Quantitative dynamics of functional magnetic resonance imaging. By modeling and verifying the dynamics of brain activity and blood flow that underlie functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this project will yield improved scientific outcomes and imaging sensitivity. The new data analysis techniques and technologies that result will yield potentially patentable intellectual property, and will increase the standing of Australia in this rapidly developing field, including via links being bu ....Quantitative dynamics of functional magnetic resonance imaging. By modeling and verifying the dynamics of brain activity and blood flow that underlie functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this project will yield improved scientific outcomes and imaging sensitivity. The new data analysis techniques and technologies that result will yield potentially patentable intellectual property, and will increase the standing of Australia in this rapidly developing field, including via links being built to leading international workers. The National Research Priority Goals of Frontier Technologies, Breakthrough Science, Smart Information Use, and Promoting an Innovation Economy will thus be advanced.Read moreRead less
Reading the sequence of a single molecule of DNA . This project seeks to develop technology capable of accurately reading the sequence of a single DNA molecule for the first time. This is possible by combining state-of-the-art methods in DNA self-assembly, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and bioelectronics, to overcome fundamental limits in current technologies.
The outcome of accurate DNA sequencing at single molecule resolution, promises ground-breaking biological insight from a more ....Reading the sequence of a single molecule of DNA . This project seeks to develop technology capable of accurately reading the sequence of a single DNA molecule for the first time. This is possible by combining state-of-the-art methods in DNA self-assembly, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and bioelectronics, to overcome fundamental limits in current technologies.
The outcome of accurate DNA sequencing at single molecule resolution, promises ground-breaking biological insight from a more fine-grained view of the genetic world, game-changing technologies such as point-of-care genomics and in turn a substantial impact on the rapidly growing multi-billion-dollar DNA sequencing market. Read moreRead less
How beetles harness near-infrared properties to enhance energy efficiency. This project aims to discover how animals use nanophotonic structures to manipulate near infra-red light for thermal control and visual information. Almost nothing is currently known about the mechanism, function and evolution of near-infrared properties in animals, despite their potential importance for maintaining body temperatures within the critical thermal limits for survival. The project uses multidisciplinary techn ....How beetles harness near-infrared properties to enhance energy efficiency. This project aims to discover how animals use nanophotonic structures to manipulate near infra-red light for thermal control and visual information. Almost nothing is currently known about the mechanism, function and evolution of near-infrared properties in animals, despite their potential importance for maintaining body temperatures within the critical thermal limits for survival. The project uses multidisciplinary techniques from optical physics, physiology and evolutionary biology to reveal near-infrared adaptations in socially and economically important Christmas beetles. The intended outcomes include a bio-informed blueprint for a new class of functional nanomaterials that enhance energy efficiency.Read moreRead less
Untangling the matrix of bacterial biofilms. This research aims to use forefront molecular microbiology and biophysical approaches to advance fundamental knowledge on bacterial biofilms. These bacterial clusters are held together by an extracellular matrix comprised of bacterial-derived fibrous protein and the polysaccharide cellulose, which imparts structural integrity and resistance to antimicrobials. The major goals of this project are to dissect how bacteria regulate production of the biofil ....Untangling the matrix of bacterial biofilms. This research aims to use forefront molecular microbiology and biophysical approaches to advance fundamental knowledge on bacterial biofilms. These bacterial clusters are held together by an extracellular matrix comprised of bacterial-derived fibrous protein and the polysaccharide cellulose, which imparts structural integrity and resistance to antimicrobials. The major goals of this project are to dissect how bacteria regulate production of the biofilm matrix, and examine how changes in the composition of the matrix alters its properties, including the penetration of antimicrobial peptides and antibiotics. The outcomes will help address the economic burden of difficult to treat industrial, environmental and biomedical biofilms.Read moreRead less
The geometry of genome access: lessons from HIV. Access to the cell’s nucleus, and hence its genome, is of deep scientific and commercial significance. It is controlled by a phase-separated diffusion barrier within the nuclear pore complex. Recent evidence, however, has shown that HIV can cross this barrier with its protective capsid intact, despite it being over one thousand times larger than the limit for passive transport. Combining concepts from soft-matter physics with recombinant assays, t ....The geometry of genome access: lessons from HIV. Access to the cell’s nucleus, and hence its genome, is of deep scientific and commercial significance. It is controlled by a phase-separated diffusion barrier within the nuclear pore complex. Recent evidence, however, has shown that HIV can cross this barrier with its protective capsid intact, despite it being over one thousand times larger than the limit for passive transport. Combining concepts from soft-matter physics with recombinant assays, this project aims to uncover the link between the unique geometry of HIV capsids and their ability to subvert the nucleus’ defenses. The expected outcome is a step-change in the understanding of nuclear access control, with downstream benefits to virology, bio-engineering and bio-technology.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of Multiscale Complex Systems. Australia has built a strong position in the science and applications of multiscale phenomena, especially in interdisciplinary fields. The project will advance this position in plasma and biomedical physics by making new discoveries, developing new methods of analyzing such systems, and applying them to achieve practical outcomes. It will underpin Australia's participation in NASA's $600M STEREO mission, and will lead to improved methods and technologies ....Dynamics of Multiscale Complex Systems. Australia has built a strong position in the science and applications of multiscale phenomena, especially in interdisciplinary fields. The project will advance this position in plasma and biomedical physics by making new discoveries, developing new methods of analyzing such systems, and applying them to achieve practical outcomes. It will underpin Australia's participation in NASA's $600M STEREO mission, and will lead to improved methods and technologies for brain function analysis and imaging, which will be commercialized via industry partnerships. It will contribute to national research goals, especially in Breakthrough Science, Frontier Technologies, Smart Information Use, and Promoting Innovation.Read moreRead less
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
Biophysics of the brain’s waste disposal system: Understanding why we sleep. This project aims to develop a new biophysical model of the brain, founded on the recently discovered glymphatic system responsible for waste disposal during sleep. It sets out to formulate, analyse, and validate rigorous new multiscale quantitative modelling – to advance the study of sleep and brain clearance dynamics, at timescales from hours to decades. Among expected outcomes are powerful models ready for applicatio ....Biophysics of the brain’s waste disposal system: Understanding why we sleep. This project aims to develop a new biophysical model of the brain, founded on the recently discovered glymphatic system responsible for waste disposal during sleep. It sets out to formulate, analyse, and validate rigorous new multiscale quantitative modelling – to advance the study of sleep and brain clearance dynamics, at timescales from hours to decades. Among expected outcomes are powerful models ready for application at both population and individual level, and testable predictions concerning the sleep patterns that lead to aggregation of waste in the brain and eventual cognitive decline. Project outcomes should also benefit society and the economy though translation into interventions for sleep disturbance – in future applied research.Read moreRead less
Structure and informatics of the genetic code. Recent advances in biotechnology have seen its emergence as a highly
quantitative, numerically-based discipline. To exploit the available
data to the full will require, alongside computing power, new
analytical techniques. This project aims to develop such techniques,
by handling the systematics of the genetic code with methods derived
from theoretical physics and chemistry. Expected outcomes include a
dynamical (quantum field theory) model ....Structure and informatics of the genetic code. Recent advances in biotechnology have seen its emergence as a highly
quantitative, numerically-based discipline. To exploit the available
data to the full will require, alongside computing power, new
analytical techniques. This project aims to develop such techniques,
by handling the systematics of the genetic code with methods derived
from theoretical physics and chemistry. Expected outcomes include a
dynamical (quantum field theory) model of phylogenetic branching,
analyses of nucleic acid structure and content (spin chain models of
RNA binding and of DNA open reading frames), and insights into the
origin of the code itself (via numerical codon similarity measures).
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