobster products cannot be fulfilled by existing wild fisheries. Only the sustainable production of lobsters using hatchery seedstock will satisfy the needs of aquaculture and the possibility of enhancing and reseeding the fishery. Lobster aquaculture will provide a new high-value industry for coastal rural Australia, especially in areas with existing fishing and aquaculture enterprises. This project will develop new technologies to address the challenging target of producing commercial quantities of juvenile lobsters for aquaculture and enhancement.Read moreRead less
Miniaturised electrophoretic systems for distributed environmental sensing. This project aims to develop new low-cost sensors to quantify a range of water nutrients for continuous automated water monitoring. The project aims to design a microfluidic cartridge to obtain a particulate-free sample for analysis by the rapid separation of inorganic anions and cations. The cartridge is intended to be operated in a portable low cost, low weight, low power instrument. The deployment of multiple units ai ....Miniaturised electrophoretic systems for distributed environmental sensing. This project aims to develop new low-cost sensors to quantify a range of water nutrients for continuous automated water monitoring. The project aims to design a microfluidic cartridge to obtain a particulate-free sample for analysis by the rapid separation of inorganic anions and cations. The cartridge is intended to be operated in a portable low cost, low weight, low power instrument. The deployment of multiple units aims to provide a continuous data stream describing the changes in nutrient profiles within various waters, to feed into environmental models and inform best practice for agriculture and aquaculture industries.Read moreRead less
Non-discriminatory, universal and sensitive detection technologies for fluid based separation techniques in the pharmaceutical industry. The proposed research is focused on the specific needs of Australian and global pharmaceutical industries, and addresses a problem which is becoming increasingly significant with new classes of pharmaceuticals. Successful achievement of the goals of the project will result in major savings of cost and time during drug development and will lead to the productio ....Non-discriminatory, universal and sensitive detection technologies for fluid based separation techniques in the pharmaceutical industry. The proposed research is focused on the specific needs of Australian and global pharmaceutical industries, and addresses a problem which is becoming increasingly significant with new classes of pharmaceuticals. Successful achievement of the goals of the project will result in major savings of cost and time during drug development and will lead to the production of safer drugs. The project will expand collaboration between Australia researchers and the world's largest pharmaceutical company. Specialised training will be provided to both postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers, positioning them to make strong contributions to Australia's growing pharmaceutical industry.Read moreRead less
Probing the Tasmanian Devil Serum Proteome for Preclinical Diagnosis of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial endemic to the island state of Tasmania, and is found all over the state. Over the past decade, a dramatic decline has occurred in the Devil population in association with the emergence of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). This project aims to develop a preclinical diagnostic test for DFTD that will provide vital information ....Probing the Tasmanian Devil Serum Proteome for Preclinical Diagnosis of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial endemic to the island state of Tasmania, and is found all over the state. Over the past decade, a dramatic decline has occurred in the Devil population in association with the emergence of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). This project aims to develop a preclinical diagnostic test for DFTD that will provide vital information for use in developing management strategies to ensure the ongoing survival of the Tasmanian Devil. The benefit to Australia in performing this research rests in the new technology that will be developed and the application of this technology to key areas of national and international significance.Read moreRead less
Hierarchically porous polymer monoliths for separation science. Understanding the molecular composition of biomarkers involved in cell-cell communication and the fate of nanoparticles in the environment is critical to improve our understanding of diseases and environmental processes. This project will develop a new approach for the design of separation media that will greatly improve the efficiency of techniques used to analyse these complex samples. The separation media will consist of a polyme ....Hierarchically porous polymer monoliths for separation science. Understanding the molecular composition of biomarkers involved in cell-cell communication and the fate of nanoparticles in the environment is critical to improve our understanding of diseases and environmental processes. This project will develop a new approach for the design of separation media that will greatly improve the efficiency of techniques used to analyse these complex samples. The separation media will consist of a polymer containing large flow-through pores as well as well-defined mesopores. This dual porous skeleton will allow for the size-based separation of biomarkers and nanoparticles. The new separation media will enable the development of new technologies with applications in areas such medicine and environmental science.Read moreRead less
Pre-blast screening of improvised explosive devices - a National counter-terrorism initiative. The proposed research is focused on the specific needs of Australian counter-terrorism interests, including those of border protection, the customs service, transport authorities, forensic laboratories, etc. The support of this proposal will ensure that Australia, and its States and Territories are protected against terrorist threats. The support provided by the collaborating organisations from the var ....Pre-blast screening of improvised explosive devices - a National counter-terrorism initiative. The proposed research is focused on the specific needs of Australian counter-terrorism interests, including those of border protection, the customs service, transport authorities, forensic laboratories, etc. The support of this proposal will ensure that Australia, and its States and Territories are protected against terrorist threats. The support provided by the collaborating organisations from the various Federal and State police and forensic agencies, and the customs service, etc, highlights the importance of this project to the nation. Finally, a PhD student and a research assistant will be involved with the project and will gain specialised skills positioning them to make strong contributions to Australia's counter-terrorism measures.Read moreRead less
Extraction of gold from thiosulfate leach liquors using selective magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) resins. Cyanide processes used for gold leaching can cause severe environmental problems. This proposal studies the use of thiosulfate as an alternative, concentrating on the design and synthesis of new functionalised magnetic ion-exchange resins, which will act as selective adsorbents for the gold thiosulfate complex and thereby facilitate the implementation of this efficient, low environmental impact ....Extraction of gold from thiosulfate leach liquors using selective magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) resins. Cyanide processes used for gold leaching can cause severe environmental problems. This proposal studies the use of thiosulfate as an alternative, concentrating on the design and synthesis of new functionalised magnetic ion-exchange resins, which will act as selective adsorbents for the gold thiosulfate complex and thereby facilitate the implementation of this efficient, low environmental impact process. Since the leaching is typically applied to ores rich in copper, resins for the recovery of copper will also be designed. Laboratory proving trials will be conducted and successful candidates will be considered for future commercialisation of a Resin-in-Pulp leaching and recovery process.Read moreRead less
Automated Sensors for a ‘wetland in a box’. Globally, and particularly in Australia, water supply and water pollution is one of the most critical constraints to our health and growth. This project seeks to validate a new portable remediation system suitable for deployment at regional locations through the integration and development of advanced sensors. We aim to develop the world’s first completely integrated platform for monitoring both water chemistry and microbiology to provide near-real-tim ....Automated Sensors for a ‘wetland in a box’. Globally, and particularly in Australia, water supply and water pollution is one of the most critical constraints to our health and growth. This project seeks to validate a new portable remediation system suitable for deployment at regional locations through the integration and development of advanced sensors. We aim to develop the world’s first completely integrated platform for monitoring both water chemistry and microbiology to provide near-real-time information regarding the quality of the remediated water. We expect this to improve the availability of regional water resources by providing a low-cost remediation solution with integrated monitoring to provide assurances of meeting the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling (2006).Read moreRead less
Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) flavoromics for distinctive beer. Hop is the spice of beer, as it provides unique flavour chemicals imparting taste (bitterness) and aroma. With the worldwide rise of craft beer, there is international demand for differentiated beer. The flavour potential of hop has not been fully explored, and the genetic basis of hop chemistry is poorly understood. This project aims to gather flavoromic data through modern analytical chemistry, genomics, molecular genetics and brewing ....Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) flavoromics for distinctive beer. Hop is the spice of beer, as it provides unique flavour chemicals imparting taste (bitterness) and aroma. With the worldwide rise of craft beer, there is international demand for differentiated beer. The flavour potential of hop has not been fully explored, and the genetic basis of hop chemistry is poorly understood. This project aims to gather flavoromic data through modern analytical chemistry, genomics, molecular genetics and brewing in order to better understand the genetic basis of hop chemistry which affects the entire value chain: from hop farm to consumers' experience of beer. The overarching aim of this project is to offer smart breeding strategies leading to novel flavours (taste and aroma) for existing and emerging breweries.Read moreRead less