Neuroimaging changes underpinning improvements in cognition in the elderly. Natural supplements are often used to improve brain and cognitive function, however, we do not know how these supplements work in the brain. Using novel brain imaging scans, the project will investigate whether 12-month administration of two promising natural supplements improves brain markers of ageing and cognitive decline in an elderly population.
Nanoliposomal delivery of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to neuronal cells. Omega-3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential for brain function. They are effective as adjunct treatments for depression, but at high doses. The project will develop nanoliposomes to target delivery of DHA to brain cells. Efficient delivery of DHA to brain cells will increase its effectiveness as a dietary supplement and lessen the burden of disease.
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL200100049
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,906,992.00
Summary
Nanofluidic Membranes for Sustainable Energy Future. This project aims to create a novel class of advanced membranes by making fundamental breakthroughs in nanofluidics, and harnessing this for developing new renewable energy and low-energy separation technologies. This project addresses the key challenges in understanding selective mass transport at the angstrom scale, thereby allowing the development of innovative materials design strategies to realise the ultrafast molecular and ionic permeat ....Nanofluidic Membranes for Sustainable Energy Future. This project aims to create a novel class of advanced membranes by making fundamental breakthroughs in nanofluidics, and harnessing this for developing new renewable energy and low-energy separation technologies. This project addresses the key challenges in understanding selective mass transport at the angstrom scale, thereby allowing the development of innovative materials design strategies to realise the ultrafast molecular and ionic permeation, and the ultrahigh selectivities observed in biological cell membranes. This new cross-disciplinary research will benefit Australia by the development of new materials for accelerating renewable hydrogen and biofuel futures, and enabling sustainable production of energy materials.Read moreRead less
Making best use of biofuels – understanding the interactions between alcohol and hydrocarbon fuels in engine combustion. Biofuels are increasingly used as blending components for transport fuels. Biofuels possess much different chemical structures from conventional fuels, and can therefore interact with hydrocarbon fuels during engine combustion processes and consequently affect engine efficiency and emissions. This project aims to investigate the chemical interactions between representative com ....Making best use of biofuels – understanding the interactions between alcohol and hydrocarbon fuels in engine combustion. Biofuels are increasingly used as blending components for transport fuels. Biofuels possess much different chemical structures from conventional fuels, and can therefore interact with hydrocarbon fuels during engine combustion processes and consequently affect engine efficiency and emissions. This project aims to investigate the chemical interactions between representative compounds of biofuels (ethanol) and fossil fuels (n-heptane, iso-octane and toluene) during engine autoignition processes. The outcomes will fill a significant gap in our understanding for biofuel combustion chemistry, essential for building predictive combustion models, and will guide the best use of the precious Australian biofuel resources to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Read moreRead less
Natural gas direct injection in advanced engines and powertrains. Natural gas direct injection in advanced engines and powertrains. This project aims to quantify and understand how future, advanced passenger vehicles might perform when optimised for the direct injection (DI) of natural gas. Such production vehicles do not exist, largely because production DI systems for natural gas, spark ignition engines are not yet available. This project will examine both advanced conventional and hybrid vehi ....Natural gas direct injection in advanced engines and powertrains. Natural gas direct injection in advanced engines and powertrains. This project aims to quantify and understand how future, advanced passenger vehicles might perform when optimised for the direct injection (DI) of natural gas. Such production vehicles do not exist, largely because production DI systems for natural gas, spark ignition engines are not yet available. This project will examine both advanced conventional and hybrid vehicles using a suite of state-of-the-art experimental and numerical techniques. This project will quantify these vehicles’ environmental, technical and economic performance to determine whether DI natural gas, conventional and hybrid vehicles might reduce substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions whilst avoiding any consumer penalty. This research could contribute to global GHG abatement.Read moreRead less
Optimising flex fuel engine performance. This project will enable alternative fuels to be used optimally in engines for transport and distributed electricity generation. This will benefit Australian industry through better engine control technology and the Australian public through reduced emissions and cost in running engines using natural gas or LPG.
Break-up and atomisation mechanisms in high pressure fuel sprays. The focus of this research is discovering the underlying mechanisms that give rise to the break-up and atomisation of high pressure sprays such as those found in many engines. The program of research makes use of a range of purpose designed experimental facilities and methodologies which are at the forefront of research in this area. The outcomes from this research will yield improved spray models giving rise to a new era of low e ....Break-up and atomisation mechanisms in high pressure fuel sprays. The focus of this research is discovering the underlying mechanisms that give rise to the break-up and atomisation of high pressure sprays such as those found in many engines. The program of research makes use of a range of purpose designed experimental facilities and methodologies which are at the forefront of research in this area. The outcomes from this research will yield improved spray models giving rise to a new era of low emission fuel injectors for diesel and possibly gas turbine engines.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC200100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,920,490.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for The Global Hydrogen Economy. The centre aims to transform Australia into a hydrogen powerhouse by building enabling capacity in hydrogen innovation in a short timeframe. Australia is well-positioned to capitalise on the emerging global growth of hydrogen, however to be competitive and produce at scale, we need cost-effective hydrogen technologies and capabilities for transitioning hydrogen into industries. This innovative, five-year program will generate new technologies ....ARC Training Centre for The Global Hydrogen Economy. The centre aims to transform Australia into a hydrogen powerhouse by building enabling capacity in hydrogen innovation in a short timeframe. Australia is well-positioned to capitalise on the emerging global growth of hydrogen, however to be competitive and produce at scale, we need cost-effective hydrogen technologies and capabilities for transitioning hydrogen into industries. This innovative, five-year program will generate new technologies and equip a future workforce of industry-focused engineers with advanced skills for development and scaling-up of hydrogen generation and transport. Benefits include: export of hydrogen fuel and advanced technologies; job creation; and a lower emissions domestic energy industry.Read moreRead less
Examining healthcare professionals' communication across the surgical pathway to improve patient safety. Recent data show breakdowns in communication contributed to 16% of sentinel events in Australia, the majority of which were of a surgical nature. Financial costs associated with adverse events are enormous, estimated at around $A2billion/year. Economic burden is predicted to increase with further complexities surrounding patients' surgical care. This study will result in new knowledge about c ....Examining healthcare professionals' communication across the surgical pathway to improve patient safety. Recent data show breakdowns in communication contributed to 16% of sentinel events in Australia, the majority of which were of a surgical nature. Financial costs associated with adverse events are enormous, estimated at around $A2billion/year. Economic burden is predicted to increase with further complexities surrounding patients' surgical care. This study will result in new knowledge about communication patterns to inform the development of reporting methods and strategies that positively influence the practices of healthcare professionals. Strategies could be extrapolated to the broader healthcare sector, and provide tactical direction aimed at averting clinical errors, preventing patient harm and reducing healthcare costs.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100001
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
An advanced thermogravimetric analysis system for world-leading research in clean energy, catalysis, material science and nanotechnology. Many chemical reactions occurring in solid materials during heating significantly affect the materials' stability, and subsequently affects the processes of production of clean energy, material synthesis, catalyst preparation, and nanotechnology. No equipment currently exists in Australia that will mitigate the wide range of conditions in such reactions in ma ....An advanced thermogravimetric analysis system for world-leading research in clean energy, catalysis, material science and nanotechnology. Many chemical reactions occurring in solid materials during heating significantly affect the materials' stability, and subsequently affects the processes of production of clean energy, material synthesis, catalyst preparation, and nanotechnology. No equipment currently exists in Australia that will mitigate the wide range of conditions in such reactions in materials processing. This situation impedes research progress in Australia, disadvantages Australian research students, and ultimately makes our research less competitive internationally. The establishment of the proposed apparatus will increase the competitiveness of Australian science and engineering, and contribute to the development of new Australian technologies that are important to the Australian economy and to environmental sustainability.Read moreRead less