Acoustic trapping for life science applications. Force fields can be established to move suspended cells into predefined locations using high frequency vibration; randomly dispersed cells can be brought together into clusters. This project aims to develop such technologies and will have applications in drug discovery and cell to cell interaction studies and has the future potential to promote the health of Australians.
Tissue Bio-physicochemical Quantification Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to investigate tissue structure and function. Current MRI technologies use standard water-based contrast mechanisms to generate images with limited tissue information. In contrast, this project expects to provide a non-invasive, ultra-high-resolution MRI technology that measures the electrical, magnetic, and chemical signals generated from the human bo ....Tissue Bio-physicochemical Quantification Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to develop novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to investigate tissue structure and function. Current MRI technologies use standard water-based contrast mechanisms to generate images with limited tissue information. In contrast, this project expects to provide a non-invasive, ultra-high-resolution MRI technology that measures the electrical, magnetic, and chemical signals generated from the human body. Thus, the new imaging methods can probe deeper biological functionality while examining tissue structure. The potential benefits include: expanding the scope and capabilities of current MRI, facilitating a wide range of imaging-based research and applications, and accelerating knowledge expansion in life science.Read moreRead less
Development of electrical probes and advanced classification algorithms for early detection of cancer. The curable precursor of cervical cancer is cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN). Various cancer probes will be constructed for the identification of CIN based on electrical measurements on tissue. Through studies of the cellular structure and the junction between cells, a theoretical model of the electrode/mucus/tissue system will be developed at and below the surface of the tissue under ....Development of electrical probes and advanced classification algorithms for early detection of cancer. The curable precursor of cervical cancer is cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN). Various cancer probes will be constructed for the identification of CIN based on electrical measurements on tissue. Through studies of the cellular structure and the junction between cells, a theoretical model of the electrode/mucus/tissue system will be developed at and below the surface of the tissue under examination. Theoretical modelling, probe development and detection algorithms will be used to identify CIN in real-time with concurrently high sensitivity and specificity. Effective electrical probes for early detection of cancer (cervical, lung and breast) will be of enormous national and international benefit.Read moreRead less
Towards direct imaging of neuronal currents with MRI. This project aims to develop novel neuronal current magnetic resonance imaging (nc-MRI) methods that harness the oscillatory behaviour of neuronal magnetic fields. Current methods of detecting neuronal activity in the living human brain have limited spatial and temporal resolution. Use of nc-MRI aims to overcome these limitations by imaging the effects on the MRI signal of small transient magnetic fields associated with neuronal activity. Sig ....Towards direct imaging of neuronal currents with MRI. This project aims to develop novel neuronal current magnetic resonance imaging (nc-MRI) methods that harness the oscillatory behaviour of neuronal magnetic fields. Current methods of detecting neuronal activity in the living human brain have limited spatial and temporal resolution. Use of nc-MRI aims to overcome these limitations by imaging the effects on the MRI signal of small transient magnetic fields associated with neuronal activity. Signal-to-noise ratio is at the limits of detectability using current imaging systems and nc-MRI is yet to be convincingly demonstrated. An integrated framework for simulating nc-MRI in the visual cortex is expected to be developed.Read moreRead less
Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in orthopaedics. The research in this proposal aims at developing new imaging systems that enable joints to be imaged while they are moving. This is an Australian first technology and will change the way in which diagnosis of joint diseases is done. The applications of this new technique include the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in Osteoarthritis and related chronic joint diseases. Also, acute injuries to knees, hips, shoulders and other joints will be ....Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in orthopaedics. The research in this proposal aims at developing new imaging systems that enable joints to be imaged while they are moving. This is an Australian first technology and will change the way in which diagnosis of joint diseases is done. The applications of this new technique include the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in Osteoarthritis and related chronic joint diseases. Also, acute injuries to knees, hips, shoulders and other joints will be able to be better diagnosed and hence improve treatment planning as a result.Read moreRead less
Combined optical and electrical stimulation of auditory neurons. The bionic ear, which has now helped to improve the hearing of over 200,000 people worldwide, is a great example of Australian innovation success. This project aims to develop the fundamental technology that will underpin the next generation of these devices using a combination of infrared light and electrical signals to stimulate auditory nerves.
Novel imaging technologies for continuous measurement of tracer kinetics in awake animals. The fates of biologically relevant molecules, such as proteins and antibodies, in the body are fundamentally important for understanding the mechanisms and treatment of disease. This project will enable for the first time continuous imaging of the location and time course of labelled molecules in conscious, freely moving animals.
Motion-adaptive PET technology for brain imaging of freely moving mice. This project aims to develop new brain imaging technology that adapts to and corrects for the motion of a responsive, freely moving mouse. Current technology requires the subject to be unconscious, precluding the use of imaging to study signalling pathways activated by external stimuli during cognitive and behavioural tasks. By harnessing new radiation detector, motion tracking and computational technologies, the project exp ....Motion-adaptive PET technology for brain imaging of freely moving mice. This project aims to develop new brain imaging technology that adapts to and corrects for the motion of a responsive, freely moving mouse. Current technology requires the subject to be unconscious, precluding the use of imaging to study signalling pathways activated by external stimuli during cognitive and behavioural tasks. By harnessing new radiation detector, motion tracking and computational technologies, the project expects to bridge this technology gap and provide significant technical and conceptual advances in the field. This will provide important benefits, such as equipping neuroscientists with new tools to answer fundamental questions about how the mammalian brain regulates behavioural adaptation to a changing environment.Read moreRead less