Enhancing the independence of the severely disabled: Improving the detection rates of an EEG based brain computer interface (BCI). Severe disability costs the Australian economy and society billions of dollars each year and the population of severely disabled is steadily increasing. Also, disability results in impairments that can traumatically alter a person's life. The outcomes of this project will result in substantial national benefits by (i) optimising technology that will greatly improve t ....Enhancing the independence of the severely disabled: Improving the detection rates of an EEG based brain computer interface (BCI). Severe disability costs the Australian economy and society billions of dollars each year and the population of severely disabled is steadily increasing. Also, disability results in impairments that can traumatically alter a person's life. The outcomes of this project will result in substantial national benefits by (i) optimising technology that will greatly improve the life of the disabled by enhancing their ability to control their environment, (ii) situating Australia in the forefront of disability technology research and development, and (iii) enhancing the development of knowledge in research training students in the biomedical area. Read moreRead less
Novel Early Warning System for Hypoglycaemia. An innovative technique will be developed for early detection of low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia), a life-threatening complication affecting millions of people with Type 1 diabetes worldwide. Real-time analysis of the effectiveness of skin impedance, ECG (in particular heart rate and QT interval), and EEG (alpha wave) will be combined with robust adaptive neural networks to provide a novel theoretical and practical basis for developing a non-i ....Novel Early Warning System for Hypoglycaemia. An innovative technique will be developed for early detection of low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia), a life-threatening complication affecting millions of people with Type 1 diabetes worldwide. Real-time analysis of the effectiveness of skin impedance, ECG (in particular heart rate and QT interval), and EEG (alpha wave) will be combined with robust adaptive neural networks to provide a novel theoretical and practical basis for developing a non-invasive hypoglycaemia monitor. This device has the potential to save lives, improve quality of life for people with diabetes and their carers, and put Australia at the forefront in this $US5 billion pa industry.Read moreRead less
Innovative hands-free technology to give the severely disabled greater mobility control. Half of the serious neurological injuries in Australia result in tetraplegia. Combined with other disabilities that involve severe mobility impairments the cost to the community economically, psychologically and socially is huge. This new Australian technology will facilitate effective sharing of control between a disabled person and a computer control system, taking advantage of their unique strengths and e ....Innovative hands-free technology to give the severely disabled greater mobility control. Half of the serious neurological injuries in Australia result in tetraplegia. Combined with other disabilities that involve severe mobility impairments the cost to the community economically, psychologically and socially is huge. This new Australian technology will facilitate effective sharing of control between a disabled person and a computer control system, taking advantage of their unique strengths and enabling each to aid the other in areas of weakness. The social and personal benefits are potentially very large. Scope also exists to significantly reduce healthcare costs and to develop a new industry in hands-free technology.Read moreRead less
Understanding glycopolymer interactions with the extracellular matrix. This project aims to advance knowledge of the biochemical and biophysical structure of the endothelial glycocalyx, a dynamic cell surface extracellular matrix rich in proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. It will be the first to explore how charged glycopolymers interact with this dynamic interface with the goal to develop a model of the glycocalyx lifecycle. This project is expected to enable the transfer of skills, knowledg ....Understanding glycopolymer interactions with the extracellular matrix. This project aims to advance knowledge of the biochemical and biophysical structure of the endothelial glycocalyx, a dynamic cell surface extracellular matrix rich in proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. It will be the first to explore how charged glycopolymers interact with this dynamic interface with the goal to develop a model of the glycocalyx lifecycle. This project is expected to enable the transfer of skills, knowledge and ideas as well as advanced research and industrial training for young scientists. Knowledge derived from this project is expected to enable future innovation in molecules with tailored interactions with the glycocalyx with significant benefits for researchers, manufacturers and end users. Read moreRead less
Biomolecular surface interactions with smart biomaterials. Current materials used for medical implants are often recognised by the body as foreign materials causing implant rejection or encapsulation. Research into the interactions between biological molecules and chemically and topographically modified materials will aid in the development of new materials and devices that optimise the body's response to the implanted material. The new materials and surfaces developed from this research will pr ....Biomolecular surface interactions with smart biomaterials. Current materials used for medical implants are often recognised by the body as foreign materials causing implant rejection or encapsulation. Research into the interactions between biological molecules and chemically and topographically modified materials will aid in the development of new materials and devices that optimise the body's response to the implanted material. The new materials and surfaces developed from this research will provide longer lasting implants and reduce the need for repeated operations. This will improve the quality of life for implant recipients and reduce health care costs.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100006
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
An adaptable and dedicated linear accelerator for medical radiation research. Leading radiation scientists developing innovative methods and devices for treating cancer patients will collaborate in future research using this highly adaptable linear accelerator for medical radiation research. Innovations in tumour targeting, better patient safety, new medical devices and improved cancer outcomes are expected.
Targeted growth factor delivery using natural polysaccharide materials for bone regeneration. This proposal addresses the core issue of nano-biomaterials capable of encouraging bone growth and providing better and more complete healing of bone fractures. Australia will benefit firstly through improved health outcomes by providing material-based solutions to address slow or non-healing fractures, which are increasingly prevalent in the aging population in Australia. This will have a further benef ....Targeted growth factor delivery using natural polysaccharide materials for bone regeneration. This proposal addresses the core issue of nano-biomaterials capable of encouraging bone growth and providing better and more complete healing of bone fractures. Australia will benefit firstly through improved health outcomes by providing material-based solutions to address slow or non-healing fractures, which are increasingly prevalent in the aging population in Australia. This will have a further benefit to the Australian economy improving the quality of life enabling people to work longer and reducing the need for further surgical intervention. This proposal will also have benefits to Australia through training future researchers in this field which will in turn provide economic growth through the development of Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Design and characterisation of a polysaccharide-based biomaterial for tissue adhesion. This proposal aims to design a new bio-adhesive material and study the mechanisms of action for tissue adhesion. Current suture technology is inadequate for anything but simple repairs and the alternative offered by surgical glues available today is at most augmentation of suturing. Combination of a strong adhesive biomaterial with factors for accelerating wound healing will generate a novel material technolo ....Design and characterisation of a polysaccharide-based biomaterial for tissue adhesion. This proposal aims to design a new bio-adhesive material and study the mechanisms of action for tissue adhesion. Current suture technology is inadequate for anything but simple repairs and the alternative offered by surgical glues available today is at most augmentation of suturing. Combination of a strong adhesive biomaterial with factors for accelerating wound healing will generate a novel material technology that, by uniting wound closure with sealing, addresses an unmet need in surgery.
The primary outcomes of these investigations will be:
1. advancement of knowledge in theories of tissue-biomaterial adhesion mechanisms
2. knowledge of effects of visible light from laser diodes on cells and isolated tissue
3. a biocompatible, visible light activated adhesive film for tissue repair based on chitosan polysaccharides
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Interfacial interactions with hydrogel biomaterials. The interactions between cells of the body and the surfaces of medical implants are controlled largely by the molecules that are adsorbed on the surface. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of modifying hydrogel biomaterials on the interactions of the molecules with the hydrogel. This, in turn, allows us to determine the factors affecting the control of the cell's response. The significance of this work is in the improved ability ....Interfacial interactions with hydrogel biomaterials. The interactions between cells of the body and the surfaces of medical implants are controlled largely by the molecules that are adsorbed on the surface. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of modifying hydrogel biomaterials on the interactions of the molecules with the hydrogel. This, in turn, allows us to determine the factors affecting the control of the cell's response. The significance of this work is in the improved ability to control cellular responses to implants. Such improved response will result in better health outcomes for patients, and outcomes in the form of papers and intellectual property.
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Novel biomimetic vascular biomaterials using extracellular matrix molecules. There is currently a pressing, unmet need for biodegradable, functional biomaterials that support endothelial cell interactions and vascular regeneration. Lack of sufficient vascular regeneration is the biggest obstacle in translating advances in biomaterials development to clinical, diagnostic and research applications. This project aims to address this need by developing novel biomaterial platforms that mimic the extr ....Novel biomimetic vascular biomaterials using extracellular matrix molecules. There is currently a pressing, unmet need for biodegradable, functional biomaterials that support endothelial cell interactions and vascular regeneration. Lack of sufficient vascular regeneration is the biggest obstacle in translating advances in biomaterials development to clinical, diagnostic and research applications. This project aims to address this need by developing novel biomaterial platforms that mimic the extracellular matrix of the vascular niche. We plan to utilise unique extracellular matrix domains and bioprinting techniques to control and guide endothelial cell functions. We could thus contribute to the knowledge base in vascular biology and bioengineering, forming the basis for vascular materials of the future.Read moreRead less